Weekly Spotlight
Smurfit Kappa and WestRock are Now Officially Smurfit WestRock

Over the Wire

TAPPI

Thursday, July 11, 2024 - Member
Cristini
Smurfit Kappa announced that the "scheme of arrangement" in connection with the combination of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock became effective Friday, July 5 at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time). The combination of the two companies has created Smurfit Westrock, a global leader in sustainable paper and packaging operating in 40 countries with over 500 packaging converting operations and 63 paper mills.
 
McKinely to Close Port Angeles Paper Mill
Almost 200 people will lose their jobs later this summer in Port Angeles after McKinley Paper Company announced plans to shut down its operations.
 
President of Singapore Visited Horizon Pulp and Paper in Estonia
The presidential delegation was welcomed by Sonny Aswani, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the company, Bashyam Krishnan, CEO, and Riivo Noor, Mayor of Anija Municipality in Estonia. President Shanmugaratnam received an overview of the activities of the company, followed by a tour in the production facilities.
 
Zain Paper Industry to Implement a New Complete Tissue Production Park
Overmade has been committed by Zain Paper Industry, an important player in the Middle East, to realize the new tissue production park in DOHA QATAR. The first phase of the project encompassed the installation of two complete tissue plants for the production of high-quality facial tissue.
 
Dryer Cylinder Bearing Failures? Beat the Heat with 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.
Learn more: NSKAmericas.com
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From The Experts
High Wood Costs in British Columbia Have Resulted in Mill Closures and Reduced Industry Investments
By Håkan Ekström
For approximately thirty years, British Columbia (BC) has had the most affordable sawlog costs in North America. However, starting in 2018, there has been a decrease in timber supply, a decline in log quality, and a significant increase in wood raw-material prices.
 
Lubrication Engineers
Market Roundup
VPK Summarises 2023 as Year of Acquisitions
Positive developments VPK Group has announced that, in 2023, the business carried out a number of acquisitions to develop its market foothold. 
 
EPIQ Advanced Dynamics Corp
Pulp & Paper
ANDRITZ to Supply World’s Largest Lignin Production System to Södra Pulp Mill in Sweden
Swedish forest industry group Södra has selected international technology group ANDRITZ to supply a complete solution for kraft lignin production to its Mönsterås pulp mill in Sweden. This major investment marks Södra’s entry into the lignin market as part of its strategy to make the most of the wood used in pulp production. This will be the first commercial kraft lignin plant in Sweden and the largest in the world.
 
American Roller Expands in Covington, VA
American Roller is pleased to announce it has acquired the assets of Schaefer Rolls in Covington, Virginia. The terms of the transaction will not be disclosed.
 
Valmet to Supply a High-Capacity Winder to Wuzhou Special Paper in China
Valmet is to supply an OptiWin Drum two-drum base winder to Wuzhou Special Paper’s paper machine PM 19 in China. The main target of the investment is to have one winder to handle the high quality and capacity targets of the high-speed paper machine. The winder includes Valmet Perforating Splicer, a new innovation to support the fast parent roll change. The start-up of the winder is scheduled for 2025.
 
Klabin to Invest R$1.7 Billion for New Recovery Boiler at Monte Alegre Paper Mill in Paraná, Brazil
Klabin recently announced that its Board of Directors has approved an investment of R$1.7 billion for a modernization project at the company's Monte Alegre paper mill, located in Telêmaco Borba, Paraná, Brazil.
 
UPG Unified Purchasing Group
Containerboard/Packaging
Hood Container Announces Agreement to Purchase Corrugated Manufacturer Independent II
Hood Container announced that it has entered into an agreement to buy the packaging assets of Independent II, a privately-owned and operated corrugated manufacturer in Louisville, Kentucky.
 
Stora Enso Revolutionizes Food Packaging with Cutting-Edge Technology
In a significant move towards sustainable food packaging, Stora Enso is set to launch a state-of-the-art consumer board production line at its Oulu Mill in Finland by 2025.
 
WestRock Breaks Ground on Corrugated Box ‘Superplant’ in Wisconsin
WestRock broke ground on June 27 at the site of its new corrugated box plant in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Company executives joined real estate developer Dermody Properties in holding a formal ceremony to commemorate the start of construction on the new $140 million plant, which it announced in January.
 
Best-in-class in Paper Mill Starch Cooking.
Hydro-Thermal Corp®
Hydro-Thermal’s proven and original Jetcooker™ technology provides the instantaneous gelatinization of wet end starch, adjustable mechanical shear, and precise temperature control, optimizing the cooking process. Our patented Jetcooker™ directly injects steam into the starch slurry, producing consistent starch with 100% energy efficiency.  For more information on our advanced direct steam injection technology for starch cooking in paper making
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New Products
Ahlstrom Introduces a New Range of Filtration Materials
Ahlstrom is leading the marketplace towards more sustainable, fluoro-free solutions for fiber-based solutions. Today, Ahlstrom extends its innovative fluoro-free technologies into a wide range of industrial air filtration applications to support filter manufacturers in creating products with long-lasting filtration performance without the use of fluorochemicals.
 
Sustainability
CHT Germany Dußlingen Plant: Ground-Breaking Ceremony for New Container Cleaning and Recycling Plant
CHT Germany is successfully on its way to a sustainably acting chemical company. With a corporate strategy consistently geared towards sustainability and a clearly defined path towards climate neutrality, CHT is approaching this goal step by step.
 
Eletrobras and Suzano Join Forces to Study the Development of Green Hydrogen
Eletrobras, Latin America's largest energy company, and Suzano, the world's largest pulp producer, announced a partnership to study the development of sustainable solutions such as green hydrogen and synthetic fuels. The research will focus on the technical and economic feasibility of utilising natural biogenic CO2 generated as part of Suzano’s current production process to manufacture new forms of sustainable fuels.
 
Lecta Commits to Renewable Gas and Moves Forward With its Decarbonization Plan
Lecta is pleased to announce an agreement with Naturgy, a multinational energy group, for the supply of renewable gas that will contribute to the decarbonization of its manufacturing activity. Biomethane gas, a renewable gas obtained from the treatment of different types of waste with properties similar to those of natural gas, will now be used as an energy source in Lecta's Spanish mills in Leitza (Navarra) and Zaragoza.
 
Laser Shaft Alignment Tool
LUDECA, INC.®
Maximize the performance of your rotating equipment with XT770. Align to ANSI tolerances, measure misalignment of horizontal and vertical machines including soft foot, track thermal growth and pipe strain, and document the results.
Watch video from LUDECA
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People
Beto Abreu Assumes CEO Role at Suzano
Suzano, the world’s largest market pulp producer, announces that Beto Abreu has assumed the role of CEO. As Suzano celebrates its centennial year and finalises construction of the Cerrado Project, the world’s largest single-line pulp production facility in Ribas do Rio Pardo, Mato Grosso do Sul state, Abreu will now be responsible for leading the company’s ambitious growth strategy.
 
Susana Alejandro Takes on the Presidency of Saica Group
Susana Alejandro has assumed the Presidency of Saica Group, succeeding Ramón Alejandro, who led the company for 14 years. She represents the third generation of the founding families and is the first woman to hold the top position in the company. “I am proud to become the visible head of Saica and its great team, and I am well aware of what it implies”, Susana Alejandro declared.
 
SCA Announces Changes in Group Management
Mats Nordlander, Head of Business Areas Containerboard and Pulp, has decided to leave SCA during 2024. Mats Nordlander will remain in his role as Head of the both Business Areas until December 31.
 
Dow Silicones Corporation
TAPPI Career Wire
Chair, Department of Biology
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
 
Multiple postdoctoral and/or visiting scholar positions in RNA biology and plant molecular genetics
 
Deputy Executive Director
COMMONWEALTH UTILITIES CORPORATION
Northern Mariana Islands
 
Division Chief, Operations
Maryland Environmental Service
Millersville, Maryland
 
Senior Project Engineer
Lamp Rynearson
Omaha, Nebraska
 
TAPPI News
 
Visit https://tappiawards.smapply.io/res/p/awards/ to view the full article online.
 
Learn to Streamline Processes, Address Safety Concerns, Manage Design Requirements and Maintain Equipment
Register now for TAPPI’s International Flexible Packaging & Extrusion Division’s three-day Extrusion Coating Course
 
Final Hours to Enter the TAPPI/AICC Box Manufacturing Olympics
Entries are due July 12, 2024 for the industry-wide competition at SuperCorrExpo®
 
Elevate Your Expertise in Kraft Pulping and Bleaching from Expert Instructors
Register today for TAPPI’s Intro to Kraft Pulping and Bleaching Course
 
TAPPI is Seeking Nominations for Association-Level Awards and Board of Directors
Nominate your colleagues before August 1 for our industry’s highest honors.
 
Visual Flaw Detection Charts Play Pivotal Role for Quality Assurance
TAPPI stands out as a trusted resource for Quality Inspectors
 
Industry Energy Best Practices Guide Now Available
Energy guidebook available on the Wisconsin FOCUS ON ENERGY® website