Weekly Spotlight
Canada’s First Biomass Torrefaction Plant Begins Commercialization of Products

Over the Wire

TAPPI

Thursday, March 02, 2017 - Member
Cristini
Airex Energy's torrefaction process transforms biomass residues into biocoal pellets, a clean and renewable fuel that can replace coal and oil. Biocoal's unique properties allows it to easily disintegrate, so it can be ground up and combined with bituminous coal in thermal power stations producing electricity, without major changes to existing systems for handling, storing, and grinding coal.
 
VTT Explores New Use for Paper Industry Sludge and Fly Ash in Plastics
Side streams could be used to lower composite manufacturing costs, reduce the environmental impacts of production, and lower the total amount of waste. This would also reduce the production of oil-based plastics.
 
PMP Starts up New Tissue Mill for Universal Paper Manufacturers, South Africa
The project was named "Gold Eagle." Its goals were to double the annual capacity of UPM and to widen its product portfolio, adding ultra-premium tissue products. PMP’s Intelli-Tissue Advanced 1600 Crescent Former tissue making line was the best response for UPM’s defined needs.
 
FSC Commends Establishment of Canadian Ministers Group to Implement UNDRIP
The Forest Stewardship Council, the world's leader in forest certification system, is the only system that requires consultation with local Aboriginal Peoples with the intention of protecting their rights.
 
Safety Hats - Direct Digital Manufacturing Services
Market Roundup
U.S. P&W Paper Shipments Decline in January
Printing and writing paper shipments decreased 5% in January compared with January 2016, and total P&W paper inventory levels were flat from December 2016.
 
China’s BHP Pulp Imports Soar 30.2% in January
China's beached hardwood kraft pulp imports included 50+% jumps from Brazil and Indonesia.
 
U.S. Boxboard Output a Mixed Bag in January
Production decreased 0.8% compared with January 2016, but increased 2.2% from last month. Unbleached kraft boxboard production decreased over the same month as last year and decreased compared with last month.
 
Russian BSK Pulp Exports Climb 8.4% y/y
Russia's bleached softwood kraft pulp exports were up 100,000 metric tons in 2016, with +30% in December to China.
 
Warehouse Specialist
Pulp & Paper
Hayat Kimya Starts up New Valmet Tissue Machine in Egypt
New tissue machine has a width of 5.6 meters and a design speed of 2,200 m/min. Raw material for the new line is virgin fiber and the production line is optimized to save energy and to enhance the quality of the final product.
 
James Cropper Appoints Fenner Paper U.K. Dolcelicious Stockist
Luxurious paper range is James Cropper’s first ever food contact-approved collection, being suitable for contact with dry, moist, and fatty foodstuffs.
 
Recard to Supply Turnkey Tissue Line to Star Paper Mill in Abu Dhabi
The machine, equipped with two stock preparation lines (long and short virgin fiber) and two rewinders with a variable-crown calendar to enhance paper softness, will produce about 30,000 metric tpy.
 
SCA to Decide Split into Hygiene, Forest Products at Annual General Meeting
Split of the Group and a distribution and listing of the shares in the subsidiary that today operates the hygiene business is expected to increase focus, customer value, development opportunities, and enable each company to successfully realize its strategies under the leadership of separate and dedicated management teams.
 
SCA Invests in Mexico Tissue Operations, Diaper Operations in Europe
Company will invest about $105 million in one of its facilities in Mexico. To strengthen its baby diaper product offering, SCA will invest about EUR 40 million in facilities in Europe.
 
Universal Electric Corp.
Containerboard/Packaging
Burgo Announces Conversion to Containerboard Plan for Line 2 at Avezzano Mill
Operation is part of the Group's diversification strategy which foresees entry into the "cardboard" market, ranging from publishing towards packaging, from printing paper to paper for corrugators.
 
Cascades Sonoco Invests $16 Million in Birmingham, Ala., Facility
Expansion will produce water-based barrier coatings that allow creation of recyclable, repulpable, compostable take-out containers.
 
Mondi Begins Rebuild of PM 1 at Swiecie, with Restart Set for End of March
Rebuild, expected to be completed and the machine restarted by the end of this month (March 2017), will increase Mondi’s kraftliner capacity by 80,000 metric tpy.
 
Port Townsend Paper to Invest $25 Million for Mill Upgrades
Following two $30 million improvement/maintenance projects in 2015, company will invest an additional $25 million in capital and maintenance upgrades and improvements. The company also is evaluating several other major upgrade projects for the next few years.
 
Sappi Maastricht Orders Valmet Machine Rebuild to Board Production
With the rebuilt PM 6, Sappi will be able to improve the existing graphical board products and move into producing high quality solid bleached board (SBB) and folding box board (FBB) grades.
 
Smurfit Kappa, Sun Chemical Develop New Packaging Coding
New coding solution for secondary cartons combines Smurfit Kappa’s flexo printed corrugated boxes with Sun Chemical’s SunLase activated coating system, resulting in high quality, reliable, late stage coding, which allows customers to laser mark packaging at the end of manufacturing operations.
 
Nonwovens
A.Celli Nonwovens to Host TANDEM Open House
From March 13 until the end of April 2017, A.Celli Nonwovens will host an event dedicated to the presentation of TANDEM® technology at its facilities in Lucca, Italy.
 
Fujian Nanfang Textile Chooses A.Celli Nonwovens Technology
The supply, that in addition to the Combi system (integrated winder, stock stations and rewinder) also includes a completely automatic packaging system, is earmarked for Fujian Nanfang Textile’s new facility in the city of Nanping, in the Province of Fujian, China.
 
New Products
Munksjö Launches Gerstar Mo Barrier Paper
Barrier paper will enable converters and brand owners to develop sustainable packaging made of renewable materials offering maximum consumer food safety.
 
Posidyne Clutch/Brakes Available in Space-Saving Piggyback Design
Designed with low inertia cycling components makes the Posidyne clutch brake more efficient, requiring less motor horsepower to accelerate the load, and less torque to stop the load.
 
Verso Coated Sheetfed, Digital Paper Portfolios Go Whiter, Brilliantly Brighter
Company announced an increase in the brightness and whiteness of every product in its coated sheetfed and digital paper portfolios, and introduced Brilliantly Brighter, a new printed promotion showcasing these products.
 
Published Pricing
Kraton Increases Price for Global Tall Oil Fatty Acids
Company announced a general price increase of $120 per metric ton for the SYLFAT by Arizona Chemical Tall Oil Fatty Acids (TOFA) product line.
 
People
Albrecht Joins Sonoco as Corporate VP, Treasurer/Assistant CFO
Julie Albrecht spent nearly 20 years at Goodrich Corp./United Technologies Aerospace Systems, progressing through several finance positions, including the assistant treasurer position for the $7 billion corporation.
 
Chopin Joins Liqui-Box R&D Team
Lamy Chopin has joined the Liqui-Box team as a technical manager in the R&D department.
 
Coldwater Adds 80-Plus Years of Wet-End Experience to Technical Support Team
With its recent acquisition of RPM Technologies, Coldwater Group, Atlanta, Ga., USA, has added three highly respected wet-end experts to its Technical Support Team.
 
Graphic Packaging Appoints Maurer SP, Supply Chain
In this expanded role, Spencer Maurer is accountable for the global supply network, overall quality processes, and Lean and Six Sigma activity.
 
International Paper India Announces Leadership Changes
Rampraveen Swaminathan president of IP India and chairman and ,managing director of IPAPPM, has decided to leave the company. He will be succeeded by Don Devlin.
 
TAPPI News
Share Your Expertise at PEERS 2017
The Call for Papers is underway for the 2017 TAPPI PEERS Conference. Gain recognition and share your knowledge to support the competitiveness of the Pulp and Paper Industry.
 
March 17 Marks Saving Date for Tissue Operations Course
The early bird deadline is quickly approaching for the TAPPI Tissue 201 – Operations and Runnability Course coming up in April.
 
A Broad Overview of Paper Making in Just Two Days
The Hands-On Paper Making Course at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point features classroom sessions and hands-on training using the UW-Stevens Point fourdrinier pilot paper machine.
 
Make Connections in Montreal in June
Meet face-to-face with professionals from academia, government, and industry at TAPPI’s Nano 2017 Conference in June.
 
Paper Machine Operations Course Simplifies Complexity
Three information packed days offer you the unparalleled opportunity to learn how to increase the operational performance of paper machines and why this will improve the quality of the finished product.
 
2017 Board of Directors Announcement
Paul Durocher, Sappi North America was elected chair and Peter R. Augustine, Fabio Perini North America, was elected vice chair.