The deadline to pre-register for the Lake States TAPPI/North Central PIMA meeting on "Technology Advances for Specialty Papers" has been extended until tomorrow, Friday, May 17. The event, to take place on Tuesday, May 21, at Liberty Hall in Kimberly, Wis., USA, focuses on Innovative Additives, Barrier Coating, Equipment, and Advances in Digital Papers, and includes a special session on Digital Print Technology.

The primary focus of this meeting will be on new or emerging technologies to promote value added paper grade development, cost optimization, and quality improvements. It is designed especially for printers, product development engineers, paper machine/stock prep/coating prep/coater operators, process engineers, superintendents, supervisors, lab personnel, suppliers, and students, as well as others interested in learning more about specialty papers technology, barrier coatings, coating additives, digital papers, and coating process troubleshooting.

The pre-registration fee is $135.00, with an on-site registration fee of $150.00. Students and retirees can take advantage of a reduced rate, if pre-registered, of $45.00, with an on-site rate of $55.00. A special mill rate allows five attendees for $500.00.

The event flyer and agenda, which includes the full meeting program, is available online.

Register online now, or send pre-registration fees by Friday, May 17, to:

Bruce Shafer-Treasurer
Integrated Paper Services
3211 E. Capitol Drive
Appleton, WI 54911
Telephone Number: 920-749-3040 ext.122.

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Appleton Papers, Appleton, Wis., USA, has changed its name to Appvion Inc. The company notes that the new name reflects its heritage of innovation in applying chemistry to paper and microencapsulation as a means to create value for its customers.

Commenting on the name change, Chairman, President, and CEO Mark Richards said that "Charles Boyd founded our company 106 years ago today (May 13) with the belief that he could add value to paper by applying coatings to it. Since then, company employees have used their ingenuity and ability to adapt their expertise to new opportunities to prove that Mr. Boyd's idea was sound, profitable, and enduring.

"Our company's success has been based on using applied chemistry to increase the performance of paper. More recently, our expertise in microencapsulation has enabled us to partner with companies like Procter & Gamble to enhance the performance and value of a growing range of consumer and industrial products," Richards explained. He added that while producing thermal, carbonless, security, and other specialty coated papers will continue to be an important part of the company's product offering, adopting the name Appvion reflects the company's entry into diverse new markets and makes it clear that paper won't be the only component of the company's future success.

"We are proud of our company's heritage and our deep roots in the Appleton community," Richards emphasized. "We believe our new name appropriately reflects the strengths on which our company was built and the diversification and growth we expect to achieve in the future."

Appvion creates product solutions through its development and use of coating formulations, coating applications and Encapsys® microencapsulation technology. The company produces thermal, carbonless, and security papers, and Encapsys products. Appvion has production facilities in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, employs approximately 1,700 people, and is 100% employee-owned.

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The Pulp and Paper Safety Association (PPSA) will host its 70th Annual Safety and Health Conference - "The Human Element of Safety" June 9 - 12, 2013, in Williamsburg, Va., USA. The program for this event explores how human behavior can proactively help prevent, detect, and control events before they occur.

A total of 18 speakers in this year's program will address the human impact on safety. The conference will feature updates from OSHA, member company case studies, and PPSA's popular legal update. Among confirmed speakers are representatives from MeadWestVaco, Weyerhaeuser Co., Domtar, Safe Start, International Paper, REM Safety Consulting Inc, Michael Best & Friedrich Law Firm, Training Logic, Change Management Consulting Inc., and BushCo Inc.

PPSA is a non-profit, non-political, international organization, devoted to the continuous improvement of safety throughout all aspects of the paper industry. From forest products to paper mills, converting plants, and recycle collection centers, the association's membership is grouped by category to ensure a fair and appropriate basis for comparison.

Registration is currently open for the PPSA 70th Annual Safety and Health Conference. More information about the conference is also available online.

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The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), Ottawa, Ont., Canada, and the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) this week announced that nominations are open for this year's Aboriginal Business Leadership Award. The $5,000 award recognizes and celebrates First Nations entrepreneurs for their success in a forest products business that exemplifies business leadership, exceptional environmental and safety performance, and the delivery of high-quality products and services. The recipient must also demonstrate a strong, long-term commitment to the Aboriginal community, particularly in supporting Aboriginal employment.

"We are delighted to once again offer an award to recognize the leadership excellence of an Aboriginal business in the forest products sector," said FPAC President and CEO David Lindsay. "Under Vision2020, we are aiming to refresh our workforce with an additional 60,000 recruits by the end of the decade, and Aboriginals are a key target. We particularly want to encourage Aboriginal businesses that show a long term commitment to Aboriginal employment."

President and CEO of the CCAB JP Gladu noted that "we are in the business of showcasing the leadership and contributions of outstanding Aboriginal business in Canada each and every day. The forest sector continues to contribute to the health and vitality of our Aboriginal communities in so many ways. The business success of our people in this sector is helping to educate all Canadians about our enormous accomplishments and economic potential. The Aboriginal Business Leadership Award is a celebration of our continued business success and an important link on the bridge to sustainable economic prosperity."

Nominations are due July 30. The award will be handed out in this fall at the CCAB gala in Vancouver, B.C., on September 23. More information is available online.

FPAC provides a voice for Canada's wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. The $57-billion-a-year forest products industry represents 2% of Canada's GDP and is one of Canada's largest employers operating in hundreds of communities and providing 230,000 direct jobs across the country.

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The Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), Brussels, Belgium, will launch a new method for developing incipient ideas into breakthrough technologies. CEPI's goal is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions of pulp and paper production by no less than 80% from the 1990 level by the year 2050, according to a news release this week by the Finnish Forest Industries Federation.

It is not possible to achieve this goal without new technologies, CEPI noted, estimating that known technologies can only achieve a 50%-60% reduction by 2050. Another aim is to generate substantial new added value for the products and production processes of the sector.

CEPI's model places two teams in competition with each other to discover creative and viable ideas and innovations that could, for example, help reduce the energy consumption of paper manufacturing. The teams consist of corporate experts, researchers, goods suppliers, and other paper and pulp industry players. In addition, they will include representatives of other sectors, as activities will be based on open innovation and the sharing of research findings, with the hope that this will lead to better utilization of research knowledge across different sectors of industry.

"The forest industry is going through a major structural transition and this calls for fresh approaches to the development of operations. Open innovation has produced good results in the ICT sector and now we will see how well it works for the forest industry," said Director Antro Säilä, who heads the Business Environment and Innovation unit of the Finnish Forest Industries Federation.

"Paper engineers have traditionally been good at squeezing more performance out of machines and improving productivity through this avenue. In addition to this, we need a new type of approach that looks beyond internal limitations and does not hesitate to take on competent people regardless of whether or not they have a background in the traditional paper industry," Säilä added.

The two competing teams will convene in Helsinki this week to work on ideas and hear about the opportunities of the Finnish bioeconomy. The best breakthrough technology will be published in Brussels as part of the European Paper Week event this November.

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Research and Markets, Dublin, Ireland, this week announced the addition of the Top Five Global Paper and Packaging Companies: Performance, Strategies, and Competitive Analysis report to its offering. Fragmentation of the paper and packaging market, competitive landscape, and corporate and marketing strategies adopted by the paper and packaging companies are factors that have significantly influenced industry dynamics, the report notes. The market reached an estimated revenue of $363 billion in 2011, with 5.2% CAGR during 2007-2011. The industry is expected to reach $463.4 billion in 2017, growing at a 4.2% CAGR.

The competitive landscape of the paper and packaging market has fluctuated over the past five years and affected the top five companies, the report says. The paper and packaging industry is highly fragmented and includes segments such as paper, sanitary, and household, paperboard and packaging, and industrial applications. The Asia Pacific (APAC) region dominates the industry and represents 39% of the global market. A combination of factors such as demographics, economic conditions, and environmental regulations influences market dynamics significantly.

The author found that the market size or revenue, average operating profit, average net profit, and annual growth rate are some of the driving forces of these companies. Buyers' power, the degree of competition, threats from new entrants, and the prevalence of substitutes also affect this market. The top five companies of the global paper and packaging market that are profiled in the report are Kimberly-Clark Corp., International Paper Co., Svenska Cellulosa AB (SCA), Oji Paper Co., and Nippon Paper Group.

This discussion includes a comparative analysis of the subject companies along with their respective company overviews, geographic footprints, financial metrics, market definitions and scope, industry performance, market strategies, corporate cultures, business structure, and SWOT analysis.

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Demand for wood pellets in Europe has gone up dramatically the past few years as power companies on the continent have switched from using fossil fuels to renewable energy alternatives. Importation of pellets from North America increased more than 60% from 2011 to 2012 with the U.S. export volumes more than doubling, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review (NAWFR), Seattle, Wash., USA.

The wood pellet export industry in North America has grown exponentially in a relatively short period of time. The export value has increased from an estimated $40 million in 2004 to almost $400 million in 2012. This fairly new trade development is the result of Europe's quest to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Energy generation from renewable resources has, with varying pace, gone up in all countries in the EU the past decade.

Woody biomass, including wood pellets, is one energy source that has attracted much attention and investments in a number of countries on the European continent. With limited domestic wood raw-material sources, countries such as the U.K., Belgium, and the Netherlands have increasingly relied on the importation of industrial wood pellets to reduce the usage of coal at some of their power utilities. The relatively high costs for wood pellets in Europe have resulted in increased interest in importing pellets from British Columbia and the southern states of the U.S. where wood raw-material costs are lower than in Europe.

A record volume of 3.2 million tons of pellets was exported from North America to Europe in 2012, according to the NAWFR, which compiles and publishes pellet trade volumes based on surveys of pellet exporters and customs data in North America and Europe, each quarter. From the U.S. South, shipments were up more than 100% compared with 2011, while Canadian exports increased 25% year-over-year.

The expansion of pellet production has been particularly noteworthy in the U.S. South where there have been 14 new pellet plants that are either new or planning to expand production in the coming year. Location and capacity of the new plants are reported in the latest issue of NAWFR.

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Ahlstrom Corp., Finland, has signed an amendment agreement with EQT, principal owner of Munksjö, related to the proposed combination of Ahlstrom's Label and Processing business area and Munksjö AB, to create Munksjö Oyj. The agreement covers an additional equity investment in Munksjö Oyj and the net debt position of Ahlstrom's Label and Processing business in Europe (LP Europe) and Munksjö AB as of March 31, 2013. It also details consequences of the commitments that Ahlstrom and Munksjö AB have provided to address competitive concerns of the European Commission with respect to the abrasive backings and pre-impregnated decor paper businesses that are part of the planned combination.

The parties have agreed to make an equity investment in Munksjö Oyj totaling approximately EUR 28.5 million, in addition to the previously agreed EUR 100 million. The equity investment will be made by Ahlstrom, EQT, and the shareholders of Munksjö AB. Ahlstrom has increased its original commitment by EUR 16 million to EUR 78.5 million and EQT has increased its original commitment by EUR 1 million to EUR 13.5 million by subscribing and paying for additional new shares in Munksjö Oyj. Munksjö AB's commitment amounts to EUR 11.5 million.

Based on the net debt determination of LP Europe as of this past March 31, Ahlstrom will receive EUR 151.5 million related to a net debt transfer to Munksjö Oyj in connection with the completion of the LP Europe part of the combination. Further, it has been agreed that Munksjö AB's shareholders, based on the net debt determination of Munksjö as of March 31, will receive a net debt related compensation amounting to EUR 11.5 million, which the shareholders intend to use for the equity investment in the new Munksjö Oyj, committed to by Munksjö AB as noted above.

As a result of the commitments that Ahlstrom and Munksjö AB have provided to the European Commission, the parties have agreed that Ahlstrom will purchase back all of the shares in Ahlstrom Osnabrück GmbH in Germany from Munksjö Oyj at an enterprise value of EUR 48 million immediately after the LP Europe completion has occurred. The abrasive backings and pre-impregnated decor paper businesses will then be divested to a third party.

The commitments to the European Commission will affect the expected synergies of the combination of Ahlstrom's Label and Processing business area and Munksjö AB by approximately EUR 5 million annually. Consequently, the combination is expected to create savings for Munksjö Oyj through synergies and efficiency improvements in the range of EUR 20-25 million annually. Of the identified synergies, a run-rate of about 60% is expected to be achieved within 12 months following the LP Europe completion and the rest during the following two years. Total costs to achieve these synergies are estimated to be EUR 10-15 million in cash, of which approximately EUR 6 million is expected to be incurred during the first 12 months and the remainder during the following two years. In addition to the synergies, further annual cost improvements of approximately EUR 10-15 million are expected related to standalone cost savings.

The LP Europe Completion is expected to take place on or before May 27, provided that the relevant competition clearances, e.g. from the European Commission, are obtained prior to that.

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Andritz, Graz, Austria, reports that it has received orders from Stora Enso Nymölla AG and Domsjö Fabriker AB, both in Sweden, to modernize a recovery boiler and a sulfite liquor boiler, respectively. Due to the modernizations, the capacity of the two boiler plants will be increased by up to 20%. Both startups are scheduled for this year.

For Stora Enso's liquor recovery boiler in Nymölla, which went into operation in 1971, Andritz will supply the plate-type heat exchangers for pre-heating the combustion air in combination with an economizer to pre-heat the feed water. This technical concept is characterized by a long lifetime of the boiler and lower maintenance effort required; thus scheduled plant shutdowns can be reduced to a minimum and the plant's capacity increased significantly.

The scope of supply for sulfite liquor boiler No. 9 at Domsjö Fabriker, in operation since 1962, includes replacement of the super heater and evaporator heating surfaces, as well as partial replacement of the front and rear walls of the liquor boiler. The new design will improve fouling behavior of the boiler and enhance efficiency by up to 20%. Due to the very short assembly period of 18 days, the mill will have a very brief production shutdown.

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Domtar Paper Co., Montreal, Que., Canada, plans to upgrade and add equipment at its Hawesville, Ky., USA, facility, retaining 452 jobs and investing up to $20 million in capital improvements. Domtar operates 13 mills worldwide, including the Hawesville Mill. The mill produces approximately 80,000 tpy of market hardwood pulp and about 600,000 tpy of printing grade paper.

The company plans to upgrade existing equipment and invest up to $10 million to construct a new conveyor system that will allow Domtar to transport its product directly between the plant and the nearby Ohio River. The system is expected to lower operating expenses, reduce greenhouse gases, and help retain the existing 452 jobs at the facility.

"Domtar is excited to make this significant investment at our Hawesville facility," said Hawesville Mill GM Steve Henry. "This investment will benefit the environment, our community, and the long-term competitiveness of our facility."

To encourage the investment in Hancock County (where the mill is located), the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved Domtar for tax incentives up to $290,000 through the Kentucky Reinvestment Act (KRA). KRA is designed to assist companies that need to make significant capital investment in Kentucky facilities to remain competitive.

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Mondi reports that its South Africa Division is planning to close a newsprint machine at the company's Merebank mill in South Africa. Mondi did not give an exact date for shutting down the machine.

The company noted in an interim management report that the decision to close one of two newsprint machines at the Merebank mill was due to the "ongoing decline in domestic newsprint demand and reorganization within the publishing sector." The one newsprint machine that will continue to operate has a production capacity of 120,000 metric tpy.

In addition to newsprint produced at Merebank by the Mondi Shanduka Newsprint operation, the mill also produces office paper, including the premium South African brand Mondi Rotatrim.

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Resolute Forest Products Inc., Montreal, Que., Canada, this week inaugurated a major power island producing green energy at its pulp and paper operation in Thunder Bay, Ont. The power island includes a refurbished and upgraded wood waste boiler and a new 65-MW condensing turbine. Approved by Resolute in early 2011, the C$65 million project took just over 21 months to complete.

"The power island is a strategic addition to Resolute's Thunder Bay facility," said Richard Garneau, president and CEO. "It will reduce the mill's energy costs as well as maximize our local woodlands, sawmill, pulp and paper, and energy operations by fully utilizing forest-based biomass to produce green electricity."

The green power produced will be sold to the Ontario grid under a power purchase agreement between Resolute and the Ontario Power Authority.

To mark the inauguration, a ceremonial "throwing of the switch" was held this past Tuesday involving key company and government representatives. Richard Garneau and Resolute Chairman of the Board Richard B. Evans were joined by a number of government dignitaries, including: Ontario Minister of Northern Development and Mines and MPP, Thunder Bay-Superior North, the Honorable Michael Gravelle; Member of Provincial Parliament for Thunder-Bay-Atikokan Bill Mauro; and Mayor of Thunder Bay Keith Hobbs. Resolute employees and local community leaders also attended the event. The project received support from the Ontario Government's Forest Sector Prosperity Fund, as well as from the Federal Government's Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program.

"This project is consistent with Resolute's focus on optimizing our network to reduce costs as well as investing in projects that improve our competitive position and are aligned with a sustainable future," added Garneau.

Resolute Forest Products owns or operates more than 40 pulp and paper mills and wood products facilities in the U.S., Canada, and South Korea, and power generation assets in Canada.

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Sappi Fine Paper North America, Boston, Mass., USA, reports that it, along with global PR and communications firm, Burson-Marsteller, received a 2013 Holmes Report Gold SABRE award this past week in New York, N.Y. USA. Sappi's campaign, The Standard 5, was recognized for its outstanding accomplishment in the Industry Sector category of Business-to-Business: Chemicals & Industrials.

The SABRE Awards recognize superior achievement in branding and reputation communications. Winning campaigns across North America, EMEA, and the Asia-Pacific region demonstrate the highest level of creativity, integrity, and effectiveness in their respective categories.

"It is an honor to be selected as the winner of a Gold SABRE award among a roster of outstanding campaigns," said Patti Groh, director of marketing and communications, Sappi Fine Paper North America. "Over the course of five months, The Standard 5 creatively incorporated events, social media, print, print-activated media such as augmented reality, and QR codes as well as cause-related marketing—all into one campaign. The impact of this campaign has far outlasted our expectations and Sappi still receives regular requests for The Standard 5 from designers around the world over a year after its launch."

Sappi worked closely with Burson-Marsteller, the guide's designer Kit Hinrichs of Studio Hinrichs, as well as 826 National, a nonprofit network of tutoring, writing, and publishing centers across the U.S that served as inspiration for The Standard 5's content.

"Our collaboration with Sappi on this project created something incredibly special and we are glad to see it get such great recognition," said Gerald Richards, CEO, 826 National. Through the participation of Gerald Richards and designers that have ties to the chapters, as well as readings done by local 826 students to kick-off presentations, the mission of the organization came to life for event attendees across the country.

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Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings), Hong Kong, China, reports that it will, according to the company's estimation of market dynamics, have six production lines begin production in succession over the next three years, including five production lines in China as well as an additional packaging paperboard production line with an annual production capacity of 350,000 metric tons following the construction of Phase II in its Vietnam base. Along with active expansion of overseas markets, such a move is estimated to add more than 2 million metric tpy to its production capacity by then.

According to Chairlady Cheung Yan, given the "exuberant demand" in the regions where Nine Dragon's bases are located, as well as the increasing growth in downstream production capacity, the supply and demand for packaging paperboard products in the market will gradually increase. In view of favorable prospects of the market after 2015, the company is building the five production lines in China and one production line of Phase II in its Vietnam base. This will further strengthen its regional scale, diversifying its product portfolio to exploit its economies of scale in the regions.

Specifically, the company will have six production lines begin production at home and abroad in the next three years. This year, two packaging paperboard production lines with a total annual production capacity of 650,000 metric tons in Fujian Quanzhou will begin production before June. One packaging paperboard production line with a production capacity of 300,000 metric tpy in Sichuan Leshan will begin production before December.

From 2014 to 2015, a production line with a capacity of 350,000 metric tpy of Phase 1 in Liaoning Shenyang base will begin production before February 28, 2014. In the meantime, the second packaging paperboard production line in Shenyang base that was postponed previously will begin production ahead of schedule by the end of 2015, with an annual production capacity of 350,000 metric tons and a total investment of approximately RMB1.2 billion.

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Rengo Co., Kita-ku, Osaka; Japan, this week announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Rengo Packaging, a distributor of corrugated boxes and other packaging materials in Hawaii, has begun construction of a new corrugated plant. The new plant will be constructed within the Malakole Industrial Park located in the western part of Honolulu (see map). Operations will begin in mid-2014.

Currently, there is no corrugated plant in Hawaii, with all products being shipped by sea transportation from the west coast of the U.S. After completion of the new plant, which will be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, the lead time from order to delivery will be greatly reduced, enabling the provision of services that are better aligned to customers' needs, as well significant quality improvements. It will also allow Rengo to respond to the expected increase in the quantity of goods distributed in the Pacific Rim area as a result of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) being concluded.

Rengo Packaging is a supplier of corrugated boxes and other packaging materials in Hawaii. In addition to further improving services to customers, the construction of the new plant will help to stimulate the local economy and increase employment, as well as assist the Rengo Group to enhance its business base for the Hawaiian and mainland U.S. markets, the company noted.

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Smurfit Kappa, Ireland, has moved up its earlier announced plans to close two existing containerboard machines at its papermaking facility at Townsend Hook in Kent, U.K. and replace them with a single, more modern machine. The company was originally planning to close the two machines in 2014, with the new machine starting up in early 2015.

The company announced earlier this week, however, that the machines would be closing this July. The machines have a combined capacity of 250,000 metric tpy and are expected to close this July after a consultation process with employees, instead of 2014 as originally planned.

"We are bringing forward the closure to extend the training period for our workforce, advance the startup of the new paper machine, and increase the pace of the expected ramp-up. The facility will be rebuilt (using a machine acquired from the Cadidavid liquidator in 2011) into one 250,000 metric tpy, modern, lightweight machine that will be operational by the fourth quarter of 2014 rather than the first quarter of 2015," the company said.

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Sonoco, Hartsville, S.C., this past week unveiled its Supplier Sustainability Award program. Recipients, including Arcelor Mittal, Buckman International, Staples, and W.R. Grace, were recognized during a dinner at the Ninth Annual Sonoco/JBE/MYCA Supplier Diversity Business Conference.

The new supplier sustainability program recognizes the company's suppliers who demonstrate clear differentiation from their competitors with measurable, strategic, and transparent social and environmental responsibility efforts. The idea for the program was first presented to Sonoco's Corporate Sustainability Team in late 2012. Sixty of Sonoco's top suppliers were contacted with a call for entries in January 2013 and candidates' entries were reviewed in April.

"Approximately 15 entrants participated this first year," said Marc Ensign, director, Strategic Sourcing, Sonoco. "We expect to have many more next year, and were very impressed with our suppliers' initiatives in the areas of sustainability, environmental responsibility, and diversity.

Award recipients showed definitive leadership in various categories such as water, energy, emission, and waste disposal reduction goals; environmental policies; social responsibility reports; and codes of conduct.

More information about the award program is available online.

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When it comes to cleaning up the next massive crude oil spill, one of the best and most eco-friendly solutions for the job may be low-grade cotton from West Texas, according to a new study conducted by the Nonwovens and Advanced Materials Laboratory at The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH), Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA. Seshadri Ramkumar, lead author of the study and manager of TIEHH, said he and his colleagues found that low-micronaire cotton – one of the lowest-quality types of cotton – is most effective at picking up oil. A pound of the low-micronaire cotton can pick up more than 30 lb of crude oil, and its natural waxiness helps to repel water.

The new study includes some of the first scientific data on unprocessed raw cotton's use in crude oil spills, and was published in the ACS journal Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research.

"In this region, about 10% of the cotton grown in West Texas is low micronaire," Ramkumar said. "It doesn't take a dye well, so it gets discounted. However, because low-micronaire cotton is less mature, it shrinks, and you are able to pack more fiber into a given area. The strength here is that the low-micronaire cotton absorbs the most crude oil. The oil is not only stuck to the surface, the oil gets absorbed into the fiber."

Ron Kendall, director emeritus at TIEHH and special assistant to the president, said the Deepwater Horizon disaster emphasized the need for better ways of cleaning up oil spills. "One of the things we realized from Deepwater Horizon is we didn't have the best tools for cleanup, and the technology wasn't right for the booms," Kendall said. "This discovery that low-micronaire cotton, which is the least valuable cotton, can absorb as much crude oil as it does is a breakthrough discovery. It gives us an excellent tool for cleanup of shorelines, animals, and ecologically sensitive areas as well as a new technology for booms that can stop oil sheen moving into wetlands. And it's biodegradable. This is just another added bonus use for low-end West Texas cotton. Now, farmers have a new use for low-end cotton in a very significant way for oil spill cleanup. It's a major discovery from scientific and economic standpoints."

Scientists have done extensive studies on fibers such as barley straw, kapok, and polypropylene wool, Ramkumar said. However, big gaps existed in knowledge about their basic crude oil-uptake mechanisms and no data existed on unprocessed raw cotton. His team decided to fill those gaps with research on the oil sorption properties of low-micronaire cotton.

The cotton fibers take up oil in multiple ways, including both absorption and adsorption in which oil sticks to the outer surface of the cotton fiber.

"Our interest was to see how raw cotton straight from the bale picks up the crude oil as well as determining the governing mechanism behind picking up the crude oil," he said. "We show through sophisticated testing that low-micronaire cotton is much finer and can pick up more crude oil. And crude oil is very different from refined motor oil. It's very dense and releases toxic vapors. It's not as easy to get picked up. In contrast to synthetic sorbents, raw cotton with its high crude oil sorption capacity and positive environmental footprint make it an ecologically friendly sorbent for oil spill cleanups."

Laboratory work using crude oil was performed by graduate student Vinitkumar Singh. Both Cotton Inc. and The CH Foundation contributed funds to this research.

For more information, contact Seshadri S. Ramkumar, associate professor, The Institute for Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, or Ron Kendall at Texas Tech University.

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Ahlstrom, Finland, this week introduced its expanded interleaved Sterile Barrier Systems (SBS) offering, Ahlstrom Reliance® Tandem. The expansion introduces SMS (Spunbond-Meltblown-Spunbond) technology to the offering.

Ahlstrom's sterile barrier systems are used in the central sterilization department in hospitals. Previously, its interleaved offering consisted of crepe and wetlaid technologies. Ahlstrom notes that it now offers a complete interleaved portfolio with the introduction of SMS into the Ahlstrom Reliance® Tandem portfolio. The portfolio uses Ahlstrom's newest technology, SMS, in combination with its existing technologies to provide an optimal combination of sterile barrier system sheets for sequential wrapping.

Ahlstrom Reliance® Tandem or interleaving is the concept of combining two layers of SBS sheets, each offering specialized performance for sequential wrapping. The two layers are used together to offer a high degree of flexibility in terms of performance, technology, and cost for different applications.

More information is available online.

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Cascades, Kingsey Falls, Qué., Canada, is launching its new line of moving boxes made in Québec from corrugated board containing 80% recycled materials. "Whether you are packing up a large house or a small apartment, you can now purchase boxes in small quantities, which until now have been available only to companies for industrial packaging," Cascades says. The boxes are available in standard sizes commonly used by moving companies: 1.5 ft3, 2 ft3, 3 ft3, 4 ft3, and 5 ft3.

"We are pleased to make these boxes available to the general public. Thanks to these boxes, we have built a strong reputation with many customers in the industrial sector. In addition to our offer of customized home delivery, we are proud to be offering a quality product at very competitive costs: $0.93 to $1.89 per package, depending on the format," explained Marc-André Dépin, president and CEO of Norampac, a division of Cascades.

Cascades moving boxes are available at the Boutique Cascades.

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A new publication featuring hydraulic spray nozzles and a detailed technical reference section is now available from Spraying Systems Co, Wheaton, Ill., USA. Industrial Hydraulic Spray Products Catalog 75 provides educational information on spray technology and technical data on thousands of full cone, flat spray, hollow cone, and fine spray nozzles.

The technical reference section is a valuable resource for those involved with spray nozzle specification or maintenance. It features a checklist of key factors to consider when selecting spray nozzles, optimization tips to maximize spray performance, information on how pump type affects nozzle selection, tips to help detect nozzle problems, maintenance guidelines, and more.

Comprehensive product information is also included in the catalog. Illustrations showing liquid flow, spray pattern photographs, and performance data are provided to facilitate product selection.

Industrial Hydraulic Spray Products Catalog 75 is available free of charge.

A download of the catalog, with request in U.S. or metric units, is available online.

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E Ink Holdings, Taiwan, has announced the upcoming release of E Ink Mobius, a new flexible electronic paper display (EPD) technology. E Ink Mobius will be the first flexible display technology that will go into mass production for a large format digital paper product based on flexible Thin Film Transistor (TFT) technology developed by Sony.

Mobius uses a TFT technology that will enable the development of much lighter and rugged products. Mobius displays can weigh less than 50% of the weight of an equivalent glass based TFT. This is particularly important for mobile products requiring larger display areas. A 13.3" display weighs approximately 60 grams.

The ruggedness and lightweight characteristics of Mobius are due to the TFT being constructed on a plastic substrate rather than traditional glass. The technology was developed by Sony specifically for use with EPDs in cooperation with E Ink. Sony has now transferred the technology to E Ink for mass production. E Ink will start mass production of the world's first 13.3 flexible EPD display this year.

Founded in 1992 by Taiwan's leading papermaking and printing group YFY, E Ink Holdings Inc. is the pioneer of TFT and ePaper business in Taiwan. Its corporate philosophy aims to deliver revolutionary products, user experiences, and environmental benefits through advanced technology development. This vision has led to its continuous investments in the field of ePaper display as well as its 2008 acquisition of Hydis Technologies, manufacturer of the world's best wide viewing angle LCDs, and its 2009 acquisition of E Ink Corp.

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Brigl & Bergmeister, Niklasdorf, Austria, a producer of one-side coated papers for labels and flexible packaging, this week announced a sales price increase of between 5% and 7 %, depending on the grade, for deliveries beginning July 1. The company noted that the increase is necessary "to compensate for the extraordinarily high cost increases in raw materials, energy, and freight." It added that "despite very high capacity utilization, the margins of the industry have reached unacceptably low levels."

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ABB, Zurich, Switzerland, reports that its CEO Joe Hogan has decided to leave the company for private reasons. A date for his departure has not yet been decided. Hogan will continue to lead ABB until a successor is announced.

"Joe is a great and successful CEO and has done a remarkable job of leading the company through the deepest economic crisis in living memory. ABB today is in a much better position than it was when he joined five years ago," said Chairman Hubertus von Grünberg. "I know this has been a tough and difficult decision for Joe and the board sincerely regrets that Joe will be leaving the company."

Hogan joined ABB as CEO in September 2008. During his time at the helm, ABB has invested about $20 billion to strengthen the company. Major investments have been made in acquisitions and in R&D.

"Under Joe's leadership, ABB's competitiveness has significantly improved by investing boldly in measures to drive growth and innovation, and by carefully managing costs," von Grünberg added.

"I have informed the board that I have decided to leave ABB. This has been a difficult decision as I leave behind a strong and talented executive committee and a cohesive board whose support I could always count on. I look forward to making a smooth transition with as little disruption as possible to the positive momentum that ABB has established," Hogan said.

The ABB Group of companies operates in some 100 countries and employs about 145,000 people.

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Ahlstrom, Finland, reports that it has changed its executive management team. Seppo Parvi, CFO and a member of the Executive Management Team of Ahlstrom, has been appointed EVP, Food and Medical business area. He will also continue in his current role as CFO and Deputy to the CEO, reporting to Jan Lång, president and CEO. The changes become effective June 1.

Financial controlling, Integrated Business Planning, and Mergers and Acquisitions will continue to report to Parvi, in addition to the Food and Medical business area. Parvi's other responsibilities will be divided between other members of the Executive Management Team.

William Casey, current EVP, Food and Medical, will resign from the Executive Management Team. His new role in Ahlstrom will be announced shortly.

Paula Aarnio, EVP, Human Resources and Sustainability, will assume responsibility for Information Solutions and Program Management in addition to Human Resources, Sustainability, Communications, and Health, Safety, Environment, and Asset Risk Management (HSEA).

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The popular Paper Machine Operations Course is returning to the TAPPI Training Facility on May 21-23. This course has proven to be one of the best ways to get a good overview of the paper mill operations.

Led by Jim Atkins and a team of instructors, this course will provide participants with an improved understanding of the overall paper machine operation. Fundamental understanding of fiber properties and the way the mechanical components function on the paper machine will give the participant the tools needed to more quickly troubleshoot operational problems and improve paper machine operations and product quality.

Go to the course website to learn more and to reserve your space in this upcoming course.

This course in NOT intended for employees of tissue companies. Those interested in learning about tissue may be more interested in the TAPPI Tissue Runnability Course.

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Recyclers and brokers of recovered fiber in Europe, North America, and elsewhere are facing increased hurdles selling into their largest market in China.

In late winter and early spring, shippers of secondary commodities into China have slowly begun to learn about "Operation Green Fence," an effort by Chinese environmental and customs officials to more vigorously inspect (and more willingly reject) what they consider to be sub-par container loads.

Paper Recycling Conference Asia,  May 30-31 at the Hongta Hotel in Shanghai, represents an ideal opportunity for packers, merchants, and brokers to get on-the-scene insight into this emerging issue.

In each of the past years, North America alone has sent from 570,000 to 695,000 containers filled with scrap materials to China—with recovered fiber being the largest commodity by volume. Europe has sent a similarly large number of shipments to China. But carrying on with business as usual has not been an option for many in the recovered paper sector since Operation Green Fence was implemented in February 2013.

Numerous representatives from Chinese paper companies, government ministries, and trade associations are on the roster at Paper Recycling Conference Asia. Delegates will be able to find out from them—and have the opportunity to ask—details about the "Green Fence," what it is trying to keep out and how long it will last.

The event is being organized and co-hosted by the Recycling Today Media Group, Smithers Pira, and China TAPI. A full list of conference topics can be found on the webpage.

Register and reserve a hotel room to attend Paper Recycling Conference Asia.

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The TAPPI Best Practices on the Corrugator Course, June 25-27 at the TAPPI Training Center in Peachtree Corners, Ga., USA.

Last year's course sold out, so here's your chance to attend. If you work with a corrugator, this is your opportunity to learn how to:

What to Bring with You: Your questions and issues related to corrugator operations and samples of your defects.

What You'll Take Home: New ideas and operational methods to improve production.

Want to know more? Here's the Proposed Course Schedule.

Put June 25-27 on your calendar and register now to lock in your participation before seats fill.

Just one last note...

If you register by May 27, you can save up to $200 for this course. We look forward to seeing you here at the TAPPI Training Center.

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TAPPI's 2013 Introduction to Wet End Chemistry Course provides in-depth training on paper machine wet end chemistry that will bring both mill technicians and suppliers up to speed on this key area of papermaking. The three-day course, to be held June 11-13 in Peachtree Corners (Metro Atlanta), Ga., USA,, is the only course of its kind in the world.
 
"This course is ideal for engineers and other technical people who need a better understanding of wet end chemistry," notes Scott Springmier, Manager, Pulp and Paper for TAPPI. "The course not only covers the key technologies, chemical additives and terminology but it also delves into the use of papermaking additives to change paper properties, improve runnability and reduce costs."

The course is designed for anyone that is involved with wet end operations as well as anyone training staff working in this area. New engineers with a strong technical background but lacking papermaking process knowledge would also benefit. Instructors focus this 3-day interactive training on innovative wet end chemistry principals and the use of additives to change or create new paper products. Through case studies, break-out sessions and networking with others in the course, attendees will learn how to implement new technology to improve efficiency and product quality, reduce machine downtime and off-specification production, select and use of papermaking chemicals, and troubleshoot problems.

Topics covered include: basic water chemistry, fibers and fines, starch, dry and wet strength agents, alum chemistry, rosin sizing, synthetic sizes, dyes, fillers, retention systems and deposit and pitch control. The impact of recent regulatory developments and how changes in fiber quality are impacting wet end operations are also reviewed.

The three course instructors are respected experts in wet end chemistry. Martin A. Hubbe, Ph.D., is Professor, Department of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University. He began his career with American Cyanamid before joining International Paper Company as a research associate and later principal scientist.  Larry Anker, Ph.D., is Sizing and Wet Strength Applications Group Leader for Ashland Hercules Water Technologies. He earned a B.S. in Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics from Washington and Lee University and Ph.D. in Chemistry at Penn State University. Przem Pruszynski, Ph.D., is Global Technical Specialist for Nalco. He holds an M.S. in Analytical Chemistry and Ph.D. in Physical Organic Chemistry from University of Poznan, Poland, where he taught for 12 years. He's authored nearly 100 papers, holds several patents and has taught numerous technical courses.

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The launch of this successful conference series, produced by the Recycling Today and Smithers Pira, in co-operation with China TAPI, into Asia provides a unique opportunity for companies in North America, Europe, and the rest of the world to meet buyers in the Asian market.

The full program for Paper Recycling Conference Asia launching on May 30-31 has been announced. Highlights include the opening keynote address - The role of recyclables in China's Economic Resurgence, presented by Professor Wang, Ministry of Environmental Protection, China; An Overview of Macro-Economic Trends Impacting Asia's Recovered Paper Industry from Sally Sun, Deloitte China, and an exclusive One-on-One Interview with Ross Li, Lee & Man.

Save 20% on a ticket to attend by using the code CD20TAP!

Attendees will hear from other key speakers on the agenda, including; Randy Kim, Ekman Recycling; Henri Vermeulen, Smurfit Kappa Group; Niu Qingmin, Jiangsu Paper Association; Yoshimitsu Tanaka, Kaneko, and more, on recovered paper supply, infrastructure, and quality issues and challenges.

"We're excited about launching a Paper Recycling Conference in Asia, particularly as Asian demand continues to represent the major growth area for recovered paper. Since this inaugural event replicates the design of our existing events' list to attract merchants, brokers, suppliers of recovered fiber, and mills from around the globe, it's sure to represent a unique and powerful opportunity for the world's suppliers and consumers of recovered paper to meet," Jim Keefe, EVP and group publisher, Recycling Today, said.

More information about the inaugural Paper Recycling Conference is available online.

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Follow the University of Maine TAPPI Student Chapter to Finland

The University of Maine Student Chapter of NE TAPPI/PIMA is headed to Finland to explore papermaking, and papermaking technology. Nine students have left for an exciting 10 day tour. If you are interested in following them as they make the rounds of papermaking in Finland, please follow their blog at: http://umainetreetrip.blogspot.com/

This trip involves two universities, Maine and Aalto University, three paper companies (five mills), two equipment manufacturers (eight locations), two chemical suppliers, and one medical instrument company.  All of the companies except one are members of the University of Maine Pulp & Paper Foundation, an organization recruiting the best students for tomorrows engineers. Each year the foundation provides more than 80 scholarships to Pulp & Paper Engineering students. To make this trip possible, the students raised more than $20,000 in donations and gifts.

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RockTenn will roll out the TAPPISAFE Safety Orientation Program at it's West Point, Va., mill. TAPPISAFE, a service of TAPPI offered in partnership with Alliance Safety Council, provides a standardized safety orientation program for contractors and is the only safety orientation program specifically designed for the industry, by the industry. 

"The TAPPISAFE program provides RockTenn's West Point mill with a proven safety orientation system that will ensure all contractors working on our site have the same safety orientation," said John Spangler, safety manager. "The comprehensive program provides an easy means of tracking and verifying that each contractor has received the same safety orientation. And TAPPISAFE includes both a common, basic safety orientation session as well as a session on topics specific to our facility, which is a key in a large, complex facility such as West Point." 

Larry N. Montague, TAPPI President and CEO, added that "TAPPI is very pleased to announce that RockTenn has chosen to utilize the TAPPISAFE program at its West Point manufacturing facility. Safety is of utmost importance to our industry and the TAPPISAFE program ensures that a standard level of safety awareness has been reached before any contractor goes to a jobsite or mill. RockTenn's adoption of the program at this facility further demonstrates how the industry has embraced use of the TAPPISAFE program."

The TAPPISAFE program provides a solid foundation in safety by addressing OSHA required awareness level safety orientation for any supplier or contractors that works in a pulp, paper, or packaging facility. Key aspects of the program include standardized courses that help reduce redundant and potentially costly safety orientations, up-to-date OSHA compliance information, and instantly verifiable records.

RockTenn is one of North America's leading producers of corrugated and consumer packaging and recycling solutions. Based in Norcross, Ga., USA, RockTenn employs approximately 26,000 people and operates more than 240 facilities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, and China. The West Point mill produces nearly 900,000 tons of linerboard and corrugating medium.

TAPPISAFE Programs also include PSM (process safety management), truck driver orientation, and employee orientation.

The Alliance Safety Council has more than 20 years of proven success in developing, delivering, and maintaining contractor safety orientations and has administered more than 1.2 million training units nationwide.

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Follow members of the NCSU TAPPI Student Chapter as they visit China's pulp and paper Industry. 
 
You can see a day-by-day account online. 
 
The North Caroline State University (NCSU) Paper International Experience (PIE) program allows engineering scholars to develop as well-rounded professionals ready to make significant contributions to industry, their community, and their world.

On this biennial trip for junior and senior paper science and engineering scholars, students are immersed for 10 days in a different culture. During the most recent trip to Brazil, students were able to see, up close, four modern and amazing pulp and paper manufacturing operations, including cloning technology for production of fast-growth eucalyptus trees. They toured the Federal University at Vicosa that has a paper program and was amazingly similar to N.C. State.

Dr. Med Byrd said that "participants become more aware of the global community, and experience things they never had before. They understand their own pulp and paper industry better, in the context of the global market. They are better thinkers...better learners....and (we think) better engineers for having done this."

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Alabama Southern will host a one-day-only Operator Training Conference & Workshop. This complimentary event, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in conjunction with NPT2, will help HR professional and mill leaders add value to their existing operator training programs and provide practical advice on how to create a more competitive and better trained workforce.

Date: Friday, July 18
Location: Alabama Southern, Thomasville, Ala.
Time: 8:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m  CST

Discover new tools, learn best practices, and better equip your operator workforce. For more details or to register for the event, please contact Martha Wynn by email or by phone at 334.637.3194.

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TAPPI has joined a growing list of publishers, printers, and industry associations signing on with Layar for augmented reality and interactive print solutions. The announcement was made at the 2013 Paper Con Conference last week.

"TAPPI is excited about our partnership with Layar and the opportunity it provides our members and the industry to enhance print products with digital content," notes Larry N. Montague, TAPPI president and CEO. "Layar allows anyone to easily and quickly add digital content to print and tap into the explosion in online information consumption. It allows users to communicate in new and interactive ways and makes print products more effective and engaging."

TAPPI promoted this new partnership at PaperCon with posters, banners, and a full page ad in the event program. This partnership is another in a trend of industry leaders backing Layar as the interactive print provider of choice. It reaffirms the print industry's belief in the future of interactive print, and in Layar as the leading provider for all augmented reality needs.

TAPPI's commitment to Layar is also a sign of growing adoption of Layar in the U.S. TAPPI adds to the momentum in the U.S. where use of  the Layar App tops 7 million downloads.

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Nominations for the major TAPPI 2014 awards are due by August 1. The awards that may be presented in the upcoming 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, which have resulted in significant and demonstrable benefits to the 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 Association 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 that will show the qualifications required and links to the nomination forms that must be completed. You may submit all nomination forms by email to standards@tappi.org, or you may fax them to the attention of the awards department at +1-770-446-6947, or send them by mail to TAPPI, Awards Department, 15 Technology Parkway South, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092, USA.

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The Christian Brothers University TAPPI Student Chapter has completed its first year. Below is a list of activities/involvements of the chapter during this academic year:

• Fall Fried Rice Fund Raising
• TAPPI-CBU Golf Fundraiser
• 2012 Healthcare Packaging Consortium Fall Meeting
• TAPPI Student Conference in North Carolina
• Spring Fried Rice Fundraiser
• 2013 Healthcare Packaging Consortium Spring Meeting.

The chapter held its last meeting for this academic year on Friday, April 26.  It elected officers for the 2013-14 academic year. The newly elected officers are:

• President - Mallory Harvey (civil engineering major and packaging minor)
• Vice-Presidentc - Phyo Thoon H. Aung (civil engineering major and packaging minor)
• Secretary - Griselda Matos Martinez (engineering management and packaging minor)
• Treasurer - Patrick Held (engineering management with packaging concentration)
• Past-President - Alvin Siow (chemical engineering and packaging minor)
• Siripong Malasri will continue to serve as the chapter's faculty advisor.

Dr. Malasri said that "on behalf of our student chapter, I would like to thank TAPPI for its support given to the chapter over the past year, including the golf event, TAPPI scholarship, and Student Summit."  

 
The photograph above shows the officers (l-r) who served in the 2012 – 2013 academic year: Dr. Pong Malasri, faculty advisor; Patrick Held, treasurer; Griselda Matos, secretary; Mallory Harvey, president; and Phyo Thoon Aung, vice president).

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The TAPPI Centennial Celebration will be a multi-year long series of outreach events and educational offerings showcasing the proud history and promising future of the global pulp, paper, packaging, and related industries. This once-in-a-lifetime event will expand public awareness, foster further connection, and provide outstanding opportunities for collaboration, growth, and investment in our future for all of those involved. Goals for the TAPPI Centennial Celebration are:

• To honor TAPPI's 100 years of connection, education, and advancement as a foundation for the sustainable success of our members, our industries, and the world we share
• To recognize the achievements of those who built our industry and to inspire those who seek to build its future
• To celebrate the contributions and innovations of the global pulp, paper, and packaging industries to human culture, commerce, health, and social advancement
• To sustain the industry and support its growth, vitality, and future through the TAPPI Foundation.

We invite you to be a part of this momentous event. The sooner you join us the more opportunities there are for recognition of your company, its products, and key innovations. Keep in mind that an early commitment allows you to spread your investment over multiple years' budgets.

For more information on sponsorship and volunteer opportunities please contact dbell@tappi.org.

The sponsorship prospectus can be downloaded online.

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Do you have a history book gathering dust on your shelf? TAPPI's 100th year is coming soon and we are looking for donations to the TAPPI Library. Specifically, we are interested in histories of companies and mills in the paper and packaging industry (both producers and suppliers). Each donated book will have a bookplate in the front cover recognizing the donor. For more information please contact David Bell.

Please send books to:
c\o David Bell
TAPPI
15 Technology Parkway, South
Suite 115
Peachtree Corners, Georgia 30092

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The only conference that focuses exclusively on renewable and sustainable nanomaterials, showcasing the latest applications and discoveries using cellulose, chitosan-derived, and other nanomaterials....

In its eighth year, TAPPI's 2013 International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials to be held June 24-27 in Stockholm, Sweden, features the largest program to date, with more than 80 technical presentations.


KTH Royal Institute of Technology Campus - Stockholm, Sweden

Register online and also reserve your hotel room at the Elite Hotel Arcadia, the preferred conference hotel. 

Your conference registration also includes a tour of either Innventia AB or the Wallenberg Wood Science Center beginning at 16:00 on Monday, June 24. Space is limited on both tours. Both will end by 18:30 so that you can attend the welcome reception. More details will be available soon, but allow for an early arrival time so you don't miss out.

This conference is your opportunity to learn about composite foams made with modified nanofibrillated cellulose from pulp mill waste streams, eco-friendly membranes, and high-strength, thin, and flexible films made from cellulose nanomaterials. Presentations also address material characterization, self-assembly behavior, rheology and processing of nanomaterials, novel medical applications, characterization techniques, and health and safety issues. A Standards Workshop is also scheduled to help advance the development of standards for cellulose nanomaterials.

With the two pre-conference tours, five keynote presentations, a poster session plus Student Poster Competition, it will be a packed three days in Stockholm.  Register today, and see what solutions are available to support tomorrow's bioeconomy.

The 8th Annual International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials is hosted by TAPPI's International Nanotechnology Division, which strives to collectively advance the responsible and sustainable production and use of renewable nanomaterials.

Learn more about the Nanotechnology Division.

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The Pulp and Paper Safety Association (PPSA) will host its 70th Annual Safety and Health Conference - "The Human Element of Safety," June 9-12, in Williamsburg, Va., USA.

At the conference, presenters will address how human behavior will proactively help prevent, detect, and control events before they occur. Professionals from across the country know the importance of safety and attendees will hear from 18 speakers who will show the impact of addressing the human impact on safety. The conference will feature updates from OSHA, member company case studies, and PPSA's popular legal update.

Among the confirmed speakers are representatives from MeadWestvaco, Weyerhaeuser Co., Domtar, Safe Start, International Paper, REM Safety Consulting, Michael Best & Friedrich Law Firm, Training Logic, Change Management Consulting, and BushCo.

PPSA is a non-profit, non-political, international organization, devoted to the countinuous improvement of safety throughout all aspects of the paper industry. From forest products to paper mills, to converting plants, to recycle collections centers, our membership is grouped by category to ensure a fair and appropriate basis for comparison.

Registration is currently open for this event.  More information is available online.

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The Pulp and Paper Manufacturers Association (PPMA) has launched its first-ever Best Place to Work Award. The award is open to all companies in the forest products industry and will look not only at corporate life but also look at how employees feel about their work environments.

In conjunction with Majority Opinion Research Group, PPMA has started taking nominations for this award and will continue to accept nominations through July 1.

"This award is an exciting opportunity for PPMA to honor great companies. As an association that serves HR professionals, we know the value of the making your company a great place to work," said PPMA President Joe Thibaudeau, employee relations manager - Procter & Gamble - Green Bay, Wis., USA.

The award will be presented to the winner at the annual PPMA conference on October 23-25, 2013, in Milwaukee, Wis., USA. The winner will have the chance to speak with conference attendees about what makes his or her company the "Best Place to Work."

PPMA is a nonprofit association built around a community comprised of executives, managers, and human resource professionals from the pulp and paper industry. For its members, PPMA serves as a primary source of information on labor settlements and current human resource issues, governmenta,l and related operational issues.

To nominate your company for the Best Place to Work Award, use the online form.

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The existence of cellulose nanocrystals and cellulose nanofibrils has been known for several decades, yet recent advances in science, particularly in the field of nanotechnology, have revealed that these materials contain unique physical properties, particularly high strength properties. Researchers have been studying how these materials can improve paper properties and will present their latest finding this June 24-27 in Stockholm, Sweden, at TAPPI's 8th Annual International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials at the KTH Royal Institute of Stockholm.

The program for this year's event has been released, and one session will focus on using cellulose nanofibers for improving retention and increasing strength in paper. Researchers from Aalto University in Finland will report on improved flocculation of both precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) and kaolin with the addition of certain cellulose nanomaterials. Researchers from Papiertechnische Stiftung (PTS) in Heidenau, Germany, will report on the importance of adding fillers, celluloses, and compounding agents in the right order to achieve the best results. Researchers from VTT in Finland will report on ways to increase the strength of paper by using filler particles coated with nanoscale calcium silicate hydrate (CS) structures. 

New reports at the conference will present some exciting advances for both within the pulp and paper industry and beyond. The technical program features cellulose nanomaterials in a variety of applications, including:

• Unique and Thin-Film Composites
• Filler and Coating Applications for Different Paper Grades
• Improved Barrier Properties for Packaging Applications
• Cellulose Nanomaterials as Films and Carriers in Medical Applications
• Nanopaper and Iridescent Colored Cellulose Films.

With more than 80 technical presentations, five keynote presentations, and 50 poster presentations, this year's conference is packed with the latest applications of renewable nanomaterials.

Watch for additional updates from TAPPI on how nanotechnology, and cellulose nanomaterials in particular, can be a transformative technology for the pulp and paper industry.

The 8th Annual International Conference on Nanotechnolgy for Renewable Materials is hosted by TAPPI's International Nanotechnology Division, which strives to collectively advance the responsible and sustainable production and use of renewable nanomaterials. More information is available online.

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Are you ready to go further, faster in your safety career? The Certified Occupational Safety Specialist (COSS) class can take you there.

The COSS Class is Unique
Not only will you learn how to read and understand the OSHA 1910 and 1926 CFRs and help your company avoid OSHA citations that cost millions of dollars, but more importantly, by learning how to work safely on a job site, you can teach your company how to lower fatalities and near misses. Almost 47% of COSS graduates responding to our survey indicate that, since taking COSS, their company's injury rate and/or OSHA recordables have decreased by as much as 25% and others attest to as much as a 100% decrease!

Request a Course Outline & Syllabus for more information.

The class also addresses the psychology of safety, the true cost of an accident, hazard recognition, how to start up a health and safety program, behavior based safety, system safety, and much more!

What Will You Receive?
Upon successfully completing the class, you will obtain your national Certified Occupational Safety Specialist (COSS) designation, your OSHA 10-hr. card of completion in construction, and your OSHA 10-hr. card of completion in general industry.

National Program Recognitions
COSS is currently one of only 37 programs in the world recongnized and accredited by the American Petroleum Institute (API). In addition, the certifying body for construction education for colleges, universties and technical/trade schools, American Council for Construction Education (ACCE), has also recongnized our program. COSS is the only non-degree program to receive this national endorsement. Lastly, COSS has been established as a mandatory course for students in the Construction Management Program at Louisiana State University.

Program Content
The program consists of 40 hr. of hands on, face-to-face learning, which is delivered by an Authorized OSHA outreach trainer in both construction and general industry. Case studies and workshops are used extensively to bring learning objectives into focus. Guest speaker from areas such as OSHA and other governmental agencies are used to enhance the learning experience. Student presentations, daily quizzes, practical reviews, and a comprehensive final exam will allow you to demonstrate your competency.

Prerequisites
The only prerequisite for the COSS class is you must have a high school diploma or equivalent. In each class, we tend to have a mix of non-experienced, first time safety persons, as well as safety professionals who have been in the safety field for 20+ years. But, we have learned that regardless of the numbers of years of experience you have in safety, everyone leaves the COSS class with a wealth of knowledge!

Visit the COSS website for FAQs, testimonials and a list of clients that have taken COSS.

Register now.

If you would like more information on the COSS program, contact Beth Gordon at 877-610-2677.

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