Over the Wire

A new market report released this week indicated large scale corporations such as AkzoNobel N.V. are significantly involved in the production of cellulose paints through their product Bermocoll. These paints contain a range of non-ionic cellulose ethers which are use as water retaining agent, stabilizers, and thickeners for water based paints.

 

According to the European Graphic Papers Association, in the period June 2017 to June 2018 total shipments decreased by 3.0% within Europe. Shipments to Europe were down 3.6% while shipments outside Europe were only down by 0.7%.

 

If the market forces favorable to India such as China's import restrictions stay in place it may provide an opportunity for Indian companies to corner more than their approximate share of 4.4% of the world market.

 

The following "Top Key Manufactures" are covered: International Paper, DS Smith, Smurfit Kappa, Mondi, Klabin, Rengo, Nippon Paper, Georgia-Pacific, Dynaflex, Commonwealth Packaging, Fencor, Lil Packaging, Charapak, Arihant, Sealed Air, Shorr, Smart Karton, Linpac Packaging, Pioneer Packaging, Total Pack, and Zepo.

 

An investment firm from Washington state hopes to take over the bankrupt Carthage Paperboard facility in New York state and is seeking public funds to aid in its endeavor to switch production to other types of specialty paper.

 

Nine Dragons (China) U.S. subsidiary group announced this morning (August 30) it will acquire Resolute's recycled bleached kraft pulp mill located in Fairmont, W. Va., USA, for $55 million plus certain elements of working capital, payable in cash.

 

Specialty chemicals (for pulping) provider Solenis is looking for 92 new hires. Actions by the company have also led to the additional retention / protection of another 323 company jobs within the state.

 

Alcom Printing (Harleysville, Penn. USA) noted that the companies will continue operating under their individual names and Great Atlanticwill become a division of Alcom Printing. Great Atlantic is a premier regional player known for pushing boundaries with print, color management and distribution & will continue to operate at the current facility.

 

The closures to take place by year-end will affect about 65 workers in Barrie and Peterborough.The Quebec-based company said production will gradually be redeployed to its other Ontario facilities.

 

Letica Foodservice is focused on the production of paperboard-based cold and hot cups and cartons for the growing foodservice market in North America. The company operates two world class foodservice converting facilities in Clarksville, Tenn., and Pittston, Penn., USA.

 

Jackson Paper Manufacturing is opening a new plant in Burke County partially thanks to a $100,000 grant. The new plant will create 42 new jobs and is expected to open in 2019.

 

The decision is described in the article as a "victory" for U.S. newspapers and publishers and more than 100 members of Congress who had argued against the tariffs on uncoated groundwood paper from Canada. The paper is used as newsprint by American newspapers.

 

In their review in Advanced Materials, Prof. Jinghua Yu, Prof. Hong Liu, and colleagues from the University of Jinan discuss the recent progress and challenges in using micro/nanostructured paper for portable electronics.

 

New carton sealing machines are said to provide a wider selection of machine based packing products, enabling businesses and consumers to better meet their packing needs and enhance efficiency levels. The machines are provided with single phase power feature, which is not available in the firm’s other machines.

 

Newly issued machines place completely new demands on the tool technology used. Marbach (Mitsubish's German machine-related subsidiary group) has met the challenge and developed tools specially designed for these machines. For maximum productivity in rotary die-cutting.

 

Mondi will show solutions for e-commerce packaging, convenience, premium design, and other trends. The company will launch an advanced version of its perFORMing brand: natural brown formable paper for shallow tray applications such as cheese, meat, or salmon. Company will also introduce new advanced separation technology improving vividness of flexographic printing.

 

The internationally recognized assessment scores companies on their performance related to environmental, social and governance (ESG). It is a measure of a company’s commitment to and success in operating in a sustainable, responsible manner.

 

U.S. largest grocery chain will eliminate traditional plastic bags at its Seattle-based QFC supermarkets by the end of 2019 before rolling out the change across all its stores. Customers will have the option to use paper bags if they don’t have reusable totes.

 

New type of sustainable wood fiber now on the Australian market for use in garments uses cotton scraps combined with manipulating the fibers from FSC certified wood pulp. Reports indicate global garment production doubled from 50 billion to 100 billion units per year between 2010 and 2015.

 

For consecutive weeks OTW features bioenergy news about lignin as a raw source that plays a signature role in a sustainable process. This past week the techno economic ability of energy generation of general lignin was studied for oil produced from the lignin-liquification for oil process. This week's report studies kraft papermaking lignin created into oil through fine powderization of the material for boiled processing.

 

"There have been many exciting years with BillerudKorsnäs, and it has not been an easy decision to leave the company and my colleagues. But I have worked at BillerudKorsnäs for seven years and I feel it is now time to move on to new challenges", said Susanne Lithander. The company has initiated recruitment for a replacement.

 

McCann joined Graphic Packaging from Monsanto Corp., where he has been responsible for global manufacturing and supply chain. Prior to that, he held positions with Smurfit-Stone Container as VP Strategic Sourcing, VP and GM Asia, and VP and GM, Fiber. McCann has also worked for Solo Cup Company as VP, Global Procurement.

 

Zola Malinga, a chartered accountant, has over 10 years' experience in investment banking and corporate finance. She is the founder and executive director of Jade Capital Partners, a women-owned investment company which invests in the property and industrial sectors

 

TAPPI and IDCON deliver two back-to-back training sessions designed to improve operations and minimize costs.

 

Want the perfect opportunity to share your industry knowledge and expertise to support the competitiveness of the Nonwovens Industry? Be part of the NETInc 2019 technical program and submit your abstract by October 12, 2018.

 

The committee meeting scheduled for October 22-26 includes visits to research centers in Europe.

 

The only industry event focusing directly on the printing ink industry and the graphic arts market.