Over the Wire

U.S. containerboard production in May increased 7.7% from April and was essentially flat compared with the same month last year.

 

Research and Markets, Dublin, Ireland, has added Containers and Packaging: Global Industry Guide to its offering.

 

Kraft paper shipments by U.S. producers in May totaled 128,900 tons, 3.4% lower than the prior month, AF&PA (Washington, D.C., USA) reported in its May 2014 Kraft Paper Report issued this past week.

 

U.S. saw log prices started falling in the 2Q/14 after a three-year upward trend, due to lower U.S. lumber prices and weaker log export markets in Asia, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ), Seattle, Wash., USA.

 

Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP, Atlanta, Ga., USA, and SPG Holdings LLC, Dallas, Texas, have reached an agreement under which G-P will purchase SPG, a paper goods company that manufactures and converts products for the foodservice industry.

 

Hebei Yihoucheng, China, has successfully started up its Andritz (Graz, Austria) PrimeLineCOMPACT tissue machine—the first of its kind in China—with a steel yankee dryer.

 

The Montes del Plata pulp mill in Punta Pereira, Uruguay, and Praxair Inc., Danbury, Conn., USA, this week announced the startup of a new 125 tpd, non-cryogenic, vacuum-pressure-swing-adsorption (VPSA) plant.

 

Stora Enso Packaging, China, has ordered form Andritz, Graz, Austria, a complete wood handling line for a greenfield mechanical pulp plant and board machine in Guangxi Province, China.

 

Tembec, Montreal, Que., Canada, completed the sale of approximately 17,700 hectares of land within the Regional District of East Kootenay, B.C., Canada, to Jemi Fibre Corp.

 

Elopak Canada, St. Leonard, Que., Canada, recently held a symbolic groundbreaking event to announce the construction of a new converting facility.

 

Hilex Poly, Hartsville, S.C., USA, a sustainable packaging company, has agreed to acquire Duro Bag Manufacturing Co., Florence, Ky., a manufacturer and marketer of retail and luxury paper bags for foodservice, grocery, wholesale-distribution, and other industries.

 

Papierfabrik Niederauer Mühle GmbH, Germany, has ordered from Valmet (Finland) a sizer and auxiliaries for its PM 3 containerboard machine located in the company's Kreuzau mill in Germany.

 

Smurfit Kappa, Ireland, a paper-based packaging company, this week intensified its commitment to tackle climate change by increasing its target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions per metric ton of paper produced by 25% by 2020, having achieved its original 2020 target of a 20% reduction well ahead of schedule.

 

Tara Minerals Corp., Henderson, Nev., USA, this week announced that it has closed the acquisition of intellectual property for the preservation and protection of fresh fruit, vegetables, and flowers during extended periods of shipping and storage.

 

Appleton Mfg. Division, Neenah, Wis., USA, has announced two new machines for its Safe-Slab™ Core Recycler product line.

 

Cascades, Kingsey Falls, Que., Canada, has launched Respak, which it describes as "the ecological answer to the environmental challenge of polycoated packaging products."

 

Smurfit Kappa, Ireland, this week announced the launch of a new global brand strategy across 32 countries, which is set to "Open the future" for its customers.

 

Swift Filters Inc., Oakwood Village, Ohio, USA, has announced a new series of process filter elements for industrial use. SwiftProcess™ Filter Elements employ high efficiency microfiber glass media to provide a lower pressure drop and higher dirt loading capacity than traditional string-wound or resin process filter elements.

 

Valmet, Finland, has introduced its new SealFlo, an "easy upgrade" for suction roll lubrication showers. Pekka Kivioja, director of Roll Worn, notes that "Valmet's new SealFlo technology reduces water consumption by as much as 50%, while maintaining or improving lubrication results.

 

Evonik Corp., Parsippany, N.J., USA, will increase prices for hydrogen peroxide (100% basis) by $0.05/lb. or C$120 per metric ton in North America, effective July 1, or as contracts allow.

 

Glatfelter, York, Pa., USA, has announced key leadership changes in its Specialty Papers Business Unit (SPBU), effective immediately. Timothy R. Hess is promoted to VP of sales and marketing, and Calvin Staudt Jr. has joined Glatfelter as VP of manufacturing.

 

KP Tissue Inc., Toronto, Ont., Canada, held its annual shareholders meeting this week. All candidates proposed as directors were elected to the KPT Board of Directors by a majority of the votes cast by shareholders present or represented by proxy at the meeting.

 

TAPPI Fellow Doug Dugal was presented a special certificate at the TAPPI / North Central PIMA meeting this past Friday in Appleton, Wis., honoring his 50 years as a member of the association.

 

This free webinar will be presented on August 19.

 

Members save $70 off list price.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

See why TAPPI member Celso Foelkel says so.