Over the Wire

Containerboard capacity increased 1.9% in 2018 to reach a record 39.7 million tons. Containerboard accounted for 47.6% of U.S. paper and paperboard capacity in 2018, up from 38.3% in 2008. Tissue paper capacity rose 1.3% in 2018 to 8.8 million tons. Over the 2009-2018 ten-year period, tissue capacity rose 7.0%. In 2018, a new tissue paper mill was opened with two machines and a new tissue machine was started at an existing mill.

 

AF&PA reports total boxboard monthly production decreased 3.0% when compared to April 2018. The total boxboard operating rate was 95.4% for April. Total Solid Bleached Boxboard and Liner production was up 2.5% year to date; Recycled Boxboard production rose 1.7% year to date; and Unbleached Kraft & Gypsum declined 2.0% year to date.

 

AF&PA reports containerboard production in April 2019 decreased 5.3% compared to April 2018 and was down 4.1% year-to-date. The average daily production compared to March 2019 was 3.1% higher. Containerboard operating rate bounced back above 90% due to the high rate for medium (96.5%), while the liner operating rate was at 89.6%.

 

AF&PA reports packaging papers shipments were down 3.7% from April 2018 and down 1.4% year-to-date. Bag & sack shipments were down 1.1% year-to-date, multiwall shipments were down 3.6%, food wrapping shipments were up 0.5%, and converting shipments were down 1.4%. The operating rate for April decreased to 88.5% compared to 90.0 percent in March. Inventory levels increased 1.7% from March.

 

Company will in the second quarter of 2019 book a mainly goodwill related impairment of approximately EUR 102 million. In addition, the company will book a restructuring provision of approximately EUR 5 million related to the ongoing and already completed co-determination negotiations.

 

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation announced an agreement Wednesday to provide ND Paper with $1.7 million in tax credits over three years to support the company’s expansion at its Biron division. The project is expected to create 27 new jobs.

 

Oji announced it has decided to close and remodel three manufacturing facilities as further measures. These measures will result in capacity reductions of graphic paper of approximately 400,000 metric tpy, cost reductions of \3.7 billion/year, mainly fixed costs, and capital expenditures of \15.0 billion by estimate.

 

The new PrimeLineECO tissue machine for Xuan Mai Paper has a design speed of 1,300 meters per minute and a paper width of 2.85 meters. The scope of supply includes a separate DIP line, a stock preparation system for LBKP/NBKP market pulp, an approach flow system, a fiber recovery and broke handling system as well as basic and detail engineering.

 

Valmet's delivery consists of a Valmet DNA Automation System for the process controls of the board machine and effluent treatment, partial wet-end machine controls, and a Valmet IQ Quality Control System (QCS) with one scanner, related measurements as well as machine- and cross-direction controls.

 

The facility is located in the town of Antrim, near Belfast, and it is expected to employ approximately 100 people over the next few years. With the new facility Huhtamaki now has three manufacturing sites in Northern Ireland employing altogether app. 560 people. The facility will eventually be expanded to make other paper-based products.

 

"Our upcoming new kraftliner production line will be the world’s first production line for kraftliner made from 100% eucalyptus pulp. We have done, together with Valmet, a lot of conceptual and engineering developments for this innovative solution that will deliver a high performance kraftliner for the corrugated container industry," said Francisco César Razzolini, Industrial Technology, Innovation, Sustainability, Project and Pulp Business Officer at Klabin.

 

Roermond Paper Mill has made a series of upgrades to its PM 1 during the last two years including rebuilding the winder, the press section, the drying section and the film press. The final enhancement, which was completed earlier this year, was to install a state-of-the-art shoe blade gap former, a rebuild of the approach flow system and an extension of the machine hall.

 

Contributions are projected to increase the funded status of the company’s U.S. Defined Benefit Plans to approximately 100%. Sonoco previously closed its U.S. defined retirement plans at the end of 2003 and ceased additional benefit accruals at year-end 2018 involving all employees in the final average pay pension formula within these pension plans.

 

Corenso Holdings America is a leading U.S. manufacturer of uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) and high-performance cores used in the paper, packaging films, tape, and specialty industries. The $110 million transaction is subject to normal regulatory review and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2019.

 

"We applaud EPA for taking the historic step to advance common-sense regulatory policy that ensures its regulations will do more good than harm. For over 38 years, every president has directed regulatory agencies to embrace this sound principle when designing regulations. But Administrator Wheeler breaks new ground with plans for binding regulations to ensure that the benefits of EPA’s regulations will justify the costs..."

 

According to a notice issued earlier this week by the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, books are among the $300 billion worth of Chinese imports that face a potential 25% tariff following the failure of the U.S. and China to reach a new trade agreement.

 

It can be expected to provide a smaller and lower power consumption circuit than usual, using this technology. Oji aims to apply "AUROVEIL" as the new high-precision pattering substrate for disposable devices such as wearable sensor devices, RFID tags and so on for achieving an IoT society by utilizing flexibility and sustainability characteristics of CNF.

 

New trays, called Fresh, are manufactured by the global food packaging specialist Huhtamaki, packed at Saladworks and the fiber used as the base material comes from the Swedish forest company Södra. The trays can be recycled, and they are also certified for home composting.

 

The innovative renewable material is suitable for hot and cold drinking cups, as well as for ice cream packaging. It is produced without a traditional plastic coating layer and designed for full fiber recovery in a recycling process.

 

Supermarkets can replace plastics with alternative, renewable materials. The five categories identified account for over 70 billion individual units of plastic (over 1.5 million metric tpy) and are highlighted as targets for reduction and replacement by the packaging company. In Europe, paper and cardboard has an 85% rate of recycling.

 

The International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA) issued its Global CEO Leadership Statement 2.0, which includes seven sustainability commitments the global industry will take action on for a better world.

 

Eco Blocks and Tiles mixes plastic waste with sand to make affordable, durable and eco-friendly roofing tiles in Kenya. In 2018, its first operational year, the company sold 50,000 roofing tiles and recycled approximately 50 metric tons of plastic waste. With the funding from Mondi, the company has the potential to increase output by up to 20 times within two years.

 

Methane gas generated as a by-product in the new bio effluent treatment plant can be used in the mill’s drying process. The burner will be put into operation during the first half of 2020 and, in addition to reduced consumption of fossil fuels, also means lower variable costs.

 

The goal is for the transplanted species of fungi to begin producing fruiting bodies that will release spores, allowing the species to spread naturally into nearby dead wood. The forest areas will be selected in consultation with UPM, Metsähallitus and the City of Helsinki.

 

To respond to this demand, UPM Specialty Papers is actively developing recyclable and renewable barrier papers for wrapping and packaging. These specialty papers can, among other uses, replace plastic-coated disposable papers in packaging food. Barrier papers can also be used to package other daily items such as copy papers.

 

Yufutsu Energy Center plans to install power generation facilities using part of the premises of Hokkaido Mill owned by Nippon Paper. Hokkaido Mill will start construction work in March 2020 to commence operation by the end of FY2022. The fuel to be used will be fuel-grade woodchips and palm kernel shells.

 

Julie Brannen has more than 15 years of experience working in the paper and printing industry. Most recently, she was North American Sales Director at Arjowiggins Graphic Papers. She also served as VP of New Leaf Paper and worked for Original Impressions, Inc. and Villanti Printing and Mailing.

 

Explore innovations in enzymes, biological control, injection systems and more at TAPPI’s Introduction to Wet End Chemistry Course!

 

Mantrose-Haeuser Co., Inc. is accepting applications for a Research Scientist for its Lincoln, Rhode Island, USA location.

 

We offer unparalleled training courses delivered right to your doorstep. If you’re looking for a customized training for your workforce, without the cost of travel, look no further than TAPPI Company Classrooms.

 

Looking for new technology or advancements to produce sustainable and renewable products? Attend PEERS 2019 and learn from industry experts on how to optimize mill operations and achieve your sustainability goals.

 

Gulf Coast TAPPI Hosts Annual Meeting on Sustainability, Recycling and OCC in Destin, FL on Jun 6-8
Two days of technical presentations covering subjects from legislation to replacement of plastics as well as specifics of our pulping and papermaking processes. The event is at the beach at Seascape in Destin, FL on June 6-8.

 

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