A renewable energy agreement between Rayonier Performance Fibers LLC, Jacksonville, Fla., USA, and the Florida Public Utilities Co. (FPUC) was commemorated this past week at Rayonier's Fernandina Beach, Fla., mill. Attendees included Adam H. Putnam, commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and other dignitaries. Under the terms of the 10-year agreement approved by the Florida Public Service Commission in July, Rayonier will sell FPUC excess energy generated by a 22.5 MW turbine generator recently installed at the Fernandina mill.

Seven years after investing nearly $30 million in a biomass-fired power boiler at Fernandina, Rayonier installed the new turbine generator at a cost of roughly $25 million. "This project, which makes our Fernandina mill electrically self-sufficient, is the culmination of our renewable energy strategy for the performance fibers business," said Rayonier chairman, president, and CEO Paul Boynton. "Our mill in Jesup, Ga., now generates more than 99% of its own power needs, primarily from biomass."

FPUC president Jeff Householder noted that "our agreement with Rayonier not only provides a local source of renewable energy capable of powering more than 1,200 homes, but also lowers our energy costs. Those savings will be passed through to ratepayers in our service territory."

Commissioner Putnam, whose agency houses the State's Office of Energy, said that one of the mandates of his agency is "to foster innovation in energy development while cost-effectively diversifying our energy portfolio, and this contract does exactly that. It means FPUC will now be able to offer electricity from a renewable energy source, enhance system reliability, and save customers more than $1.2 million. I applaud Rayonier and FPUC for providing multiple benefits to ratepayers as a result of this agreement."

In the photo at right (l-r) are Boynton, Putnam, and Householder during the recent tour of the new turbine and generator at Rayonier's Fernandina Mill.

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TAPPI will conduct its Tissue Runnability Course in Neenah, Wis., USA, November 7-9. This special course is being taught by technical experts in each area of the machine from wet end operations through creping and process control. The experienced, highly qualified faculty for this course will provide a thorough understanding of the entire tissue making process and current best practices in each area.

Wednesday's (November 7) classes will focus on stock preparation and wet end operations, while Tuesday's (November 8) classes cover pressing, drying, and doctoring. Wednesday (November 9) classes examine technologies and latest developments in hoods, TAD (through-air drying), and other dynamics of the tissue machine dry end,

The TAPPI Tissue Runnability Course is designed for process engineers, machine supervisors, and reliability professionals who have to maximize uptime and saleable production. It is also an excellent tutorial for suppliers who support tissue making customers. It will help attendees:

• Improve tissue quality and consistency
• Understand contributors to waste and downtime
• Learn reliability and maintenance best practices
• Diagnose and troubleshoot problems quickly.

TAPPI will award CEU credits to participants who attend at least 80% of the educational sessions and complete a final program evaluation.

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The candidates are: chair, Thomas J. Garland; vice chair, Chris Luettgen, Kimberly-Clark; and directors, Daniel D. Cappell (AstenJohnson), Kirt J. Cuevas (International Paper), and Robert A. Feeser (MeadWestvaco Corp.). Voting begins December 1. Per the TAPPI Bylaws, members of the organization have until November 1 to review the slate.

More information about the slate and election process is available online

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The Bioenergy Deployment Consortium (BDC), Middleton, Wis., USA, recently held its 2012 Fall Symposium in Alpena, Mich., capping the event with a tour of the new cellulosic ethanol plant owned by American Process Inc. (API), Atlanta, Ga., a BDC member. API's facility is one of the first and one of three cellulosic biofuel plants to start up this year, along with KiOR and INEOS.

The API process utilizes hemicellulose extract from the adjacent DPI hardboard mill, which previously was treated and discharged as a waste stream. The arrangement provides benefits to both DPI and API. This technology has replication potential in pulp mills and biomass power plants across the industry, API notes.

The low-cost feedstock stream utilized by API is hydrolyzed and combined with a special yeast to break down the sugars. When the plant reaches design production, it will generate about 1 million gal/yr of cellulosic ethanol.

Theodora Retsina, CEO of API, said that "this commercial project will prove the economics of using cellulosic biomass as the feedstock for ethanol and other products, which have previously come from petroleum. The Alpena commercial plant will provide us knowledge that we will apply to future projects."

According to BDC, cellulosic ethanol has become a reality over the past few years due to the development of special enzymes that can covert cellulose and hemicellulose to sugars that can then be fermented. The progress of competitive cost cellulosic ethanol and other products will take pressure off of the use of food grains for needed ethanol volumes. Bioprocesses that utilize cellulosic materials to produce alternatives to petroleum products are essential to helping reduce the nation's carbon footprint and green house gases.

More information about the Alpena biorefinery and API is available online. More information bout the BDC is also available online.

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Yankee drying experts from around the world are planning their fall meeting for November 5-6 in the heart of North American tissue making, Neenah, Wis., USA. The committee meets twice per year to share knowledge and best practices to increase safety and reduce delay that negatively impacts dryer operations and overall productivity. The fall meeting will include the development of standard practices and presentations on doctor setup/profiling and metalizing yankee dryers. More information and registration details are available online.

The meeting will be held in conjunction with the Lake States TAPPI/North Central PIMA Energy Forum and is open to all TAPPI members and visitors (one time only). To attend as a visitor, please contact Scott Springmier. 

Immediately following the biannual Yankee Dryer Safety and Reliability Meeting, TAPPI will hold the popular Tissue Runnability Course November 7-9 at Miron Construction in Neenah. The course will provide an excellent knowledge base for process engineers, machine supervisors, reliability professionals, and suppliers responsible for maximizing uptime and saleable tissue production. Attendees will learn to:

• Improve tissue quality and consistency
• Understand contributors to waste and downtime
• Learn reliability and maintenance best practices
• Diagnose and troubleshoot problems quickly.

The course includes two and one-half days of focused instruction from a dozen globally recognized tissue making experts. More information is available online. A registration discount is offered to TAPPI members.

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Below is the latest listing of job openings in the TAPPI Career Center. The current listing includes job openings for a variety of positions, including safety coordinator, process and electrical engineers, technical service manager, maintenance supervisor, director of research, production supervisor, mill coordinator, and operations specialist. Current, specific job openings at companies and locations in the TAPPI Career Center include:

Employer	Title	Location
Catalyst Paper	Manager, Technical Services	Powell River, Canada
New-Indy Containerboard	Process Engineer	Ontario, Canada
SCA Americas	Electrical Engineer
SCA Americas	Process Optimization Manager
Confidential	Safety Coordinator	Plymouth, Ind.
RockTenn	Maintenance Manager–Mult. Locations	Dallas, Tx.
RockTenn	Maint. Mechanic/Technician–Mult. Loc.	Newark, N.J.
FPInnovations	Eng./Scientist, Pilot Tissue/Paper Machine	Pointe-Claire, Canada
RockTenn	Director, Operations Research	Norcross, Ga.
RockTenn	Production Supervisor–Corrugated/Convert.	Various Locations
MeadWestVaco	Safety, Health and Environmental Manager	Covington, VA
American Process Inc.	Senior Process Engineer - Atlanta, Ga.	Georgia
American Process Inc.	Process Engineer / Area Eng.–Atlanta, Ga.	Georgia
American Process Inc.	Energy Engineer/Manager – Atlanta, Ga.	Georgia
Catalyst Paper	Mechanical Maintenance Supervisor	B.C., Canada
Catalyst Paper	Mill Coordinator (Shift Supervisor)	B.C., Canada
Catalyst Paper	Operations Specialist-Paper Machines	B.C., Canada

More information about these jobs is available online.

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Over the next 10 years, consumption of pulpwood is expected to continue its shift from North America and Western Europe to Asia and Latin America. This shift will continue to keep prices low and impact species mix according to the 2012 World Pulpwood Study, released this week by RISI, Boston, Mass.

"For the past 15 years, we have seen steady trends in the market. Real prices for pulpwood have been tracking downward on a global-weighted basis, while the world's pulpwood supply potential has been rapidly expanding. As this trend continues, it is likely that any price gains will be mixed as some regions are expanding pulp and paper capacity, and others are closing due to narrowing profit margins," said Peter Barynin, principle timber economist at RISI. "We're also anticipating that as global demand for pulp accelerates and shifts towards other regions, changes in species mix and desired log grades will follow," he added.

More information is available online.

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U.S. cut-size uncoated freesheet (UFS) estimated prices slipped $10/ton to $1,025 - $1,075/ton (20-lb repro bond) in September, according to Mark Wilde of Deutsche Bank. Offset prices were flat at $910 - $930/ton.

"The decline in cut-size prices is not surprising given very weak demand (August -9.1% y/y). We expect cut-size prices to come under further pressure this month (October). Overall UFS shipments in August were -5.6% y/y (YTD -3.4%). At the same time, the pending restart of Harbor Paper's 150,000 tpy paper machine will increase supply in a weak demand environment. To be sure, so far producers have done a good job of reducing supply in a secularly declining market," Wilde says.

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U.S. uncoated groundwood (UGW) estimated prices were flat in September, Mark Wilde of Deutsche Bank reports. Prices for 22-lb directory were at $790 - $810/ton, 35-lb offset was at $650 - $700/ton, and SC-A was at $820 - $860/ton. Demand remains anemic, Wilde adds.

August shipments were down 14.0% y/y. Second quarter shipments were -15.7% y/y. The impending restart of the 395,000 tpy SC machine at Port Hawkesbury, N.S., will increase supply in a very weak demand environment. "The $40/ton October 1 SC price hike seems unlikely to gain traction. The real risk is slippage in prices in the coming months," Wilde notes.

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September North American 30-lb newsprint east was flat at $640/metric ton, according to Mark Wilde of Deutsche Bank. West coast producers, Catalyst Paper and Norpac, announced a $30/metric ton price hike on newsprint that became effective October 1, he adds.

The price hike is driven by tight West Coast supplies as a result of the closure of Catalyst Papers' Snowflake mill (277,000 metric tpy). East coast prices are a bit soft, mostly from the restart of White Birch's 150,000 metric tpy paper machine at its Stadacona (Quebec, Canada) mill. SP Newsprint's new owners plan to convert one paper machine at each of the two mills to specialty packaging grades, Wilde explains.

Newsprint demand remains weak, Wilde continues, noting that August newsprint consumption was down 7.9% y/y.

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Australian Paper (AP), Australia, reports that its parent company, Nippon Paper of Japan, has approved construction of a $90 million wastepaper recycling plant at AP's Maryvale Mill in Victoria's Latrobe Valley, Australia. The plant will generate 50,000 metric tons of premium recycled pulp each year, diverting up to 80,000 metric tpy of wastepaper from Australian landfill, equivalent to more than 16 billion sheets of A4 office paper every year.

AP is Australia's largest manufacturer of fine papers. The company also produces packaging papers.

"Australian Paper is delighted to confirm this important investment in sustainable manufacturing following an extensive feasibility study. The Maryvale recycling plant will secure Australian Paper's position as the market leader in premium recycled paper and is a positive initiative for our local environment, jobs, and the community," said Jim Henneberry, CEO, Australian Paper.

The plant will triple Australian Paper's usage of recycled fiber and will enable the development of an innovative range of new Australian made recycled office, printing, envelope, and stationery papers. The $90 million recycling plant will begin construction soon, with startup scheduled for early 2014.

"We are proud of this investment in sustainable Victorian manufacturing and would like to acknowledge the strong support we have received from a broad range of stakeholders including our customers, unions, the Latrobe City Council, environmental groups, and a range of business and community stakeholders. In particular, we thank the state and commonwealth governments and Low Carbon Australia for their support and for sharing our vision to make this investment possible," Henneberry said.

An Economic Impact Report prepared by Western Research Institute calculates that Australian Paper's total operations supported around 6,000 FTE (full time equivalent) jobs and contributed more than $750 million to the Australian economy in 2011. Including flow-on impacts, the recycling plant will support more than 950 FTE jobs during construction and around 250 FTE jobs on-going. Construction and ongoing operations of the plant will also drive around $160 million in combined value to the economy. The plant will be closely integrated with the existing Maryvale Mill to optimize energy and transport efficiencies.

"This will further differentiate our products from the imported paper out of Indonesia, China, and Thailand that do not share the same local environmental, social, and economic benefits as our Australian manufactured papers," Henneberry noted.

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Cia. Canoinhas de Papel, Canoinhas, Santa Catarina, Brazil, reportedly has started up its rebuilt No. 1 tissue machine. PM 1 was restructured from a conventional fourdrinier to a Crescent Former supplied by Hergen Paper Machinery. It has a designed production capacity of 13,000 metric tpy at 19gsm, operating at 1,100meters/min with a paper deckle of 2,000 mm, according to a report by RISI, Brussels, Belgium.

The HCF-800 Smart Plus is Hergen's latest technology designed specifically for operations with limited budgets and space limitations. One of the main features, RISI notes, is its compactness, which Hergen said resulted in low building requirements and low transportation costs.

Cia. Canoinhas de Papel said that it also has plans to install a HCF-800 on its PM 2 in the near future.

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C&S Paper Yunfu, Luoding, Guangdong Province, China, has ordered two PrimeLineST tissue machines from Andritz, Graz, Austria, each with a steel yankee dryer. Startup is scheduled for the end of this year.

The tissue machines both have a design speed of 1,900 meters/min and a width of 5.56 meters. The steel yankees have a diameter of 18 ft. and a shell length of 6.2 meters, making them the world's largest steel yankees for tissue. The scope of supply also includes the complete stock preparation plant as well as automation and drive systems.

The PrimeLineST machines will be the first of their kind in China and were designed particularly to reduce drying costs. The entire drying process uses steam only, and the large high-precision steel yankee combined with steam-heated hood allows for the maximum possible output at stable runnability, enabling remarkable cost savings by operating with the relatively cheap steam only.

The machines and equipment will be manufactured at Andritz's production facilities in Europe and China.

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First Quality Tissue, Great Neck, N.Y., USA, reportedly will install a Voith ATMOS Technology tissue machine at its Anderson, S.C., USA, mill. Expected startup is in 2014.

First Quality Tissue, LLC began production in December 2004, using through Air Drying (TAD) technology. The company currently operates two TAD machines in Anderson (the most current one just starting up) and two in Lock Haven, Pa. With both TAD machines in full production at Anderson, the company effectively doubled its tissue capacity to approximately 300,000 tpy.

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The Hengan Group, China, and Andritz, Graz, Austria, have successfully completed a total of four tissue machine start-ups planned for this year. The Hengan Group is thus running nine Andritz tissue machines, two of which are fitted with the largest steel yankees in operation worldwide.

From January to September of this year, two PrimeLine W8 tissue machines were started up at the Chongqing mill and two PrimeLine TM W6 tissue machines at the Jinjiang mill, all ahead of the time schedule. All four orders included the supply of the complete stock preparation and machine control systems. The steel yankees of PM 15 and PM 16 are the largest for tissue operating anywhere in the world, with a diameter of 4.9 meters and a shell length of 6.2 meters.

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Nippon Paper Industries, Japan, reports that it has completed the conversion of a continuous digester at its Kushiro Mill (Kushiro, Hokkaido) in Japan to produce dissolving pulp. A ceremony was held at the mill on October 11 to commemorate the project completion, and initial production of dissolving pulp reportedly is now underway.

Construction at Kushiro began this past spring, after the company decided to expand its dissolving pulp capacity to meet the continuing rise in demand for this grade. Nippon has invested some 2.2 billion yen in the project so far.

The production of dissolving pulp with a continuous kraft pulping digester will be the first in Japan. The company was supported in this project by the Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, which provided a subsidy for the development of equipment to be used in the evaluation and verification of advanced technologies. As the project proceeds, verification and assessments will be conducted and the production scale will expand to 30,000 metric tpy.

Nippon Paper Group, which produces numerous products from wood, mainly paper products, said that the Kushiro project is "intended to enhance the technology we have accumulated for the utilization of ligneous resources, and to broaden our scope of business beyond paper production. As a corporate group that comprehensively utilizes ligneous resources, we will continue pursuing the possibilities of wood and creating new value to meet the needs of society."

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Rayonier, Jacksonville, Fla., USA, reports that recent rains have allowed the company to re-open its Western Washington State lands to general public access, effective immediately. Rayonier owns 390,000 acres of timberlands in Grays Harbor, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Jefferson, Lewis, and Clallam Counties in the U.S. state of Washington.

"We appreciate the public's support in helping us prevent a serious forest fire during the dry weather," said Eduardo Hernandez, Rayonier's Pacific Resource Unit Leader. "We ask that folks returning to the forest follow signage designating areas closed to the general public and the Red Dot/Green Dot system controlling motorized access. While on the property, drive carefully, wear hunter orange, and always practice safe gun handling."

Rayonier has three core businesses—Forest Resources, Real Estate, and Performance Fibers. The company owns, leases, or manages 2.7 million acres of timber and land in the U.S. and New Zealand. Its holdings include approximately 200,000 acres with residential and commercial development potential along the Interstate 95 corridor between Savannah, Ga., and Daytona Beach, Fla. Its Performance Fibers business produces high-value specialty cellulose fibers used in products such as filters, pharmaceuticals, and LCD screens.

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Despite fairly slow growth in domestic demand, China has maintained an aggressive capacity expansion plan that will result in a significant market imbalance over the next two to three years. Given the precarious state of the global economy and relatively weak domestic demand Chinese producers will be eager to export excess tonnage. These findings were published this week in the 2012 World Boxboard Study by RISI, Boston, Mass., USA.

"During the last decade, demand for boxboard declined in the mature markets of North America, Western Europe, Japan, and Oceania. Producers in those markets began exporting to developing markets that were experiencing significant growth rates of approximately 7% per year from 2001 to 2010. By 2011, Asia represented 42% of the total world boxboard demand," said Ken Wagerhorne VP of Packaging at RISI.

"China has responded aggressively to this demand. We estimate that by 2013 close to 8.8 million metric tons of additional boxboard capacity will come online there. As Asia quickly takes the lead in global exports, producers in Europe and North America will face increasing competitive pressure," continued Wagerhorne.

More information about the 2012 World Boxboard Study is available online.

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DS Smith Plc, U.K., this week reported that the integration of SCA Packaging, following its acquisition this past June, "is proceeding well, with good progress across all areas." During the first 100 days of its ownership of SCA Packaging, the company has undertaken a detailed analysis of synergies and engaged the management team. It has started to implement its synergy plans and reports that "the opportunities are greater than first anticipated."

Cost synergies, the company continues, previously expected to reach EUR 75 million per annum in year three following completion of the acquisition, are now expected to reach EUR 100 million per annum in the third year. EUR 25 million per annum is expected to be delivered in the financial year 2012/13, as previously indicated. The remainder will be phased evenly over the following two years.

Cash synergies, previously expected to be EUR 40 million over three years following completion of the acquisition, are now expected to be EUR 130 million, which breaks down into EUR 100 million of working capital savings and EUR 30 million of capital expenditure efficiency. EUR 60 million is expected to be realized by April 2012/13 (previously EUR 13 million). The Group's capital expenditure in the year 2012/13 is now expected to be £150 million (previously £160 million). It also expects EUR 100 million in proceeds from disposal of surplus property and non-core businesses.

The cost to achieve these synergies in total is expected to be EUR 90 million (previously estimated at EUR 80 million), and the management teams are fully in place to deliver the revised targets. The impact of the revised cost and cash synergies is such that the company now anticipates reducing its net debt/EBITDA ratio to the target level of 2.0x or lower by April 30, 2013, a year earlier than previously indicated.

Miles Roberts, group chief executive, noted that "six months ago DS Smith and SCA Packaging were already two strong packaging businesses, neither of which could reach its full potential on its own. The improved synergies that we have been able to announce show how the new enlarged group is not just bigger, but far stronger. Our customers and our employees have responded enthusiastically to the opportunities opened up by the new scale of our business and the scope for further improvement."

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The North Charleston, S.C.-USA mill of KapStone Paper and Packaging Corp. has ordered from PMT, Pinerolo, Italy, an upgrade of it No. 3 paper machine. The rebuild includes replacement of the machine's 6.2 meter press section and extension of its first dryer section. Startup of the rebuilt machine is scheduled for the first quarter of 2014.

PMT will supply a new single ÆGOFLX SHOE module with mated ÆGOFLX ROLL as part of the new press configuration. The project is expected to improve the capability and efficiency of PM 3 in producing ultra high performance, lightweight linerboard grades.

PMT will also supply startup and commissioning services.

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Metsä Board, Finland, has started up a new EUR 50 million biopower plant at its Kyro mill in Finland. The new plant, developed by Metsä Board in partnership with two Finnish energy companies, will approximately halve the carbon footprint of Metsä Board's folding boxboards Carta Elega and Avanta Prima.

"We have been working on improving the energy efficiency and sustainability of our mills. The new biopower plant will help us in these efforts, as well as meeting our target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 30% across operations by 2020 compared with 2009 levels," said Mikko Helander, CEO of Metsä Board.

The new biopower plant will replace the use of fossil natural gas with carbon dioxide-neutral, discarded wood, including predominantly bark and other biomass from industrial side streams, as well as logging residual and chips from first thinnings of growing forests. The biopower plant will produce electricity and heat for Metsä Board Kyro, and also provide heating for the neighboring district of Hämeenkyrӧ. Carbon dioxide emissions from the Kyro mill will be reduced by approximately 100,000 metric tpy, to about a quarter of previous levels.

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Sappi, South Africa, will mothball Paper Machine No. 4 (PM 4) at its unprofitable Tugela mill in Mandeni on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast of South Africa, beginning January 1, the company reported this past week. The company said that it would restart the machine when market conditions improve, and that it has sufficient capacity to meet local containerboard requirements.

Sappi accordingly has begun an official Section 189 process with its workforce at the Tugela mill. Some 400-plus mill employees have received the Section 189 notices, but the likely number of workers affected by the mill idling is expected to be considerably less.

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Sonoco, Hartsville, S.C., USA, this week announced that its CorrFlex point-of-purchase (POP) display and packaging services business will now operate under a new brand, Sonoco Display and Packaging. Sonoco acquired CorrFlex in 2004. The business designs, manufactures, assembles, packs, and distributes temporary, semi-permanent and permanent POP displays. It also provides contract packaging, co-packing and fulfillment, and supply chain services for major consumer product companies around the world.

"When we purchased CorrFlex, it made sense at the time to maintain the CorrFlex name because of its brand recognition in the marketplace. But our brand today has become more aligned with Sonoco, and it only makes sense that we make this transition," said Jeff Tomaszewski, GM, Sonoco Display and Packaging.

"Clearly, the new name and brand more accurately describe what we do—display and packaging. But it also allows us to better leverage the Sonoco name—its long history, financial strength, and reputation as a low-cost global leader in customer-preferred packaging."

Sonoco Display and Packaging operates 20 manufacturing and packaging facilities in the U.S., Poland, Mexico, and Brazil.

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SCA, Boston, Mass., USA, makers of the Tork brand of away-from-home paper products, has announced the North American launch of its new collection of hand towels, which includes Premium Extra Soft, Premium, and Advanced Soft.

The new portfolio of hand towels, available in roll and folded options, improves restroom aesthetics and experience for tenants, employees, and customers. Additionally, these towels are compatible with a variety of TorkSelect dispensers.

"Studies show that customers and tenants judge a facility largely by the condition of its restrooms," said Josh Renihan, director of Washroom and Regional Marketing for AFH Professional Hygiene-North America.

"If you think about it, other than their work space, people in office buildings spend more time in the restroom than any other part of the building. That's why we've made several enhancements to make our premium products the softest, highest-performing products available. These products actually have a quality and softness you can see and feel."

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Twin Rivers Paper Co., South Portland, Maine, USA, a producer of lightweight specialty packaging, label, and publishing papers, has published a new swatchbook. The swatchbook showcases Twin Rivers' broad portfolio of products, from freesheet to hybrid in a variety of PPI ranges, brightness levels, and basis weights.

"As part of our ongoing commitment to the lightweight publishing markets, we have created this publishing swatchbook to make finding the right paper for your project as simple as possible. This swatchbook presents a quick snapshot of the wide range of options across our freesheet and hybrid offerings," says Dave Deger, director of Business Development and Marketing.

More information about Twin Rivers Paper's new swatchbook is available online, as well as more information about the company's publishing papers.

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The Felix Schoeller Group, Osnabrück, Germany, a producer and converter of specialty papers, announced that Hans-Christoph Gallenkamp, formerly COO of Schoeller Technocell GmbH & Co. Kg, will join the Felix Schoeller Group's management board as CTO. He will replace Dr Matthias Rauhut, who left the group's management board on September 30 and will be leaving the company on November 30 to pursue other professional interests.

Gallenkamp has been COO of the Technocell Division with its two business units, Technocell Dekor and Technocell Vlies, since 2002. Stephan Igel and Georg Haggenmüller collectively took over his role as COO on October 1, reporting to Gallenkamp.

Igel will be responsible for the Technocell Division's Dekor Business Unit, including sales, technology, product management, and digital printing. Haggenmüller will continue to be responsible for Technocell's nonwovens business and also takes over Dr Rauhut's responsibility for Technocell's mills—Osnabrück, Günzach, Neustadt, and Penig in Germany, along with Drummondville in Canada—and for Technocell's research and development activities.

Guido Hofmeyer will continue as COO of the Felix Schoeller Division. Volker Barth replaces Dr Rauhut on Felix Schoeller's management report. He will continue to report to Hofmeyer.

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Sonoco, Hartsville, S.C., USA, this week named Marty F. Pignone VP, Paper North America, effective December 1. Pignone will replace John M. Grups, 61, division VP and GM, who will be retiring from Sonoco following a 36-yr career.

In this position, Pignone will have responsibility for Sonoco's 12 uncoated recycled paperboard mills in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico and related support functions. He reports to John Colyer, VP, Paper and Industrial Converted Products.

"Following John's decision to retire after nearly four decades with Sonoco, it was important that we install a seasoned paper manufacturing veteran to head this manufacturing-intensive operation," said Colyer. "Marty previously led our North American paper mills for eight years and implemented several key safety and operating excellence initiatives that improved performance during his tenure. In this new role, we're asking him to improve operating performance and safety near-term, while further developing our paper manufacturing management team."

Pignone joined the company in 1997 and was elevated to division VP and GM of Paper, North America in 2000. He became VP, Global Manufacturing in 2009 and later VP, Operating Excellence, where he has led the company's global manufacturing improvement initiatives as well as supply management and product quality improvement. Pignone graduated in 1978 from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering and received a Master of Science in business administration from Stanford University in 1991. Prior to joining Sonoco he worked for General Electric and Kodak.

Grups' retirement is effective March 31, 2013. During the transition, he will work with Pignone on several manufacturing initiatives. Grups took over the company's Primary Materials Group in September 2011 after serving as staff VP, Operating Excellence for eight years. Grups is a 1974 graduate of the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy. He also holds a master's degree from Purdue University in industrial management.

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Register Today for Specialty Papers 2012, November 7-8, 2012, in Chicago, Ill., USA. Join more than 100 senior-level industry insiders from all aspects of the supply chain, including papermakers, machinery suppliers and manufactuerers, raw material suppliers, consultants, and more for two days full of learning and networking. With more than 25 presentations from a divserse speaker panel, there is something for everyone in the Specialty Papers industry.

Michael Huth, CEO, Potsdam Specialty paper, will present "Paper Maker's Perspective: When Bigger Isn't Always Better." This retrospective will provide insight into how a small specialty paper business unit within a Fortune 200 paper company turned into a privately owned, independent specialty paper mill.

The conference will also feature "Market-based performance requirements for barrier-treated specialty paper and board" by Daikin America's Dr. Joe Ishley, Technical Services, and Dr. Frank Adamsky, Unidyne Marketing Manager. They will provide an overview for a variety of grades and basis weights within different barrier packaging.

View the conference agenda for other not-to-miss presentations.

 

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TAPPI Member Garnet Bremner describes TAPPI as a "mosaic" of individuals whose depth of experience and knowledge creates a wonderful atmosphere for finding outstanding mentors.

Bremner now works as an industry consultant for an air, water, & energy solutions and services provider. He began his pulp and paper industry career in a mill engineering role in Canada. Eventually, he successfully worked into deinking supervisory positions, also working to rebuild recycling mills, and then finally serving as a mill manager himself. Bremner has been an active TAPPI member, participating in officer roles on various committees and as a program chairman. Currently, he is serving as the PMD program chair for the PEERS 2012 conference being held this week at the Marriott Riverfront in Savannah, Ga., USA.

Bremner says that having a short list of contacts from mill operations, academics, R&D fields, equipment vendors, chemical vendors, automation vendors, and consultants of all types of expertise provided him with a support group to help with challenges.

Find out more by reading this month's Member Spotlight.

Spotlight participants are recommended by fellow members and staff. If you would like to nominate a member, just send name (or names) to MemberSpotlight@tappi.org. We will forward a Spotlight Questionnaire (click here) for you to fill out and return.

We look forward to seeing you "In the Spotlight!"

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TAPPI's 2012 Nominating Committee presents a slate of candidates for two officer and three director positions on the TAPPI Board. The candidates are: chair, Thomas J. Garland; vice chair, Chris Luettgen, Kimberly-Clark; and directors, Daniel D. Cappell (AstenJohnson), Kirt J. Cuevas (International Paper), and Robert A. Feeser (MeadWestvaco Corp.).

Voting begins December 1.

Per the TAPPI Bylaws, members of the organization have until November 1 to review the slate.

More information about the slate and election process is available online.

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On Wednesday, October 24, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. EST, the Binders and Additives Committee of the TAPPI NET (Nonwovens Engineers & Technologists) Division would like to invite you to participate in a free webinar on acrylic chemistry. This presentation will be given by Maureen Nunn and Melinda Einsla of Dow Chemical. It is appropriate for a diverse audience and attendance of previous TAPPI webinars is not needed, nor is a chemical degree.

The presentation will cover a brief review of polymerization and focus on the use of Acrylic polymers in the textile nonwovens area.

Register Today!

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Join us at this new lovely golf center near Memphis, Tenn., USA to hit a bucket of balls and enjoy food and fellowship at our Driving Range Fundraiser. Proceeds will support scholarships at Christian Brothers University Packaging Program.

The event will be held in Cordova, Tennessee on October 22 from 5:30 - 9:30pm.

Prizes all for a great cause!

• Team & Individual Events
• Longest Drive
• Nearest the pin
• Silent Auction
• Golf Trivia
• And much, much more...

Visit www.tappi.org/CBUFundraiser for more information and to learn about sponsorship opportunities.


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The Empire State TAPPI/PIMA Local Section will conduct its Continuous Improvement Conference November 1 at the Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls, N.Y., USA. Speakers include Peter Morel from Poyry, Ken Chartier from Finch Paper, Mark Decker from NYSERDA, Rich Rappa from CHA Consultants, and Laura Sherman from Nalco. The program is as follows:

• 8:30-9:00 a.m., Registration, Coffee, Continental Breakfast, Exhibitors
• 9:00-9:15 a.m., Welcome by Sean Reilly, TAPPI/PIMA Chair
• 9:15-10:00 a.m., "Dealing with Older Paper Machines," Peter Morel, president, Poyry
• 10:00-10:30 a.m., Break/Exhibitors
• 10:30-11:45 a.m. "NYSERDA Industrial and Process Efficiency (IPE) Incentive Program" and a couple of case studies from the paper industry, Mark Decker, project manager, Energy Efficiency Services, NYSERDA, and Rich Rappa, CHA
• 11:45-12:45 p.m., Lunch and Exhibitors
• 2:45- 2:00 p.m., "Six Sigma and Other Quality Initiatives at Finch Paper," Ken Chartier, Finch Paper
• 2:00-2:40 p.m., Break and Exhibitors
• 2:40-3:20 p.m., "RDF Chemistry Relative to Older Paper Machines," Laura Sherman, product manager for Graphics RDF Chemistry.

Learn more about this event

The 2013 William E. Clarke Memorial Scholarship and Grant and Heidi Cole Scholarship award application is available online. Application must be postmarked by December 31.

For Hotel reservations, contact the Queensbury Hotel at 518-792-1121.

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Yankee drying experts from around the world are planning their fall meeting for November 5-6 in the heart of North American tissue making, Neenah, Wis., USA. The committee meets twice per year to share knowledge and best practices to increase safety and reduce delay that negatively impacts dryer operations and overall productivity. The fall meeting will include the development of standard practices and presentations on doctor setup/profiling and metalizing yankee dryers.

More information and registration details are available online.

The meeting will be held in conjunction with the Lake States TAPPI/North Central PIMA Energy Forum and is open to all TAPPI members and visitors (one time only). To attend as a visitor, please contact Scott Springmier. 

Immediately following the biannual Yankee Dryer Safety and Reliability Meeting, TAPPI will hold the popular Tissue Runnability Course November 7-9 at Miron Construction in Neenah. The course will provide an excellent knowledge base for process engineers, machine supervisors, reliability professionals, and suppliers responsible for maximizing uptime and saleable tissue production. Attendees will learn to:

• Improve tissue quality and consistency
• Understand contributors to waste and downtime
• Learn reliability and maintenance best practices
• Diagnose and troubleshoot problems quickly.

The course includes two and one-half days of focused instruction from a dozen globally recognized tissue making experts.

More information is available online. A registration discount is offered to TAPPI members. 

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Papers are still being accepted for the Appita 2013 Technical and Industry Innovations programs. This year, as an added bonus, a special speakers rate will apply. Papers can be on any subject of relevance to forestry, pulp, paper, print, or packaging.

The Call for Papers deadline is November 9.

You are invited to submit an extended abstract on topics relevant to the industry, including but not limited to:

• Forestry and wood products
• Sustainability
• Bioresources, bioenergy, and cogeneration
• Resource assessment and management
• Paper and board manufacturing
• Efficiency and process improvement
• Safety
• Lean manufacturing
• Pulping and bleaching.

For additional details and registration information contact Appita 2013 Conference organizers.



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One of the most popular and essential educational programs, the 2012 Tissue Runnability Course, will be held November 7-9, 2012 in Neenah, Wis., USA. The Tissue Runnability Course offers skills training for paper industry professionals involved in tissue and towel production. The expert instructors will provide course participants with a thorough understanding of the entire tissue making process and current best practices from wet end operations through creping and process control.

This three-day course was developed for engineers, machine and technical teams, or lead operators involved in the efficiency and quality of their plant's operations. The course material will be of great interest to new as well as experienced personnel.

All attendees will learn how to improve the quality of their product, diminish waste, and increase output.

You will learn from the industry experts! The TAPPI Tissue Runnability Course is taught by John Neun, John Tyburski, and technical experts from leading companies including Nalco, Metso, Albany International, BTG Americas, Jacobs Engineering, and Steve Waring of Process Applications.

Participants will learn how to run tissue and towel production with optimum settings for peak performance on various systems.

Learn more and register at the 2012 Tissue Runnability Course website.

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This text, edited by Carlton W. Dence and Douglas W. Reeve, covers fundamentals and processes from the chemical composition of pulp to the technology, production, and the environmental impact of bleaching. Designed as both a textbook and a reference book, Pulp Bleaching: Principles and Practice explains what bleaching is, why pulp is bleached, and how bleaching is done.

The book also features discussions on several "hot topics" in pulp bleaching, including elemental chlorine free bleaching, totally chlorine free bleaching, enzyme assisted bleaching, and bleaching of recycled fiber. In addition, the book is key-word indexed and each chapter contains extensive references.

Pulp Bleaching: Principles and Practice

Product code: 0102B061

Member Price: $124.00

Non-Member Price: $186.00

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Why Whitewater Filtration Systems Fail

Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. EST
Wednesday, November 14, 2012

This free webinar from TAPPI addresses why whitewater filtration systems are often problematic and in some instances fail completely. The presentation will explain why filtration systems fail under certain conditions and offers the best solutions to improve the overall reliability of the process.

Attendees will learn:

• Significance of process variation on equipment performance
• The negative cost impact associated with poor system performance
• New sensor technology that is making the system "visible"
• Cutting-edge strategies to manage the process variation
• How to develop a "roadmap' for system optimization.

Learn more and register

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The 20 volumes of Papermaking Science and Technology bookseries cover the entire paper manufacturing process from wood raw material to end product, providing a basis for university-level education, for updating training courses, and as handbooks for the industry. The bookseries has been updated and second editions are now available. TAPPI members can place an order by contacting The Finnish Paper Engineers' Association. Please contact Mary Anne Cauthen, Member Group Coordinator, at +1.770.209.7352 or by e-mail at MCauthen@TAPPI.org

These books can be purchased individually or as a set.

This 20 volume set includes:

• Volume 1 - Economics of the Pulp and Paper Industry
• Volume 2 - Forest Resources and Sustainable Management
• Volume 3 - Forest Products Chemistry
• Volume 4 - Papermaking Chemistry
• Volume 5 - Mechanical Pulping
• Volume 6, part 1 - Chemical Pulping Part 1, Fiber Chemistry and Technology
• Volume 6, part 2 - Chemical Pulping Part 2, Recovery of Chemicals and Energy
• Volume 7 - Recycled Fiber and Deinking
• Volume 8 - Papermaking Part 1, Stock Preparation and Wet End
• Volume 9 - Papermaking Part 2, Drying
• Volume 10 - Papermaking Part 3, Finishing
• Volume 11 - Pigment Coating and Surface Sizing of Paper
• Volume 12 - Paper and Paperboard Converting
• Volume 13 - Print Media - Principles, Processes, and Quality
• Volume 14 - Process and Maintenance Management
• Volume 15 - Materials, Corrosion Prevention and Maintenance
• Volume 16 - Paper Physics
• Volume 17 - Pulp and Paper Testing
• Volume 18 - Paper and Board Grades
• Volume 19 - Environmental Management and Control 
• Volume 20 - Biorefining of Forest Resources

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The 2013 TAPPI International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials will be held July 24-27, 2013, on the KTH Royal Institute of Technology campus in Stockholm, Sweden. Industry experts, scientists, health and safety specialists, legal and government policy makers, as well as the field's leading researchers will discuss the latest in nanotechnology research and development.

The 2013 Technical Program Committee has issued a Call for Papers inviting contributions from participants working in research, development, and deployment of renewable nanomaterials.

Abstracts are due by December 3, 2012.

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Make your plans now to join a host of professionals from industry, universities and research institutes at the 14th TAPPI European PLACE Conference, which will be held May 6-8, 2013, at the Swissotel in Dresden, Germany.

The Call for Papers is now officially open. Submit your abstract and take an active role in this not-to-miss event!

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