Over the Wire

Gains will improve from the performance of the 2008-2013 period as manufacturing output continues to recover from low levels following the 2007-2009 recession. A rebound in the production of nondurable goods such as food, beverages, cosmetics and toiletries, pharmaceuticals, and cleaning products will fuel heightened requirements for related shipping and other boxes.

 

The 2014 Global Paper Napkins & Serviettes basic Industry Report is a professional and in-depth research report on the world's major regional market conditions of the paper napkins and serviettes basic industry, focusing on the main regions (North America, Europe, and Asia) and the main countries (U.S.States, Germany, Japan, and China) throughout this past year.

 

The ban is expected to affect top coated thermal paper sales or "protected thermal paper" used in adhesive labels for food packaging, for example. According to sources, the French ban is only for food packaging. Thermal paper is used in many applications such as point-of-sales (POS) tickets, self-adhesive labels, lottery tickets, and fax paper.

 

Last year Jujo Thermal, Finland, a producer of thermal specialty papers, invested more than EUR 4 million, and this year the company will invest EUR 7 million in its Kauttua mill in Finland. Special emphasis is given to quality enhancement to be able to meet the ever growing market demands. Environmental impact will be reduced and overall energy efficiency will be improved due to these investments.

 

Zhenyong Liu, chairman and CEO of Orient Paper, said "we are excited to announce the completed installation and launch of trial production for our tissue paper packaging lines, which was completed nearly two months ahead of schedule. The strong progress we have made reflects our team's commitment and hard work."

 

The PMPower S.r.l. office is located in Lucca, Italy. The basic business concept is to design the equipment in Italy and produce it in PMP Group’s facilities in Poland (PMPoland and PMPKonmet) and alternatively in China – PMP IB (depending on the location of the final delivery).

 

In most cases, the best calendering results are achieved when the web is cool and stiff, like in pilot trials for example. With aqua cooling technology, a pilot-type environment is brought to production-level, by cooling down the web before the calendering nip. This is enabled by applying a small amount of water with a moisturizer, and evaporating it with an air dryer.

 

ABB announced it has won an order this past week from Fajar Paper, a packaging paper producer in Indonesia. The contract was booked at the end of 2014. ABB will provide the automation system for PM 3, one of the current five paper machines at Fajar Paper responsible for a combined production of around 1.2 million tons of packaging paper per year, including Coated Duplex Board, kraft liner board, and corrugated medium paper.

 

At an operating speed of 2,000 m/min. and a 5.600 meter format, this machine represents a further milestone for A.Celli because it is the first paper rewinder in India bought from a European supplier and is scheduled to be delivered by this summer.

 

Packrite, a High Point, N.C.,USA,-based packaging firm that employs 78 people, will begin construction next month on a 70,000-sq. ft. addition to its existing plant as it expects to add 100 jobs during the next five years. About $6.9 million worth of equipment, including a 300-ft.-long Asitrade corrugated box former are expected to arrive in November and be installed by year's end.

 

Smurfit Kappa this week announced that it will acquire Inspirepac, a non-integrated corrugated, high quality print and display business in the U.K. from the Logson Group. Inspirepac is a private company with 279 employees, and operates two packaging plants and a two erecting plants in the North of England.

 

Sonoco, Hartsville, S.C., USA, announced at its recent annual shareholders meeting that it will increase production capabilities and support R&D innovation through several significant growth projects for its Consumer Packaging businesses.

 

Metso's deliveries will take place during 2015, and the consumer board machine is scheduled to be operational at the beginning of 2016. Metso will supply altogether about one thousand valves for Stora Enso's consumer board machine project in China.

 

VTT, Finland, has developed a method for printing memory circuits directly, e.g. onto consumer packaging. Because the required production technology is very simple, no major investments are required. The write-once-read-many (WORM) memories can be fabricated directly on packaging using flexographic or inkjet printing machines.

 

The Beer Dress is actually made of biomass. A fermentation process with specific bacteria converts the beverage into 100% forest sourced nano microcrystalline cellulose fibers, which forms a stunning, naturally feeling fabric. According to the company, it in fact appears to be the same chemical composition to that of organic cotton. Despite the beer/fermentation staple, the dress does not stink...

 

Using X-ray and laser-based technologies, researchers created a nano-scale map of the varying thickness of toner ink on paper. They discovered wood fibers protruding from the paper received relatively thin coatings of ink. "We believe that this gives new insight, especially on how the topography of paper impacts the ink setting or consolidation. This in turn helps us understand how glossy and non-glossy printed surfaces should be made..."

 

Eastman, Kingsport, Tenn., USA, explains that with the ability to produce high-performing, high-strength synthetic nonwovens on standard papermaking equipment using its Cyphrex™ microfibers, product developers can achieve performance without any of the final product trade-offs that typically come with using a combination of synthetic and cellulosic fibers. Due to their unique geometry and composition, these microfibers behave differently than existing synthetic fibers, as they process very much like cellulose fibers.

 

Kimberly-Clark Professional, Roswell, Ga., USA, which manufactures Kleenex and Scott brand products, says its new "GreenHarvest" line will blend 20% wheat straw, which it hopes will ease demand for the tree fiber and recycled paper it already uses. It will help conserve natural resources and address what the company expects will be dwindling supplies of recycled paper.

 

Rexroth’s (Charlotte, N.C., USA) North American GoTo Focused Delivery Program has been expanded again, with more products and an enhanced mobile app for all North American customers. Originally launched in the U.S. in 2009, the program is now in its sixth year of providing fast deliveries of Rexroth’s drive and control products across all of North America, with special sites for Canada, the USA, and Mexico.

 

The hydraulic system is self-contained. An external hydraulic power pack with oil tank, control block, and pipework is completely unnecessary. This reduces procurement costs by up to 35%. In addition, the system has a considerably higher operational reliability. External hydraulic disturbances such as pressure fluctuations, mismatched pipe diameters, or negative pressure in the tank line are out of the question.

 

"We are extremely excited to release this game-changing new functionality for suction presses," said Bill Butterfield, EVP and CTO of Xerium. "This was the single most requested new product from our global customers, and we are delighted to deliver after extensive research and successful field trials. SMART technology has the potential to revolutionize the way our customers manage their presses, and provides new insight into the dynamics of yankee roll positions in tissue, as well as cluster presses in traditional paper and board grades..."

 

Only taking up 4.19 cubic meters of space, it is available in either a comfort or energy-optimized form with a power boost function to meet short-term higher heat demands up to 56kW. With the energy-optimized version, the Duowin’s pellet operation is said to be up to 25% more efficient than conventional combination boilers.

 

In private meetings with Wall Street analysts and investors, senior P&G executives including CEO A.G. Lafley himself have made comments that signaled the 67-year-old CEO, now in his second turn at the helm, could vacate the post this year, people who attended the meetings said. Lafley is likely to remain chairman for another year or two to help smooth the transition to a new CEO, several analysts have concluded.

 

"I have spent many fun, exciting, and challenging years with Södra. Södra is now moving forward, with a new group strategy under new management. Although I will miss Södra, it’s time for others to take over and it feels satisfying to hand over a company that is stable, profitable, and financially sound," Segersteén said.

 

Sonoco, Hartsville, S.C., USA, this week announced that Barry L. Saunders has been elected SVP and CFO, according to Jack Sanders, president and CEO. Saunders, who previously served as the company's VP and CFO, is responsible for the company's global finance, treasury, audit, tax, and accounting functions, and also serves as chief accounting officer. He is a member of Sonoco's executive committee and reports to Sanders.

 

Apply no later than May 1, so work quickly if you have not yet begun. Work on letters of recommendation, fill out our scholarship form, and get your transcript together! The benefits you'll get from winning this scholarship will truly empower your career and get you off to a hot head start. You don't want to not try and definitely miss out! Learn more about the criteria of receiving this prestigious scholarship from the association...

 

The conference "Engaging the Heart and Mind" will be held June 7-10 in Savannah, Ga., and will focus on bringing together safety and industry professionals, as well as lawyers and OSHA experts to navigate the ever-changing field of pulp and paper industry safety. Learn who PPSA has announced as their Keynote speaker...

 

The New Edition of "Starch and Starch Products in Surface Sizing & Paper Coating is a must have
for your professional reference library. Available to TAPPI members for $60 off list price.

 

"This course is ideal for health and safety personnel who are looking for primary information on industrial hygiene," said Sue Cooper, M.S, CSP, Manager of Safety/Ergonomics at Weyerhaeuser. "It will provide an introduction to IH principles along with practical information on hazard identification and methods of measurement and control that is sure to be of great value to all attendees."

 

This popular book series has been updated; second editions are out. The most comprehensive books ever written on pulp and papermaking are now available in electronic versions! TAPPI members save an additional 10% off list price.

 

In today’s competitive environment, pulp mills are continuously searching for cost effective solutions to improve profitability. TAPPI members and affiliates within our PEERS network offer great opportunities for serious innovation work in pulp, paper, paper packaging/board, tissue, new energy and efficiency options, and more... Check out some upcoming highlights of this year's conference.

 

The Ultimate Roll and Web Defect Troubleshooting Guide E-Book is an updated and expanded electronic version of The Roll and Web Defect Terminology – 2nd Edition. This new electronic edition has allowed updating and expanding on defects commonly found in paper and paperboard products and in the production and converting of nonwovens, films, and laminations.