Over the Wire

The costs of hardwood fiber for the production of pulp have trended downward for more than three years. The Softwood Fiber Price Index (SFPI) has been fairly stable for the past two years.

 

The U.S. sanitary paper producer price index was flat in November, at a 3.5-year low, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics.

 

"We are expecting to see growth in global recovered paper demand at an average rate of 2.5% per year, reaching 346 million metric tons by 2029. Meanwhile, world paper and board output will expand by only 1.8% per year over the same period," said lead study author and Senior Recovered Paper Economist Hannah Zhao.

 

The South American paper and paperboard market increased to reach a total of 17.7 million metric tons in 2013.

 

China exports for coated free sheet, coated cartonboard, and uncoated free sheet can be tracked from 2008 – October 2014.

 

"This is a difficult, but necessary decision that supports Catalyst's commitment to align mill operations and production with market demand," said Joe Nemeth, president and CEO of the Canadian company.

 

WorkSafe BC is leading an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident of a truck driver working on site to determine cause. The mill is fully supporting all investigations in this unfortunate tragedy.

 

Celupaper S.A., part of Grupo Vual, is an Argentinian group specializing in the manufacture and trade of tissue products and pulp production. The planned delivery includes the approach flow system featuring ultimate Toscotec technology TT SAF®, a MODULO tissue machine with single-layer headbox, single press configuration, and Toscotec steel yankee dryer TT SYD-2500MM.

 

During a time of rapid change in the industry, New York based Finch Paper is planning to invest in several critical areas—its several processing and converting operations, its pulp mill, and the company’s largest paper machine. State-of-the-art equipment and asset upgrades in the company’s woodyard operation will have many benefits including improvements in safety, chip quality, and fiber yield.

 

By providing access to real-time machine performance data in a user-friendly format, Swedish-based SKF claims customers and maintenance engineers are now better able to make informed decisions regarding maintenance activities and increase machine efficiency.

 

The Delaware based company will acquire Clearwater Specialties LLC, a privately-held specialty chemical company dedicated to the tissue and towel market for an undisclosed amount.

 

Based on 2013 annual figures, the divestment is expected to reduce Stora Enso’s annual sales by EUR 155 million. It will also reduce the company’s annual paper production capacity by about 240,000 metric tons.

 

The mill, located just 30 km from the epicenter of the quake, reported no casualties and no apparent damage to its equipment. The mill was shut down to allow for a complete inspection.

 

PM 20 at the Chinese facility is the world's second startup of Valmet's OptiConcept M-type production line. The line combines high productivity with low operating costs. Valmet's delivery included the boardmaking line from headbox to reel with related air systems.

 

The 6,660 mm-wide (trim) machine, BM 1, will produce folding boxboard grades in the basis weight range of 180-350 gsm at a design speed of 1,000 m/min at the Swedish mill.

 

Working with the Smurfit Kappa team, visitors to the Mold Experience Center will be able to immerse themselves in the latest insights and experience first-hand the latest in packaging and service innovation.

 

Within the Best Carton category, judges recognized the benefits Tetra Top with Separable Top brings to consumers: the convenience of a bottle, the environmental profile of a carton, and a contemporary look and feel. In the Best Closure category, Tetra Pak's bio-based caps were highlighted for their innovative use of high density polyethylene (HDPE) derived from sugar cane instead of traditional fossil fuels.

 

Elisabeth Stanger, global director, business development, hygiene at The Lenzing Group, Lenzing, Austria, which supplies manmade cellulose fibers to the textile and nonwovens industry, points out that the company's TENCEL® fibers are wood-based, and certified biodegradable and home-compostable, and its short-cut fibers can be part of a sustainable solution for future products.

 

This cooperation is their response to the growing demand for these products as solutions for paper and "cardboard" packaging.

 

Birkel’s organic pasta is packaged in a cellulose-based plastic, which is made from renewable raw materials like corn, sugar, grains, sustainably grown wood, and wood waste/production residue.

 

Under this agreement, distribution and sales of all uncoated printing paper produced by Ilim Group's Mills are managed by IP. The improved specifications of the new product ensures high CIE whiteness (168%), basis weight (82 gsm), exceptional ISO D65/10° brightness (112%), and strength (150 mN MD/70 mN CD) to offer superior picture and color reproduction.

 

Kawanoe Zoki has extensive experience in designing, building, and marketing pulp and paper equipment in Asia, and has been a partner of GL&V for more than 20 years.

 

Due to its Cobb value and its special reverse side characteristics, which have been adjusted for laminating purposes, the material delivers excellent performance in corrugated board production, Stora Enso points out.

 

The service provides an audit of the entire plant, including both the processing and packaging lines, assessing performance in areas such as water efficiency, waste water treatment, energy efficiency, product yield and waste, and carbon footprint.

 

The new Genesis covers are specifically engineered to provide improved wear resistance and fracture toughness in demanding calender applications requiring the highest gloss. In addition, due to its unique design, this cover delivers these improved factors while continuing to deliver the industry leading high ductility.

 

Forest owners and companies will now be able to demonstrate good practice via the certification, regaining the trust of the marketplace that has been lost over the past decade.

 

In its first eight years, Northern Wood Power’s achievements have included more than 2.5 billion KW hours of renewable energy produced and delivered to PSNH customers and the regional energy market; more than 4 million tons of clean wood waste consumed, displacing coal and adding more than $330 million to the regional economy.

 

At about 4:05 a.m. during a routine inspection, a plant employee discovered the fire started at the top of an outdoor conveyor belt system, said Dean Rostrom, chairman of Eagle Valley Clean Energy, the plant’s developer. These conveyors move wood chips into fuel silos.

 

After a 38 yr.career career in the pulp and paper industry, Dr.David White of the Herty Advanced Materials Development Center will retire.

 

Sverker Martin-Löf has informed the company's principal owners that he is not available for reelection at the annual general meetings during the spring of 2016.

 

Markillie has been elected to the position by Thiele’s Board of Directors to replace Eric Tillirson who will assume the role of president for the Sandersville, Ga., USA, based company in early 2015.

 

Researchers are invited to submit papers on their latest findings in this emerging field by January 1, 2015.

 

Scholarship application requirements vary by division and a general information form must also be completed. The deadline to submit applications for academic year 2015-2016 Technical Division scholarships is Feb. 15, 2015.

 

The TAPPI community is saddened to learn that a valued, more than a half-century long member of the association has passed away.

 

TAPPI has offered this course for more than 40-years – for good reason. It is the most comprehensive introductory course in the industry offering an overview of the entire pulping and papermaking process. Don't miss your opportunity to attend in sunny St. Petersburg, Fla., USA.

 

TAPPI members will gain access to material about global market pulps--their forest and fiber sources, pulp qualities, and how to select market pulps.

 

This limited time offer of 50% off will be good through January 15, 2015.

 

PIMA’s IT Committee is offering a free webinar on Detailed Grade Cost Analysis on January 15th 2015 at noon EST hosted by Matthew Smith, president and CEO of 3C Software.

 

This book focuses on keys to a good maintenance program with a concession to today’s busy mill engineers.

 

We are seeking artifacts, photos, books, and equipment that represents a stage in our industry’s history.

 

TAPPI is proud to partner with the Finnish Paper Engineers' Assoc. to promote this discount on a very informative subject matter in the industry.