Over the Wire

On a worldwide basis, softwood and hardwood pulpwood price indices declined significantly in 2015, with costs in the 4Q/15 being at their lowest levels in more than 10 years, reports the "Wood Resource Quarterly," Seattle, Wash., USA.

 

New China stimulus has pushed March’s official manufacturing PMI above 50 for first time in nine months Other indices also rose.

 

Recession and political upheaval have brought Brazil’s currency down 3/5 against the dollar since 2011. That's a boon to pulp producers, who export nearly all of their output. S&P's rating agency predicts that production costs will be dropped by $50 per metric ton in 2015; another $40 per metric ton was saved on maintaining mills

 

Project includes a new Babcock and Wilcox natural gas boiler, as well as an equipment upgrade to the mill’s power distribution infrastructure. When operational, the new system will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the mill by converting from coal to natural gas.

 

Toscotec TT DOES package on PM 1 at La Torre de Claramunt mill in Barcelona, Spain, came online smoothly according to the time schedule, following a major dry-end rebuild.

 

Kadant acquired Germany-based company for approximately EUR 51 million in cash. PAAL manufactures channel balers and related equipment used in the processing of recyclable and waste materials.

 

Four-day public auction of the former Lincoln Paper & Tissue Co., Lincoln, Maine, USA, as well as the Expera Old Town Mill, Old Town, Maine, will take place April 19-22 at the Hilton Garden Inn, in Bangor, Maine.

 

Company’s challenge for 2016 involves expanding horizons and opening up to new markets. It has already taken its first steps in the direction of new countries in Africa and Asia, while at the same time strengthening its presence in Latin America and Europe.

 

New filter for chemical recovery process is part of Rottneros AB's larger rebuild project called Agenda 500, which aims to increase availability and total production volume at both of Rottneros AB's pulp mills, with a target to reach a capacity of 500,000 metric tpy.

 

Divestment is for integration of businesses with Vinda International Holdings. SCA is the majority shareholder in Vinda, one of China's largest hygiene companies.

 

The machine that A.Celli will provide, a Mod. 865 shafted in a 3400-mm format, will be housed in Sofidel U.K.’s Lancaster plant. Delivery is scheduled for the summer (July 2016).

 

During the past few years, Oji Group (Japan) has made news in Malaysia as it began to expand very quickly in the country by way of acquiring local companies, and then expanding its factories in the country.

 

The consideration was approx. EUR 17 million. The transaction reduces Stora Enso’s net debt by approximately EUR 12 million. The transaction to a Chilean paper company decreases Stora Enso’s sales by approximately EUR 100 million.The Arapoti mill is the only producer of coated magazine paper in South America.

 

A hazard audit said build-up of chloride in a recovery boiler was causing corrosion, increasing risk of water tube failure, and internal explosion. The GM said speculation with the boilers caused unnecessary alarm. In February, the Tumut, Australia, mill won a risk improvement award. It's now classified as a highly protected risk facility.

 

Acquisition is part of Bobst's strategy to successfully drive and continuously expand its existing product portfolio. With this acquisition, Bobst intends to leverage the strengths of both companies and to continue growing its coating technology business internationally.

 

Valmet's delivery to confidential customer includes headbox and press section technology and a machine control system.

 

Company has invested £300,000 in the facility, located in Milton Keynes (Buckinghamshire, England), to bring together for the first time the latest technology under one roof.

 

"Packsize International welcomes this opportunity to empower the Australian and New Zealand markets with the many benefits brought about by On Demand Packaging," said company founder and CEO Hanko Kiessner.

 

Understanding the concept of the manipulation of cellulose on the nano-level can be an abstract process for many people. Within a private lab, nanocellulose samples can now be produced and explained visually by an engineering student.

 

Seshasayee Paper used the new coatings for a number of applications in their factory, which subsequently won energy conservation awards from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency and the Indian Paper Manufacturers Association. Industrial Nanotech is also working to reach into the N.A. pulp and paper industry.

 

A new production process interconnects equal parts of nanoscale lignin in a synthetic rubber matrix to produce a meltable, moldable, ductile material that's 10x tougher than ABS. The resulting thermoplastic—called ABL for acrylonitrile, butadiene, lignin—is recyclable, can be melted three times, and still perform well.

 

Appvion Triumph Coated Ultra Brite-Matte High-Speed Inkjet Paper delivers superior quality and productivity for the newest generation of sheet-fed inkjet presses that use pigment aqueous inks.

 

New packages combine Bonomi Series 8000 (carbon steel) and 9000 (stainless steel) butterfly valves with heavy-duty Valbia electric actuators. The valves are available in 2-in. through 12-in. sizes in both lug and wafer styles and ANSI Class 150 and 300.

 

MiniLab 153 analyzes oil for contamination, chemistry, and machinery wear by integrating instrumentation for particle count, viscosity, infrared spectroscopy, ferrous wear, and wear particle characterization.

 

Latest edition of the handbook includes up-to-date information according to advances in SKF bearing design and performance, and offers guidance on application-specific bearing selection, for everything from the forming section to the reeler, in line with the changes in bearing dynamic load ratings in recent years.

 

According to a recent release by Flambeau River Papers to one of its retailers, the company will raise prices $3.00/cwt by May 1 for all FRP branded and private label cut size business and office papers.

 

Effective with May 1 shipments, Resolute (Calhoun, Tenn,) will be increasing the price of 48.8 gsm newsprint from the company's Ponderay Newsprint Mill by $20 per metric ton.

 

Rolland Paper will implement a 6%-7% price increase on all cutsize products in the following grades (Rolland Enviro Copy and ReproPlus), effective with all orders placed on or after May 2.

 

Pratt will be presented with the award at RISI’s International Containerboard Conference (ICC), November 3-4 in Chicago, Ill., USA.

 

Vincent Bonnot will succeed Terri Herrington as IP's controller and VP for finance. Herrington plans to retire December 31,

 

John P. O’Donnell and Alexander Toeldte join company board.

 

Todd Greenwood has 25 years of experience selling paper and board to the commercial print and packaging industries. His new responsibilities include continued development of Case Paper's paperboard division.

 

Martinez brings considerable packaging experience and plastic processing to Precision Global, and will report directly to Eugenio Bergoglio, regional manager of Precision Global's Latin America operations.

 

Are you looking to identify and address downtime issues or develop a better understanding of machine calibration? If you are, then the Troubleshooting Flexos & Die Cutters Sustain Board Caliper and Improve Printing course is for you.

 

TAPPI’s NET Division will host a free nanotechnology webinar on 7 April 2016 at 1:00 p.m. EDT.

 

Vander Linden was technical manager for Mead Westvaco in Charleston for 30 years, retiring in 2003. He was president of the Georgia Tech Pulp and Paper Foundation, and was selected as a TAPPI Fellow in 1992, the association's highest honor for those who have served an entire career in the industry as Vander Linden had.

 

The deadline is quickly approaching to apply for the William L. Cullison Scholarship!

 

As requested by our members, Process Control Fundamentals for the Pulp and Paper Industry is back in stock.

 

If you want to bolster your financial confidence and begin making a positive impact on the bottom line, attend the Financial and Strategic Analysis Workshop at NC State.

 

Learn proven best practices in cost-effective management.