Smurfit Kappa reports that it has successfully started up a new 21.4 MW steam cogeneration plant at its Nervión paper mill in Spain. The plant is part of a EUR 20 million investment project on energy generation from biomass, which will significantly reduce fossil carbon dioxide emissions as well as improve the mill's profitability.

The project has increased Smurfit Kappa Nervión's energy generation by more than 40%, exceeding the yearly production of 120,000 MWh, and reaching 65% of energy self-consumption.

For Rafael Sarrionandia, GM of Smurfit Kappa Nervión, "the objective of this energy project has been to increase the mill's thermal and electrical energy generation, by increasing the installed equipment efficiency and the capacity of the forest waste treatment plant."

The company's strategic investment program included the acquisition of a multi-functional crusher able to process all forest waste, and a selection and storing system that has increased biomass consumption by 40,000 metric tpy, exceeding 100,000 metric tons.

The biomass cogeneration plant project started in 2009 with an engineering study and equipment purchases. In January 2011 the building phase began. A building has been constructed to house the new 21.4 MW steam condensation turbine, together with four new refrigeration towers with a water circulation capacity of 2,500 cubic meters per hour in a continuous process.

The biomass waste used as fuels is typically from black liquor and bark from sawmills and from the debarking of pulp logs used in the mill's process. The new crushing line, however, allows other forest waste to be used such as land cleaning, pruning, and thinning, enhancing sustainable forest management and helping to keep the forest clean.

The company's strategic and environmental investment program started in 2008 with a EUR 20 million expenditure for paper machine quality and efficiency improvement. This was followed by a EUR 5 million investment for a new odorous gas and foul condensate treatment plant, and has concluded with the startup of a power substation, changing the mill's input from 30,000 volts to 132,000 volts.

A total of EUR 50 million has been invested in Smurfit Kappa Nervion between 2008 and 2012, enhancing the mill's position in terms of efficiency and cost reduction, and reinforcing its commitment to green energy.

Back To Top

---

 

The National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO), Washington, D.C., USA, has responded enthusiastically to news that the U.S. Supreme Court will review the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Court's ruling in NEDC v. Brown. The Ninth Circuit ruled last year that forest roads are "point sources" of water pollution requiring industrial discharge permits typically applied to factories and sewage plants, a decision that overturns EPA's 35 years of regulation of forest roads under the Clean Water Act.

"The Supreme Court's decision to review this case is a welcome development for forest landowners across America, who for 35 years have contributed to one of the nation's best success stories under the Clean Water Act," said Dave Tenny, NAFO President and CEO. "It validates the opinions of the Solicitor General, 29 state attorneys general, and forest owners and operators across the country, who all agree that the Ninth Circuit's decision was wrong."

Although the Solicitor General in his May 24 brief to the Supreme Court acknowledged that the Ninth Circuit ruling was wrong, he recommended the Court not review the case urging that "the complex regulatory issues can be addressed more definitively and in a more nuanced fashion by Congress and EPA."

According to NAFO, Congress and the Administration joined forest owners to support EPA's historical treatment of forestry and forest roads as non-point sources by taking action last December in the Fiscal Year 2012 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The effort, achieved with bipartisan support in both the Senate and House, prevented the Ninth Circuit's misinterpretation of the Clean Water Act from taking effect, but expires this September 30, NAFO notes.

"The Supreme Court's decision raises a significant question regarding the need for further administrative action by the EPA pending a final decision by the Court," Tenny continued. "At this point, undertaking an administrative process without knowing the legal context would be a questionable use of time and resources."

NAFO explains that EPA began an administrative process on May 23 to address the Ninth Circuit's ruling and maintain the agency's longstanding practice of using Best Management Practices rather than permits to regulate rainwater runoff from forest roads. EPA has not yet introduced a proposed rule, which has cast doubt on whether the agency would complete a rulemaking before the September 30 expiration of legislation. A final EPA rule would be challengeable directly to the Ninth Circuit, inviting a continuation of the litigation cycle, according to NAFO.

Back To Top

---

 

UPM, Finland, received the Most Innovative Company award at the 2012 Ethical Corporation Awards held this week in London, U.K. UPM was highlighted for its Eco Design approach and overall sustainable thinking. The company's innovative approach has resulted in such products as the world's first biodiesel manufactured from wood raw material.

"Our focus on producing more with less is a clear example of UPM as a forest industry company creating tangible results with bio composites, biofuels, and the use of non-fossil fuel energy," noted Hartmut Wurster, EVP of Technology responsible for new businesses and environmental issues. "The integration of the bio-based and forest industries has created the Biofore vision, the foundation of our corporate responsibility."

Mallen Baker, contributing editor, Ethical Corporation, said that the "judges commended UPM for its commitment to creating innovative materials for increased recyclability and robustness. This is traditionally a very challenging category and the judges commended the effort of all entrants to demonstrate genuine innovation in their sustainability approach."

UPM has brought to market several innovative products recently, including UPM ForMi, a composite material made with pulp fibers from sustainably managed forests and clean plastic polymers. It has also launched the "fuel of the future," UPM BioVerno, the first wood-based biofuel. UPM aims to be a major player in the production of advanced transportation biofuels.

The Ethical Corporation Awards recognize companies and individuals who have made significant advances in the field of corporate responsibility. Previous winners have included Unilever, L'Oreal, and the Rainforest Alliance. UPM was shortlisted alongside Acelor Mittal, McDonalds Europe, and CottonConnect.

Back To Top

---

 

During recent ceremonies in Washington D.C., USA, Buckman, Memphis, Tenn., was presented the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award from the EPA for its Maximyze® enzymes comprised of natural catalysts to reduce energy and decrease the amount of wood fiber needed to manufacture high quality paper and paperboard. The award, the second for Buckman, is in the Designing Greener Chemicals Award category. This is the 17th year of the EPA awards program that recognizes the design of safer and more sustainable chemicals, processes, and products.

Buckman's Maximyze technology consists of new enzymes and combinations of enzymes that allow for more sustainable production of paper and paperboard with improved strength and quality. These enzymes are derived from renewable resources and produced by fermentations rather than typical chemical reaction methods. As Buckman notes, Maximyze enzymes provide a completely new way to increase paper strength. Previously, the papermaker was limited to the costly process of adding different pulps, increasing mechanical fiber treatment that requires significant energy expenditure, or using various chemical additives of which many are derived from non-renewable resources.

"We are proud to be recognized by the EPA for our work on Maximyze with this prestigious award," said Buckman Chairman Kathy Buckman Gibson. "Buckman is dedicated to serving our customers by providing innovative product and process solutions, while at the same time maintaining a culture committed to a sustainable future. We strive to use our knowledge to help make the world a better place for all. This award is particularly rewarding to us because it reflects success in both sustainability practices and product innovation."

The name Maximyze refers to a group of products developed and sold by Buckman that are comprised of carefully selected and designed enzymes, derived from natural sources, that modify cellulose fibers. This technology is now being applied successfully in many paper mills around the world.

"We congratulate Buckman on receiving this prestigious and well-deserved award," said Suhas Apte, VP, Global Sustainability for Kimberly-Clark. "As Kimberly-Clark continues to pursue innovation to help us deliver against our challenging sustainability goals, we are encouraged to see our valued supplier partner recognized for its development of Maximyze enzymes, which offer Kimberly-Clark the potential for fiber choice flexibility and reduced energy usage."

Back To Top

---

 

Below is the latest listing of job openings in the TAPPI Career Center. The current listing includes service specialists/technicians, control/electrical/development/quality assurance engineers, maintenance superintendent, assistant plant manager, and technology manager in the North American pulp and paper industry. Current, specific job openings at companies and locations in the TAPPI Career Center include:

Employer	Title	Location
BTG Americas Inc.	Service Technician	Alabama
Burrows Paper Corp.	Technical Assistant Plant Manager	Pickens, Miss.
FPInnovations	Control Eng., Development & Applications	Vancouver, B.C.
Longview Fibre	Technical Service Specialist	Longview, Wash.
P.H. Glatfelter	Superintendent Maintenance - Mechanical	Chillicothe, Ohio
P.H. Glatfelte	Quality Assurance Engineer	Chillicothe, Ohio
Sappi Fine Paper N.A.	Electrical Engineer	Westbrook, Me.
Lydall Filtration	Development Engineer	Rochester, N.H.
BASF, The Chemical Co.	New Launch Technology Mgr. - Paper Chem.	Charlotte, N.C.

More information about these jobs is available online.

Back To Top

---

 

U.S. P&W Paper Shipments up 1% from 2011 Total U.S. printing and writing (P&W) paper shipments increased 1% in May compared with May 2011, according to the AF&PA (Washington, D.C., USA) May 2012 Printing-Writing Paper Report. Shipments for the two coated P&W grades posted year-over-year increases compared with last May, while shipments for the two uncoated grades declined. U.S. purchases (shipments + imports – exports) of P&W papers decreased 1% in May. Total P&W paper inventory levels also changed by 1%, decreasing compared with last month.

Additional key findings include: 

• Shipments of coated free sheet (CFS) papers increased the most among the four P&W grades year-over-year (the increase is the largest since September 2010)·
• Shipments of coated mechanical (CM) papers also increased the largest year-over-year since September 2010·
• Shipments of uncoated free sheet (UFS) papers decreased year-over-year by less than 1%·
• Uncoated mechanical (UM) paper shipments continue to decline year-over-year, following on the heels of 15 consecutive year-over-year increases from January 2010 through March 2011; average growth during those 15 months was 17%.

Back To Top

---

 

Canadian newsprint shipments continued their drastic fall in May, according to the Montreal Gazette, Montréal, Qué., Canada, and Canadian mills that have been exporting 40% or more of their output to Asia and Latin America ran into tough competition from European producers because of the euro's decline and the high Canadian dollar.

Total shipments, the report noted, were down 10.9% year-to-year and 9.4% in the first five months of this year. Domestic demand was more resilient in the latest month, but this was overshadowed by the fall in export shipments (down 28% year-to-year).

North American demand overall was down 2.3% from a year earlier – newsprint's decline of 7.3% was offset by an unusually strong commercial printing segment, the newspaper report added.

Eastern Canada's newsprint export mills include Resolute Forest Product's Mersey mill in Nova Scotia, being shutdown, and Kruger's Corner Brook mill in Newfoundland and Labrador, where unionized workers voted in favor of a contact offer late last week (see article in PULP & PAPER section below). North American newsprint prices have been unchanged for 22 months.

Back To Top

---

 

Total U.S. industry consumption of recovered paper in May was 2.54 million tons, 3% higher than April 2012. Year-to-date consumption is 3% lower than during the same period last year, according to a recent AF&PA, Washington, D.C., USA, report.

U.S. exports of recovered paper dropped 11% in April compared with March, with decreases mainly seen in other mechanical and corrugated. Year-to-date exports of recovered paper in 2012 are 2% lower than during the same period in 2011.

Back To Top

---

 

Pulp consumption in Europe increased in May to 1,023,367 metric tons from 966,047 metric tons in April. The May figure was down 2.7% compared with May 2011, according to Belgium-based UTIPULP, a non-profit association representing the "Group of European Market Wood Pulp Users." UTIPULP's statistics include information from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the U.K. for sulfite and kraft pulps.

Pulp inventories at European ports declined in May after an increase in April, according to Europulp. Inventories totaled 1,017,951 tons in May.

European shipments of newsprint and mechanical paper decreased in May, according to the European Association of Graphic Paper Producers. Total shipments of newsprint were 871,000 metric tons in May, which was 4% lower than the same period last year. Total supercalendered shipments fell by 2.9% in May.

Back To Top

---

 

Over the past decade, China's fast expanding economy and boom in housing starts lifted the country to being the world's largest importer of sawlogs and the second largest importer of softwood lumber, after the U.S., according to the Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ) Seattle, Wash., USA. China has increased the importation of logs and lumber practically every year for more than 10 years, with lumber imports in 2011 being 15 times higher than in 2001 and log imports being up three-fold from 10 years ago.

The total value of imported logs and lumber increased from $630 million in 2001 to almost $8 billion last year. This constant upward trend in importation came to a halt in late 2011 when construction activities slowed and inventories of logs and lumber at many Chinese ports reached very high levels. As a result of lower demand for wood products, softwood log import volumes during the first three months of 2012 were down 11% from the same period last year.

Log shipments from the two largest supplying countries, Russia and New Zealand, have declined by 16% and 17%, respectively, from a year ago. However, not all log suppliers to China have been hit by the reduced log demand in the country. Both Canada and the U.S. have increased exports dramatically the past few years, and this trend continued into the first quarter of 2012, when exports from Western Canada were up 23% from 1Q/11 and U.S. shipments were 2% higher than in early 2011.

North American log exporters have gained considerable market shares since 2009 when about 1 million cubic meters of softwood logs were shipped, which accounted for only 5% of the total imports to China. In 2011, the volume reached a new high of 7.1 million cubic meters, which was 22% of all imported logs to the country last year.

Softwood lumber imports have shown a similar trend to that of logs, according to WRQ. In 1Q/12, North American softwood lumber accounted for as much as 55% of all imports, up from only 25% in 2007.

China is likely to continue to rely heavily on North America, particularly for lumber, but also increasingly for logs over the next few years. When the U.S. housing market, and as a consequence, lumber demand, eventually improve, available wood supply will tighten and costs for logs and lumber are likely to go up. This expected scenario may change how China sources logs and lumber in the future, WRQ notes.

More information is available online.

Back To Top

---

 

U.S. kraft paper shipments last month were 139,200 tons, an increase of 2.3% compared with May 2011, according to the AF&PA (Washington, D.C., USA) May 2012 Kraft Paper Sector Report issued this week. Total inventory was 70,100 tons in May. Total bleached kraft shipments increased year-over-year for all months in 2012.

Back To Top

---

 

Buckeye Technologies Inc., Memphis, Tenn., USA, says that it is targeting the restart of its fluff pulp line for July 4. The specialty pulp line has been up and safely running at target rates since early Saturday morning, June 23. The specialty pulp line mix will not be fully optimized until the fluff line is back in operation.

Among other things, the July 4 timeline depends on procurement of materials and the amount of work required to repair and replace drums and other damaged equipment. Both production lines were idled on Sunday evening, June 17, due to a significant failure of a steam drum on the fluff pulp line. There were no injuries associated with this incident.

The company expects that property damage and business interruption insurance will cover most of the losses in excess of its $2 million deductible. Net of insurance recovery, Buckeye estimates the total net earnings impact of the event to be in the range of 5 to 10 cents per share. It expects Q4 FY 2012 (April-June 2012) earnings to be reduced by 8 to 11 cents per share as a result of the event. The net impact on first half FY 2013 earnings (July-December 2012) should be small as Buckeye expects to recognize the bulk of the insurance benefits during this period. It also anticipates that lost production volume due to the outage will reduce sales revenue by about $20 million, primarily in the July to December 2012 period.

Buckeye Chairman and CEO John Crowe notes that "I am proud of our organization's tireless efforts, teamwork, and creativity to minimize the amount of production downtime associated with this significant event. While there is still much work required to get the fluff pulp line safely up and running by July 4, and this date could change, great progress has been made that will help minimize the impact of this production outage on our customers and all of our stakeholders."

Buckeye, a manufacturer and marketer of specialty fibers and nonwoven materials, currently operates facilities in the U.S., Germany, and Canada.

Back To Top

---

 

Catalyst Paper Corp., Richmond, B.C., Canada, has received the necessary creditor approval for its second amended plan of arrangement under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) in Canada. Approval of more than 99% of secured and unsecured creditors was received in votes cast in person and by proxy at meetings held this week in Richmond.

The sanction hearing under the CCAA process is scheduled to occur today (June 28) in the Supreme Court of British Columbia and pending the B.C. Court approval, the confirmation hearing under the Chapter 15 process of the U.S. Court in Delaware is expected to take place in mid-July.

"We have received support from a majority of stakeholders since we began the reorganization process and today's vote of support by creditors for the second amended plan of arrangement sets out a clear path forward," said President and CEO Kevin J. Clarke. "With the cooperation of employees, vendors, customers, pensioners, and investors, Catalyst has been able to make progress through a very complicated situation at an unprecedented swift pace.

"The plan that received creditor approval today puts Catalyst on a stronger financial base to compete and adapt as the marketplace for our products continues to change," Clarke continued. "We're now turning our attention to securing our exit financing and satisfying the remaining conditions of the plan with a target timeline to emerge from creditor protection in the near term."

In a related proceeding, Catalyst received B.C. Court approval to extend the period of CCAA protection to this coming September 30.

Catalyst also received confirmation of regulatory approval by provincial government Order in Council of its proposed modifications to its salaried pension plan to provide for a special portability election option and solvency funding relief. The amendments required provincial government approval. The company estimates that it will save some $7 million annually with implementation of these modifications following a successful plan of arrangement.

Back To Top

---

 

Kruger Inc., Montréal, Qué., Canada, reports that the Communications, Energy, and Paperworkers Union (CEP) members at Corner Brook Pulp and Paper (CBPP), Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, voted in favor of its collective agreement proposal, thereby enabling the company to hold a second vote on the pension plan funding relief measures and to continue its assessment of the mill's viability. The new collective agreement will be effective immediately.

CBPP's pension plan administrators will launch the process for active and retired members of the unionized employees' pension plan to re-vote on the application of funding relief measures, which are essential to the mill's competitiveness and sustainability. The company expects the voting process to be completed by August 22.

The following step will then be for the company to finalize its assessment of the mill's viability, taking into consideration the fact that members of Lodge 1567 rejected the collective agreement proposal, which was modeled on the "pattern" agreement of CBPP's main competitor. In the meantime, the company will continue its efforts to reduce the mill's operating costs by applying necessary cost-cutting measures.

Kruger is a producer of publication papers, tissue, lumber and other wood products, corrugated cartons from recycled fibers, green and renewable energy, and wines and spirits. The company operates Canadian facilities in Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and also operates facilities in the U.S.

Back To Top

---

 

Metsä Group, Finland, reports that it will invest EUR 15 million in developing the production process at its Joutseno pulp mill in Finland. With the company's product and process development work, the world's largest single-line softwood pulp mill in Joutseno will adopt a new pulp manufacturing process – polysulfide cooking. Polysulfide technology has never been applied on such a large scale before.

With the investment, Metsä Group will launch a new kind of softwood pulp on the market, which it says will improve customers' cost-efficiency and the technical properties of the final products, paper and board.

"The investment will strengthen Metsä Group's position in the global softwood pulp market further, as we will be launching a unique product that improves the competitiveness of our customers. At the same time, we will increase the production capacity of our mill by almost 10% and improve the efficiency of production. The investment is proof of the vitality of the Finnish forest industry," says Ismo Nousiainen, SVP, Production at Metsä Fibre.

The main equipment will be supplied by Andritz Oy. Construction will begin this fall. The process will be commissioned in the summer of 2013.

The Joutseno pulp mill is currently implementing a gasification plant investment worth approximately EUR 20 million, and once it is complete in the summer 2012, the mill will be the first carbon dioxide-neutral pulp mill in Finland. This means that the mill will not need any external energy during normal operation but rather will produce all of its own energy using wood-based fuels.

Back To Top

---

 

Norske Skog, Norway, will invest 220 million Norwegian kroner in an expansion and renewal of the thermomechanical pulp (TMP) plant at its Saugbrugs paper mill in Halden, southern Norway. The old pulp plant at the mill will be replaced by a modern facility, which will supply pulp to the paper machines at a much lower cost than today, according to Norske Skog. Startup is scheduled for the spring of 2014.

The cost savings will consist mainly of lower energy and fiber consumption and lower maintenance costs. Increased use of wood pulp in the paper will also result in improved quality, the company notes. Norske Skog is being granted state support of 50 million Norwegian kroner for the investment project, due to its considerable energy savings.

"This investment in a new pulp plant will give increased competitiveness. We do this to be able to maintain operations at the Saugbrugs mill," said Sven Ombudstvedt, CEO of Norske Skog.

Norske Skog Saugbrugs has 550 employees. The mill has an annual production capacity of 545,000 metric tons of magazine paper.

Back To Top

---

 

PaperlinX Ltd., Victoria, Australia, this week announced a range of initiatives marking the conclusion of its "strategic review." Key aspects of the announcement are:

• An agreement to divest the company's U.S. operations of Spicers USA and Kelly Paper to Central National-Gottesman, Purchase, N.Y., USA, for $76 million
• EU competition authorities have cleared the previously announced EUR 45 million sale of PaperlinX's Italian operation
• The company is implementing an internal loan restructure that will reduce future FX risk and allow the close-out of an in-the-money currency option to realize cash of A$39 million
• European restructuring has been accelerated and expanded in scope, with ongoing expected benefits of A$68 million by the end of FY14 and total costs expected to be A$43 million ·
• Proceeds from asset sales and close-out of the currency option will be used to reduce debt, fund restructuring, provide liquidity, and enable refinancing
• PaperlinX SPS will step-up on the June 30 (this Saturday) remarketing date; no distribution will be paid on June 30
• PaperlinX expects to report a loss in continuing operations before restructuring costs of approximately A$38 million and a total reported loss after tax of A$171 million, after taking into account restructuring, impairments, a currency option benefit, and losses booked on the sale of the Italian and U.S. operations.

Spicers Paper, Santa Fe Springs, Calif., is a paper distributor with 12 warehouse locations in the U.S. West and Midwest. Kelly Paper, City of Industry, Calif., operates a chain of paper stores with 48 locations across four western U.S. states. Combined sales for both companies were approximately $500 million in the company's most recent fiscal year. The closing is expected to take place on June 30. "Spicers and Kelly are well-managed and respected businesses, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to acquire them," said Ken Wallach, chairman and CEO of Central National-Gottesman. "The existing management and staff of Spicers and Kelly have done an outstanding job. These are excellent businesses and we intend to operate both of them as they are, and under their existing brands. The Spicers and Kelly locations are a perfect compliment to our 22 Lindenmeyr Munroe paper distribution facilities and stores, located on the East Coast and in the Midwest, and will provide enhanced coverage to our customers and suppliers."

PaperlinX's Chairman Harry Boon said that "the Strategic Review Process focused on reducing costs, strengthening the group's financial position, and creating a sustainably profitable business. Critical to this was the need to raise funds from the disposition of assets. The initiatives announced today, in conjunction with the restructuring plan, are expected to provide a significantly lower operating cost base, substantially improve operating liquidity, and provide a platform for a return to operating profitability after the restructure is completed. As a consequence of today's announcements, PaperlinX is no longer in discussions with any third parties in relation to a whole of company proposal."

Back To Top

---

 

Resolute Forest Products, Montréal, Qué., Canada, reportedly will idle a paper production line at its Catawba, S.C., USA, mill. A report by the Charlotte Business Journal (CBJ), Charlotte, N.C., noted that the move may mean cutting as many as 100 jobs.

The No. 1 line, which makes coated papers, will be shutdown on at the end of this week, the CBJ article said. The Herald, Rock Hill, N.C., quoted a union spokesman saying the paper machine has 100 of the mill's 750 employees.

The plant operated for decades as an operation of Bowater and, later, AbitibiBowater. Montréal-based AbitibiBowater recently changed its name to Resolute Forest Products. The mil has been one of the county's largest employers. In the 1980s, it reached its peak in employment at 1,400, according to the CBJ article.

Back To Top

---

 

Carvajal Pulpa y Papel, Colombia, has begun production of a new grease resistant paperboard made from 100% sugarcane fiber (bagasse), a by-product of the sugar manufacturing process. The new, plastic-free paperboard for fast food packaging is known as Kit 7 natural paperboard.

Carvajal is the first company to develop this unique, natural grade of paperboard. The pulp that comes from virgin sugarcane fibers and all of the raw materials used in the production of Kit 7 paperboard makes it suitable for direct contact with food in accordance with U.S. FDA regulations. The paperboard has also been certified by the German institute ISEGA.

The Natural grease resistant paperboard is part of Carvajal's EARTH PACT brand of products that are made with 100% bagasse and are totally free of bleach and dye chemicals. Especially important, no fluorocarbon additives or plastic films were used to attain grease resistance in the product.

As Carvajal notes, the new paperboard has excellent printability, with colors appearing significantly highlighted in contrast with its unique light cream color that gives it a "clean and healthy look." The company adds that, because Kit 7 paperboard contains no fluoride based chemicals or recycled fibers, it actually does "protect" human health. The new paperboard is suitable for packaging of various food products, including French fries, donuts, crispy chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches, bakery products, etc.

Eugenio Castro, Carvajal CEO, said that "as a leading company in environmentally responsible products, we are very pleased to introduce this paperboard to the market, as one of our premium sustainable options, showing our commitment to the planet and also to the health of consumers/end users, looking for a sustainable future for all."

Carvajal Pulpa y Papel, with more than 50 years of experience in the production of paper products from bagasse, is part of the Carvajal S.A group, one of the largest Colombian multinational organizations, operating in 15 Latin American countries, with 26.000 employees.

More information, including a video is available online.

Back To Top

---

 

RockTenn, Norcross, Ga., USA, this week closed on its acquisition of the assets of Mid South Packaging LLC, a specialty corrugated packaging manufacturer with operations in Cullman, Ala., and Olive Branch, Miss., from Coridel Capital Partners, New York, N.Y. Mid South is comprised of three main segments: AutoLogic™, which supplies specialized packaging to the automotive parts industry; the ComboPAC™ Food Group, which supplies bulk boxes to the poultry and meat industries; and the Retail Design Group, which provides high-end corrugated packaging and retail displays to consumer packaged goods companies.

"The acquisition of Mid South, a company well-known for its profitable business model and efficient, well-run operations, is in keeping with our announced strategy to seek acquisitions that increase our integration level," said James A. Rubright, RockTenn's chairman and CEO. "Adding Mid South's unique customers to RockTenn's already diversified customer base further strengthens our market reach."

Tyler Kwon, chairman and CEO of Coridel, noted hat "it has been a privilege to partner with the Mid South management team as they built a robust company, making significant operational improvements, growing revenues, and delivering record earnings year after year during our investment period. This transaction demonstrates the significant value that has been created. I am confident that under the leadership of the RockTenn organization, Mid South will continue its tradition of excellence and innovation."

Back To Top

---

 

The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE), U.K., has signed an agreement with paper and packaging producer, Sonoco Alcore Europe, to establish the U.K.'s only beverage carton reprocessing facility at its U.K. plant near Halifax, West Yorkshire. The plant will be operational next year and will have the capacity to recycle 25,000 metric tpy of cartons sorted from household and commercial waste streams by local authorities and their waste management contractors.

Richard Hands, CEO of ACE U.S, noted that "this decision underlines the firm commitment of our members—Tetra Pak, SIG Combibloc, and Elopak—to constantly improve the environmental performance of their beverage cartons. The already low carbon footprint will become even lower, valuable materials will go back into the U.K. economy, and local authorities can meet the expectations of many householders that their waste should be reprocessed in this country. We are confident that by the end of Year One (December 2013), an additional 10 local authorities will have started collecting cartons in their ‘kerbside' service, sending them to the new mill for recycling by ACE U.K. and Sonoco Alcore."

The Sonoco Alcore plant will recycle the reprocessed paperboard layers into consumer and industrial products, such as the tubes for cling film and the cores for rolls of textiles.

Back To Top

---

 

InteliCoat Technologies, South Hadley, Mass., USA, a manufacturer of coated paper, film, and specialty substrates for digital imaging applications, this week announced the addition of Magic® ProtectTM laminate to its complementary line of products for the digital imaging market. The textured laminate serves as a match component solution for trade show graphics when used with the company's Magic POS PROTM+ 400 blockout film.

The anti glare surface of Magic Protect makes it ideal for trade show and banner stand graphics. When paired with InteliCoat's 16.5 mil POS PRO+ 400, the match component enables optimized trade show construction in two simple steps. Designed for universal printing, the opaque, printable POS PRO+ 400 film with a rigid backer offers improved rigidity and a bright white printing surface for added "color pop." POS PRO+ 400 also features high image quality along with durability and is manufactured with a universal matte coating compatible with aqueous, eco, and solvent, latex, and UV cure printers. In addition to the match component of POS PRO+ 400, Magic Protect laminate is compatible across the line of Magic products.

Back To Top

---

 

Tetra Pak, Lausanne, Switzerland, this week announced the availability of OptiSize volume options and Eco Flexo advanced photographic printing techniques for its Tetra Fino Aseptic packaging range. The OptiSize volume concept allows customers to produce cartons tailored precisely to 70 ml and 220 ml portions, with more size options to follow, thus reducing packaging materials waste. The Eco Flexo printing process brings photographic printing to Tetra Fino Aseptic packages for the first time.

With OptiSize, customers who previously under-filled 250 ml and 100 ml Tetra Fino Aseptic packages can now select carton sizes to fit 220 ml and 70 ml portions precisely. The kit enables milk and beverage producers to change the tube diameter and/or the jaw length of the Tetra Pak A1 filling machine, thus allowing cartons to be filled precisely instead of under filling.

Eco Flexo allows photographic images to be printed onto uncoated paperboard packaging. The use of different paper, inks, screen ruling, anilox, and dot gain interactions reduces mottling effects and maximizes print quality.

Eco Flexo is currently being rolled out across Tetra Pak's converting factories in China (Beijing and Hohhot), Pakistan (Lahore), and Russia (Moscow). It is planned for early 2013 in India (Pune) with Brazil (Monte Mor).

Back To Top

---

 

Ziegler Papier, Switzerland, a producer of woodfree fine papers and specialty papers has designed and launched a new product for pigmented inks. The new product, Z-Advance, is the follow-on product of Z-Evolution, but designed for pigmented inks like Océ Colorstream 3500. Z-Advance has been successfully qualified by Océ at Poing.

On a paper scale with regards to print quality, Z-Advance is somewhere between a coated grade and a surface treated paper, the company explains. Ziegler Paper Mill has been using this paper especially for couponing, book printing, and direct mailing applications. It is available in 70, 80, 90, 100, 120, and 135 gsm.

Back To Top

---

 

Metsä Group, Finland, will launch a feasibility study to increase the use and production of renewable energy sources at its Kemi pulp mill in Finland. One possible production technology that is being reviewed is a gasification plant that produces biofuel replacing the fossil fuel, i.e. oil, of the lime kiln. A similar gasification plant will be commissioned at the Joutseno pulp mill in Finland this summer, which means that the mill will become a carbon dioxide-neutral production plant during normal operation.

The feasibility study will focus on the technical concepts and business model of the investment options. The study will be completed by the end of the year.

"The goal of investment decisions made based on the feasibility study is to strengthen Metsä Group's position as a leader in the efficient production and use of bioenergy," saids Ismo Nousiainen, SVP, Production at Metsä Fibre.

The introduction of new production technology would increase the Kemi mill's use of wood-based fuels obtained from external suppliers. At the moment, the mill produces more energy than it needs. The self-sufficiency rate of the mill's electrical energy is about 141%.

Back To Top

---

 

Clearwater Paper Corp., Spokane, Wash., USA, this week appointed John D. Hertz as SVP, finance, and CFO. Hertz will assume the CFO responsibilities on August 6. He will replace Johnathan D. Hunter who has been serving as interim CFO. Hunter's role and title remains VP and controller.

Hertz will have responsibility for financial reporting and controls, investor relations, risk management, tax, and treasury functions. He most recently served as VP and CFO for Novellus Systems, a semiconductor manufacturing equipment company. Prior to Novellus, he held senior positions at Intel Corp., including central finance controller of the digital enterprise group, finance controller of the enterprise platform services division, and accounting policy controller. Prior to joining Intel, Hertz served as a senior manager with KPMG.

Hertz earned a Bachelor of Science in business with an accounting emphasis from Montana State University and was a practice fellow at the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).

Clearwater Paper manufactures consumer tissue, away-from-home tissue, parent roll tissue, machine glazed tissue, bleached paperboard, and pulp at 15 manufacturing locations in the U.S. and Canada.

Back To Top

---

 

UPM, Helsinki, Finland, has named Erkka Repo SVP, Business Control and Finance Operations, effective August 1. He will succeed Helena Roine who will retire on August 31. Repo has been with UPM since 1996 in various controlling positions, most recently as director, Business Control for Label and RFID businesses.

Back To Top

---

 

The 2012 TAPPI PEERS Conference, October 14-17 in Savannah, Ga., USA, has announced a detailed technical program. Five programming tracks of peer-reviewed sessions, Pulping, Engineering, Environmental, Recycling, and Sustainability, will answer the most pressing business and technical questions faced by pulp and paper companies as they manage raw materials, assets, regulatory requirements, and production assets. 

Register now and save.

In addition to the in-depth, peer-reviewed technical program, Keynote Speaker Don Roberts, vice chairman of CIBC World Markets, will present "A Whirlwind Tour of Investment Trends and Issues in the Global Bio-Energy Space." PEERS will also offer exclusive networking opportunities and insight into new technologies that can help you optimize your mill operations. 

The TAPPI PEERS Conference will be co-located with the International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference, creating a value-added opportunity for you  to expand your learning, networking, and resources by attending both events. See you in Savannah!

Back To Top

---

 

TAPPI PLACE Webinar - 2012 Conference "Best Extrusion Coating Paper"
Thursday, July 12, 2012
11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time


Presented by Kelly Frey, of Chevron Phillips Chemical Co., and the recipient of the TAPPI 2012 PLACE Division Leadership and Service Award.
 
Optimizing Time in the Air Gap in Extrusion Coating for Improved Adhesion is the 2012 WINNER of the prestigious Dragan Djordjevic Award for best conference paper in extrusion coating or cast film.

This webinar explores adhesion through oxidation in the extrusion coating process and how Time in the Air Gap (TIAG) affects adhesion for extrusion coating primed and unprimed paper and film.

Benefits of Attending:

• Learn how optimizing TIAG for the extrusion coating process can potentially provide a significant cost savings and improvements in overall efficiency, and the quality of finished materials
• Gain a better understanding of how to improve adhesion through oxidation and how to optimize TIAG for their process
• Explore currently published time in the air gap (TIAG) recommendations in extrusion coating, for optimal adhesion, to determine if these current recommendations are still valid 
• Get a detailed look at how TIAG affects adhesion in many different scenarios, from processing different polymers and substrate types, to various processing conditions.

Register now!    Free for TAPPI Members.

Back To Top

---

 

Only 25 seats are available for the 2012 TAPPI Linerboard/Medium Manufacture Course, August 7-9, 2012 at the TAPPI Training Facility, Norcross, Georgia, USA. Will you be one of the lucky ones? Register now!

This intermediate-level three-day course helps increase your understanding of linerboard, medium performance properties, and manufacturing. And you'll also improve corrugating box performance and runnability at your plant.

Need some background info? The Supplemental Overview of Linerboard Seminar takes place Monday, August 6, before the Linerboard/Medium Manufacture Course. This is an ideal opportunity to gain an overview of corrugating, tests and properties, pulp mill operations and recycling, stock preparation and paper machine operations. There is a separate registration required for the seminar and, like the course, only 25 seats are available!

Back To Top

---

 

TAPPI and the Pulp and Paper Safety Association (PPSA) are pleased to announce their new course on workplace safety leadership and modern safety management principles, The Safety Management Leadership Course. The course will be held at TAPPI headquarters in Norcross, Ga, August 15 - 16.

The papermaking, conversion, and paper recycling industries have traditionally suffered from high workplace accident rates. Through a concentrated industry effort, the number of workplace injuries in the paper and pulp industry between 1994 and 2010 declined at a faster rate than the national rate for all private industries.

The Safety Management Leadership Course will provide managers and leaders with the best practices in safety for the paper and packaging industry that should help further reduce these workplace safety incidents. The course is designed for anyone involved in workplace safety including human resources, training, safety supervisors, team leaders, plant managers, project leaders, frontline supervisors, and safety committee participants.

The course will be led by industry expert and course chair Matthew Kanneberg from RockTenn.

"Participants in the course will be able to understand the fundamentals of safety and safety management principles, including recordkeeping, incident investigation, safety culture, managing change safely, understanding safety behavior, risk management, and measuring performance," Kanneberg said.

Course registration is limited to 30 participants so please register today at the course website. Early registration discounts are available.

Back To Top

---

 

This information-packed volume provides practical, industry-focused approaches to operational issues, and includes a first-ever, complete examination of the ongoing environmental and staging changes that occurred after the discontinuation of chlorine usage in 1996. 

 Bleaching of Pulp, 5th Edition is written to assist production engineers, supervisors, and scientists find quick solutions to today's immediate challenges in modern bleaching. The text is also designed to help both novice and seasoned professionals quickly understand a wide range of operational issues.

Authors: Alan W. Rudie, Ph.D., and Peter W. Hart, Ph.D.

Together they have delivered the industry's premier text on bleaching technologies. 

Thanks to strong pre-ordering, TAPPI has extended this special pricing into late June.

Order your copy of Bleaching of Pulp, 5th Edition today and pay only $110. This is a savings of more than 50% off of the June release list price of $232 (TAPPI members: $155). 

For more information contact TAPPI's Member Connection by email (MemberConnection@TAPPI.org). You can also call +1 800 332-8686 (USA), +1 800 446-9431 (Canada), or +1 770 446-1400 (Worldwide).

June's special order-price: $110

TAPPI Member Price : $155

List Price: $232

Remember, this offer ends on exactly June 28!
 
Back To Top

---

 

Join us on Tuesday, August 14, 2012, at the Mid-Valley Country Club in De Pere, Wis., USA.  An afternoon shotgun scramble golf outing is planned with dinner to follow. 

Your participation will help fund scholarships for local TAPPI and PIMA programs.

Multiple Prizes will be awarded and individual pin events will be held.

Those submitting registration with their fee, postmarked by August 9, will be assigned holes on a first-come, first-serve basis. Later registrations will be assigned as space is available. Foursome sponsors and all singles will be notified of their hole assignment at the course on the day of the event. 

Check-in registration will be at the main entrance of the golf course club house. Golf clubs will be unloaded, tagged, and placed on golf carts for your assigned hole. 

Beverage carts will also be available throughout the day on a cash basis.  Lunch will be provided prior to tee-off, with the standard fine cuisine of brats, hamburgers, and beverage. 

If you have any questions about this event, please contact Chris Wolslegel.

Full event information and registration details are available online.

Back To Top

---

 

Join us on Tuesday, August 28, at the Grand View Lodge, Preserve Course, in Pequot Lakes, Minn. A morning shotgun scramble golf outing is planned with lunch to follow.

Please remember, your participation will help fund scholarships for Lakes States TAPPI/North Central PIMA's Scholarship programs. Prizes will be awarded along with a putting contest and a raffle.

Reservation preference will be given to foursomes. Groups of two or less will be placed into foursomes pending availability. We will limit the number of participants to 128.

Entries will only be accepted with full payment. For entries received after August 16, the cost is $135.00 per person. Check-in registration will begin at 8:00 am.

If you have any questions about this event, please contact: Wfrawley@new.rr.com

Full event information and registration details are available online.

Back To Top

---

 

The 2012 TAPPI Tissue Properties & Manufacture Course is coming to TAPPI headquarters in Norcross, Ga., USA., on August 15 -16. This two-day course is a comprehensive overview of the entire tissue manufacturing process taught by leading industry experts.

The focus of the course is on learning ways to improve tissue manufacturing operations and produce a higher quality final product.The Tissue Properties & Manufacture Course will provide participants with more confidence in understanding tissue performance properties and how they are achieved, steps to improve tissue manufacturing, and preparation for more advanced topics.

The course will be taught by Michael J. Kocurek, PhD, Professor Emeritus at North Carolina State University, along with a faculty of experienced industry professional. Last year, more than 95% of Tissue Properties & Manufacture Course participants reported that they had increased their ability to impact tissue performance and design by attending the course. Participants enjoyed the opportunity to learn and network with industry peers and receive instruction from multiple instructors.

The Tissue Properties & Manufacture Course is designed for professionals with limited or intermediate experience including;

• Tissue Mill Operators
• Technical Process Engineers
• Non-Technical Professionals
• Tissue Manufacturing personnel.

This is an introductory/intermediate level course.  if you are looking for an advanced course on tissue, consider the next TAPPI Tissue Runnability Course.

There are only 25 spaces available for this popular course, so please register today at the course website.

Back To Top

---

 

Dr. George G. Maltenfort was a highly respected, long-time member of TAPPI who made innumerable contributions to the paper industry. Dr. Maltenfort distinguished himself in advancing pulp, paper, and converting technologies, particularly in the corrugated shipping containers arena. He published 50+ works for TAPPI. Among his more noted publications are two books: Corrugated Shipping Containers – An Engineering Approach and Performance and Evaluation of Shipping Containers. In addition to his many publications printed in English, he had dozens of others printed in German.

Dr. Maltenfort served on numerous TAPPI boards and committees relating to corrugated containers and associated R&D, and served with other international organizations as well. A TAPPI member since 1947, he was presented the Corrugated Containers Division Award in 1967. He was nominated into the TAPPI Fellowship in 1971, and received the 1979 TAPPI Medal by the association's board of directors, the highest honor that the association can bestow upon an individual. Until his retirement in 1978, Dr. Maltenfort  was the long-serving technical director of the Container Division Laboratory of Container Corporation of America, Chicago, Ill., USA.

Born August, 13, 1913, in Landsberg Germany, Dr. Maltenfort came to the U.S. in 1928 at the age of 15. He graduated from Lake View High School in Chicago in 1930. From 1930-32 he attended Northwestern University where he majored in organic chemistry. In 1932-33 he attended the University of Frankfurt in Germany before returning to the U.S. to graduate with a B.S. degree from the University of Illinois. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of major. After the war he joined Container Corp. in 1946, the company he would loyally serve until his retirement in 1978.

Dr. Maltenfort married and had one daughter. He was an avid reader and enjoyed stamp collecting as well as engaging in games of chess. There seems little doubt, due to the immense volume of contributions made to the industry, that George Maltenfort will be honored in future achievement awards for the paper industry. He is survived by his daughter, Gloria, as well as two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Back To Top

---

 

TAPPI headquarters in Norcross, Ga., USA, will host the annual Improving Paper Machine Performance Course August 21 - 23. This course provides students the tools needed to evaluate the performance of their paper machines against industry standards and evaluate ways to improve performance and optimize efficiencies. This year the course schedule has been expanded to include an important area of operation- evaluating energy savings.

Dick Reese of Dick Reese and Associates will help attendees learn how to evaluate energy consumption. Reese has completed energy evaluations on more than 125 paper and pulp machines in 56 mills. Several mills have reduced annual energy cost by $1 million-plus by implementing recommendations from the energy evaluations.

After successfully completing this course, participants should be able to:

• Explain how to establish a paper machine performance audit
• Improve performance and optimize energy conservation and efficiency of your paper machine
• Determine the tools needed to benchmark paper machine operations
• Identify areas of PM performance that are sub-standard.

The educational material has been designed as an intermediate or advanced course for process engineers and mid- to upper-level manufacturing managers. Service technicians, sales personnel, and engineers within the chemical and equipment categories will also benefit by attending this course.
 
A degree in engineering or other technical field is suggested, but not required. A good working knowledge of the paper machine is recommended (this is not an introductory course). Please bring your laptop computer for this working course. If you don't have one you may share with another course participant.

There is only room for 25 course participants, so please register today.

For more information, please visit the course website.

Early registration, travel, and lodging discounts are available.

Back To Top

---

 

Back To Top

---

 

My name is Cayle Machek and I am currently a senior at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C., studying paper science and chemical engineering. I studied abroad during the fall 2010 semester in Tampere, Finland, at the Tampere University of Applied Sciences, taking classes in paper science. During the 2011 spring semester, I studied in Munich, Germany, at the Munich University of Applied Sciences, taking classes in chemical engineering and paper science.

I will graduate in May 2013 with three degrees: a paper science degree from N.C. State, a chemical engineering degree from N.C. State, and an international paper science degree from one of the international universities. I have had experience working as an intern for International Paper in Riegelwood, N.C., during the summer of 2010. I have also worked for two months as an intern for Ahlstrom in Osnabruck, Germany. This summer, I will begin my internship for Ashland in Appleton, Wis., USA.

I enjoy singing, playing guitar, studying the Bible, traveling, running, biking, swimming, and anything that involves being outdoors. I love spending time at the beach and would love to live there someday. When I graduate, I am looking forward to obtaining a job in the paper industry.

Back To Top

---

 

The TAPPI International Research Management Committee requests that nominations be submitted for the William H. Aiken Prize for Research and Development. The award is given for outstanding accomplishments and/or contributions that have advanced the technology of paper and related industries in the R&D field. 

The $500 prize is funded by an endowment from the estate of William H. Aiken, TAPPI President in 1967 - 1968, and VP of Technology for the former Union Camp Corp. at the time of his death in 1974. Dr. Aiken won the TAPPI Gold Medal, the association's highest honor, in 1971.

Nominations should be sent to David Bell (DBell@TAPPI.org) TAPPI Headquarters,15 Technology Parkway South, Norcross, Ga. 30092, USA, or by fax (+1 770-446-6947).

The deadline for nominations for the William H. Aiken Prize for Research and Development Award is August 1, 2012.

The nomination should contain a summary of the nominee's technical achievements, impact on the industry and peers, personal data (such as education and work history), and information of other pertinent activity (such as TAPPI activities).

Back To Top

---

 

Nominations for major TAPPI 2013 awards are due by August 1, 2012. The awards that may be presented next year are:

Gunnar Nicholson Gold Medal Award - The Association's highest technical honor may be presented annually to recognize an individual or individuals for preeminent scientific and engineering achievements of proven commercial benefit to the world's pulp, paper, board, and forest products industries and the other industries that TAPPI serves.

Herman L. Joachim Distinguished Service Award - The Association's highest award for service, may be presented annually to recognize leadership and service that have significantly and demonstrably contributed to the advancement of the Association.

Paul W. Magnabosco Outstanding Local Section Member Award - The highest honor for Local Sections may be presented annually to recognize an individual for outstanding leadership and exceptional service to one or more Local Sections, resulting in significant and demonstrable benefits to Local Section members.

TAPPI Fellow - TAPPI Fellows are Individuals who have been members of TAPPI for not less than 10 years prior to the nomination, and who have contributed meritorious service to the Assciation and/or the paper and related industries. Retiring members of the TAPPI Board of Directors become Fellows automatically at the end of their term.

The TAPPI Awards and Honors page has links to these awards and shows the qualifications required and links to the nomination forms that must be completed.

You may submit all nomination forms by email at standards@tappi.org, or you may fax them to the attention of the Awards Department at +1-770-446-6947, or send by mail to TAPPI, Awards Department, 15 Technology Parkway South, Suite 115, Norcross, Ga. 30092, USA.

Back To Top

---

 

PaperCon 2012 was held April 22 – 25, 2012, at the Sheraton New Orleans in New Orleans, La., USA.

The 2012 conference focused on "Growing the Future"- leveraging renewable, recyclable raw materials and developing human capital to ensure value for customers, long-term sustainability for shareholders, and a future for our peers.

New technology programs joining PaperCon 2012 included:

• Control Systems Conference
• RPTA Conference
• Inside and Outside the Box – Optimizing Paperboard Grades
• Sustainabililty Forum
• Procurement Forum.

PaperCon is designed by industry professionals, bringing together CEOs, mill managers, superintendents, scientists, process engineers, and suppliers for the largest pulp and paper technical program in the world. No other event provides such a comprehensive program, networking opportunities, and exhibit among such a distinguished group of industry leaders.

This CD-ROM contains more than 125 presentations and papers presented throughout the conference and is only available on this fully searchable CD-ROM. PaperCon 2012 Conference Proceedings.

View Table of Contents.

Product code: PAPERCD-12

Member Price: $74.00

Non-Member Price: $111.00

Back To Top

---

 

TAPPI's International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference, October 17-19, 2012 in Savannah, Georgia, USA will focus on advancements and commercialization of bio-conversions that leverage the forest products manufacturing infrastructure, providing you with a deeper analysis of the technology and economics involved in commercializing bio-refineries.  Learn more about IBBC and see the entire technical program.

Keynote Speakers:

• Paul Spindler, Vice President of Technology at Catchlight

• John B. Crowe, Chairman and Chief Executive Office, Buckeye Technologies, Inc.

In addition, IBBC will include technical presentations, expert panels, case studies, and reports from projects that address:

• Feedstock and harvesting improvements to increase yield and quality of biomass

• Bioelectricity using combined heat and power (CHP)

• Bioconversion technologies for wood and biomass

• Production of chemicals and transportation fuels from wood and biomass

• Policies and incentives for bioconversion projects

IBBC will be co-located with the TAPPI PEERS Conference, creating a value-added opportunity for participants to expand their learning, networking and resources by attending both events.  

Exhibit and Sponsorship opportunities are available.  Contact Shane Holt at 800.369.6220, ext. 3345 for more information.
   
Back To Top

---

 

TAPPI's International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference, October 17-19, 2012 in Savannah, Ga., will include a tour to Herty Advanced Materials Development Center the morning of Wednesday, October 17. Chartered by the State of Georgia, Herty has leveraged its industry-proven laboratory and pilot capabilities to execute its strategic plan that includes significant emphasis in the biopower and biofuels areas. Herty's focus is on feedstock with current impact of more than $1.5 billion in alternative energy commercialization projects. Herty provides a hub location needed for rapid cost-effective development of biomass resources for energy production. Learn more about Herty and this tour.

IBBC will focus on technical advancements and commercialization of bioconversion technologies that leverage the forest products manufacturing infrastructure. Learn more about IBBC and see the entire technical program.

IBBC will also feature Keynote Speakers:

•  Paul Spindler, VP of Technology at Catchligh
• John B. chairman and CEO, Buckeye Technologies Inc.

In addition, IBBC will include technical presentations, expert panels, case studies, and reports from projects that address:

• Feedstock and harvesting improvements to increase yield and quality of biomass
• Bioelectricity using combined heat and power (CHP)
• Bioconversion technologies for wood and biomass
• Production of chemicals and transportation fuels fromwood and biomass
• Policies and incentives for bioconversion projects'

IBBC will be co-located with the TAPPI PEERS Conference, creating a value-added opportunity for participants to expand their learning, networking and resources by attending both events.

Back To Top

---

 

Interested in nanotechnology but can't bear to wade through detailed technical reports?

Individual reports on nanotechnology by research and marketing firms as well as governmental agencies are comprehensive and insightful. But they can also be tedious to read, expensive to procure, and generally unknown to non-experts interested in nanotechnology. 

Offering a reader-friendly and affordable alternative to these options, Nanotechnology: Health and Environmental Risks introduces risk analysis as a tool for responsible environmental decision making in nanotechnology development. The text provides examples of past, present, and future technologies that demonstrate the need for and benefits of evaluating the risks of nanotechnology.

Access the most up-to-date and relevant information on the impact of Nanotechnology on our health and surroundings. After outlining the steps of risk analysis, this book examines the opportunity costs inherent in present day nanotechnology development. It then introduces life cycle analysis, examining the toxicology of nanoscale materials, and the known impacts of specific nanoscale materials on human beings.

The text also covers environmental impacts and exposure, followed by chapters on the state-of-the-art tools that adapt life cycle thinking into risk analysis for nanotechnology. The final chapters describe current practices for managing the hazards and risks of nanoscale materials and explore the numerous international efforts that address the risks, science, and policies of nanotechnology. 

Learn to recognize and overcome the risks involving nanotechnology. With full-color images and insights into the key health and environmental aspects of nanotechnology, this resource shows how risk analysis can play an important role in creating a sustainable future for nanotechnology.  

Product code: 11NANOENV

Member Price: $42.00

Non-Member Price: $52.00

Back To Top

---

 

Authors: Wei-Hong Zhong and Bin Li, Jo Anne Shatkin, Russell G. Maguire, Vivian T. Dang, Gwen M. Gross, and Michael C. Richey

A comprehensive account of how nanomaterials are synthesized and processed, this book presents the theory and technology of introducing nano-based materials as value-added elements into product manufacturing. The book explains the fundamentals of vapor, liquid, solid phase, and biosystem-assisted nanoparticle syntheses, with sufficient analysis of each method to permit decisions on which is most productive, energy efficient, and safe. The text then confronts the problems of scaling up from lab-based syntheses to manufacturing and demonstrates how nanomaterials on the shop floor require new protocols of quality assurance and employee and environmental protection. The book concludes with case studies of individuals who endeavored to commercialize nanotechnologies for higher-volume production.

Nano Science and Nano Materials:  Synthesis, Manufacturing, and Industry Impacts.

Product code: 12NSNM

Member Price: $129.00

Non-Member Price: $149.00

Back To Top

---

 

The Nonwovens Engineers and Technologists Division (NET) of TAPPI will co-locate its annual Innovative Nonwovens Conference (NETInc) next year with PaperCon 2013, April 28 - May 1 in Atlanta, Ga., USA.. The NETInc technical conference is a unique event developed by engineers and technologists to cover the latest market and technical developments and innovations in the global nonwovens industry. 

"Co-location of the NETInc Conference at PaperCon 2013, the pulp and paper industry's largest event and most comprehensive technical conference, will provide attendees an expanded range of options to network and learn the latest cutting edge technical content," notes TAPPI President and CEO Larry N. Montague. "The nonwovens industry is a dynamic, rapidly growing segment of our industry that encompasses a wide range of raw materials, applications, and market segments, and it employs some of the most innovative technology in the industry. We're excited about the synergy provided by having these two industry leading events located in one venue."

NETInc offers peer reviewed papers, expert speakers, and exclusive networking opportunities. A comprehensive technical program covers a wide range of products, innovative technologies, and topics including market trends, raw materials, fibers, and processing used in an array of applications including absorbent products, medical applications, building science, and many others.

TAPPI's NET Division covers the global nonwovens business and includes members and nonwovens experts from diverse markets and disciplines. It covers materials, equipment, and processes for the manufacture and use of nonwovens. The division's technical committees sponsor courses, conference sessions, roundtables, and TAPPI PRESS products, as well as networking and problem-solving opportunities.

Back To Top

---

 

Wet End Chemistry is the eleventh of 15 CD-ROMs in the Making Pulp and Paper CD-ROM Series. Through this highly interactive, self-paced CD-ROM, participants learn wet end chemistry terms, concepts, and processes.

Learning outcomes
After completing the Wet End Chemistry CD-ROM, participants should be able to: 

• Understand the reasons why papermakers use wet end additives in paper
• Describe commonly used functional additives
• Describe commonly used process additives.

Benefits for Everyone
The series is designed for anyone who would benefit from a working knowledge of the pulping and papermaking process, including:

• Paper machine operators
• Process and product engineers
• Sales and technical support staff
• New employees
• Students.

It will also be beneficial to experienced production or technical employees who need a more thorough understanding of a specific area of the operation, especially for cross-training purposes. New employees of chemical and equipment suppliers and paper industry consultants will also benefit from this series.

The complete set of all 15 Making Pulp and Paper CD-ROMs are also available.

Product code: MPP-11

Member Price: $78.00

Non-Member Price: $119.00

Back To Top

---