Over the Wire

During the 1Q/14, trade of logs was up in all major markets of the world compared with the 1Q/13. For the four largest exporting countries, the increase was 17%, with the biggest rise in shipments coming out of Russia.

 

The report "Global Biopolymers/Bioplastics Market by Type (Bio PET, Bio PE, PLA, PHA, Bio PBS, Starch Blends, and Regenerated Cellulose), by Application (Packaging, Bottles, Fibers, Agriculture, Automotive, and Others), by Geography - Trends & Forecasts to 2018", defines and segments the global biopolymers market with an analysis and forecasting of the global consumption volume and value.

 

Norske Skog, Norway, has upgraded its southern Tasmanian mill to counter a decline in the industry, it says.

 

Port Hawkesbury Paper, Port Hawkesbury, N.S., is moving forward with a demonstration sugar extraction plant that would "sweeten" its potential for business growth, according to a report this week by The Chronicle Herald, Halifax, N.S.

 

Portucel Soporcel, Portugal, has ordered from Valmet, Finland, upgrades for its Cacia mill in Portugal.

 

Rayonier Inc., Jacksonville, Fla. USA, reports significant progress toward completing the planned separation of its Performance Fibers business from its Forest Resources and Real Estate businesses.

 

Together with U.K. based specialty paper producer James Cropper PLC, Södra, Sweden, is taking the first commercial step into the international market for bio-composite material DuraPulp.

 

UPM, Helsinki, Finland, reports that its Fray Bentos pulp mill in Uruguay has now complied with all requirements set forth by the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Land Planning of Uruguay and has been authorized to increase its production level to meet the mill capacity as per the company's request in 2011.

 

Verso Paper Corp., Memphis, Tenn., USA, reports that the New York Stock Exchange notified the company that it has achieved early compliance with the NYSE's market capitalization continued listing standard.

 

Coveris, Chicago, Ill., USA, has acquired U.K.-based St. Neots packaging as part of a strategic move to support their continued growth in cartonboard.

 

Mondi Štětí, Czech Republic, and Andritz, Austria, have successfully started up the new PM 7.

 

Nicol-Pack Imperial Co., Russia, will modernize its board machine BM 1 with Metso's quality control technology at the Murom paper mill in the Vladimir region of Russia.

 

Sonoco-Alcore S.a.r.l., Brussels, Belgium, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sonoco, Hartsville, S.C., USA, reports that the German Federal Court of Justice has rejected an appeal against the German portion of Sonoco's European Patent EP 1 071 556, thereby reversing entirely a decision of the Federal Patent Court of March 1, 2011.

 

Tetra Pak, Switzerland, this week announced an additional investment of EUR 36 million in its packaging material plant in Izmir, Turkey, to complete a EUR 60 million technology upgrade project that started in 2012.

 

As part of an overall capacity increase and mill optimization effort, Visy has chosen Veolia’s Chloride Removal Process (CRP™) to enhance the recovery cycle at its Tumut Kraft Mill in Australia.

 

Green Hygienics, Cape Coral, Fla., USA, has launched Noov®, a new line of bath tissue and paper towels.

 

Valmet, Finland, reports that it is expanding its iRoll manufacturing capability. By the end of this month (June 2014), iRoll manufacturing will expand to cover Finland, France, the U.S., Thailand, and China.

 

Voith, Germany, has developed a completely new generation of endless and seam press fabrics containing a base structure that ensures the fabric will resist compaction during operation.

 

UPM, Helsinki, Finland, has signed a sales agreement for UPM BioVerno renewable diesel, produced in UPM's Lappeenranta (Finland) Biorefinery, with NEOT (North European Oil Trade).

 

AkzoNobel, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, has appointed Maëlys Castella its new CFO.

 

Fortress Paper Ltd., Vancouver, B.C., USA, this week announced that announces that five directors were elected at the annual general and special meeting of shareholders of the company held last week.

 

Green Innovations Ltd., Cape Coral, Fla., USA, reports that it has promoted it controller, Sugiarto "Awie" Kardiman, to CFO. Kardiman brings more than 15 years of experience as a financial executive in the U.S. and global paper industry, and has served as Green Innovations' controller since 2013.

 

Metsä Board Corporation’s Board of Directors, Finland, has appointed M.Sc. (Tech.), MBA Mika Joukio the company’s new CEO.

 

Submit your favorite industry innovation to be featured on TAPPI's Centennial website.

 

Ron Brown, president and executive director of Agenda 2020 Technology Alliance, to address September Conference.

 

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

 

TAPPI members save $20 off list price for this popular item.

 

See the four major awards TAPPI is accepting nominations for in the upcoming year.

 

The Pine Chemicals Association is collecting soap, CTO, and CST yields and will publish the statistics, allowing you to benchmark your pulp mill co-product recovery operations.

 

Revised and updated manual provides the box plant with a practical and useful tool to make better starch adhesives as well as see better bond quality. Now available to members for a $49 dollar discount.

 

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

 

See why TAPPI member Celso Foelkel says so.

 

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.

 

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