Over the Wire

U.S. old corrugated container (OCC) prices have remained stable for several months now, bringing some calm to a wildly fluctuating market. But a supply glut may be preventing prices from climbing back up. Prices are still at less than half of near-record value in 2017. While OCC prices are down, other commodities are down much further.

 

The North American demand for P&W paper was down 6.3% y/y in August 2018, worse than 3.7% decline ytd. The August ship/cap ratio was recorded at 95% vs. 99% this same time in 2017.

 

China’s paper and paperboard production was down y/y for 5 straight months through August (-0.4%) according to the nation’s Bureau of Statistics and is down 0.8% y/y through the first 8 months of 2018.

 

Based on a preliminary review, the company currently estimates that the extended downtime at its Prince George NBSK pulp mill will be approximately 70-80 days with a reduction in production of NBSK pulp of 60,000-70,000 metric tons. Outage enables tube replacements to its No. 5 recovery boiler to rectify damage discovered during preventative inspections.

 

Measures to close Bellemont facility are aligned with the company’s strategy to optimize the production footprint to improve cost and capital efficiency and further increase value creation in the Professional Hygiene business area. Restructuring costs are expected to amount to approximately SEK 150 million.

 

Multi-million dollar investment in a third paper manufacturing operation in Lockhaven producing tissue and paper towel is on schedule, and the massive building under construction that will hire a total of 900 contractors should be closed by winter. Equipment should start to be installed early next year.

 

Valmet IQ Web Monitoring Systems will be installed on two paper machines at the company to improve and maintain machine productivity. System is a tool to improve the runnability of all production machines in the paper industry. Excellent image quality, synchronized video recordings, and an easy-to-use interface ensure quick root cause analyses of web breaks.

 

The company announced Monday plans to produce 250,000 short tons of containerboard at the mill on Ediz Hook, a factory that was producing printing paper when it was purchased in March 2017 and production curtailed the following month. The facility will once again have 150 employees and is scheduled to open in September 2019.

 

"Pratt was very pleased with the Valparaiso installation and the equipment performance there. With those successes, as well as the service and aftermarket support we provide, Pratt was interested in working with us again at Wapakoneta," said Voith's VP.

 

In February 2017, Sappi Limited announced a major investment at the Somerset Mill to establish a strong platform for growth in paperboard packaging, while maintaining Sappi's leadership position in the graphic paper market, increasing annual production capacity at this mill to almost one million tons per year.

 

"Everyone at C&P is excited about the synergies and increased geographical footprint that this transaction is bringing to the group. U.S. Corrugated and C&P are now a truly international organization with the scale to service all of our customers and open up new markets leveraging USC's capabilities and new technologies such as digital printing," -C&P President.

 

Researchers who studied the wasted by-products from the P&P industry have developed a novel process to produce cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) directly from wood sawdust, without the need for the conventional pulping and bleaching processes that are currently used to isolate CNC from wood.

 

Three years after the original Paper Book, the new, expanded, connected edition promises further advances in how fine print and packaging is delivered around the world.

 

While applicable to a wide array of label end-use applications, PeelBak liners are used in the food & beverage, consumer durables, pharmaceuticals, and retail segments. Has necessary performance characteristics to withstand demanding converting and end-use requirements while meeting specific customer needs as well.

 

End-to-end, label printing solution that coats, prints, laminates, die cuts, slits, and finishes labels in a single inline process. Enables converters to easily incorporate digital tech and produce high-quality, customized labels for a fraction of the cost of digital or flexo alternatives. NS LION produces a 1600 x 1600 dpi output that equals offset at a fraction of the cost.

 

Displaying what the company describes as "outstanding solutions of applications produced on a variety of packaging papers and boards; ranging from functional papers, flexible packaging and label papers, to paperboard & containerboard". Barrier solutions are a special feature of a new range of functional papers currently being demonstrated.

 

"Verso's Sterling® Premium challenges the paper quality/cost paradigm and delivers a first – premium coated paper at a budget-friendly price," said Verso's President of Graphic and Specialty Papers. Only print can offer techniques such as embossing, foil stamping, and die cutting that grab attention, create memories, build brands, and drive sales.

 

Zangrass offers a natural, heterogeneous look with fine grass dots on a greenish-beige basic tone. It's 20 to 40% virgin fibers of sun-dried grass that are being used for the new quality. The rest consists of bleached fresh fiber pulp.

 

Company announced northern bleached softwood kraft at $1,430 per metric ton, up $20 per ton vs. its last announced price of $1,410 per metric ton at now at the same level as Canadian competitors. Resolute, which didn’t state how much its price is to rise month-over-month, last announced a price increase on August business.

 

Percent increases vary across product lines and technologies based on the raw materials make-up.

 

New law is the first statewide ban of plastic straws for restaurant use in the U.S. and is expected to significantly boost the use of paper straws for environmental reasons. It's reported that there's already demand driven shortage for paper straws, and that prices will go up, as many businesses in the area have already switched to no longer offering plastic ones.

 

Donation comes 4 months after G-P began its staggered layoff of nearly 300 Camas mill workers, ended its pulp production, and shut down the "Roaring 20" office paper line in May 2018. The property being transferred to the city represents 20% of the more than 950 acres of land G-P owns in and around Camas.

 

"For Kimberly-Clark to grow and prosper, we must build a workforce that reflects our consumers, and our ability to attract and retain working parents is incredibly important to that effort," said Scott Boston, K-C's Chief HR Officer.

 

Over the past two decades, the company’s approach to sustainability reporting has evolved significantly: from focusing solely on environmental commitments and actions, to evaluating every part of the business and its impact, including societal and supplier governance.

 

BRC High Hygiene standard provides the most rigorous framework to manage product safety, integrity, legality and quality, and the operational controls in the packaging and packaging materials industry. The facilities are the first paper mills in North America to achieve this high hygiene level of food safety certification.

 

Since 2014, Kristina Schauman has served as a member of BillerudKorsnäs’ Board of Directors and as chairman of the Board's Audit Committee. During the time Kristina is acting CFO, she will resign from the Audit Committee. She has held various financial managerial positions in Stora Enso, ABB, and other top executive positions.

 

Before joining Clearwater Paper, Steve Bowden was president of America’s food and beverage division for Multi-Color. He also held key leadership roles at International Paper, including the EVP of marketing and strategy for xpedx, formally an International Paper division, and mill manager for the company’s Augusta, Ga., coated paperboard facility.

 

Toscotec announced that Ricardo Domingues has joined the group as Sales Manager of the Brazilian market, both for tissue and paper & board.

 

Discover the benefits of being a Mentor or Protégé with TAPPI Connect Mentor Match.

 

Network and learn from world-class industry experts in kraft operations.

 

New partnership brings further awareness to new sustainable technologies developed from biomass in the forests products industry.

 

The tissue industry comes together in just a few days in Appleton, Wis., USA – the heart of the North American Tissue Industry.

 

Looking for new employees, interns or co-op candidates? Recruit at TAPPI-PIMA Student Summit.

 

Claim your seats now while they last for TAPPI’s Tissue 101 training!