The U.S. Postal Service Office, Denver, Col., USA, is seeking sources interested in and capable of providing paper and/or envelope products. This is not a solicitation, USPS emphasizes, noting that there is no Request for Proposal (RFP) or Solicitation to download, and no contract will be awarded from this announcement.

Interested suppliers will be required to demonstrate recent, specialized experience and technical competence in relation to the supply of paper and/or envelope products. Interested suppliers should furnish the following information:

• Provide company name, address, telephone number, and email address.
• State size status—Other than Small (OTS), Small Business (SB), Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) to include Section 8(a) participants, Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB), Historically Utilized Business Zone (Hubzone), Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSM), Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB), Historical Black Colleges and Minority Concerns (HBCU/MI), Indian organizations and Indian-Owned economic enterprises.
• Provide no more than three references for no more than three of the most recent and relevant contracts performed within the past three years. Include name, address, telephone number, and email address of references. Also, provide a brief description of the work performed, role of the paper or envelopes to include whether the work was self-performed or subcontracted out, total contract value, and period of performance.

There is one subcontracting limitation in regard to this announcement: the prime contractor is required to perform at least 50% of the labor with its own employees.

Email responses to this request for information are preferred, and should be sent to John Q. Bennett. All questions also must be submitted via email. The due date and time for responses to this announcement is Thursday, June 6, at 12:00 p.m. Mountain Time. Failure to comply with the establish time will disqualify potential suppliers for consideration. Responses should be limited to no more than 10 pages. Do not submit product literature

When responding via email, in the subject line put the following: Paper and Envelope Product Initiative.

The prequalification of suppliers is scheduled for completion by early September and the RFP is scheduled for release before the end of September. The prequalification as well as the RFP source selection process will be conducted using the USPS eSourcing system, Emptoris eRFx module.

Emptoris is an eSourcing solution that automates, standardizes, and streamlines the sourcing of supplies, services, equipment, transportation, and facilities. All suppliers interested in doing business with the USPS must register in Emptoris. Suppliers can access the eRFx registration module online. Simply click on the "Register Supplier Organization" hyperlink, and follow the instructions and prompts to complete the registration process. You will need a DUNS (Dun & Bradstreet) number and NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) code to register in the USPS sourcing system.

No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests. The purpose of this announcement is to gain knowledge of capabilities and qualifications of interested contractors. Responders must be able to pass security checks, have insurance, and meet other regulations requiring access to government installations.

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Driven by increased demand for their products and services, almost a third of North American manufacturing and distribution firms in the small and midsized business (SMB) sector expect to increase the size of their workforce in 2013, and 45% plan to keep it the same, according to the results of a survey announced this week by Sage North America, Irvine, Calif., USA. Sage conducted the survey among 242 executives of SMB manufacturers and distributors.

The Sage SMB Hiring Outlook Survey revealed that among those businesses in the U.S. and Canada who plan to add jobs, 83% cited a stronger demand for their company's products and services, while 23% said an improved economic outlook is helping drive the decision.

Only 7% of companies stated that they have decreased or will decrease the size of their workforce in 2013. The economy was a bigger factor for firms that planned to decrease their workforce size or keep it the same, with 45% saying economic uncertainty influenced their decision and 42% citing a steady or weakened demand for products and services.

"The good news is that most of the manufacturers and distributors we surveyed are planning to increase their workforce or at least stay the course in 2013, but of course we'd all like to see a stronger employment outlook," said Joe Langner, EVP, Mid-Market Solutions for Sage North America. "Economic uncertainty and the costs of doing business are making it even more important for SMB manufacturers and distributors to streamline their operations and take advantage of technology and tools that help them run smarter, more cost-effective businesses.

"Business leaders could look to mobile technology, for example, which can go far to help improve efficiencies and employee productivity. Mobile business applications enable seamless integration between the production plant and the office, eliminating potential bottlenecks between departments," Langner explained.

The survey revealed that of those SMB manufacturers and distributors who have hired or plan to hire in 2013, 92% seek full-time help, which seems to run against common speculation that the Affordable Care Act would dampen job growth, specifically affecting the hours of full-time employees.

Among companies who hired in both 2012 and 2013, 39% expect to hire more employees this year than in 2012, and 52% expect to hire about the same.

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As part of its expanding efforts to promote the sustainability of print and paper, Two Sides, Chicago, Ill., USA, this month will begin working with U.S. magazine and newspaper publishers to reach consumers with the No Wonder You Love Paper ad campaign. One of the first ads to appear is in the June issue of National Geographic magazine. The campaign, which promotes the sustainability, visual appeal, and versatility of magazines and newspapers, follows a similar, highly successful campaign in Europe that anticipates $10 million worth of in-kind ad placements in leading magazines and newspapers.

"Two Sides research shows that 70% of polled U.S. consumers, including 69% of 18- to 24-year-olds, say they prefer to read print and paper communications rather than reading off of a screen," says Two Sides President Phil Riebel, "but Americans also have many misconceptions about the effects of paper-based communications on the environment. In fact, print and paper have a great environmental story to tell, and the No Wonder You Love Paper Ad campaign is designed to help set the record straight."

The No Wonder You Love Paper ads feature people enjoying magazines and newspapers in their everyday lives and offer facts about the sustainability of print and paper. "We know people will easily relate to the situations portrayed in the ads and may be surprised by some of the facts presented," Riebel says. "For example, a lot of people don't know that 65% of paper produced in the U.S. each year is collected and recycled or that there are now 49% more trees growing in U.S. forests than 50 years ago (see sample ad). When people are aware of the facts, they can not only enjoy the many types of printed media they encounter every day, but also can feel good knowing that by choosing ink on paper they are supporting one of the most sustainable products on the planet," he says.

The No Wonder You Love Paper ad campaign is supported by a consumer website that includes additional facts about the sustainability of print and paper, a short video on paper and forests, a fun quiz, and the opportunity to win a prize for creating a short "fun with paper" video.

"We're excited that Two Sides is launching a campaign to help highlight how paper is sustainable and powerful," said Paige Goff, VP of sustainability and business communications for Domtar Corp., Montreal, Que., Canada. "Paper remains purposeful and personal, and from the forest floor to all types of printed media, there's a way consumers can be sure their paper comes from well-managed forests. We're grateful that Two Sides is helping spread the word."

Publishers interested in participating in the ad campaign may contact Phil Riebel at 1-855-896-7433 (toll-free) or pnr@twosides.info.

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IT'S TISSUE, The Italian Technology Experience, will be held in Lucca, Italy, June 22 -30. It will be the first venue of this international event for industry operators and all of those who have an interest in the world of tissue. A rich and diverse program of meetings, information, in-depth analysis, as well as art, music, culture, and more, will provide a natural appendage to the uniquely Italian excellence in tissue.

IT'S TISSUE is not a trade fair, not a festival, nor is it a convention. It is a special event created by the Tissue Italy Network, made up of 12 Italian equipment suppliers for the tissue industry, which every three years will bring together clients and companies and provide them with a unique insight into each of the member companies' own technological innovations. The Open House formula will allow participants to immerge themselves into the Network's world of production starting in Lucca, Italy's most important tissue capital, through the packaging Valley in Bologna and Reggio Emilia, all the way to the northern city of Lecco. To analyze fundamental business aspects and global economic trends in tissue, a plenary Forum will become a meeting and debate table among the public and some of the greatest global experts in tissue who will be joined by the voices of renown economists of the same level, opinion leaders, and international journalists.

To make the event even more captivating and dynamic, IT's Tissue will offer cultural experiences to be held in the enchanting, historical center of Lucca, specifically organized for participants beginning with an exhibit of one of the greatest photographers of the Twentieth Century, Henri Cartier-Bresson, followed by the concert of a world famous pop star. Every night, in the Piazza Anfiteatro, international jazz artists will perform live. And what event would it be in the city of Puccini, without concerts dedicated to this grand composer: every day in the Basilica di San Giovanni participants will be able to attend recitals, a selection of operas, and special concerts.

This artistic experience will be completed with visits to the Paper Museum in Pescia as well as other museums in the province of Lucca, including those in the heart of the marble caves of Carrara to discover the secrets of Michelangelo and in the historical foundries of Pietrasanta where the world's greatest sculptors have worked and continue to work till this day. Itineraries will be dedicated to physical and internal wellness with the "white nights" at Spas, shopping at the outlets of the most well-known brands in Italian fashion, and wine and oil tastings in wineries and agriculture companies in the area.

IT's Tissue presents itself to the world as an opportunity that cannot be missed. The chance to surround oneself completely with Italian excellence in a location full of history where tradition and innovation are joined to become an ideal manuscript of synergy, unlike any other in its sector, organized by the Tissue Italy Network.

Tissue Italy Network member companies (in alphabetical order) are: A. Celli Paper S.p.A., Lucca; Elettric 80 S.p.A., Reggio Emilia; Fabio Perini S.p.A., Lucca; Futura S.p.A., Lucca; Gambini S.p.A., Lucca; MTC - Macchine Trasformazione Carta S.r.l., Lucca; Omet S.r.l., Lecco; PCMC S.p.A., Lucca; Pulsar S.r.l., Bologna; Recard S.p.A., Lucca; TMC – Tissue Machinery Company S.p.A., Bologna; and Toscotec S.p.A., Lucca.

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This fall, the 2013 China International Paper Technology Exhibition and Conference (CIPTE) is offering a unique and affordable opportunity to exhibit. Twenty booths have been set aside for equipment, chemical, recycling, and other suppliers from North America. The exhibit cost is less than $1,500, but hurry, space is limited.

The exhibit is attended by pulp and paper professionals from all over China, September 23-25, 2013.

More information is available online.

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By John Hochu, Ashland

Continual market pressures have most of today's printing and writing paper mills in pursuit of lower operating costs and improved paper quality. In many mills, increasing filler levels, using lower cost fibers (mechanical and recycled), and moving some production to new grades are ways to accomplish these goals.

However, these changes make it critical to have a low cost, advanced retention and drainage program that is flexible and robust enough to maintain control under varying conditions while maximizing productivity. Success lies in the combined use of a high performance, low cost retention polymer to maximize and control filler retention and a novel injection system to maximize the polymer program performance.

Two Innovative Solutions
Retention of fine particles, including fillers, in a papermaking furnish is key to maintaining machine runnability and cost competitiveness. Ashland's PerForm™ SP structured polymers behave as organic microparticles for neutral and alkaline papermaking systems. While this technology has a proven track record in packaging and tissue, it is also used with printing and writing grades where high filler retention is essential.

The unique polymer structure of PerForm SP enables high filler retention and drainage without compromising formation, and it maintains its performance under charge and conductivity swings. High ash retention delivered by these products can benefit mills by allowing higher sheet ash targets, improved wet end cleanliness, lower sewer losses, and improved additive efficiency. All of these allow mills to lower their operating costs.

A more recent innovation is Ashland's PerForm™ VMax advanced mixing and injection technology. This chemical delivery system is designed for post-diluting and injecting retention program polymers with very high levels of mixing, thereby promoting full dispersion of the polymers into the stock stream to maximize their efficiency. At the heart of the technology is a patented injection assembly that generates a highly turbulent mixing pattern, folding water and polymer together prior to stock addition while minimizing polymer shear.

Efficient dispersion of the polymer into the stock stream will maximize first pass and ash retention, allowing for a potential reduction in product usage and an increase in sheet formation. In addition, the design of the system allows use of reclaimed water from the paper machine, thereby eliminating the use of fresh water for post dilution and polymer injection. This can be a significant consideration for paper mills working toward reducing the cost of energy to reheat the freshwater. It also has strong, positive implications for mills that have water use and discharge challenges.

Replacing freshwater with mill process white water will help with an organization's sustainability efforts, reducing the environmental foot print and helping to promote a greener and environmentally-friendly site. The combination of highly efficient injection of the polymers, improved paper quality, and reduced heated fresh water usage will be a direct cost savings for the paper machine.

Double Success Stories
Two world-class freesheet paper machines in different regions of the world made the transition from a competitive, multi-component inorganic microparticle program and injection system to PerForm SP structured polymer and PerForm VMax mixing and injection system. In both cases, the customers were able to lower their operating costs using Ashland's program and achieve better performance from the retention programs.

Retention aid usage decreased dramatically versus the incumbent program in both applications. Both machines achieved production increases, higher sheet ash levels, reduced breaks, and lower retention program costs.

The combination of PerForm SP retention program and PerForm VMax Mixing and Injection system provides mills with an opportunity to lower their retention program costs, increase machine performance, and achieve environmental benefits. All of these equate to lower operating costs.

About the Author
John Hochu is applications project manager, Ashland, in Bartlett, Tenn., USA. He has been working 24 years with Ashland in the paper industry, including 17 years with retention and drainage programs.

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The costs of wood fiber for the world's pulp mills have trended downward the past two years because of reduced pulp and paper production, and in some regions, as a result of higher supply of lower-cost fiber, according to the Wood Resources Quarterly (WRQ), Seattle, Wash., USA. This trend continued in the 1Q/13 when the Hardwood Wood Fiber Price Index (HFPI) fell by 1.1% to $103.66 per oven-dry metric ton (odmt), which was 12% below the all-time high in the 3Q/11.

However, the price trends were mixed in the 1Q/13, with hardwood fiber prices lower in Asia and Eastern Canada and slightly higher in Europe and Latin America compared with the 4Q/12. Eucalyptus pulpwood prices in Brazil have fallen more than in most other regions the past two years, with 1Q/13 prices being down more than 30% since 2011.

This dramatic decline has resulted in Brazilian pulp mills now enjoying the fourth lowest wood fiber costs in the world, behind Russia, the U.S. South, and Chile, respectively.

The Softwood Wood Fiber Price Index (SFPI) in the 1Q/13 was practically unchanged from the 4Q/12 at $99.90/odmt. The SFPI has inched downward for seven consecutive quarters and is currently down 8.8% from the most recent peak in 2Q/11, according to the WRQ. The biggest changes in the 1Q/13 in U.S. dollar terms were the declines in chip prices in Eastern Canada, Japan, Western Canada, and the U.S. Northwest. The biggest increases occurred in France and Germany.

There has been an increased supply of residual chips from the sawmilling sector that has turned up the production levels over the past six months. This is the major reason for the declining prices in Canada and the U.S. Prices for wood chips in Canada have fallen more than 15% in just over a year.

With improved markets for softwood lumber in the U.S., it is likely that the availability of lower-cost wood fiber for the pulp industry throughout North America will continue through the rest of 2013 and into 2014.

More information is available online.

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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, 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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Catalyst Paper, Richmond, B.C., Canada, has sold its Elk Falls industrial site and related assets to Quicksilver Resources Canada Inc., a Calgary-based corporation with extensive natural gas holdings. The $8.6 million sale was signed and closed last Friday.

Sale of the approximate 1,200-acre parcel includes a fully serviced, 400-acre industrial site and adjacent property near Campbell River. The site formerly housed a paper and pulp mill that began operations in 1952, was indefinitely curtailed in 2009, and closed permanently in 2010. Work has been underway since then to prepare the site for sale and redevelopment for other industrial uses.

Catalyst Paper produces specialty mechanical printing papers, newsprint, and pulp. Its customers include retailers, publishers, and commercial printers in North America, Latin America, the Pacific Rim, and Europe.

In British Columbia, Catalyst operates facilities in Crofton, Port Alberni, Powell River, Surrey, and Nanaimo. It has a combined annual production capacity of 1.5 million metric tpy.

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CMPC Celulose Riograndense S.A, Brazil, has signed a letter of intent with Metso, Finland, to supply key technology for its Guaíba II pulp line in Brazil. The new pulp line, which is an expansion to the existing Guaíba pulp mill, will have a capacity of 1.3 million metric tpy and will be able to reach 1.5 million metric tpy with minor investments. The new pulp line is to be built in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil and is scheduled to be commissioned in the first half of 2015.

The value of the anticipated delivery has not been disclosed. However, a project of this size and scope is typically valued at EUR 800-900 million, according to Metso. Around 50% of this would consist of Metso-supplied equipment and systems.

The plan is to sign the final agreement by the end of June.

The letter of intent covers the main parts of the pulp line—the cooking plant and fiberline, pulp drying and baling, evaporation, a recovery boiler, causticizing and lime kiln, and an integrated automation solution and an operator training simulator for all mill process areas. The Guaíba mill will produce 1.3 million metric tons of bleached eucalyptus market pulp per year and its modern technologies will enable it to achieve some of the lowest operating costs in the industry.

All of the machinery and equipment planned for the new Guaíba project are based on the best technologies available. The capacity of the evaporation plant will be the largest in the world. The stationary cooler planned for the lime kiln makes use of a technology that is mainly used in the cement industry and will bring significant savings in fuel oil consumption. The recovery boiler is also based on the best available technology for high power generation. The fiberline combines high pulping yield, low chemical consumption, and reduced water consumption with low effluent levels. The pulp dryer will utilize the most reliable technology to provide low steam consumption, and will be equipped with high-speed baling lines.

CMPC Celulose Riograndense is part of the Chilean group, CMPC Celulosa, one of the largest forestry-based companies in Latin America. Its mills in Chile and Brazil produce around 2.8 million metric tons of pulp per year.

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Domtar Corp., Montreal, Que., Canada, will acquire privately-held Associated Hygienic Products (AHP), the largest manufacturer and supplier of store brand infant diapers in the U.S., from DSG International for $272 million. The closing of the transaction is expected by the end of the second quarter, subject to customary closing conditions.

"The market for store brand infant diapers is growing steadily in North America, driven by high quality products and a strong value proposition. The acquisition of AHP will provide meaningful market expansion opportunities and innovative product development capabilities with our existing Personal Care business, as well as synergies to the bottom line," said John D. Williams, president and CEO of Domtar. "This will be our fourth transaction in Personal Care in two years, and with it the division will reach more than $200 million in annualized EBITDA by 2017. This earnings runway is part of our company-wide goal of having $300-$500 million in annualized EBITDA from growing businesses over the next four years."

AHP manufactures and markets infant diapers in the U.S., with established long-term relationships in the retail distribution channels. It operates two large modern facilities, a 376,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Delaware, Ohio, and a 312,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Waco, Texas. The company also has administrative offices and operates a distribution center in Duluth, Ga. AHP has 621 employees and an annual run rate sales and EBITDA of $320 million and $31 million respectively.

It is anticipated that the integration to Domtar's Personal Care division will provide annualized synergies of $10 million within two years. The synergies will come from a combination of lower purchasing costs, a reduction in general and administrative costs, and sharing of best practices in manufacturing and product development.

Commenting on the benefits of the acquisition, Michael Fagan, SVP, Personal Care, said that "this acquisition will add a key product line to our offering, a competitive manufacturing base to our existing footprint and solid access to the retail channels for our adult incontinence products. AHP invests heavily in research and development and brings to the marketplace quality products, a highly trained workforce and the know-how to service large retailers. I am also impressed with the substantial investments made in the past five years in the facilities, which will limit the capital requirements for the foreseeable future."

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Metsä Tissue, Finland, part of Metsä Group, has established and this week inaugurated a new converting and warehousing site in Vorsino, Russia. The developing Russian market is strategically important to Metsä Tissue, the company noted. CEO Mika Joukio added that just in the Moscow and St. Petersburg area alone, "there are some 30 million people with a rapidly rising standard of living. It is estimated that the tissue market in Russia will grow significantly, even more than in Western Europe. This makes us believe strongly in a successful future in Russia."

The Vorsino site is located 90 km from Moscow to the southwest, with good connections to Moscow City, St. Petersburg, and other main cities. "From this location and with the site's efficient logistics, we can serve our customers quickly and with a wide range of high quality tissue products. We produce our top brands—Lambi, Mola, and Katrin—near our customers," said VP Yuriy Hudziy, Tissue, Russia. In addition to locally produced goods, Metsä Tissue imports and sells Katrin products and solutions, and SAGA baking and cooking papers in Russia.

Metsä Tissue launched its products on the Russian market in 2005. Metsä Tissue OOO, the company for Russian operations, was established in 2006, and the production started in 2008. In Vorsino, the company introduces the latest, highly modern converting line that doubles tissue production capacity and enables a larger product variety. Currently Metsä Tissue employs about 110 people in Russia.

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Nippon Paper Industries Co., Japan, announced that as of June 27 it will establish its Energy Business Division and set up its Energy Business Department within the new division in an organizational reform of the company. Nippon notes that it has been boosting development of businesses other than paper, and above all, has been promoting expansion of its energy business in which it can leverage its strengths.

The company says it has decided to newly introduce Japan's first biomass power generation project utilizing 100% unused woody materials at Yatsushiro mill (Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture), and Shikoku's largest mega-solar project in Komatsushima-shi, Tokushima (on land owned by Nippon Paper Industries) in fiscal year 2014.

The Energy Business Department, previously under the Technical & Engineering Division, will be expanded significantly by creating an independent division. With this more agile organizational structure, Nippon Paper Industries emphasizes that it will quickly and assuredly seize business opportunities and strengthen its efforts for further expansion of its energy business.

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Yunnan Yun-Jing Forestry and Pulp Mill Co., China, has ordered a complete tissue production line from Metso, Finland. The new tissue machine will be installed at the company's mill in Jinggu County, Yunnan Province. Startup of the machine is scheduled for mid-2014. The value of the order was not disclosed.

With the new tissue line, Yunnan Yun-Jing will be able to develop its forest resources into valuable consumer products and add high-quality tissue to its current product portfolio.

"This will be the most advanced tissue machine with highest capacity and product quality and lowest energy consumption in the Yunnan Province. The new tissue line will integrate tissue making to Yunnan Yun-Jing's current business and will supply high-quality tissue to the Yunnan market. We are convinced that the new line will improve our competitiveness and support our market expansion," said Chen Xueping, deputy manager, project management, Yunnan Yun-Jing.

Metso's delivery will include a complete high-speed tissue production line featuring an Advantage DCT 100+ tissue machine equipped with an OptiFlo II TIS headbox, an Advantage ViscoNip press for improved press dryness, and a Metso special alloy cast iron yankee cylinder with an Advantage AirCap yankee hood. Metso will also supply stock preparation equipment and Metso DNA automation and Metso IQ quality control systems.

The delivery will also include basic engineering, installation, operator training, and startup services for the machine.

The new line will have a width of 2.85 meters and an operating speed of 1,870 m/min. It will have a yearly production of 30,000 metric tons of bathroom tissue for the Chinese market. Raw material for the new production line will be virgin fiber from the company's own pulp mill.

Yunnan Yun-Jing Forestry and Pulp Mill Co. is an agricultural enterprise in Yunnan Province. The company operates in the forestry and coal mine businesses and is the holder of one million acres of forestry land. Its 1,300 employees produce 100,000 metric tons of pulp and 90,000 metric tons of coal per year.

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Research and Markets, Dublin Ireland, has added a new report titled Packaging for an Aging Population to its current offering. The report assesses the implications of our aging society on packaging design and demonstrates ways in which manufacturers can address these challenges. Market forces are identified, recent examples of senior-friendly packaging are examined, and technological advances that will influence the next generation of packaging design are discussed.

According to the report, from 2010 to 2050, in developed regions, those aged 65 and over will swell from 16% to 26% of the population, while those aged 80 or more will rise from 4% to 9%. In absolute numbers, that means that the population aged 65-plus will grow from 197 million to 337 million, while the population aged 80-plus will grow from 53 million to 122 million.

While the opportunities and demand for senior-friendly packaging are clear, manufacturers must remember that such features cannot be the only selling point, the report emphasizes. Products must be designed with seniors in mind, but they should not carry such an explicit message; no-one wants to think of themselves as elderly.

While all manufacturers should be incorporating universal design principles into their packaging design briefs, this is especially critical for the priority product categories, such as prescription and OTC medications, functional foods, and heavy or spill-prone household products, the report notes.

More information is available online.

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Tetra Pak, Lausanne, Switzerland, this week inaugurated its latest factory at Chakan, near Pune, in India. The plant is designed to meet growing demand for Tetra Pak processing and packaging solutions across India, South and Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. The EUR 120 million (INR 700 crores) facility marks a significant milestone in Tetra Pak's increasing presence in the Indian subcontinent.

Tetra Pak President and CEO Dennis Jönsson noted that "Tetra Pak started its market operations in India 26 years ago with a strong belief in the country's growth potential. In 1997 we inaugurated our first factory here. We appreciate the trust and belief that the Indian dairy and beverage industry has in Tetra Pak. Today, India ranks among our fastest growing markets. Investing in this factory demonstrates our strong commitment to supporting our customers to meet growing consumer demand in the region."

Tetra Pak South Asia Markets Managing Director Kandarp Singh added that "today's young urban consumer and the growing middle class are shaping and transforming the Indian food and beverage industry. Being ahead of the curve, Tetra Pak is geared to meet the growing demand for food safety and convenience. Today's consumer looks for nutritious and healthy products in a convenient packaging format, something that Tetra Pak is well equipped to deliver."

Spread over 45 acres, the new plant employs the most advanced packaging material production technologies and equipment in the world. Among various other facilities, the new plant will have a straw production unit, a processing systems workshop, a filling machine renovation, and a technical training academy. The localization of these processes will greatly increase responsiveness to market demands.

The new facility will also house the Product Development and Innovation Centre, which will have a laboratory, a pilot processing plant, and a pilot packaging plant to meet the product formulations and development needs of customers.

The new plant doubles production capacity of Tetra Pak packaging material to 8.5 billion packages per year, with the potential of scaling it up to 16 billion packages.

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Stora Enso, Finland, this past week officially inaugurated the new containerboard machine at Ostroleka in Poland. The new, lightweight containerboard machine that went on stream in early 2013, runs on 100% recovered fiber.

"The demand for modern lightweight corrugated packaging is increasing rapidly. The market in Central and Eastern Europe will grow by more than 5% per year," said Mats Nordlander, EVP, Renewable Packaging. "Our new BM 5 will strengthen our position in the growing markets of Central and Eastern Europe, and at the same time support our packaging growth strategy."

Stora Enso's integrated network for collecting paper for recycling in Poland, the new efficient power plant that uses more than 50% biofuels, and the new state-of-the-art containerboard machine with low energy consumption will make Ostroleka the benchmark for cost and product offering in Europe, the company notes.

Stora Enso has established its own collection system in Poland based on collection and sorting stations that it has set up around the country. The packaging material it collects is transported to those collection stations, where it is separated from other waste material and baled. The final raw material is then transported to Stora Enso's mill at Ostroleka and made into new products—corrugated boxes and board packaging.

The Ostrołęka mill is the biggest in Stora Enso Poland. Its history dates back to 1959, the year of inception of the state-owned company Ostrołęckie Zakłady Celulozowe – Papiernicze (the Ostrołęka Pulp and Paper Mill). The first milestone for the company was in 1990 when the Polish-Swedish joint venture partnership under the name of Intercell was established. Intercell has gradually expanded its activities by starting up its mills in Łódź, Tychy, and Mosina. In 2004 all mills of Intercell S.A. joined Stora Enso Poland S.A.

Ostrołęka is the localization of an integrated paper and packaging business that includes a pulp and paper mill, a corrugated board and boxes mill, and a sack mill. The corrugated board and boxes mill produces single and double wall corrugated board of all types of flutes, which are then used for the production of different kinds of American boxes and die-cut boxes.

The sack mill is equipped with three state-of-the art sack production lines. The product range includes open-mouth pasted sacks, open-mouth sewn sacks, and valve pasted sacks.

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Tetra Pak, Vernon Hills, Ill., USA, this past week received the first DuPont Silver Anniversary Award for Excellence in Continuing Innovation. The first-of-its-kind award honors winners of five or more previous DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation throughout the program's 25-year history. Tetra Pak has received five awards since 1995 for its carton packaging and processing technology.

The DuPont award marks the sixth for the company, and recognizes Tetra Pak's leadership demonstrated by investing over the long term on developing products and services that provide value to brands and consumers.

"Since the company's founding more than 60 years ago, Tetra Pak has constantly driven packaging innovation with a view to making food safe and available for people everywhere," said Michael Grosse, EVP of development and service operations at Tetra Pak. "We are delighted to receive this award from DuPont in recognition of our achievements. We are committed to remaining at the cutting edge of the industry."

According to Michael Zacka, president and CEO, Tetra Pak U.S. and Canada, "this award reinforces that our approach—working closely with our customers and collaboratively pushing innovation to the marketplace, where we not only respond to the needs of the changing consumer, but actually anticipate future ones—is the right approach."

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Rengo Co., Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan; reports that its wholly-owned nonwoven business subsidiary, Rengo Nonwoven Products Co., Soja-shi, Okayama, Japan, is preparing to establish a nonwoven sales company and begin local production in Jiangsu, China, as the first step towards the overseas expansion of its nonwoven business. Since its establishment in 1986, Rengo Nonwoven Products has manufactured thermal bonded nonwovens for hygiene products—mainly disposable diapers and sanitary products—and as the current top manufacturer in Japan, has provided high quality nonwoven products that meet various customer needs with skills and expertise regarding nonwoven manufacturing accumulated over its many years in the business.

The company explains that in recent years, high-level economic development in China has led to increased demand for products such as disposable diapers and further growth in consumption volume is anticipated in the future with switchovers from cloth diapers. Rengo Nonwoven Products has established a wholly-owned sales company for nonwovens in Wuxi, Jiangsu, to respond to demand in the hygiene product market in China, which is experiencing remarkable growth.

The manufacturing of nonwovens will be conducted by Wuxi Rengo Packaging Co., Wuxi, Jiangsu, China, a Chinese subsidiary of Rengo. Its plant will be renovated with the installation of new nonwovens manufacturing equipment. All products will be supplied to the newly-established sales company. The first stage of the plan (annual production of 4,800 metric tons) involves production scheduled to begin in January 2014, and over the next several years annual production capacity will be expanded to approximately 10,000 metric tons.

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Appvion, Appleton, Wis., USA, formerly known as Appleton, a producer of NCR Paper brand carbonless paper and Appleton Digital Paper, this week introduced Appleton Digital Synthetic Paper for HP Indigo. The durable substrate joins an extensive line of specialty digital sheets that include polyester, paper-film laminate, pressure sensitive, and fluorescents.

Engineered for HP Indigo digital presses, the digital substrate has a 3-star rating from the Rochester Institute of Technology's (RIT) HP Indigo certification program. The 3-star HP Indigo certification, which is the highest rating, distinguishes Appleton Digital Synthetic Paper as a premiere specialty substrate choice for HP Indigo digital presses.

The bright white substrate comes in three calipers (6, 10, and 14 ml) and is 100% waterproof. Other features and benefits include:

• Flexible film that is tear- and weather-resistant for exceptional durability
• Vibrant color reproduction producing beautiful images
• Chemical- and stain-resistant
• No over-lamination required, saving time and money
• Ultra-smooth print surface for excellent ink adhesion
• Can be punched, perfed, scored, folded, and die-cut
• 100% recyclable as a No. 5 plastic
• Available in low-sheet-count quantities.

"It is clear the specialty substrate market continues to see growth," said Jenny Boone, executive director and GM—Carbonless and Security. "The Appleton Synthetic Paper for HP Indigo offers printers a durable product that is suitable for a broad range of end-use applications. And with its low-sheet-count offering, printers don't have to buy more than they need for short run jobs."

Appleton Digital Synthetic Paper for HP Indigo is suitable for applications such as menus, ID cards, maps, labels, outdoor signage, manuals, lumber tags, point-of-purchase signage, brochures, and shelf talkers.

More information about the Appleton Digital Paper line is available online.

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NewPage Corp., Miamisburg, Ohio, USA, a supplier of specialty label and release liner papers for North American pressure sensitive markets, this week introduced its PointSil™ Densified Liner, a new family of caliper-controlled, heavyweight release liner papers specifically engineered for large-size graphics utilized in transportation, indoor and outdoor advertising signage (see photo), and other wide format applications. PointSil Densified Liner is offered in several caliper options and features exceptional layflat, scoring, and cracking capabilities, all of which are key performance attributes for large and complex graphics that are applied on a multitude of surfaces, and often in challenging locations, NewPage notes.

"Significant growth in the use and complexity of wide format graphics has created a demand for densified release liners that offer the right combination of quality, performance, and run-to-run consistency," said David Diekelman, executive director, specialty papers sales and marketing for NewPage. "Our new PointSil Densified release liner papers excel in these critical areas, and all are backed by the highly skilled technical service customers have come to trust from NewPage."

PointSil Densified Liner includes caliper offerings ranging from 3.2 ml to 4.6 ml – each optimized for caliper-controlled, heavy weight release liner applications, and joins the broader portfolio of NewPage release liner and face papers specifically designed for pressure sensitive applications.

In the U.S., NewPage owns paper mills in Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. These mills have a total annual production capacity of approximately 3.5 million tons of paper.

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Chesapeake, U.K., has appointed David Wiggins design and development director of its Branded Packaging Division. Wiggings will manage and direct Chesapeake Creative, the division's award-winning design team that has bases in the U.K., Germany, and Poland.

Wiggins has extensive international experience in the packaging industry and holds a B.Sc. honors degree in Packaging Technology. Before joining Chesapeake, David worked for Nestlé, where he was head of packaging in its Global Confectionery R&D team before becoming head of packaging for the U.K. market. Prior to that, he spent nine years at Coors Brewers as head of packaging, graphics, and Innovation.

Complementing his background in packaging development, Wiggins also has a solid track record in consultancy. He is also an Industrial Fellow of the Engineering Design Centre at Cambridge University, working on inclusive design.

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The Mondi Group, South Africa, has appointed Tshamano Mohau Frederik Phaswana joint chairman, effective June 1. He replaces Cyril Ramaphosa who, as announced in January, stepped down at the conclusion of the annual general meetings May 3. Also effective June 1, he will be a member of the DLC nominations committee

Phaswana is chairman of Standard Bank Group and The Standard Bank of South Africa. He is also chairman of the South African Institute of International Affairs and non-executive director of Naspers Limited. He was formally regional president of BP Africa, a non-executive director of Anglo American, and chairman of Anglo American South Africa, Anglo Platinum, Transnet, Ethos Private Equity, the South African Energy Association, and the Advisory Board of the Cape Town Graduate School of Business. He is also former honorary president of the Cape Town Press Club.

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Finch Paper, Glens Falls, N.Y., USA, reports that Joseph F. Raccuia stepped down as president and CEO last Friday (May 24), and has been succeeded by Debabrata Mukherjee, Ph.D., who has served as VP and GM of specialty papers for P.H. Glatfelter since 2008.

"Nearly five years ago, I came out of retirement to transform this century-old paper company into a leading 21st Century manufacturer, with high-performance work teams, strong union-management relations, improved efficiencies, and a vibrant pipeline of next-generation products that would allow us to compete for the long-term in the global paper market," Raccuia said. "Together, with an outstanding senior leadership team and the help of our employees and unions, I am proud to say Finch Paper is well on its way to achieving this transformation."

Raccuia said that Dr. Mukherjee's expertise as a developer of specialty papers and a driver of innovation in the manufacturing environment make him well-suited to continue and expand upon the successes Finch Paper has achieved in recent years. Under Raccuia's leadership, Finch has developed successful new products for the rapidly growing production inkjet printing market, and forged strong working relationships with academic institutions, including Cornell University, Clarkson University, Rochester Institute of Technology, SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, of which Dr. Mukherjee is an alumnus.

"I am honored and excited by the opportunity to lead Finch Paper," Dr. Mukherjee said. "As a senior executive at Glatfelter, I have known Finch as a formidable innovator with an outstanding reputation for quality products and unrivaled customer responsiveness. Now I look forward to leading this team and building upon its record of success, particularly in the areas of digital and specialty papers. Adding to my excitement is the opportunity to return to a region where I once lived and studied and where I set in motion the chain of events that led me to my chosen career."

After joining Glatfelter as digital products manager in 1998, Dr. Mukherjee earned a steady series of promotions to specialty products manager in 2000, North American general sales manager, engineered products in 2002, director, engineered products in 2004, division VP, engineered and converting products in 2006, and VP and GM, specialty papers in 2008. In his most recent role, he led a business unit with more than $900 million in worldwide sales and six North American locations. Under his leadership, the operating profit of the specialty papers unit increased by 98%, and the business achieved a consistent record of generating more than 50% of its revenue from new products.

Raccuia joined Finch Paper in February 2009, after retiring as president and CEO of SCA Tissue-North America.

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On behalf of PAPTAC and Course Leader, Paul Stuart of EnVertis and Ecole Polytechnique, we are pleased to inform you of PAPTAC's first biorefinery course, to be held June 9-11 at the Sheraton Wall Center in Vancouver, ahead of the PACWEST conference.  We hope that you can join us!   

View the complete course brochure and registration
 
This PAPTAC biorefinery course will seek to provide the knowledge and tools for forest industry leaders, technology providers, and consultants to develop bioenergy strategies and better understand emerging bioenergy technologies and their design/implementation in a business strategy.

More specifically, the course is intended for corporate and mill leadership – including mill managers and senior technical staff – who wish to become more knowledgeable about biorefinery implementation strategy and design methods, and who seek to identify and select the best biorefinery strategy for their mills. A total of 19 expert instructors from across North America and Europe will share their experience during the three days, generally structured as follows:

Day 1: Advanced Biorefinery Fundamentals
Day 2: Setting Biorefinery Strategy
Day 3: Biorefinery Techno-Economics and Case Studies

The course format has been designed to encourage exchange between instructors and participants, and a copy of the newly-released book of "Integrated Biorefineries: Design, Analysis, and Optimization" will be included in the registration price. For your information, the same course will also be offered by TAPPI and co-sponsored by PAPTAC this September in Green Bay, Wis., USA. Learn more about that course.

We look forward to being in touch with you regarding this opportunity.

For information, contact Carmie Lato from PAPTAC at 514-392-6969

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TAPPI congratulates Kenneth Kildahl from the University of Minnesota and Aislinn Brackman from the State University of New York for winning the 2013 Outstanding Student Chapter Member Award. This is perhaps the most prestigious award TAPPI can offer to a student chapter member.

Ulrike Tschirner, faculty advisor at the University of Minnesota says that "due to Kenneth's influence, our student chapter is the most active we have had in years. He has recruited a large number of new members and initiated several activities such as fundraising through selling coffee mugs or handmade paper, and three large (and successful) grant applications. The grants were a group effort, but he clearly took the lead. Through these efforts, we were able to send 12 members to the TAPPI PIMA Student Summit this year.

Aislinn has worked as a senior marketing coordinator at King & King Architects in Syracuse while taking classes part time at Onondaga Community College. A co-worker suggested to her the papermaking program at SUNY-ESF. As she learned more about the program she was excited about the possibility of going into such a specialized field with excellent scholarships and almost guaranteed job placement after graduation.

Aislinn is involved in many organizations on campus. She is the outgoing president of the Undergraduate Student Association and treasurer of Papyrus Club, a member of the Empire Forester, ESF's yearbook, and AXS, ESF's honor society. Her scholarly activities allowed her to interact with many members of the campus' administration and faculty and serve as a representative of the PBE program. She also helped make the paper and bioprocess engineering program more visible to the student campus community, many who had no idea that Walters Hall even existed.

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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 Analyze your mill's specific problems with course instructors and explore possible solutions.

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.

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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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John Bentley earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Pennsylvania State University and continued his studies at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1952, he began his career as an Industry Engineer with Westinghouse Electric Corp. In 1984, he began working for Allen-Bradley/Stromberg as Principal Engineer. Then in 1991, he began working for ABB Industrial Systems as Principal Engineer, where he had responsibility for guiding ABB world-wide pulp and paper drives system application engineering until his retirement in 1996. During his career John was instrumental in introducing a number of innovative drive system "firsts" to the North American paper industry, including the first all-digital sectional drive control in 1981 and the first ac vector control for sectional paper machine drives in 1986.

Bentley was a TAPPI member since 1964, and was a continuous contributor to the paper machine and winder power requirements task groups for more than three decades. He was recipient of the Engineering Division's Award in 1981 and was named a TAPPI Fellow in 1986. Her served as secretary, program chairman, and chairman of the Electrical Engineering Committee. In 1982 he was a co-developer and instructor of the TAPPI Drives Seminar and later for the TAPPI Drives Short Course. A holder of numerous patents, Bentley was a member of the institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). In 1979, he was the recipient of the IEEE Pulp and Paper Industry Meritorious Achievement Award.

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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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Paper Machine Wet Press Manual, Fourth Edition
Edited by: Richard A. Reese

Paper Machine Wet Press Manual provides an introduction to wet pressing technology in the paper industry and includes information on practical press section considerations on paper machines. The book provides an overview of press section equipment and key factors in optimizing press section performance. In addition, checklists are included to evaluate press section performance.

The book will be particularly useful to paper company personnel including paper machine superintendents, foremen, paper machine operators, process engineers, etc. Employees of suppliers to the paper industry involved in supplying press section equipment and evaluating press section performance will also find the book beneficial. The Paper Machine Wet Press Manual, Fourth Edition is a project of the Water Removal Committee of TAPPI's Engineering Division.

Item Number: 0102B042 • List Price: $124 • Tappi Member: $83
                  
Starch and Starch Products for Wet End Application
By: Hans W. Maurer

Starch and Starch Products for Wet End Applications is a complement to Maurer's previous book, Starch and Starch Products in Surface Sizing and Paper Coating. His new book, Starch and Starch Products for Wet End Application, addresses issues in the preparation and application of starch and starch products for use in the wet stages of the papermaking process. This publication covers a wide range of subjects in starch utilization, ranging from the preparation of specific starch products to their use in papermaking for flocculation, retention, drainage, strength, and sizing control. Environmental issues in the use of starch and analytical procedures for starch analysis and charge characterization are also addressed.

Item Number: 0101R319 • List Price: $185 • Tappi Member: $125
       
    E-BOOKS COMING SOON
      
Roll and Web Defect Terminology - E-Book
By: Jerome M. Gess and Paul H. Wilson

This book takes the reader through the process of making paper, pointing out where interruptions can occur and where elements that are added to the system can cause problems in that part or subsequent parts of the papermaking process. The aim of this book is to give papermakers and those involved in the papermaking process the information required to allow them to understand how to track down and solve problems at their source rather than where the problems surface.

Paper Machine Quality Control Systems - Volume 1: Measurement Systems and Product Variability - E-Book
By: Quality Control Systems Education Common Interest Group of the Process Control Division

This book describes in detail the measurement technology used in Quality Controls Systems (QCS). Individual chapters are devoted to the five most prevalent QCS measurements (basis weight, moisture, caliper, ash, and color) in the paper industry. Each of these chapters covers the physical principles involved in each measurement, sensor designs, various methods of implementation, and influence factors. A somewhat lighter coverage is given to 10 other QCS measurements that do not have such a broad installation base. Common issues that impact all sensors are explained, including how sensor performance is measured and reported, the impact of scanning processes, filtering, scanner designs and construction, and sensor calibration and correlation. Statistical methods are covered in depth from discrete one-dimensional variability to multi-dimensional variability. Guidance is provided for using these statistical methods to locate the sources of variability in the paper process. This book was written by the Quality Control Systems Education Common Interest Group of the Process Control Division.  
      
    COMING SOON IN PRINT   
      
Production and Applications of Cellulose Nanomaterials
By: Alan W. Rudie, USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory,
Michael A. Postek, National Institute of Standards and Technology,
Robert J. Moon, USDA Frost Service, Forest Products Laboratory,
Michael A. Bilodeau, University of Maine

Cellulose nanocrystals and cellulose nanofibrils have been known for upwards of 50 years, but recent research suggesting very high strength properties and other unique physical properties have generated extensive interest in these materials. The book will be a collection of summaries on recently completed and on-going research with these high strength materials. This book will highlight cutting-edge research as well as leads on successful applications. Topics will include: production and modification, composites, other applications, modeling, and standards.

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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 2013 TAPPI Linerboard/Medium Manufacture Course, August 13-15 at the TAPPI Training Room, in Peachtree Corners, Ga., USA, is designed to help increase your understanding of linerboard and medium performance properties and manufacturing to improve corrugated box performance and runnability.

This intermediate-level course is ideal for process engineers and operators in linerboard and medium manufacturing facilities and converting plants with a more intermediate background. For those participants who require an overview background on pulp and papermaking technology, there will be an optional one day Introduction to P&P on Monday afternoon, August 12, prior to the beginning of the main course on Tuesday. This supplemental session is intended for corrugators, new P&P mill and supplier personnel, and those without exposure to pulp and paper operations.

If you are looking to increase your understanding of linerboard and medium performance properties and how they are achieved, build your confidence in interacting more knowledgeably within the mill with suppliers and with corrugators, and improve manufacturing operations to produce a more competitive product, then this course is for you.

There are only 25 seats are available for this course. Register now to reserve your spot.

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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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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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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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