Over the Wire

OTW presents a collection of data to inform our readers via recent quotations and publicly available info. organized into graphs relevant to coated (graphic) paper sales. Dual graphic sets contain useful information for industry market tracking as well as containing visual data trends that paper professionals can find helpful in understanding coated paper so as to gain a better understanding of its present day market heading into the coming decade.

 

Sequana’s sale of Arjowiggins’ Graphic and Creative Papers (France) businesses has been canned after the buyer got cold feet as a result of deteriorating market conditions. Arjowiggins’ parent company Sequana had been in talks to sell the EUR 528 million turnover papermaking businesses to Dutch firm Fineska in a EUR 125 million deal.

 

The $175 million term loan, which can be repaid at any time, will be used to repay certain of the company's outstanding borrowings under its existing credit facility. The financial conditions and covenants of the Company's existing credit facility are unchanged, and no additional assets were required as security.

 

$100‐million, 300,000-sq.-ft., technologically advanced plant took nine months to complete. The plant currently employs more than 130 full-time employees and will generate an estimated $5 million in payroll. Receives approx. 150 log trucks a day and produces approx. 230 million board feet of lumber a year, with plans to expand production to 300 million board feet per year in the near future.

 

CohereOne provides multi-channel merchants with strategic planning, campaign execution, print and digital integration, and analytics. CohereOne and Midland have been strategic partners for two years, during which time they have collaborated to provide their mutual clients a more extensive set of services.

 

Founded in 1819, Monadnock is humming with life and its eco-friendly products are found everywhere from blue jean tags to craft beer labels and retail gift cards. Monadnock decided decades ago to focus on environmental awareness and sustainability as the key to survival.

 

Oji will buy newly issued shares in Mitsubishi at 726 yen each for a total of around 7.6 billion yen ($69.68 million), the companies said in a joint statement. Mitsubishi Paper shares closed on Tuesday at 719 yen. They said they plan to cut costs by cooperating on logistics and sharing raw materials purchases.

 

"Georgia-Pacific is a great partner for OmniTRAX and the GFRR, and the new plant will allow us to show case our customer service expertise even more. We also appreciate the support of the local, state and federal governments to make this project happen in Southwest Georgia and are pleased to be a part economic growth in the region," said Kevin Shuba, CEO of OmniTRAX.

 

Total purchase price of about $300 million consists of $260 million cash, before customary closing adjustments, and the assumption of approximately $40 million of balance sheet liabilities, largely net pension benefit obligations. Majority of proceeds from the asset sale to repurchase $225 million of its 5.875% Senior Notes due in 2023.

 

As a result of the co-determination negotiations, Stora Enso can, if needed, temporarily lay off employees at Oulu Mill, excluding the personnel at the pulp mill, for a maximum of 90 days during the first half of 2019. Market demand for woodfree coated papers (WFC) produced at the mill has declined.

 

Istragrafika, the leading packaging company in Croatia, serves a broad customer base across several segments out of its production facility in Kanfanar. With its skilled workforce, the company has been able to attract and secure a variety of local and multinational customers, including global blue chip companies within markets segments such as tobacco and food service, among others.

 

The opening of ePac Flexible Packaging's Atlanta location marks a partnership between F&S Capital, ePac Holdings, and Windell McGill. Plant will open in early 2019 and is currently taking orders. Company makes name as a great option for local and smaller businesses who may be disadvantaged by other printers’ min. order requirements.

 

Cash transaction valued at $1.8 billion. The transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of calendar year 2019, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory clearances. Caraustar is a market leader in the production of uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) and coated recycled paperboard (CRB).

 

International Paper continues to grow on the Spanish market. The company, which is currently in talks to take over a plant in Spain from the Rossmann Group, announced at the end of 2018 that it would acquire the Spanish packaging manufacturer Envases Grau. The transaciton value was not disclosed.

 

As a result of their efforts, Koehler Paper Group has now won Wilfried Heinzel as an experienced and extremely qualified partner to market the papers for flexible packaging in France, Spain, and Portugal. Together with heinzelsales, Koehler wants to work on securing the future business success of single-sided coated papers with barrier functions and sealing ability.

 

Working with governments and local leadership to secure a predictable and successful future for the forest sector’s workers and their families will be central to the work ahead of FPAC in 2019. As they consider the necessary steps to take, they're mindful that there are things they can control – and things they cannot.

 

Photo paper with a 40% increase in image permanence, one designed for consistency and outstanding longevity of image, color, and look. It’s the ideal photo paper for exhibitions and gallery settings. Exceptional color gamut increase of min. 20%. For high-end gallery and museum prints.

 

Costs for raw materials such as photoinitiators, UV monomers, acrylic resins, pigments, isocyanates, and specialty additives have continued to rise with further increases in Q4 2018. Colored pigments and photoinitiators are expected to remain highly affected by supply disruptions amid new environmental regulations in key markets.

 

Price of imported base board, which is the main raw material for liquid-packaging cartons, sub-material such as aluminum foil, wrapping materials, fuels and freight costs, keeps rising. So the profitability of liquid-packaging carton business has been severely deteriorated.

 

Award recognizes APRIL Group for its work to measure the impact of its operations and strategically align its sustainability investments moving forward, using the global framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

Packaging light bulbs in plastic or paperboard respectively is the most extreme example in the survey. By switching from plastic to paperboard, it is possible to reduce the climate impact of the packaging by 99%. In the example that was most favorable for plastic, the material was still 3.25x more of an impact than paperboard.

 

Plant was the first in Brazil’s pulp and paper industry to receive ISO 50001 certification for improving energy performance and efficiency. Unit power generation capacity of 270 MW. Surplus, which is sufficient to power a city of 500,000 people, is supplied to Brazil's national grid. The amount used by the company makes the plant energy self-sufficient.

 

Amazon Papyrus Chemicals Limited (APC), will see a leadership transition as part of a new corporate structure for the 18 year old specialty chemicals supplier.

 

"It will be both exciting and challenging to take this role. I am happy to represent both SCA and the forest industry as a whole in these important issues", said Hans Djurberg. He has been on the board of FSC International since 2013 and became Director General on Jan. 1. The chairmanship extends throughout 2019.

 

Charles Héaulmé joins Huhtamaki from Tetra Pak, where his latest position has been VP Europe and Central Asia. Prior to this he has worked in various leadership roles in Tetra Pak since 1999. He has also held financial controlling roles in Bosch Braking Systems Division 1994-1999 and served as a senior auditor in KPMG during 1990-1993.

 

Leverage the Exceptional Training Delivered by TAPPI and IDCON

 

Share your knowledge and expertise at the industry’s foremost technical event for pulp manufacturers, – the Pulping, Engineering, Environmental, Recycling and Sustainability (PEERS) Conference. Submission deadline is March 15, 2019.

 

GL&V is accepting applications for Project Manager Refiners at its Nashua, New Hampshire, USA location.

 

Whether you are new to the industry or could use a refresher course on the basics, start your New Year off right by attending the Introduction to Corrugated Course this February at TAPPI’s Headquarters in Georgia.

 

What involves FIVE TAPPI Divisions, includes NINE topic-specific tracks, and draws paper and packaging professionals from around the world? It’s PaperCon 2019 and you cannot afford to miss it. Curious? Learn more at PaperCon.org.

 

The results of the TAPPI Industry Compensation Survey are a benchmarking tool providing valuable information to interpret salary and benefit trends throughout the forest products industries.