Over the Wire

A new U.S. corrugated industry life cycle assessment (LCA) study shows a significant 32% reduction per unit in the industry's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions between 2006 and 2010.

 

PI celebrated its 100th anniversary with a Gala on June 4th, in association with the PulPaper 2014 event this week in Helsinki, Finland.

 

ProCom, the Finnish Association of Communications Professionals, has awarded the Biofore Concept Car project by UPM and Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences as the Communications Campaign of the year.

 

Södra Cell will invest more than EUR 400 million to increase the production capacity of its Värö pulp mill in Sweden from 425,000 metric tpy to 700,000 metric tpy.

 

First Quality Tissue, Great Neck, N.Y., USA, this past week announced updates to its most recent strategic expansion plan.

 

Yesterday, June 4, Neenah Paper, Alpharetta, Ga., USA, celebrated the first 12 months of The Beauty of Letterpress by presenting a $30,000 check to Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum in Two Rivers, Wis.

 

Rayonier, Jacksonville, Fla., USA, this week announced members of the boards of directors for Rayonier Inc. and Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc., following completion of Rayonier’s previously announced separation of its Performance Fibers business, which will be operated as Rayonier Advanced Materials.

 

According to a new study released this week by RISI, Boston, Mass., USA, growth in nanotechnology has been dramatic, with some nanomaterials seeing growth rates in excess of 30% annually.

 

Economic activity in the U.S. manufacturing sector expanded in May for the 12th consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 60th consecutive month, according to the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business®.

 

Fortress Paper Ltd., Vancouver, B.C., Canada, has approved an employee reduction plan that will result in a reduction of approximately 16% of the salaried staff in the company's dissolving pulp segment, including senior management, middle management, and clerical staff.

 

Following start-up of the TM 1 PrimeLine tissue machine, Andritz, Graz, Austria, has also successfully completed startup of the second tissue machine it supplied to Ganzhou Hwagain Paper, China.

 

Georgia-Pacific, Atlanta, Ga., USA, this week announced a $40 million investment in new technology and equipment at its Fort Smith, Ark., mill that will expand the company’s plate manufacturing capability.

 

International Paper Co., Memphis, Tenn., USA, this week released its 2013 Sustainability Report titled Connections that Matter, revealing progress against its voluntary sustainability goals and highlighting collaborations that advance sustainability throughout the life cycle of its products.

 

Kruger Products L.P., Mississauga, Ont., Canada, announced this week that it has completed the acquisition of all of Metro Paper Industries Inc.'s (MPI) Canadian tissue converting assets, located in Trenton, Ont., and Scarborough, Ont., for a total cash consideration of $23.5 million.

 

SCA, Stockholm, Sweden, and its Australian partner, Pacific Equity Partners (PEP), have decided to float their joint venture in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

 

The von Drehle Corp., Hickory, N.C., USA, reports that it will significantly upgrade two of its tissue mills—at Natchez, Miss., and Cordova, N.C.

 

ASG, Greenwich, Conn., USA, a global specialty-packaging manufacturer, this week announced that it has acquired the Bydgoszcz, Poland-based beauty and personal care folding carton business of MeadWestvaco Corp. (MWV), Richmond, Va.

 

GAW Paper Coating Systems, USA, reports that it has received an order from Voith, Germany, for the complete wet end chemicals system, coating kitchen, and working stations for the new BM 4 at Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers, India (TNPL).

 

Graphic Packaging Holding Co., Atlanta, Ga., USA, reports that it and its wholly owned subsidiary Graphic Packaging International Inc. have entered into a definitive agreement to sell their multi-wall bag business to Mondi Group, South Africa.

 

Honeywell, Morris Township, N.J., USA, has introduced its new Howard Leight FirmFit™ howardleight.com/FirmFit/#/home classic-style foam earplugs that feature a softer, more comfortable fit and improved noise protection.

 

International Paper this week launched its new lightweight board called Alaska Plus, a significantly lighter weight GC2 product that responds directly to customers’ growing demand for economically attractive and environmentally sustainable packaging solutions.

 

Metsä Board, Finland, launched a new lightweight and sustainable board, Carta Dedica, at the PulPaper fair this week in Helsinki, Finland.

 

Metso, Finland, has further developed its industry-standard online Metso Kappa Analyzer (Metso Kappa Q) by now introducing an enhanced Metso Kappa QC version.

 

The Voith LSC TecoSens sensor and Voith LSC TecoScan scanner for non-radioactive measurement of fiber weight and moisture content are now installed around the world, Voith, Germany, reports.

 

First Quality Tissue, Great Neck, N.Y., USA, a producer of ultra-premium towel and tissue products has announced a price increase on its towel and tissue products of up to 8%.

 

Aventine Renewable Energy Inc., Pekin, Ill., USA, a producer, marketer, and end-to-end supplier of ethanol, this week announced its first railcar shipment of ethanol produced at its Aurora West facility in Aurora, Neb., using sugar-based only feedstock.

 

International Paper Co., Memphis, Tenn., USA, this week announced that Mark S. Sutton has been promoted to president and COO and elected a member of the company's board of directors, effective immediately.

 

Dr. Raimo J. Alén of the University of Jyväskylä (Finland) is awarded a plaque recognizing his years of service on the TAPPI Journal Editorial Board from TAPPI President and CEO Larry N. Montague.

 

2014 TAPPI PEERS Conference focuses on pioneering strategies for reliability and innovation.

 

See why TAPPI member Celso Foelkel says so.

 

The annual scholarship tournament will be held June 13 and has an entry deadline of June 6. The individual/team entry/and sponsorship form is now available for download.

 

This text is available to TAPPI members for a discount of $40 off list price. While this is a technical book, no special background is required. The reader only needs a working knowledge of terminology and concepts that are common in web manufacturing and converting.

 

TAPPI and NCSU are partnered to offer this second of three introductory courses for industry professionals that cover the entire pulping and papermaking process.

 

Registration is now open for the return of this popular course that will take place August 11-12 in metro Atlanta, Ga., USA.

 

Focus on training for improved financial foresight at this July 30 workshop.

 

The 5th edition continues a tradition as the premiere industry text on bleaching technologies but focuses on the modern industrial processes with less emphasis on fundamental science. This text is now available to TAPPI members for a discount of nearly $80 off listed price.

 

This comprehensive volume details all aspects of extrusion coating and is available to TAPPI members for a $47 dollar discount off the list price.

 

PPSA, partially sponsored by TAPPI, will hold this three day conference June 22-25 in St. Petersburg, Fla., USA.