Over the Wire

Price of wood pulp is forecast to rise even further at an annualized rate of 5.1% in the three years to 2019. The rising price of wood pulp will also be reflected in the domestic price of paper, which is projected to grow at an annualized rate of 3.2% in the next three years.

 

Imports were down 7.4% from December, and off 2.6% from January 2015, according to data maintained by the China Customs Bureau.

 

The $50.8 billion in 2020 is up from a value of $37.4 billion in 2015. The market is predicted to increase by 6.3% on average y/y, thanks to global rising demand.

 

In the 3Q/15, overseas pellet exports rose for the second consecutive quarter to reach a new record high, with 77% of North America’s pellet exports coming from the southeastern U.S.

 

Total paper and board production by U.K. paper mills slumped below the 4 million metric ton mark in 2015, according the Confederation of Paper Industries. The domestic production figure, at 3.97 million metric tons, was the lowest for almost 30 years, being close to the low of 3.94 million metric tons level recorded in 1986.

 

Growth of the market is propelled by factors such as increasing urban population, increasing awareness programs for waste management, and stringent laws and regulations imposed by local governments.

 

Growth of construction sector on account of industrialization in emerging economies is expected to drive demand. Increasing demand for paper packaging is anticipated to partly drive kaolin demand, as the mineral enhances durability and reinforcement properties of the base material. Paper was over 40% of volume in 2013.

 

AkzoNobel notes that its strategy of driving operational excellence and organic growth includes the possibility to pursue value generating, bolt-on acquisitions.

 

The "Sun Journal" ran an article two weeks ago that profiled the entire history, including the corporate evolution of what is now the Catalyst owned paper mill in Rumford, Me., USA. Learn how this historic mill went from 10 classic PM units during its "golden era" to three PMs today that also make packaging materials.

 

Upgrade included a modification of the forming section and the complete replacement of the old hood with a new Toscotec MONO Yankee Hood fed by natural gas and complete with a relevant air system and heat recovery system.

 

Confirmation of a tougher stance by exporters of waste paper or recovered fiber to China in terms of quality has come from Nottingham-based Mark Lyndon Paper Enterprises. The company has revealed that it rejected more than400,000 metric tons of board and mixed paper in 2015. The company cites superior quality control standards.

 

Mill will continue operating PM 10, which is a 215,000 metric tpy machine, producing LWC magazine papers under the brand names of Walsacote and Walsacote Top.

 

Results indicate that more than 98% of the shares voting at the Weyerhaeuser special meeting voted in favor of the proposal.

 

Sulzer will deliver highly efficient AHLSTAR process pumps, the latest generation of Sulzer MCE medium-consistency pumps, as well as agitators and vacuum pumps to the bio product mill. The equipment is designed for high reliability and energy efficiency, as well as for low operating costs.

 

Startup of the rebuilt machine is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2016. The value of the order was not disclosed, but a project of this type and scope is typically valued at approximately EUR 10-15 million.

 

Company decided to invest SEK 1 billion in its pulp mill at Mörrum, Sweden. The investment is the second stage of a long-term initiative at Mörrum, and will increase the mill's capacity by 45,000 metric tpy.

 

Synergo aims to support Toscotec’s continued growth, both organically and through selective strategic add-on acquisitions.

 

The Governor said in his speech at the packaging company's facility that the company will invest $11 million to upgrade equipment and expand its operation in Botetourt County, Va., USA. The project will create 50 new jobs.

 

The winning products include one that has reduced packing times by 30% and decanting time by 50%. The new pack eliminates the need for bubble wrap and has achieved zero damages since being introduced. The other is a design for shipping Glazed Roof Lights. The product is 100% recyclable and saves 15% on costs.

 

WG Anderson, a folding carton manufacturer with a focus on store branded food and consumer product markets, operates two world-class sheet-fed folding carton converting facilities in Hamel, Minn., and Newton, Iowa.

 

The 1,150 bone-dry metric tpd system will include the Hydrapulper low consistency continuous pulper, the Hydraflow continuous detrasher, ragger and ragger tail cutter, trashwell, high density cleaners, and coarse screening system featuring high-capacity, high-efficiency V-MAX screen cylinder.

 

Roba Corrugated, a corrugated sheetboard manufacturer in Zorbau near Leipzig, eastern Germany, is part of the Swiss-based Roba Group. The group runs two facilities in Germany and one in Austria.

 

Valmet will deliver a new state-of-the-art paper machine for the production of lightweight recycled case material for Pro-Gest’s new plant in Mantova.

 

"Since our biomedical device (Cellulose nanogenerator) is made with cellulose, this is of major importance/significance to our research work. It is naturally abundant. As a result, the cost of the device will be very less to the point that would be affordable by common people," said a doctor who worked on the project.

 

FiberLean MFC, a mineral/micro-fibrillated cellulose (MFC) composite, has great potential in multiple industries. The first commercial applications are in the paper and packaging markets, where this composite product allows paper and packaging producers to improve quality and/or significantly increase the mineral filler loading in the sheet to achieve productivity gains and reduced cost.

 

To reduce overall carbon use and emission, many scientists and engineers are trying to develop bioplastics. This Purdue Unvisertiy group, in particular, is developing them from spinning nanocellulose fibers. It is using cellulose’s properties to make more sustainable products like laminated films.

 

The biosensors interact with plant cells on the molecular level and manipulate them to become florescent when exposed to certain substances. Another use of the biosensor technology is the use of it to manipulate genetic results to obtain better results when creating and harvesting units of biomass for advanced industrial production.

 

Agreement provides Igcar with access to Archroma’s patented "improved optical brightening compositions" technology.

 

The new formulation will result in improved performance through converting operations, particularly in printing, scoring, folding, and gluing. The modification will result in similar shade and brightness to the company's current formula, and a 10 to 15 point improvement in paperboard gloss. This change will be effective with mid-April production.

 

Typically, an insert is added in each corner of the tray or an additional panel extends along the length of each side. This provides a strengthened flat top and bottom stacking surface. Either solution adds complexity and cost to the tray.DS Smith has been granted a patent which addresses this problem.

 

New Leaf Ingenuity is New Leaf Paper's market-leading, 100% PCW, uncoated magazine paper.

 

CKB Carrier 380 gsm grade is a multilayer kraft back board ideal for beverage multipacks and other packaging applications that require ultimate durability combined with excellent printability and food safety.

 

Gable Top Bio-based packages are made solely from renewable materials, defined as natural resources that can be replenished over time. The new cartons are developed from a combination of paperboard and sugar cane derived plastics.

 

‘Our research shows that bioenergy production from biomass can help meet these challenges not only for electricity production but also help improve livelihoods and ecosystem services in these areas’, said Dr. Sonya Dewi, Indonesia country coordinator of the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF).

 

The team developed a "high-gravity" one-pot process for producing ethanol from cellulosic biomass that gives unprecedented yields while minimizing water use and waste disposal. The process uses ionic liquid pretreatment, enzymatic saccharification, and yeast fermentation for producing fermentable sugars.

 

Kaidi (China) said the plant would use wood-based biomass as its main raw material and it is scheduled to start operations in the northern city of Kemi by the end of 2019.

 

This anaerobic bacterium biotechnology is a major candidate for the production of biofuels from biomass because it already possesses both an external cellulase system and internal metabolic pathways to convert biomass to ethanol. C. thermocellum is ubiquitous and isolated from soil, compost, herbivores, and hot springs.

 

The biogas plant that EcoEnergy SF Oy will build at Metsä Group’s bioproduct mill in Äänekoski is the first in the world to make use of the sludge generated in pulp production. The plant, set to be completed in 2017, produces approximately 20 gigawatt hours of biogas annually.

 

The company was this past week given development consent by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change to build the 162 MW gas-powered plant next to its paper mill on the banks of the tidal Ouse at Saddlebow.

 

If you have a new idea about how to process cost competitive fuels from paper industry biomaterials and biomass you may be interested in this project.

 

AF&PA has elected Packaging Corp. of America (PCA) Chairman and CEO Mark Kowlzan as its new board chairman, along with the 2016 slate of AF&PA Board officers.

 

Robert H. Bourque Jr. has been selected to become president of company's Asia Pacific Division, effective May 1, 2016. He will succeed Jozef Salaerts, who has informed the company of his decision to retire in the second quarter of 2016.

 

Smott is recognized as a leader within the industry having served on various boards as well being awarded the Volunteer Leader Award of Excellence in 2015 by the Paperboard Packaging Council.

 

Having represented Pamarco, Roselle,, N.J., USA, on the west coast of the U.S. and Canada for more than 24 years, Kent Jones was instrumental in the success of Pamarco's La Palma, Calif., manufacturing facility and its multiple capacity expansions over the years.

 

Schaur was previously SVP responsible for the newspaper publishing business unit within UPM Paper ENA. He was in his SVP role since 2013 and at UPM (Finland) since 2001.

 

Chris Meadows has been with the company since September 2013 in the role of business development specialist. He holds a B.A. degree in business from the University of Alabama.

 

The GBP 42 million turnover corrugated manufacturer based in West Lancashire, U.K., has made three key appointments - boosting its workforce to more than 270 employees. Amy Driver has been appointed senior production manager, Emma Brennand was named packaging design consultant, and Tanya Crowley was appointed HR manager.

 

Company reports changes involving eight long-term employees in both Canada and the U.S.

 

Have you been looking for an online resource to collaborate, share knowledge, problem solve, and expand your personal and professional network? TAPPI has you covered!

 

The conference, hosted by Smithers Pira and TAPPI, will take place April 4-6 at the Hilton Deansgate in Manchester, U.K. Now in its 8th year, Specialty Papers Europe will bring together manufacturers and suppliers in the specialty papers business to gather, network, exchange business ideas, and find solutions.

 

This is by far the best-selling text to introduce the entire technology of pulp and paper manufacture. The major objective of the fourth edition was to produce a readable, up-to-date, comprehensive textbook.

 

Ametek Surface Vision is looking for a high performing, dynamic technical Corporate Accounts sales leader for its Hayword, Cali., USA, location.