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

In conjunction with Majority Opinion Research Group, Atlanta, Ga., 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 making your company a great place to work," said PPMA President Joe Thibaudeau, employee relations manager - Procter & Gamble, Green Bay, Wis.

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

The instructions and form to nominate your company for the Best Place to Work Award are available online.

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KPS Capital Partners LP (KPS), New York, N.Y., USA, this week announced that through a newly formed company, Expera Specialty Solutions LLC and its affiliates, it has agreed to acquire the specialty paper business of Wausau Paper Corp., Mosinee, Wis., and the Thilmany specialty paper business of Packaging Dynamics Corp. (PKDY), Chicago, Ill. Wausau Specialty Paper and Thilmany are both integrated North American producers of specialty paper products for the food packaging, industrial, and pressure-sensitive release liner segments.

Wausau Specialty Paper has some 900 employees at manufacturing facilities in Rhinelander and Mosinee, Wis. Thilmany employs approximately 900 people at facilities in Kaukauna and De Pere, Wis.

Raquel Palmer, a KPS partner, said that "we are very excited to create Expera. The new company, with its reputation for exceptional quality, customer focus, technical expertise, and product innovation, coupled with KPS's capital resources, will be perfectly positioned to capitalize on the growth in niche, non-commodity markets, where engineered and applied technological solutions are critical to success. We believe the combination of these businesses will unlock very meaningful synergies benefiting many constituencies, including Expera's customers, employees, and the communities that depend on the continuing operation of its manufacturing facilities.

"The creation of Expera was the result of two distinct and complex acquisitions that were negotiated and signed in parallel," Palmer continued, "We look forward to growing Expera aggressively, both organically and through acquisition on a global scale. We thank the United Steelworkers Union for its critical support of our vision for the specialty paper industry in North America, the creation of Expera, and its first two acquisitions."

Russ Wanke, the current VP and GM of Thilmany and future CEO of Expera, noted that "this is the beginning of an exciting new era for Expera as a new independent company and a strong, stable platform positioned for expansion and growth in the future. I am very excited for our customers, employees, and communities, as we intend to invest significant capital and resources into research and development to expand our new company's combined competitive advantages, capitalize on the growth in the specialty paper industry worldwide, and provide innovative products with a superior level of service. I look forward to leading such a talented and committed organization into the future. Our entire team is very excited about KPS' commitment to manufacturing excellence and to supporting our growth."

Completion of the transactions is expected to occur simultaneously during the second or third quarter this year, subject to customary closing conditions.

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Blue Wolf Capital Partners, New York, N.Y, USA, and Atlas Holdings, Greenwich, Conn., this week announced that they have reached an agreement to acquire a controlling interest in Twin Rivers Paper Co., South Portland, Maine, USA, from Brookfield Asset Management Inc. Terms of the agreement have not been disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in approximately three weeks.

Twin Rivers, with facilities in Edmundston and Plaster Rock, N.B., Canada, and Madawaska, Maine, USA, has been a vital economic engine for the region for more than 80 years, producing specialty papers and lumber for a variety of markets. Through the acquisition of a controlling stake in Twin Rivers, Atlas and Blue Wolf are showing their commitment to the future of the business, and will work with the company in the development of its long-term capital and growth plans.

"Twin Rivers produces specialty papers and lumber products that are well regarded throughout the industry. Our plan is to build on these strengths as we seek to position the operations for long-term success and as a key contributor in the revitalization of the forest products sector in Maine and New Brunswick," said Adam Blumenthal, managing partner of Blue Wolf.

"With the active support, direction, and guidance our firms bring, we believe we can provide Twin Rivers with additional resources to address its capital needs, cost structure, market exposure, and other critical operational challenges presented by the highly competitive forest products industry," said Tim Fazio, managing partner of Atlas Holdings.

Together, Blue Wolf and Atlas Holdings have a depth of experience in successfully collaborating with stakeholders to build investee companies into sustainable, highly competitive enterprises in both Canada and the U.S., including Northern Resources Nova Scotia Corp., a pulp mill located in Pictou, Nova Scotia, and Finch Paper Holdings, an integrated pulp and paper business located in Glens Falls, N.Y.

Separately, Atlas Holdings has been investing and operating in the forest products, packaging, and paper industries since 1999. Atlas currently owns approximately 30 locations in North America, Europe, and Asia focused on these markets, employing more than 5,000 people. Blue Wolf has been investing in the forest products industry since 2007, and currently owns seven companies in the U.S., primarily manufacturing businesses, including two building products companies.

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An affiliate of Peak Rock Capital, Austin, Texas, USA, this week announced that it has acquired Atlas Paper Mills LLC, a Miami, Fla., USA-based producer of tissue paper. Atlas produces a complete line of tissue products from 100% recycled fiber, including bath tissue, towels, and facial tissue, serving customers in both the away-from-home and retail channels.

This strategic approach has allowed Atlas to develop long-term relationships with an expanded customer base. The company provides both branded (Green Heritage) and private label products throughout North America.

Anthony DiSimone, CEO of Peak Rock Capital, said that "Atlas is a great example of our interest in investing in middle market businesses that can benefit from our resources and expertise to enhance their growth and strategic position; it also highlights our continued interest in the manufacturing and consumer product sectors."

Peter Leibman, managing director of Peak Rock Capital, added that "Atlas has a strong competitive position as a supplier of 'green' tissue products with long-standing customer relationships. We believe Atlas is an excellent platform for expansion through organic growth and strategic add-on acquisitions and are excited to work with the company's outstanding management team in pursuing these opportunities."

Joe Tadeo, CEO of Atlas Paper Mills, noted that "we are very pleased that Peak Rock is investing in Atlas and believe we will benefit from Peak Rock's knowledge of the industry and resources to support investments in strengthening and expanding our core business. This is an exciting time for Atlas, and we look forward to growing our business in partnership with our customers, suppliers, and employees."

Atlas produces approximately 34,000 tons of recycled tissue products per year and converts approximately three million cases of tissue and towels.

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The Robert C. Williams Papermaking Museum at Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Ga., USA, has opened Breaking New Ground, a retrospective look at the Institute of Paper Science and Technology (IPST) over 84 years. Beginning with the early days in Appleton, the exhibit provides an account of the history of the organization and highlights some of the numerous research successes. The exhibit is an engaging narrative that helps to put faces onto an organization that has had a significant impact on the dynamic pulp and paper industry since 1929.

In addition to housing renowned expert Dard Hunter's papermaking collection, the museum is the repository for the photos, artifacts, and journals of the Institute. These records provided the basis for Breaking New Ground, and presented a rich history of the development of the Institute. A large timeline, represented as the growth rings of a tree, adorns one gallery wall. Visitors will discover some of the people who made the Institute such an important place, and learn about research projects such as tree genetics.

IPST comprises numerous forest bioproducts research areas, and a few are highlighted within the exhibit. Developing forestry practices, including tree cloning, begin the research side of the exhibit. The processes of mechanical and chemical pulping are explained, and the recovery of chemicals, gasification, and corrosion are illustrated. The exhibit delves into paperboard container research and testing and how IPST developed a non-destructive way to test finished paper.

Exhibit visitors also will be able to get a glimpse into the future of IPST and the industry. The conclusion of Breaking New Ground explores the current scientific direction in which the Institute is headed. This emphasizes that the Institute is looking to the future and beginning to answer questions that are being conceived only now.

Museum Director Teri Williams worked closely with Kathy Dixson of Avient Museum Services to develop the content of Breaking New Ground. Former IPST faculty member Gary Baum provided valuable content to explain high-level concepts, simplified for easy understanding.

Breaking New Ground will be open through the summer. The Robert C. Williams Papermaking Museum is open from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission is free, donations are accepted. The Museum is at 500 10th Street NW, Atlanta, Ga.

More information is available online.

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Edwards Brothers Malloy, Ann Arbor, Mich., has been awarded the AF&PA (Washington, D.C., USA) 2013 Business Leadership Award that recognizes outstanding paper recycling programs. The award was presented to John Edwards, president and CEO, and Bill Upton, VP of operations, at the recent Book Manufacturers' Institute Spring Management Conference in Hilton Head, S.C. In the photo (l-r) are Upton, Mark Pitts (AF&PA executive director of Printing & Writing Papers), and Edwards.

Edwards Brothers Malloy's Jackson Road plant in Ann Arbor is a zero landfill facility and its other facilities use, reuse, or recycle 97.5% of all incoming materials. An estimated 12,100 lb of office paper was recycled in 2012 at the Jackson Road plant with a like amount recycled at the company's other manufacturing plants in Michigan and North Carolina. Altogether, the company recycled about 25 million lb of paper or 27,777 lb per employee.

The process centers on employee education and an efficient collection system that presorts paper into 20 different categories as part of daily work flow. The presorted paper is then collected and picked up regularly by a recycling vendor.

"It's a voluntary system and I'm proud to accept the AF&PA award on behalf of our employees who have clearly demonstrated their commitment to the environment," said Upton. "Achieving zero-landfill status at the Jackson Road plant was an important goal for us and we're pleased to have our efforts recognized in this way."

Established in 1893, Edwards Brothers Malloy is the fifth largest book and journal manufacturer in the U.S. with 900 employees and $115 million in annual sales. The company runs one of the largest digital print operations in North America with eight locations in the U.S. and another in the U.K.

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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 paper materials engineer, paper coating specialist, sales manager, strategic accounts manager, sales director, senior manufacturing engineer, and basepaper project leader. Specific job openings at companies and locations in the TAPPI Career Center include:

Employer	Title	Location
Boise Inc.	Sr. Manufacturing Engineer	Boise, Id.
Dart Container	Paper Materials Engineer	Chicago, Ill.
EcoSynthetix	Sales Director (Southeastern U.S.)	Lansing, MI
EcoSynthetix	Paper Coating Specialist	Burlington, Ont., Canada
EcoSynthetix	Sales Manager (Europe)	Germany
Minerals Technologies Inc.	Strategic Account Manager	U.S.
Sappi Fine Paper	Basepaper Project Leader	Westbrook, Maine

More information about these jobs is available online.

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Total U.S. kraft paper shipments were 133,000 tons in April, an increase of less than 1% compared with the prior month, according to the AF&PA (Washington, D.C., USA) April 2013 Kraft Paper Report published this week. Bleached kraft paper shipments increased year-over-year 10.3%, but the 3.1% year-over-year decline in the larger category of unbleached kraft paper shipments was enough to bring overall kraft paper shipments down 1.2% year-over-year.

Total month-end inventory decreased 7.1% to 66,500 tons this month compared with March 2013 month-end inventories.

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Total U.S. boxboard production increased by 1.7% compared with April 2012 and increased 2% from last month, according to the AF&PA (Washington, D.C., USA) April 2013 U.S. Paperboard Report released this week. Unbleached kraft boxboard production decreased over the same month last year but increased compared with last month.

Total solid bleached boxboard and liner production increased compared with April 2012 and increased compared with last month. The production of recycled boxboard increased compared with April 2012 but decreased when compared with last month.

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Containerboard production in the U.S. dropped 1.5% from March 2013, but rose 4.2% over the same month last year. According to the AF&PA (Washington, D.C., USA) April 2013 U.S. Containerboard Statistics Report published this week, month-over-month average daily production increased 1.8%.

The containerboard operating rate for April 2013 gained 1.5 points from March 2013, from 92.8% to 94.3%.

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Holmen Paper, Sweden, this week said that its previously announced closures of PM 3 at the Hallsta Paper Mill and PM 51 at the Braviken Paper Mill, both in Sweden, will take place toward the end of September. Capacity will be permanently reduced by 140 000 metric tpy of SC paper and by 200 000 metric tpy of newsprint.

Also, due to conversion and adaptation to the new structure, Holmen Paper will be forced to cut an additional 10% of the company's available capacity in Sweden during the third quarter. The ongoing restructuring program, Holmen notes, "is taking place against the backdrop of considerable losses in the business."

"The extensive capacity cuts announced will gradually lead to a better market balance in 2013," says Henrik Sjölund, head of Holmen Paper.

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During the first quarter of 2013, Ilim Group, Russia, a joint venture with International Paper Co., Memphis, Tenn., USA, reports that its mills in Siberia (the Bratsk and Ust-Ilimsk mills) produced some 362,000 metric tons of pulp and paper products. This almost equals performance in the similar period of the previous year.

Ilim's figures include about 309,000 metric tons of pulp, which is 2% less than January-March 2012. Market containerboard production increased 11%, reaching 54,000 metric tons in the first quarter of 2013. The company's wood harvesting decreased by 5% from the 1,360,000 cubic meters of wood harvested in the same period of the previous year.

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PT. Suparma, Tbk., Indonesia, has ordered a complete tissue production line from Metso, Finland. The new tissue machine will be installed at the company's mill in Surabaya, Indonesia, with startup scheduled for 2014. The value of the order was not disclosed.

The new tissue line will fulfill PT. Suparma, Tbk's ambition to produce environmentally friendly products of highest quality in a cost-efficient way. The photo is of the contract signing ceremony.

"As a tissue producer since 2007, we have utilized 96% of our existing tissue machine capacity, which forces us to install a new machine to develop our market. We decided to place an order with Metso because quality is essential for us and we believe that Metso has an advanced technology that will certainly produce a high-quality tissue product," says Lanny Bernadette, director, PT. Suparma, Tbk.

"We are impressed by the product performance obtained by the existing tissue production line, also supplied by Metso, in the past. PT. Suparma, Tbk. has highly skilled personnel and well organized production systems, and we are happy to support their efforts to supply high-quality tissue to the Indonesian market," says Ingmar Andersson, VP, sales, Asia, paper business line, Metso.

Metso's delivery will include a complete high-speed tissue production line featuring an Advantage DCT 100 tissue machine equipped with an OptiFlo headbox, a Metso cast iron yankee cylinder, and an Advantage AirCap yankee hood. Metso will also supply a part of the stock preparation equipment.

The delivery will include basic engineering for the new tissue machine and services for installation and startup of the machine.

The new line will have a width of 2.75 meters and an operating speed of 1,600 m/min. It will add another 25,000 metric tpy of bathroom tissue, towel grades, and diaper tissue to the company's existing production for the Indonesian market. Raw material for the new production line will be virgin fiber and recycled fiber.

PT. Suparma,Tbk. was founded as a paper and board producer in 1976. The company established its first tissue machine in 2007 and today is a supplier of high-quality board, laminated wrapping kraft, and tissue paper for the Indonesian market as well as the Asian, Australian, and African market. The company employs 1,800 people and produces a total of 190,000 metric tpy of paper.

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Södra, Sweden, reports that the process of finding a buyer for its Södra Cell Tofte, Norway mill is on-going. In the meantime, Södra Cell will continue to produce pulp at the mill until August 1, it adds.

Södra's mill in Tofte is one of Norway's biggest producers of chemical pulp. Some 70% of production goes to export, the rest to the Norwegian market. Södra Cell in Tofte is a high-technology plant and has made substantial investments in developing employee competence as well as in collaborating with universities.

The Tofte mill became part of the Södra Group in 2000. Much of the pulp produced at Tofte is based on wood from eucalyptus and is used mainly for fine papers.

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This past week, Stora Enso, Finland, stopped production on two newsprint machines in Sweden—PM 2 at the Hylte mill and PM 11 at its Kvarnsveden mill. Earlier this year, the company had said it would close two machines in the second quarter due to the continuing decline in European newsprint demand.

As reported by Euwid Pulp & Paper, Germany, Stora Enso newsprint production on the 205,000 metric tpy PM 2 in Hylte has been shutdown for good, but determination negotiations with employee representatives on the total number of job cuts have not been concluded yet. The outcome of these proceedings is expected next month.

The company noted that the 270,000 metric tpy PM 11 in Kvarnsveden had halted production for the time being in what is said to be a market related stoppage. Negotiation between the company and employee representatives regarding the permanent shutdown of PM 11 and the total number of jobs affected by the closure were still going on.

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Tembec Inc., Montreal, Que., Canada, has closed the sale of its NBSK (northern bleached softwood kraft) pulp mill and related assets in Skookumchuck, B.C., Canada, to Paper Excellence Canada Holdings Corp. Total consideration for the transaction is $94.6 million, including $25.5 million in working capital. The purchase price remains subject to closing working capital adjustments.

Tembec will use the cash proceeds to pay down revolving operating debt and for general corporate purposes.

Approximately 280 employees are included in the transaction. Tembec acquired the pulp mill in 1999 as part of the acquisition of Crestbrook Forest Industries Ltd.

Tembec is a producer of pulp, paper, lumber, and specialty cellulose. Its principal operations are in Canada and France. With annual sales of approximately $2 billion, Tembec currently has 3,400 employees.

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Fox River Fiber, De Pere, Wis., USA, a supplier of FDA-grade recycled pulp to the paper industry, has developed a silicone release liner recycling process that eliminates costs associated with landfilling the carrier material. Fox River Fiber's process removes the silicone from spent release liner and recovers the fiber. The result is a cost-neutral transaction for packaging companies, with the potential to develop a profit center for larger volumes.

"Label release liners contain very good, high-quality fiber," explains Ted Heimerman, business manager at Fox River Fiber. "Most companies are committed to improving the sustainability of their waste streams. Currently, manufacturers are paying to landfill the spent release liner. Our recycling process offers an opportunity to extend the life cycle of the fiber."

The recaptured fiber is appropriate for use in items ranging from food grade packaging to printing and writing papers. For more information, email Ted Heimerman or phone him at 920-347-4430.

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Metsä Board, Finland, reports that it has made major enhancements to its Avanta Prima, Simcote, and Carta Elega folding boxboards, following technical improvements made at its mills during the 2011-2012 investment program. The product enhancements improve the suitability of each cartonboard in the range for a particular packaging end-use such as food, beautycare, healthcare, or luxury packaging and graphics applications.

"We are responding to customer needs by making our boards even more fit-for-purpose," says Pasi Piiparinen, head of Metsä Board Paperboard. "Developments include better yield, optimized shades, and improved surfaces, according to the requirements of each end-use."

The bulk of Avanta Prima has been improved, meaning a lighter weight can be specified while maintaining the same thickness and stiffness. As a result, Metsä Board has further light-weighted grammages across the range. Avanta Prima has been developed to meet the requirements of the healthcare market, and its surface has now been optimized to allow for 2D data matrix coding. Its shade has also been optimized to enhance visual whiteness.

Simcote, with its effective combination of stiffness and consistency for food packaging, now has improved bulk for even better yield while maintaining the same thickness and stiffness. As a result, grammages have been light-weighted across the range, providing both cost and sustainability benefits.

The shade of Carta Elega has been optimized to enhance visual whiteness, an important characteristic in the beautycare market.

"We are happy to be able to offer our customers these changes, giving better performance in converting and printing, as well as an improved end result. They will also be able to utilize an even lighter weight board, achieving the same or even better performance in a finished carton," adds Piiparinen. "Using a lighter weight board also offers sustainability benefits, as less raw material is used, less weight is carried throughout the value chain, and less waste is generated."

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Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Ltd., India, reports that it will construct a Rs.12 billion ($218 million) mill in India to produce 200,000 metric tpy of multi-layer, double-coated packaging board. The new plant will be built in Tiruchi, India, and is expected to provide employment for 2,000 additional people. It will produce high end white liner board for folding boxes, one of the industry's fastest growing segments.

The company is currently producing 400,000 metric tpy of printing and writing papers and recently started up a 600 metric tpd cement plant using paper mill waste and fly ash as raw material.

Tamil Nadu was established by the Government of Tami Nadu in India during the early 1980s to produce newsprint and printing and writing paper using bagasse as the primary raw material. The company commenced production in 1984 with an initial capacity of 90,000 metric tpy. Over the years, the production capacity increased to 245,000 metric tpy and the company has emerged as the largest bagasse based paper mill in the world, consuming about one million metric tons of bagasse every year. In December 2012, Tamil Nadu completed a mill expansion to increase total production capacity to 400,000 metric tpy.

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Clariant, Muttenz, Switzerland, a provider of specialty chemicals, has introduced Cartaguard® KHI - a totally PFOA-free grease resistant additive for effective and safer grease-resistant food papers and board. Cartaguard KHI supports the trend toward more eco-friendly solutions for hand-held, ready-to-eat foods such as burgers, pizza, pastries, and confectionary. Unlike some existing fluorine technologies, it makes paper grease resistant without releasing impurities into the packaging. It penetrates into the paper or board and attaches to each fiber to create a protective surface that protects hands and clothing from grease. As a result, manufacturers can produce viable, safer grease resistant packaging to replace traditional plastics and paper-plastic combinations.

Dr. Frédéric Mabire, global product line manager at Clariant Paper Specialties, notes that "Cartaguard KHI is a technological breakthrough for the market, being both high performance and truly PFOA-free. We are delighted to present the market with this big step forward in effective, PFOA-free solutions for recyclable paper packaging, part of our on-going development of a new generation of grease-resistant paper additives."

Cartaguard KHI is the first grease resistant additive to be based on C3 technology. As the company explains, Clariant's fluorinated chemistry means it cannot break down to form PFOA, yet Cartaguard KHI delivers high level grease resistance demanded by the market. Its molecular structure consists of long-side chains that repel oil and fat effectively, ensuring oil and grease barrier performance compared with the current PFOA-free benchmark.

The new impregnating agent also brings production advantages to the paper mill, Clariant adds, pointing out that it is easy to process because it generates hardly any foam during paper production and does not affect either the adhesive or printing properties of the paper.

Cartaguard KHI is already approved for food contact applications by the German Federal Institute for Risk Evaluation (BfR) and the U.S. FDA, and meets requirements for food service packaging.

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Wausau Paper, Mosinee, Wis., USA, this week launched its new Green Seal certified, DublNature® line of premium, plush, cloth-like towel and tissue products utilizing 100% recycled fiber on the company's recently completed ATMOS technology-enabled paper machine at Harrodsburg, Ky. DublNature products, the company notes, "provide exceptional softness, strength, absorbency, and brightness, and are well suited to a wide range of applications. They are targeted at businesses and institutions seeking the finest quality while supporting ‘green' purchasing initiatives."

Henry C. Newell, president and CEO, said that "the launch of our new DublNature line of products represents a milestone in capitalizing on a first-of-a-kind technology investment, the largest capital investment in the history of our company. Like our engineering and construction team, who delivered our Harrodsburg paper machine under budget, our product design, papermaking, converting and marketing teams are to be congratulated for delivering the new DublNature product family on a much-accelerated timeline."

Matthew L. Urmanski, SVP, Tissue, added that "a significant amount of credit also goes to our highly engaged network of distributors. As our partners, these distributors have played a key role in our assessment of the market opportunity for a broader expression of premium towel and tissue products in the away-from-home market and in the product design process itself. The excitement that exists within our distributor community for these distinctive DublNature products is evident in their positive reactions, as is the anticipation that exists for the launch of our ultimate premium brand Artisan later this year."

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Voith, Germany, this week introduced its new MasterJet Pro T headbox for tissue production, noting that the new unit provides excellent quality with minimum energy consumption. MasterJet Pro T completes the company's MasterJet series that has been widely used in the worldwide paper, board, and packaging industry for many years.

Voith points out that MasterJet Pro T works reliably under most demanding conditions. All required adjustments can be set precisely and are designed for long-term stability. The two- or three-layer headbox configuration ensures high purity between the layers without the risk of streakiness.

With MasterJet Pro T, a higher consistency of the suspension in the headbox can be achieved, without any negative impact on the paper formation. This allows energy savings in both the approach flow system as well as in the former section. The headbox requires low maintenance and allows easy access for cleaning.

Additionally, OnQ ModuleJet actuator technology from Voith can be installed for the best possible basis weight cross profiles. With the OnQ ModuleJet, cross profiles are controlled by means of machine-wide sectional dosing of dilution water. Thus, consistency of the suspension can be adjusted exactly.

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Ahlstrom Corp., Helsinki, Finland, has announced price increases on beverage materials produced by the company's Food and Medical business group. The price increases will be made to compensate for the continued high level of raw materials as well as utilities-related inflation.

The price increases will affect all beverage related products worldwide and will be effective for all orders placed as of July 1. The increase will be up to 5% depending on markets as well as the product and the agreements in place.

Beverage products, manufactured by the Food and Medical business group, include materials for teabags and coffee pods. The Food and Medical business group's main end-use applications are teabags, coffee filters, food packaging, baking papers, masking tape, and surgical gowns and drapes.

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Holmen, Sweden, together with investment fund Eurofideme 2, France, has decided to build a wind farm in the municipality of Norrtälje, Sweden, via a jointly-owned company. The annual production is an estimated 165 GWh and the wind farm is planned to commence operation in the autumn of 2014.

Eurofideme 2, a renewable energy infrastructure fund of Mirova, Paris, France, has acquired half the shares in the company that Holmen founded to run wind power production on its own land in the municipality of Norrtälje near Hallsta Paper Mill. The decision now marks the start of installation of 17 wind turbines with an installed power capacity of a total 51 MW and an expected annual production of 165 GWh. An environmental permit has already been obtained.

"This project will exploit Holmen's excellent opportunities to produce wind power on its own land," says Holmen's President and CEO Magnus Hall. "It is also an important element in our focus on renewable energy, set to increase our self-sufficiency in electricity."

The cost of constructing the wind farm is an estimated SEK 650 million and will be financed by a bank loan to the jointly-owned company plus capital from shareholders Holmen and Eurofideme 2. Holmen's investment will largely be met by income from the sale of shares in the company, and the transaction will therefore not have any noticeable effect on Holmen's cash flow. The transaction will affect Holmen Energi's operating profit in the second quarter by approximately SEK 100 million.

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Iggesund Paperboard, Sweden, has appointed Annica Bresky its new CEO and business area manager of the Holmen Group. She will take up the post on October 1, succeeding Björn Kvick who is retiring after 12 years as CEO of Iggesund Paperboard.

Bresky is currently CEO of BillerudKorsnäs Karlsborg AB and has previously worked as production manager on StoraEnso Kvarnsveden's most modern paper machine. She has an MSc in civil engineering from Uppsala University's School of Engineering.

"We are delighted to see Annica Bresky joining us at Holmen," says Holmen's President and CEO Magnus Hall. "Annica is a person with an exceptional amount of drive and has the qualities needed to lead the important work of taking Iggesund Paperboard on into the future."

The head of Iggesund Paperboard is part of the group management team and reports to the president and CEO.

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Appleton Coated, Combined Locks, Wis., USA, this week announced appointments of several new sales team members. Jeff Waldvogel has been hired for the position of sales representative in the Illinois and Wisconsin region. Waldvogel spent the previous 15 years with Mohawk Paper in sales representative, regional manager, and digital specialist positions. He will report to Dan O'Connell, commercial sales director for the west region. Waldvogel replaces John Mazuroski, who moved into the newly created position of business development manager for technical and specialty products.

Natalie Momplaisir accepted the position of corporate account specialist for the Midwest. She has been with Appleton Coated for three years in the position of sales and business development representative. Prior to joining Appleton Coated, she served as a corporate sales district manager for Staples Business Advantage and as a sales manager for xpedx Pittsburgh. In her new position, Momplaisir will report to Kim Dyer, corporate accounts manager.

Darin Dodd, VP of commercial sales, said that "we feel these latest organizational moves not only position Appleton Coated at full strength for continued growth in the coated free sheet, technical, and specialty markets, they reaffirm our strong commitment to both our merchant partners and the end-user segment of our business."

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Gorham Paper and Tissue, Gorham, N.H., USA, has named Michael Cummings its new full-time CEO. Cummings brings more than 20 years of manufacturing leadership experience with various companies in the paper, packaging, and technology sectors.

Cummings will manage the day-to-day business and drive the overall strategic direction for this two year-old startup. His immediate focus is to capitalize on the rapid growth of the company in specialty markets by accelerating innovation through product development, optimizing operational efficiency and enhancing the overall customer experience.

"I am impressed by the progress Gorham has made over such a short period of time. The company has tackled the energy platform, installed a state-of-the-art tissue machine, and now invested in hiring a full-time CEO," said Cummings. "There is a solid strategic plan in place and long-term viability for the business. I am excited to harness the momentum and lead this business to the next level."

The Gorham leadership role had previously been filled by Dick Arnold, who acted in a dual capacity for Patriarch Partners, New York, N.Y., as the president and CEO for both Gorham and Old Town Fuel and Fiber in Maine. Arnold's knowledge and leadership skills are needed exclusively at Old Town to commercialize its bio-refinery project, a cutting-edge technology that transforms paper by-products into biofuels or feedstock.

Cummings joins Gorham from Thermo Fisher Scientific, where he served as the director of global operations within the Slides and Specialty Glass business unit. Previously, he served as COO in the consumer division of Crane & Co. Prior to that, he was SVP of The Newark Group, Cranford, N.J. Additionally, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Cornell University and a MBA degree from Harvard Business School.

Gorham targets niche technical markets with a broad portfolio of customized tissue, towel, and specialty packaging, converting, and engineered and printing papers. In May 2011, the Gorham facility was acquired with support from investment funds managed by Patriarch Partners.

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Fox River Fiber, De Pere, Wis., USA, has hired Mark Hunter (photo right) as its new production manager and Thias Shefchik as an accountant for the company. Fox River Fiber is a supplier of FDA compliant, recycled pulp to the paper industry.

Hunter brings 19 years of experience in the paper industry to Fox River Fiber's leadership team. He is responsible for leading the production team and working with the maintenance organization in ensuring the company meets manufacturing objectives in a safe and timely manner. He has held a variety of leadership roles with Georgia-Pacific around the country, most recently at the Crossett, Ark. mill. He holds a chemical engineering degree from the University of Maine and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Shefchik (photo left) is a certified public accountant with 2.5 years of experience as a senior accountant at Schenck SC in Green Bay, Wis. He earned his accounting degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

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International Paper, Memphis, Tenn., USA, this week announced the retirement of a senior leader and three other leadership moves. Maximo Pacheco, SVP, president IP Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA), will retire from IP and the board of directors of the Ilim Group, a 50:50 joint venture in Russia, effective September 30. Jean-Michel Ribieras was elected SVP, president, IP EMEA, based in Brussels, Belgium. Glenn Landau was named president, IP Latin America, based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Jay Royalty was named VP, Investor Relations, based in Memphis.

"Maximo has successfully led many important transformational initiatives during his 20 years of service at International Paper and Carter Holt Harvey," said John Faraci, chairman and CEO. "He held key global leadership roles and helped build the strategy and led the transformation and expansion of our businesses in Latin America. His global acumen, passion for the business, and commitment to success made an important impact on IP over the years. As a senior member of the IP leadership team, he helped make IP what we are today."

Pacheco joined IP in 1994 and held executive leadership roles in Carter Holt Harvey, Chile, a former subsidiary of IP, as well as IP Latin America. In 2000, he was named president, IP Latin America, and in 2005 he was elected a SVP of IP. In 2009, Pacheco moved to Europe to serve in his current role.

Ribieras will lead the EMEA paper and industrial packaging organizations and serve on the Ilim Group's board of directors. He will also become a member of the company's senior leadership team and report to Faraci. Ribieras began his career with IP in 1993 in sales management with a coated paper specialty mill in France. He held several general management roles in Europe before being named VP of European Papers in 2002. In 2004 he moved to the company's headquarters in Memphis and became VP of the Pulp business. In 2005 his responsibilities expanded to include Converting Papers. In 2009, Ribieras was named president, IP Latin America, and relocated to Brazil.

In related moves, Glenn Landau was named president, IP Latin America, and VP, IP, reporting to Tim Nicholls, SVP, P&C Papers the America's, effective June 1. In this role Landau will have overall financial and strategic responsibility for the company's papers and packaging business in the region and will serve on the Orsa International board of directors. Landau was appointed VP, Investor Relations in 2011 and has served in a number of key roles during his 22 years with the company, including managing director, IP Italia, and VP and GM of the company's Containerboard and Recycling business.

Jay Royalty was named VP, Investor Relations, reporting to Carol Roberts, SVP and CFO, effective June 1. In his new role, Royalty will be responsible for managing the relationship between IP, the financial community, and IP's shareholders. He has held a number of key roles during his 22 years with the company. Most recently, he served as VP of national accounts for IP's Container the America's (CTA) business.

In announcing the leadership moves, John Faraci said that "Jean-Michel Ribieras, Glenn Landau, and Jay Royalty are strong strategic leaders with tremendous capacity to contribute even more to the future success of International Paper."

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KapStone Paper and Packaging Corp., Northbrook, Ill., USA, has elected David G. Gabriel a director of the company. Gabriel was elected as a Class A director with a term expiring in 2016.

Gabriel has held the offices of president and CEO of Sonepar North America since September 2009. From May 2003 thru August 2009, he served as president and CEO of Hagemeyer North America. Prior to 2003, he served as SVP/GM of Tenneco Automotive's North American aftermarket business. Gabriel earned his B.S. degree in packaging engineering from Michigan State University.

KapStone is a producer of unbleached kraft paper products, linerboard, and shipping containers. The company is the parent company of KapStone Kraft Paper Corp. that includes paper mills in Roanoke Rapids, N.C., North Charleston, S.C., and Cowpens, S.C., 14 converting locations in the east and Midwest, and a lumber mill in Summerville, S.C. The business employs approximately 2,700 people.

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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.

Top 10 Reasons to Register for TAPPI's Best Practices on the Corrugator Course:


#10 Gain the knowledge you need to troubleshoot most operational problems.
#9 Learn how you can maintain quality while reaching maximum corrugator speeds.
#8 Network with peers to find solutions to your quality issues.
#7 See on-site videos of conditions producing defects and how they can be resolved.
#6 Learn from industry-renown instructors Tom Pearce, Pearce Corrugated Consulting; Dan Dyson, Vice President of Production for Avista Solutions International, Inc.; Jon Porter, Senior Instructor/Process Specialist, Fosber America; Robin A. Sommers, Engineering Manager, Donahue & Associates; and Peter Snyder, National Account Salesman, Harper/Love Adhesive.
 
#5 Bring your defects to the experts—and to your colleagues in the room—to get guidance on how to overcome your production problems.
#4 Find out how you can get the maximum yield of boxes from the paperboard consumed.
#3 Take home new ideas and operational methods to improve production.
#2 Save money. Register by May 27 to take advantage of the Early Bird Discount.

And the Number 1 reason why you should register for the 2013 TAPPI Best Practices on the Corrugator Course is...

With all of these great reasons, how can you not afford to?

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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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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Gulf Coast Papermaking and Lime Kilns Program - June 6-7, 2013, Destin, Fla., USA
 
Two Separate Technical Programs: Papermaking and Lime Kilns

Paper Machine Energy Audit Workshop - Thursday, June 6, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

A half-day workshop based on the TAPPI TIP 0404-63, Paper Machine Energy Conservation, will be conducted by Dick Reese, who has completed energy evaluations on more than 125 paper and pulp machines in 56 mills producing all major grades. Energy scorecards are used to benchmark energy use and identify opportunities for improvement. The scorecards are available in English, Spanish, and French.

Energy evaluations have identified annual savings opportunities ranging from $100,000 to $10 million on single paper machines. Typically 25% of recommended savings can be realized without any capital expenditures. Several mills have reduced annual energy cost by more than $1 million by implementing recommendations from the energy evaluations.

This workshop, geared towards paper mill employees on the front lines – process engineers, operators, maintenance, supervisors, and superintendents, includes practical advice on what to look for from stock prep through winding. Suppliers will also benefit by knowing what key items the mills are looking for and how they may relate to the products and services they are bringing to the mill. 

Concurrent Technical Sessions - Friday, June 7

The Friday Technical Sessions will have two concurrent tracks:

1.  Paper Machine Optimization: Mixing, Pressing & Drying. Topics include: "Evolution of Paper Machine Performance Evaluations," "Press Pit Pump Project at International Paper's Courtland Mill," "Paper Machine Water System Performance Evaluation Techniques," and "Steam and Condensate System Overview/Steam and Condensate System Troubleshooting and Optimization," among others.
2.  Lime Kilns: Recausticizing, Kiln Ringing/Build-up Issues, and New Technology.

The Gulf Coast TAPPI annual meeting will be held following the technical programs on June 8. We encourage family and friends to enjoy opportunities in the area such as:

•    Golf tournament. Assemble foursome and engage in a 'best ball' format on Seascape's  beautiful links 
•     Tennis round robin
•     Pontoon boats. GCT sponsors a few pontoon boats for families to cruise Choctawhatchee Bay
•     Gulf fishing. If there's enough interest, fishermen and women will charter a boat for offshore trolling
•     The beach. There's always the beach for a low key, relaxing day with feet in the sand! 

We celebrate the day's winners Saturday afternoon with a reception around the pool at 4:00 p.m. There will also be 'door prizes' for the kids.
 
If you have any questions about Saturday's activities, please feel free to contact Tim Watson at +1.251.422.7696 or Fred Thompson at +1.318.547.6169.
 
Reservations at the Seascape Resort can be booked by contacting them and requesting the Gulf Coast TAPPI rates:
 
Seascape Gulf Beach & Tennis Resort
Phone: 1.800.874.9106
 
1 BR: $162-210
2 BR: $178-226
3 BR: $242-330
 
Plus one time cleaning fee ranging from $95-145 (depends on unit size)
Rental includes daily beach chairs and umbrella and discounts on most other activities including golf (-40%).

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TAPPISAFE is proud to be a sponsor of the Pulp and Paper Safety Association (PPSA) 70th Annual Safety and Health Conference - "The Human Element of Safety", June 9 -12, 2013 in Williamsburg, Va., USA.

Join speakers from MWV, Weyerhaeuser Company, Domtar, Safe Start, and International Paper, to hear the latest on how human behavior will proactively help prevent, detect and control events before they occur. The conference will feature updates from OSHA, member company case studies, and PPSA's popular legal update.

Join professionals from across the country to discuss the importance of safety and the human impact on safety.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available.

Register soon for the best rates. For more information  visit "The Human Element of Safety" website.

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Your registration in the next few days will be one of the few reaining seats open for the popular TAPPI Introduction to Wet End Chemistry Course taking place June 11-13, 2013 at the TAPPI Training Facility in metro Atlanta, Ga., USA.
 
"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.

 View the workshop schedule to see the specific topics covered.

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Northeast PIMA/TAPPI Annual Scholarship Tournament
Friday, June 14, 2013, at Fox Ridge Golf Club, Auburn, Maine, USA
Registration 6:30 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. – shotgun start 8:00 a.m. sharp.
All proceeds from this tournament support the Northeast PIMA/TAPPI Scholarship Fund. Register ASAP as spots fill quickly. We accept checks and all major credit cards.
 
We accept donated swag for prizes – interested donors please contact Mark Reed or Micki Meggison (contact info below).

Fee: $100 per player (Golf, Cart, BBQ, Prizes, Range, etc.)
Hole Sponsorship: $100
BBQ + hole sponsorship: $200 (additional recognition & signage at BBQ)
Entry deadline: June 7, 2013
 
THREE WAYS TO ENTER:

Online Entry:
Registration Form

Mail team player names (or company name with hole and/or BBQ sponsorship choice) and check to:

Micki Meggison
Sappi Fine Paper NA
P.O. Box 5000
Westbrook, ME 04098

Or...

Fax team player names (or company name with hole and/or BBQ sponsorship) and payment information to:
Attn: Tanya Hickson, c/o NE PIMA Local Section Golf Tournament, Secure Fax: 240.396.5973
 
Do not email credit card numbers.

Questions or Concerns:
Micki Meggison
Phone: 207.671.2813

Or...

Mark Reed
Phone: 207.838.9099 

All checks payable to Northeast PIMA/TAPPI. If using credit card, register online or fax information to the secure number above – do not email. Online and faxed entries will generate electronic receipt emailed to cardholder. Receipts for mailed entries are available at the golf course during registration.

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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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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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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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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 TAPPI Introduction to Kraft Pulping and Bleaching Course is coming August 5-6, 2013, at the TAPPI Training Facility.

This course is efficiently and expertly planned and taught by one of the world's most recognized educators in the pulp and paper industry, Dr. Michael Kocurek, Emeritus Professor, North Carolina State University. In just two days, you'll gain a valuable overview of kraft operations that would normally take nearly 15 days in other, more comprehensive training.

The TAPPI Introduction to Kraft Pulping and Bleaching Course is designed to:

• Expand overall understanding of kraft pulp mill operations
• Broaden awareness of how one part of the process affects other operations
• Demonstrate the affect of processes on kraft pulp quality
• Build confidence for better interaction among experienced process engineers and operators
• Help you troubleshoot product quality problems.

Participants will learn specifically about:

• Wood and fiber raw materials
• Preparation of wood and chips for pulping
• Preparation of white liquor
• Pulping terminology, pulp properties, and tests
• Batch and continuous cooking
• Kraft pulping chemical reactions
• Pulping variables and effects on properties
• Trends in kraft pulping and bleaching
• Brown stock washing
• Screening and cleaning
• Bleaching and oxygen delignification
• The pulp mill biorefinery.

Who Should Attend?
This course is ideal for anyone new to the kraft pulping process, particularly process engineers and operators.

Learning Outcomes
After successfully completing the course, participants should be able to:

• Describe and define kraft pulp mill processes, equipment, operating variables, and terminology, in order to increase ability to improve operations and pulp quality
• Recognize how one part of the process affects other operations, in order to increase awareness of thinking on a mill wide scale
• Interpret how the process variables affect pulp quality, in order to improve pulp quality and troubleshoot variations in quality
• Extend awareness of the complex environmental challenges associated with kraft pulp production.

Please register soon. Only 25 seats are available for this course to ensure the most beneficial interaction among attendees and the instructor.

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The corrugated packaging and converting industry is heading for Indianapolis, Ind., USA, October 7-9, 2013, for TAPPI CorrExpo 2013. The JW Marriott is the waypoint where ideas turn into innovation. Join your colleagues to take advantage of highly-sought-after speakers, seminars, workshops, exhibits, and programs you don't want to miss:

• There will be two keynote presentations - Bob Chapman, CEO and chairman of Barry-Wehmiller, and Alexander Toeldte, president and CEO of Boise Inc.
• Extensive networking and sales opportunities on the sold-out exhibit floor
• Training and insight from the best in the industry
• A cutting-edge technology showcase exhibit of innovative trends and design
• Opportunity for one-on-one meetings with top-level attendees
• Problem solving with industry experts
• Numerous special events, including a welcome reception, golf tournament, gala at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and spouse/guest program
• Eye-opener sessions tackling timely topics affecting box plants today, with plenty of time for questions and interaction with the speakers
• Complimentary workshops on Wednesday afternoon for all registered exhibit visitors.

View the full program to see what's in store for you this October.

Register today.

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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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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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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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