Weekly Spotlight
Sappi Launches Arboro: Where Innovative Paper Design Meets Strategic Gameplay

Over the Wire

TAPPI

Thursday, April 3, 2025 - Member
Dryer Cylinder Bearing Failures? Beat the Heat with 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
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For game publishers seeking premium quality with sustainable credentials, Sappi introduces Arboro, a board game that showcases the versatility of modern paper solutions. Created as a Sappi original concept, Arboro was developed in partnership with board game specialists Game Brewer and produced by Cartamundi, one of the world's largest playing card and board game manufacturers.
 
No Solution in Labor Dispute Between UPM Plywood and Industrial Union
UPM Plywood and the Industrial Union have failed to reach an agreement on a new employer-specific collective agreement. The union today rejected the mediator's settlement proposal, and the five-week strike at UPM Plywood mills in Finland continues.
 
UPG Unified Purchasing Group
From The Experts
How Will Trump's Reciprocal Tariffs Impact Pulp and Paper Professionals, and How Can They Respond?
President Trump has stated that on April 2, he will implement reciprocal tariffs, which could significantly impact global trade dynamics.
 
EPIQ Advanced Dynamics Corp
Market Roundup
Sonoco to Implement Price Increase for Core Board and Paperboard in Europe
Sonoco Products Company today announced it is implementing a EUR 60 per metric ton price increase for all grades of core board and paperboard in Europe, effective with all deliveries from April 7, 2025.
 
Lubrication Engineers
Pulp & Paper
Valmet to Supply Two Winders to Wuzhou Special Paper in China
Valmet is to supply two OptiWin Drum two-drum base winders to Wuzhou Special Paper’s paper machine PM 21 in China. This new order follows the customer’s previous winder order, announced in July 2024. The target of this latest investment is to have high-technology winders that can meet the paper machine’s high capacity and quality objectives.
 
Voith Takes the Next Step Towards the Autonomous Paper Mill and Launches the Dynamic Ecosystem MillOne
As a pioneer in the field of autonomous paper mills, Voith has already been able to position itself strongly in recent years and has set the course for a digitalized and connected future of paper production. Now, with the launch of its ecosystem MillOne, the market-leading full-line supplier is taking the next important step on the way to a completely autonomous paper mill.
 
Mondi Ruzomberok Relies on Patented Starch Cooker of IBS Group
PGA Anlagenbau, a member of the IBS Paper Performance Group, celebrates the successful start-up of its patented starch cookers at Mondi Ruzomberok, Slovakia. As part of an optimization project, the existing conventional starch cookers were replaced by a PGA starchPERFORMER in the surface starch preparation systems of both PM18 and PM19.
 
ANDRITZ to Supply Combustion System Upgrade to Cartaseta, Switzerland
International technology group ANDRITZ has received an order from Cartaseta AG to supply a combustion system upgrade for a tissue machine at its mill in Gretzenbach, Switzerland. This marks the fifteenth upgrade of its kind carried out by ANDRITZ in the last five years. Start-up is scheduled for the third quarter of 2025.
 
Metsä Tissue to Cease Recycled Pulp Production at Mänttä Mill; Shut One Tissue Machine
Metsä Group announced plans to cease producing recycled pulp at its Mänttä mill in Finland and to shut down one of the mill's tissue paper machines, which is at the end of its life cycle.
 
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
click here
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Containerboard/Packaging
Flint Group Commits to Ink Systems Free of Nitrocellulose to Enhance Flexible Packaging Recycling
Flint Group, a leading supplier of inks and coatings for the global print and packaging industry, has reinforced its commitment to Nitrocellulose-free (NC-free) ink systems in Europe. This initiative actively supports flexible packaging recycling in alignment with the newly updated Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
 
Golbey to Start Containerboard Production in April
Norske Skog Golbey will commence production of recycled containerboard in April and start delivery of its first customer volumes. Finalising the pre-commissioning at the containerboard machine is the main outstanding item before the project is completed and production can start. There is no change in the budget for the project.
 
Boardio Canisters Expand in North America
Graphic Packaging International has partnered with JJM Packaging to bring its Boardio™ paperboard canister to a wider North American market. 
 
Oji India Packaging Opens Large Corrugated Packaging Plant at Sri City
Oji India Packaging Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Japan’s Oji Group, a leading paper products manufacturer, has opened its fifth manufacturing plant in India at Sri City, Andhra Pradesh. The new facility, the largest of its kind in South Asia, will specialise in producing corrugated boxes and packaging accessories, offering sustainable and high-quality packaging solutions for South India.
 
New Products
Hinojosa and KHS Group Launch a New Cardboard Packaging System to Transport Bottles
Hinojosa Packaging Group in collaboration with KHS Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturer of filling and packaging systems for the beverage and liquid food industries, launches the innovative “BottleClip Carrier” system.
 
DeZURIK, Inc.
Sustainability
Essity Unveils World-First Tissue Machine Operating on Geothermal Steam
Essity on March 12 unveiled the world's first tissue machine operating wholly on geothermal steam at its production facility in Kawerau, New Zealand. The annual CO2 emissions of the plant have been reduced by two-thirds.
 
Toscotec Publishes Sustainability Report 2024
Toscotec is pleased to announce the publication of its first Sustainability Report as the latest integration of its long-standing commitment to sustainability, which dates back to 2005 with the award of its first environmental certification.
 
ANDRITZ and HolyPoly Offer Recycling Solution for Paper Machine Clothing to Mills Across Europe
ANDRITZ has signed an exclusive cooperation agreement with the German recycling pioneer HolyPoly to provide a comprehensive recycling solution for used paper machine clothing to paper producers across Europe.
 
Metsä Fibre Targets Zero Landfill Waste by 2030
Metsä Fibre, part of Metsä Group, is moving closer to its goal of eliminating landfill waste from its production by 2030. In 2024, the company successfully utilized 95% of solid side streams, with only a small portion ending up in landfills.
 
Ahlstrom Releases 2024 Sustainability Report, Highlights Progress
Ahlstrom, a global leader in fiber-based specialty materials, has published its 2024 Sustainability Report, detailing its performance and strategic sustainability efforts. 
 
Automated Zeta Potential Measurement - Constant Process Control
emtec Electronic GmbH®
Optimize process stability, additive consumption, regular grade changes and product quality through continuous monitoring of zeta potential, conductivity, pH value and temperature: Installed directly on the paper machine, the emtec FPO Fiber Potential Analyzer Online independently takes samples, measures, cleans and sends the measurement data to the process control system in the paper mill, or optionally to a data cloud with the possibility of remote access.
Boost Efficiency Now!
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People
Andreas Batzer is the New Chief Financial Officer at Voith Paper
Andreas Batzer was named the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and member of the management board at Voith Paper in March 2025. In this role, he is responsible for the company's financial strategy and will play a key role in the further development and optimization of processes.
 
Metsä Board CEO Mika Joukio to Step Down; Esa Kaikkonen to Replace Him
Metsä Board Corporation's long-term CEO Mika Joukio has decided to step down from his position as of April 7, 2025 in accordance with an agreement he made today with the Board of Directors of the company.
 
Sappi North America CEO Mike Haws Named Mainebiz 2025 Business Leader of the Year
Sappi North America announced that its President and CEO Michael "Mike" Haws has been recognized as a Mainebiz 2025 Business Leader of the Year in the CEO of the Year category. The Mainebiz Business Leaders of the Year awards recognize executives across Maine's industries who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation and commitment to economic growth in the state.
 
Kurita America Announces Todd Emslander as Successor to Retiring CEO Greg Becke
Kurita America, part of the Kurita Group, a leading global provider of industrial water treatment and process technologies, is pleased to announce the appointment of Todd Emslander as its new chief executive officer (CEO), effective April 1, 2025. This announcement aligns with the planned retirement of his predecessor, Greg Becker, a 40-year veteran of the water treatment industry who has guided the company through significant change and growth.
 
Buckman
TAPPI Career Wire
Part-Time Grants and Contracts Specialist
Center for Watershed Protection, Inc.
Fulton, Maryland
 
Clinical Geneticist
Mayo Clinic
Phoenix, Arizona
 
Technical Program Manager
Illinois Municipal Electric Agency
Springfield, Illinois
 
Manager, Projects - Engineering
Chugach Electric Association
Anchorage, Alaska
 
Utility Operations Engineer
Clear Lake City Water Authority
Houston, Texas
 
TAPPI News
 
Visit https://events.tappi.org/event/tappicon/womenssummit to view the full article online.
 
Enhance Tissue Production Efficiency and Advance Your Expertise with TAPPI’s Tissue Courses
Stay ahead in the evolving tissue industry with TAPPI’s expert-led courses. Gain the skills and insights needed to optimize production and enhance efficiency.
 
New TAPPI Webinar Explores the Future of Cellulose in High-Value Healthcare Applications
Discover its role in tissue engineering scaffolds, controlled drug release systems, and diagnostic platforms.
 
Gain a Better Understanding of How You Can Help Influence Positive Financial Decisions
NC State offers a powerful online workshop that delivers business insight that helps guide you through changing times.
 
Learn How Paper Making Additives Influence and Improve Your Product Outcomes
Advance your career with two-day courses offered at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
 
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TAPPI Member Deals offers these upcoming exclusive deals on theme parks and attractions – and more!