Weekly Spotlight
Mondi Terminates Sale Agreement of Syktyvkar Mill in Russia to Augment Investments

Over the Wire

TAPPI

Thursday, June 8, 2023 - Member
Cristini
Mondi plc confirmed that it has advised Augment Investments Limited that it is withdrawing from the agreement to sell Mondi's pulp and paper mill in Russia, Joint Stock Company Mondi Syktyvkar, together with two affiliated entities ("Syktyvkar"), to Augment. According to Mondi, this follows recent discussions with Augment on its lack of progress in gaining the necessary approvals to complete this transaction.
 
DS Smith Commissions Voith to Rebuild PM 4 at Viana to Increase Production Capacity and Efficiency
DS Smith, a leading global manufacturer of sustainable containerboard and specialty papers, has commissioned Voith to rebuild its PM 4 at the company’s Viana site in Northern Portugal. Producing around of 400,000 tons of kraftliner and high-performance top kraftliner per year, the mill is a market leader in Southern Europe.
 
Domtar Holds Grand Reopening Celebration at Kingsport Mill in Tennessee
Domtar executives and employees joined state and local dignitaries on May 24 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Kingsport Mill grand reopening celebration.
 
Glatfelter Announces Closure of Ober-Schmitten, Germany Facility
Glatfelter announced that it is closing its Ober-Schmitten, Germany, facility due to the ongoing financial underperformance of the electrical and glassine specialty papers manufactured at the site. The actions taken are part of the Company's turnaround strategy that is aimed at improving the financial performance of the overall business.
 
Voith Strengthens Best-In-Class Mechanical Roll Service with Sophisticated Sensor Technology and Digital Upgrades
With a worldwide network of 22 Mechanical Roll Service Centers, unrivalled domain expertise and sophisticated digital solutions, Voith is uniquely positioned as a full-line supplier to provide best-in-class customized roll maintenance to papermakers around the globe.
 
Beat the Heat: TL-Series Bearings from NSK.
NSK Americas®
Under the high temperatures and thermal stresses of dryer rolls in paper making machines, conventional bearings can experience cracking damage and fail prematurely. NSK’s Tough and Long Life (TL) Spherical Roller Bearings dramatically increase MTBF and significantly reduce maintenance costs and machine downtime.
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From The Experts
Eurosac Congress 2023: From Nature to Nature
More than 130 delegates met at this year’s EUROSAC Congress from 4–6 May in Verona, Italy, for a vibrant knowledge transfer and networking. Under the motto “Paper sacks: from nature to nature,” the discussions focused on recent EU packaging legislation and on various approaches for paper sack recycling and fibre recovery.
 
Lubrizol, Inc.
Market Roundup
Resolute to Sell Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper Mill to Affiliate of Atlas Holdings
Resolute Forest Products Inc., a subsidiary of Domtar Corporation and a part of the Paper Excellence Group, announced that it has entered into an asset purchase agreement to sell its Thunder Bay pulp and paper mill in Ontario, Canada, to an affiliate of Atlas Holdings.
 
Germany: Prices for Brown Kraftliner Show No Further Decrease in the Course of May
After the German kraftliner market was very volatile in the first four months of 2023, the month of May showed a lot more stability. While prices for brown kraftliner did not fall any further in the course of May, some smaller corrections have been reported for white-top kraftliner and semi-chemical fluting prices.
 
Merichem Company
Pulp & Paper
Stora Enso Commissions FMW Industries to Supply Complete, Fully Automated Bale Handling Systems for the Largest Board Machine in Europe
Stora Enso is converting its existing paper machine at the Oulu site from coated graphic papers to the production of high-quality coated primary fiber-based board. With a planned production volume of 750,000 tons per year, the plant will be one of the largest of its kind in Europe.
 
Valmet to Deliver Key Pulp Mill Technology to Shandong Huatai Paper in China
Valmet will deliver key pulp mill technology to Shandong Huatai Paper's new pulp mill in the Shandong province in China. Valmet's delivery includes cooking and fiberline, a recovery boiler, a lime kiln and a lime mud filter.
 
Metsä Group and ANDRITZ Plan Lignin Product Demonstration Plant at Äänekoski
Metsä Group is planning to build a demonstration plant for a modified lignin product in cooperation with ANDRITZ. The aim is to develop the process to separate lignin from black liquor in pulp production and to further process it for new end-uses.
 
UPM's First Shipment of Pulp from Paso de los Toros Mill Sailed from Montevideo
UPM and Saga Welco announced that the loading of the first shipment of pulp from the new UPM Paso de los Toros pulp mill has been successfully completed at UPM's new deep sea pulp terminal in Montevideo, Uruguay.
 
UPG Unified Purchasing Group
Containerboard/Packaging
Light Wrap: The Innovative Packaging Solution Tackling CO₂ Emissions
Our new and innovative packaging solution, Light Wrap, is making a positive environmental impact in reducing CO₂ emissions. In fact, it’s estimated that the pioneering packaging has contributed to a reduction in CO₂ emissions that are thought to be equivalent to 1,831 flights between Madrid and Lisbon.
 
DS Smith to Invest in Cartogal Packaging Plant in Spain
British paper and packaging giant DS Smith will expand its Cartogal packaging plant in A Pobra do Caramiñal in Spanish province Galicia.
 
Optimize Your Starch Cooking Capabilities
Hydro-Thermal Corp®
Starch cooking is a vital component in successful paper production. Hydro-Thermal’s original Jetcooker™ ensures that producers have a reliable supply of consistently cooked starch for improving wet end sheet strength, size press surface properties, and overall coating quality.  Learn more about how Hydro-Thermal is the right pick in Starch Makedown, Starch Cooking, and Cooked Starch Handling.
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New Products
Metsä Board Collaborates With Industry Experts to Create the World’s Lightest Pizza Box
Metsä Board sought to collaborate with the best professionals in the industry to create a food-safe packaging that would reduce both material and printing ink usage, benefitting the environment without compromising performance, function or print quality. The result is a high functioning pizza box that is most likely the lightest in the world with this kind of performance.
 
UPM Specialty Papers Introduces the "LinerLoopTM Compatible" Label
Resonating with the ambitious EU regulatory targets for reducing waste, UPM Specialty Papers has introduced a new “LinerLoop compatible” label to promote closed loop recycling of release papers used in self-adhesive labels and tapes. 
 
Augury Inc
Sustainability
Woodspin Ramps Up Production of Spinnova Fibre at New Zero-Emission Factory
Finnish sustainable textile pioneer Spinnova and the world’s largest pulp producer Suzano have officially opened their first commercial-scale facility producing wood-based SPINNOVA® fibre. Operated by Woodspin – Spinnova and Suzano’s joint venture – the plant will produce 1,000 metric tons of sustainable, recyclable and fully biodegradable textile fibre from responsibly-grown wood each year.
 
Suzano and Sofidel Join Forces for a Pilot Program to Protect Biodiversity and Support Local Communities in the Amazon Region
Suzano, the world’s largest producer of hardwood pulp, and Sofidel, a leading tissue paper producer, announce “Together we plant the future – Developing biodiversity corridors towards a more sustainable future”, a landmark three-year pilot project which will advance ecological conservation and restoration, alongside supporting socio-economic development in the Amazon region in Brazil.
 
Westrock Named to Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America for Third Consecutive Year
WestRock, a leading provider of sustainable paper and packaging solutions, today announced it has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (DSJI North America) for the third consecutive year, in recognition of its commitment to sustainable business practices. 
 
Keit Spectrometers
Prevent Costly Wear in Rotary Kilns & Dryers
Lubrication Engineers®
High-quality, easy-to-apply melting lube bars placed between rotary kiln and dryer components will extend filler bar, shell and refractory life; reduce friction, wear, scoring and weld fractures; and fill microscopic imperfections. LE’s Easy Bar with Almasol has an auto-ignition point of 538°C (1,000°F) – the highest of any lubricant bar in the market – ensuring worker safety with no flame-ups.
Learn More about Easy Bar
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People
SUN Automation Group® Announces Bryan Fitch as New Technical Manager
SUN Automation Group (SUN), a global leader in providing innovative solutions to the global corrugated industry, is proud to announce that Bryan Fitch has been hired as a Technical Sales Manager for the North America market. With an established career in the corrugated industry, Bryan will serve to recommend and improve box plants’ operations with equipment, parts and service from SUN.
 
Sappi Employees Recognized for Contributions to Industry Advancing Endeavors in Paper and Packaging
Sappi North America announced that several of its employees have received awards for their endeavors in creative graphics, leadership and innovative initiatives.
 
TAPPI News
 
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Please view the list of Upcoming June Webinars and Events.
 
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Searching for a few good reasons to attend? We got you covered.
 
Sharpen Your Understanding of Kraft Mill Operations
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