Over the Wire

TAPPI's Papermakers Committee has organized a strong program of peer-reviewed papers for PaperCon 2010, May 2 - 4 in Atlanta, Ga., USA. The latest additives for improving strength, bulk, and biological control are discussed in the Papermaking Chemistry and Microbiology Track kicking off on Monday, May 3. Speakers from the following organizations are featured:

• Auburn University
• Ashland Hercules Water Technologies
• BASF
• Buckman
• Dow
• Guangxi University
• Kemira
• Omya
• Seoul National University
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.

Process Control Innovations are also highlighted in a peer-reviewed program that reveals how the latest sensors, cameras, and controls can help reduce drying energy, control sheet quality, and help you make better production decisions. Papermakers, process engineers, and anyone yearning to learn more about paper machine process control can attend a "Paper Machine Sensors Tutorial" on Monday, May 3, covering the foundations.

The full program and speakers for PaperCon 2010 are available on the event website. The registration deadline is April 5, with substantial discount available to mills sending three or more people.

Contact information about sponsorship/exhibit opportunities at PaperCon 2010 is also available on the event website, as well as the Twenty-Third Process Industry Reliability & Maintenance Conference being co-located with PaperCon 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.

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International Paper, Memphis, Tenn., USA, has launched it new Down to Earth website featuring information from the company's Down to Earth educational series of brochures. The series covers the most important environmental issues and trends in the paper and printing industries and uses facts gathered from reputable sources to address many myths and misperceptions surrounding paper and the environment. For convenience, there is a Media Center tab with banner art and linking instructions to make it easy for customers and other key stakeholders to use the new website to help supplement their own environmental message.

Visitors to the site will learn, for example, that using paper actually helps to keep forests growing and that one of the biggest dangers to North American forestlands is urban development. Paper and digital communications are compared by: energy usage, renewability of materials, and recycling—showing that paper communications can often be the more responsible choice.

IP notes that environmental issues in the paper and printing industries are very complex, can be easily misunderstood, and, consequently, often misrepresented. Myths and misperceptions have altered some public thinking and have led to campaigns for a paperless society. The Down to Earth educational series presents a balanced and fact-driven picture in a thought-provoking manner that shows how choosing paper products protects the environment, supports communities, and keeps our forests growing.

Brochures in the Down to Earth series include:

• Certification: Where does your paper come from?
• Recycled vs. Virgin: Is recycled paper the best you can do?
• Carbon Footprint: How big is your carbon footprint?
• Pixels or Paper: Are pixels greener than paper?
• Labels & Logos: How do certification labels and logos benefit you?
• Responsible Forestry: How does using paper lead to more trees?
• Print on Paper: Is it worth printing?

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The Twenty-Third Process Industry Reliability & Maintenance (PIRM) Conference being co-located with PaperCon 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Atlanta, Ga., USA, May 2-4, is sharply focused on reliability and maintenance issues across a broad spectrum of industries. At this cutting-edge event, experts from around the world will share hands-on experience and process methodologies for cost-effective reliability and maintenance management, root cause problem elimination, financial improvement strategies, lean maintenance, and much more.

Co-located for the first time with TAPPI's PaperCon event, PIRM's workshops, panel, and speakers are centered on improving efficiencies, financial performance, and safety on a daily basis, and offer participants a once-a-year opportunity to gain practical and applicable knowledge, perspective, and insight while networking with the industries best and brightest.

PIRM"S information-packed 2010 program topics include:

• Results Oriented Reliability and Maintenance Management
• Shut Down Management
• The future work force
• How E-learning can help training employees in a cost effective manner
• Preventive Maintenance Optimization and Operator Based Reliability
• Lubrication
• Hydraulics
• Pumps.

Bring real issues to the conference for problem solving with industry experts. Ask questions and get immediate answers and solutions to issues that you struggle with every day. Discover what new products, safety technique, and services are available that can help keep your business up and running with limited down time, while helping to increase productivity and profitability. Attend the entire conference and receive 1.8 Continuing Education Units.

The Early Bird registration deadline for PIRM is Monday, April 5. Contact information about sponsorship/exhibit opportunities is also available on the event's website.

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Sappi and Suzano warn of more pulp price increases in the wake of the Chilean earthquake. Sappi Fine Paper Europe, Brussels, Belgium, this week confirmed that the effect of the recent massive earthquake in Chile on the global supply of pulp will put additional pressure on it, and on the European paper and tissue industry as a whole, to raise prices. The Chilean pulp industry accounts for some 8% - 9% of world output and local suppliers are advising that most mills there will be out of action for at least one month. Extensive damage to the country's infrastructure has interrupted the supply of electricity and water to many mills, as well as wood and chemicals, and affected the transport of finished product to customers. In addition, the main harbor serving the industry at Concepcion has been severely damaged.

Sappi Fine Paper Europe CEO Berry Wiersum, noted that "even prior to the earthquake, pulp supply was proving to be a constraint to the industry in Europe, with global prices moving up in excess of 40% since April of last year. The industry now faces a severe lack of pulp, which Sappi believes will result in increased pressure for steep rises in dollar based pulp prices, exacerbated for European paper producers by the weakening Euro."

Meanwhile, pulp producer Suzano, Sao Paulo, Brazil, this past week said that global pulp prices will likely spike in the short term because the February 27 earthquake in Chile could cut inventory and output. Turnover in global pulp supplies, now at about 30 days, should decline amid a tighter market, Antonio Maciel Neto, Suzano's chief executive, said in a Reuters interview. Turnover rates are about 35 days in "normal times," Neto noted.

The global pulp and paper market is recovering after a deep tumble at the start of 2009, Reuters said, and companies around the world boosted output as prices rose worldwide. Producers raised prices in Brazil at least six times last year. Global pulp inventory fell to the lowest level in more than seven years at the end of the third quarter due to China's growing need for fiber to accommodate urbanization.

Hardwood pulp prices are around $750/metric ton and could rise to $800 in the short term, according to Itau Securities analyst Marcos Assumpcao, Reuters reported. Brazil and Chile are the world's largest producers of pulp, respectively.

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In regard to market pulp, Mark Wilde, senior analyst with Deutsche Bank, says "the game has changed." The epicenter of the Chilean earthquake was near one of the world's largest clusters of large, low-cost pulp mills. With about 4.6 million metric tons or 8% of global capacity affected by the earthquake, the near-term global supply/demand balance has shifted dramatically. Most pulp producers already had March price hikes in place (North American softwood by $30/metric ton, taking domestic NBSK to $910/metric ton and $890/metric ton in Europe, and BEK by $30/ton worldwide). These price hikes are driven by tight pulpwood supplies, strong Chinese demand, and an increase in U.S. demand for spot tonnage, Wilde notes. "With most Chilean mills down after the earthquake (and not expected to be up anytime soon) and North American maintenance outages approaching, the current pricing rally shows no sign of flagging," he says, adding that some niche markets such as unbleached softwood kraft (the world's biggest mill was on the Pacific coast near the quake's epicenter) are extremely tight.

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Kraft paper producers in North America have announced a $60/ton price hike for April 1. In Europe, Mondi (EUR 60/metric ton) and Nordic Paper (EUR 40-50 per metric ton) have announced price hikes effective April 1, according to Wilde. This is the result of an up-tick in demand and capacity closures (West Fraser's Eurocan mill in Kitimat, B.C., UPM, Mondi, and Altri's mill closures since 2007). Sack converters have announced price increases on finished sacks to pass thru the paper increase. List prices for both sack and grocery bag grades remained flat in February. Alternative sources are emerging. Abitibi's newsprint mill in Coosa Pines, Ala., USA, is reportedly producing kraft bag paper. In addition, White Birch plans to produce bleached or semi-bleached bag paper at its Newberg, Ore., USA, mill, Wilde notes.

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More containerboard producers have followed suit on an April price hike. After an initial move by International Paper, Smurfit, PKG, Norampac, Pratt, and RKT have all announced $60/ton April price hikes for containerboard, according to Wilde. IP, Georgia-Pacific, TIN, Kapstone, and Longview Fibre have already announced similar price hikes. In total, producers representing about 85% of the North American capacity are now out with the April hike. The attempt follows January's $50 - $70/ton price hike. Markets remain tight due to strong export demand, capacity closures, and wood supply issues. At the same time, fiber costs, both pulpwood and wastepaper, are surging. In the southern U.S., weather has also caused wood production issues. All of these factors suggest that the prospects are good. The biggest question will be the relatively anemic rebound in domestic corrugated box volumes, according to Wilde.

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Canfor Corp., Vancouver, B.C., Canada, announced this week that it has reached an agreement with the United Steelworkers union. The agreement, expiring June 30, 2013, was ratified by a majority of union members and affects 14 operations in British Columbia.

"This agreement sets a new positive tone for our industry. It provides some relief from the economic issues we are facing and a profit based performance bonus that will reward our hourly workers," said Canfor President and CEO Jim Shepard. "This sets the stage for enhancing the teamwork approach at Canfor that will lead to high performance at all of our operations," Shepard added. The new agreement applies to approximately 2,300 Canfor employees.

Canfor has Canadian operations in British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec. It has U.S. operations in Washington state, and North and South Carolina. The company produces primarily softwood and also produces oriented strand board (OSB), remanufactured lumber products, and specialized wood products. Canfor also owns a 50.2% interest in Canfor Pulp Limited Partnership, which is one of the largest producers of northern softwood kraft pulp in Canada and a producer of high performance kraft paper.

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Catalyst Paper, Richmond, B.C., Canada, this week announced that it resubmitted a proposal to the union that could allow for the restart of its Elk Falls paper mill (Vancouver Island, B.C.) at a labor cost, "all in," of approximately $40 per hour. The company notes that "this reflects current market realities and includes changes to wages and benefits similar to those already implemented with management and staff employees." The company also indicated that, to date, 63% of eligible hourly workers at the Elk Falls operation have elected the severance option arising from indefinite curtailment of the mill since early 2009.

The Elk Falls mill was indefinitely idled in February 2009 with resulting layoffs affecting approximately 400 hourly and staff employees. Elk Falls hourly employees are represented by Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) locals 630 and 1123. Approximately 225 hourly workers have taken the severance option with an average severance payout of $57,000 per employee.

"With a competitive cost structure, there could be a future for Elk Falls and to that end we presented employees with a proposal that could lead to the restart of two specialty paper machines at the mill," said Richard Garneau, president and C EO. "Nonetheless, we also recognize that electing to take severance is a personal choice. We hope the remaining employees want and will be given the chance to return to work and to continue to live in the community. We appreciate the Campbell River Mayor has shown strong commitment to preserving jobs through an agreement in principle that would address Class 4 property tax sustainability. And, while there are no guarantees that we will be able to overcome fiber supply shortages or acquire the customer orders necessary to restart, we know the outcome for this mill and community if nothing is done," he added.

With six mills located in British Columbia and Arizona, Catalyst has a combined annual production capacity of 2.5 million metric tons.

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Mediterranean Paper Mills (MPM), Syria, has ordered a new tissue line from Toscotec (Italy) to be installed as a replacement for TM 1 at the company's Jableh, Lattakia, mill. The new crescent former features a single-layer headbox, single press configuration, and Steel Yankee Dryer TT SYD 3200 MM. The scope of supply also includes the approach flow system, upgrading of the existing stock preparation plant, steam heated hood, steam and condensate system, and the electrification and control system. Engineering and services (erection supervision, commissioning, and startup assistance/training) complete the Toscotec package.

MPM is a major tissue producer in the Syrian market. The company was established in 1989 by Ali Jalloul and is owned by the Jalloul family. Currently it is producing and converting around 3,500 metric tpy of toilet, facial, and napkins for the local market. The new-generation line replacing the existing TM 1 will allow MPMt o better serve the growing Syrian market in terms of both quantity and quality.

The new machine will have an operating speed up to 900 m/min, with a trim width of 2,250 mm, for a daily production of 40 metric tons. It will produce tissue from both virgin pulp and recycled fiber. The machine will be installed during the fourth quarter of this year.

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Myllykoski, Finland, reports that it will restart its LWC PM 10 at Plattling, Germany, at the end of this month, "due to technology and product reasons." At the same time, the company says it will continue to strictly manage its LWC capacity and take necessary curtailments at other mills when necessary. MD Plattling is Myllykoski's production and development site for wood-containing coated rotogravure papers, an area in which it is one of the leading producers in Europe. MD Plattling's annual output of these branded papers is approximately 350,000 metric tons. They are used to print high quality magazines, journals, supplements, and mail-order catalogues. Myllykoski is one of the largest publication paper producers in the world. It operates seven paper mills with a total annual capacity of close to 3 million metric tons, including the alliance partner Rhein Papier GmbH. The company employs 2,700 people.

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SCA Group, Stockholm, Sweden, headquarters has been relocated to the Waterfront Building, Stockholm's new landmark, by Central Station. The move was carried out at the beginning of March and represents "a cost-efficient solution that reflects the SCA of today and tomorrow." The Waterfront Building conforms to a range of requirements governing environmentally friendly workplaces of the future.

SCA is vacating it premises at Stureplan, where the office has been spread out over a number of addresses. In efforts to identify new premises, needs-adapted and efficiently utilized premises, combined with a distinct environmental profile, have been the guiding principles of the relocation, SCA points out.

The Waterfront Building, a part of Stockholm Waterfront, is one of Sweden's greenest buildings. Energy consumption is reduced by, for example, using water from Klara sjö (Klara Lake) to cool the property. In addition, water/ice is used to store energy. The complex' double-glazed façade works as a solar collector and the Waterfront Building comfortably meets the requirements of the EU Green Building standard.

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Cartiere Modesto Cardella S.p.A., Italy, has successfully started up its rebuilt PM 4 corrugated base paper machine. The rebuild of the wet end included an Andritz (Graz, Austria) PrimeFlow TW two-layer headbox with PrimeProfiler F dilution water control, and the first PrimeForm TW gap former to be supplied by Andritz Pulp & Paper.

The new wet end provides high dewatering performance and production of corrugated base paper grades with a minimum of two-sidedness, Andritz notes. Initial results after the startup show a significant improvement in paper formation and strength properties. The paper machine has a design speed of 1,200 m/min and a wire width of 3,180 mm. The corrugated base paper, with a basis weight range of 90 to 170 gsm, is produced from 100% wastepaper.

"Thanks to the presence of Andritz onsite, the rebuild went very smoothly. All systems have been started up successfully and we are very pleased with the components," Modesto Cardella, managing director of Cartiere Modesto Cardella, said.

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Rexam, U.K., reported this week that its Personal Care Division has launched a new Innovation Center in Buffalo Grove, Ill., USA. The center if focused on "global packaging solutions that build brands and bottom lines," the company notes, adding that it "is designed to encourage creativity and challenge conventional thinking. It is a light, bright, exciting environment that allows Rexam-customer cross-functional teams to, for example, recreate retail planograms and examine consumer interaction with actual products."

The new Innovation Center is headed by Jill McCurdy, director of Innovation. According to McCurdy, understanding customers and consumers is the heart and soul of what the new center is all about. "And it's important to understand that 'innovation' means many things: a new formulation, a twist on an existing product, or a transformational, all-new, product," she said. "Whether it's a new formulation, the smoothness of a lipstick mechanism, or the quality of a closing click feature or package material, our approach is to work with our customers to develop new products and processes, through the prism of consumer ethnographic and anthropologic factors."

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Filtrona, U.K., announced this week that it has completed the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of BP Secure Solutions Ltd and Summercombe 110 Limited, which together carry on the business of BP Labels. Based in Cardiff, U.K., BP Labels is a manufacturer of self adhesive labels. Filtrona notes that BP is highly complementary with its Coated & Security Products division, "sharing a focus on providing consumer products companies with value added packaging and security solutions." The acquisition price is up to a maximum of £4.5 million, subject to adjustments, payable in cash to the family and employee shareholders of the acquired companies.

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MeadWestvaco Corp., Richmond, Va., USA, announced this week that its MWare food service paperboard has been certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI). Cups, plates, and other disposable containers made from MWare PLA-coated and uncoated bleached paperboard can be commercially composted with food waste and can feature BPI's compostable label.

"Consumers are increasingly concerned about how their habits impact the planet, including their use of disposable cups and plates," said Dobbie Newman, director of Food Service Marketing, MWV. "Providing certified compostable solutions that can be diverted from the landfill waste stream and are made from renewable resources gives our customers additional options for meeting their food service packaging needs. While we recognize that commercial composting facilities for these products are limited, we view composting as an important end-of-life option for organic materials and believe that commercial composting capacity will continue to grow. This achievement is also an important element of enabling MWV to meet its own sustainability goals."

All MWare paperboard materials are made from Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified, sustainably sourced paperboard and can be made with up to 30% post consumer recycled fiber. MWare Balance coated cup stock is made with PLA (polylactic acid), a bio-based resin that offers the functional performance of non renewable coatings but is made with annually renewable resources.

Each MWare product underwent a battery of tests to receive the ASTM D6868 compostable certification, the international standard for compostable plastic-coated papers. Certification ensures that all MWare baseline bleached paperboard materials are compostable in professionally managed composting sites and can be adapted to future innovations in coatings.

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OfficeMax, Naperville, Ill., USA , this week said that it is launching a Reusable Shipping Bin Program designed to help its contract business customers reduce corrugated waste by using OfficeMax's durable, reusable bins for supply shipments. The reusable, lightweight bins feature an advanced bar code system for tracking and are labeled with the OfficeMax logo for identification.

"Many of our contract business customers are seeking to adopt 'greener' business practices, and we're proud to meet their needs with this highly efficient, sustainable shipping program that enables these companies to significantly reduce waste," said Reuben Slone, EVP of Supply Chain for OfficeMax. "At OfficeMax, we're constantly seeking ways to implement programs that help our customers operate more cost-efficiently and conserve natural resources."

The Reusable Shipping Bin Program is available to contract business customers located in metropolitan areas that place orders multiple times per week. OfficeMax's private fleet of trucks will handle the delivery and pickup of all reusable bins. Shipping times and delivery locations will remain the same for program participants unless otherwise requested.

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Zhejiang Ji'An Paper Packet Co., China, has ordered a containerboard production line for its mill in Haiyan county, Jiaxing city, Zhejiang province. Startup of the Metso-supplied production line is scheduled for the second quarter of 2011. The value of the order will not be disclosed. However, the value of these types of production lines ranges from EUR 80 to 100 million depending on the scope of delivery, according to Metso.

Metso's delivery will include a containerboard machine with a daily production capacity of approximately 1,900 metric tons of coated white top testliner out of bleached kraft pulp, deinked pulp, mixed waste, and OCC. The fully automated reel features unique one-level reeling technology. The Metso automation package will comprise process, machine, and quality controls.

Zhejiang Ji'An Paper Packet Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of Shanghai Taison Pulp & Paper Group. Zhejiang Ji'An currently produces containerboard on two Metso-supplied machines. The company's production capacity is around 750,000 metric tpy.

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Appleton, Appleton, Wis., USA, has reformulated its flagship NCR Paper brand Superior carbonless sheet paper and guaranteed it to run on all forms printing equipment, including offset, digital duplicators, black-and-white digital, color digital, and inkjet. The reformulated paper is guaranteed to run clean and smooth on offset and digital equipment. The stock has a heavier basis weight, consistent caliper, and provides an overall stiffer sheet for consistent performance and runnability, and better all-around forms quality from all forms printing equipment, the company says. Superior is now 92 bright, and ink and toner adhesion have also been enhanced, resulting in a more high-end appearance. Appleton also improved the edge padding performance of Superior, with a stronger bond to hold form plies together, yet allow the form sets to fan apart more easily. It is also available micro-perforated under the new brand name of Superior Perf. More information is available online.

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Smart Planet Technologies, Irvine, Calif., USA, this week announced the U.S. commercial availability of EarthBoard, now engineered for use in food packaging applications. EarthBoard has barrier properties for oils, fatty acids, and moisture, making it an applicable for packaging of food products in folding cartons. The board's mineral-based layer is FDA compliant for direct contact with food. The company notes that EarthBoard is environmentally advantageous for food packaging because the mineral-based layer reduces the use of polyethylene in barrier coatings, upgrades the brightness and printability of recycled fibers to be comparable to virgin fibers, and improves recyclability (less plastic from barrier coatings going into the paper recycling stream). More information is available online.

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Kimberly-Clark Corp., Dallas, Texas, USA, this week announced the national launch of Kleenex Hand Towels, a hygienic alternative to cloth bathroom hand towels. The single-use, disposable bathroom hand towel delivers one clean, fresh, dry towel every time consumers wash their hands in the home bathroom. In the U.S. alone, K-C points out, people dry their hands on cloth bathroom towels approximately 200 billion times per year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for hand washing recommends hand drying with a single-use towel, but consumers have not had a practical alternative to traditional cloth hand towels in their home bathrooms, until now, the company emphasizes. Kleenex Hand Towels are designed to address this unmet need.

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Myllykoski, Finland, has introduced a new high bulk paper with increased cost efficiency. With a bulk of 1.2, My Volume reportedly provides a basis weight savings of around 10g/m² for the production of magazines, journals, direct mailings, or inserts "without compromising quality." The new paper has a closed, homogenous surface, even though the paper is not calendered again after the coating process. "This is how we preserve the high original volume of the paper after coating and still achieve the exceptional specifications, namely high volume and opacity combined with a bright white shade and a smooth, elegant surface," says Ralph Bächle, product manager at the company's MD Albbruck mill in Germany, the largest mill of Myllykoski with three paper machines (PM 5, PM 6, and PM 7) that produce around 300,000 metric tpy of wood-containing coated printing papers.

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Caraustar Industries, Atlanta, Ga., USA, this week announced that it will increase prices by $60 per ton on all uncoated recycled paperboard grades and $45 per ton on coated recycled paperboard grades produced by its mills. The increases are effective with shipments on and after April 5. Caraustar will also increase prices of tubes and cores and all other uncoated recycled paperboard converted products on the same date.

Greg A. Bartlett, VP sales and marketing for Caraustar's Mill Group, said that "publication prices for OCC have reached an average of $170 per ton in the middle and eastern U.S., up $95 per ton since December publications. Unreliability of supply has forced us to reach out further with higher cost freight lanes and pay significant premiums over publication list prices to secure our recovered fiber needs. Fiber quality has also declined during this period, impacting the yield of our most important raw material. Prices for all fiber grades have increased significantly. We understand the impact that this has on our customers; however, we cannot continue to absorb these costs. We will be vigilant in monitoring this situation and keep our customers informed of changes and challenges in this volatile recovered fiber market."

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Michelman, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, this week announced a price increase on paper coatings in the Americas region, effective April 5. The typical increase is 10% and affects all Michelman barrier, functional, and appearance coatings. The actual increase varies depending on grade. Michelman attributes the increase to rising raw material costs.

According to Mr. Bob Poletti, Michelman's VP-Paper Business Unit, "raw material prices have been driven up as a result of increased competition for specialty polymers and chemicals across many industries. To ensure an uninterrupted supply of coatings, we have had to pay a premium for these raw materials, forcing us to raise our prices a modest amount. In spite of this increase, we are committed to offering our customers world-class products and services at the most competitive prices possible."

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PaperWorks Industries, Philadelphia, Pa., USA, this week announced price increases of $45 per ton for all grades of coated recycled paperboard (CRB) and $60 per ton for uncoated recycled paperboard (URB). This increase, which the company attributes to" rapidly escalating input costs," will be effective with shipments on and after April 5. This change applies to all North American customers.

"PWI will continue to minimize these increases with ongoing cost savings initiatives as well as provide leading quality and service for all of our paperboard products," said Mark P. Roy, senior VP, Commercial Development. PaperWorks Industries' Paperboard Division manufactures approximately 300,000 tons of 100% recycled paperboard per year.

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RockTenn, Norcross, Ga., USA, this week announced a $60 per ton price increase on all grades of uncoated recycled paperboard. Price increases are effective with shipments beginning April 12. RockTenn, a producer of paperboard, containerboard, and consumer and corrugated packaging, has 10,000 employees at locations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Chile.

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Sonoco, Hartsville, S.C., USA, will increase prices for all uncoated recycled paperboard grades in the U.S. and Canada by $60 per ton, effective with shipments beginning April 5. In addition, the company will increase prices on all paperboard industrial converted products in the U.S. and Canada by 5.5%, also effective with shipments beginning April 5.

"Recovered paper costs have continued to rise rapidly throughout the first quarter of 2010. Key grades, such as old corrugated cartons, are up by approximately $110 per ton, or 150%, since November 2009, according to published lists," said Harris DeLoach, chairman, president, and CEO. "Actual marketplace prices for recovered paper are currently exceeding listed prices by another $20 to $30 per ton, due to scarcity of supply. As a result, we have no alternative but to pass on these higher raw material costs."

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Ralph de Jong has joined EcoSynthetix Inc. of Lansing, Mich., USA, and Burlington, Ont., Canada, as director of Product Development & Technical Support. He was with BASF for 21 years and most recently was technical service manager, Dispersions and Paper Chemicals for North America. He has a B.S. degree in chemistry from the University of Western Ontario, and will be based at the EcoSynthetix Center of Innovation and pilot manufacturing line in Burlington.

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Do you know that feeling you get when you first meet an individual, or tour a facility or office, and you sense that this is a great person or this is a great company, etc? I know I have witnessed this many times over the past three-plus years while I have been working with TAPPI. TAPPI members make a definite difference in their companies.

Can you name a company that touches lives with commercial ships, recreational water craft, cars, lubricants, paper and packaging, and alternative energy resource solutions? The company I am thinking of likes to say, "based in chemistry, born in the imaginations of our associates. Our ideas and innovations result in performances to provide a brighter future."

I would like to tell you about a company and some of their people I had the privilege of getting to know better on a recent visit to Ohio. That company, who refers to its employees as associates, is ASHLAND. One of those people is Tim Harman, who holds the position of Sr. Staffing Specialist, College Relations, Talent Acquisition & Diversity, in Human Resources. I first met Tim in January at TAPPI's Student Summit in Charleston, SC. He and Nicole Hacet were very supportive and played key roles in the success of TAPPI's 13th annual Student Summit. Tim has a missionary zeal when he talks about Ashland.

Tim hosted Eric Fletty and me for a visit and tour of Ashland's campus in Dublin, Ohio. He also set up a visit for us to tour Appleton's paper mill in West Carrolton, Ohio. Two Ashland associates, Nicole Hartley – Technical Sales Representative and Philip Keegan – Sales Team Leader, facilitated a tour and meeting at the mill.

Appleton's employees who took us on the tour and attended our meeting included, Jim Fuller – Quality Manager, Bill Levenderis – Process Engineer, and Thomas Maleike – Manager- Utilities, Process Control, Technical. We enjoyed the meeting and our mill tour. By the way, the cleanliness of this mill was incredible!

Ashland was founded in 1924, operates in 100 countries, employs approximately 15,000, and had FY08 operating revenues of $10.7 billion dollars. They also have some very impressive facts to share:

• 30% of their employees work outside of the United States
• Approximately 25% of earnings are derived from renewably sourced materials
• Wind energy investments expanded in 2009 with the launch of new metal casting products, resins and structural additives from Ashland Performance Metals
• Key markets they serve: paper & packaging, personal care, pharmaceutical, construction, transportation
• Ashland employees pledged $420,000 for charitable giving in 2008
• Annually, employees volunteer thousands of hours addressing community needs
• Ashland is a Responsible Care company committed to goals of zero-incident performance, 100 percent compliance and reducing environmental impact
• Active patents worldwide: Approximately 2,600
• Ashland employees are in every continent except Antarctica
• In 2008, Ashland acquired Hercules Incorporated, a specialty chemicals company with a 96-year history and two major businesses in paper technologies and functional ingredients

Ashland has five major commercial units: Ashland Distribution, Ashland Consumer Markets, Ashland Hercules Water Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials, and Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients.

Ashland and Tim realize that it takes great people to make great companies. He is constantly on the lookout for the best and brightest students coming out of colleges and universities. Ashland participates in many school and community programs to encourage, educate and recruit students to become more involved with the idea of working in our industry.

Ashland, it's that feeling.

For more information on Ashland please go to www.ashland.com.

For more information on TAPPI please go to www.tappi.org.

There are two types of people in our industry, TAPPI members and those who should be.

Until next time-Larry

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What's high in the middle and round on the ends? Well, Ohio of course, and TAPPI's Ohio Local Section is high on planning for their next meeting (April 9, 2010 at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio). Ok, bad joke – but no where near a bad meeting!

Recently, Larry Montague and Eric Fletty had the pleasure of visiting Appleton's West Carrollton Mill and not only saw TAPPI members (from both Appleton and Ashland – Hercules) in action but discussed plans for the upcoming Ohio TAPPI Local Section Meeting. The Local Section has undergone a reinvention of itself and has a great event planned. For just $10, (register by March 26th for this early bird rate) you get:

• 9:00 AM - Upgrades and modernization of stock prep systems - J. Kerr, ANDRITZ
• 10:00 AM - Doctor blade setting - S. Cockerham, KADANT
• 11:00 AM - Paper machine water management for the Fourdrinier -S. Stewart, JOHNSON FOILS
• Lunch (provided)
• 2:00 PM - Automation: Color control & air systems, air dryers, heat recovery -T. Betteridge & M. Harrison, METSO
• 3:00 PM - How CD moisture actuators can save energy - J. Spachman, ABB

Registration couldn't be easier – just e-mail Prof. Doug Coffin at Prof. Doug Coffin at coffindw@muohio.edu. Additional information can be found at this link.

Pictured (Left to Right): Tom Maleike, Manager – Utilities, Process Control, Technical, Appleton
Jim Fuller, Quality Manager, Appleton
Bill Levenderis, Process Control Engineer, Appleton
Larry N. Montague, President & CEO, TAPPI
Nicole Hartley, Technical Sales Representative, Ashland-Hercules
Philip B. Keegan, Sales Team Leader, Ashland-Hercules
Eric Fletty, Vice President Operations, TAPPI

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Nominations are being accepted for induction into the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame. The deadline for nominations to be considered for 2010 is March 31st. The 16th induction ceremony will be held September 23rd in Appleton, Wisconsin.

The 2010 nomination form is available at www.paperhall.org. Contact Dave Lee, executive director, for further information at 920-380-7491 or dave@paperdiscoverycenter.org.

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Early discounted registration is now open for the 2010 BioPro Expo™ and Conference, slated for August 24-26 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. Providing program content and comprehensive exhibits created with multiple industries in mind, BioPro Expo™ explores practical methods for transitioning a variety of biomass feedstocks into energy and biofuel. This unique event will bring together diverse communities ranging from forest, agriculture, and biorefinery operations to power companies and technology suppliers – offering the Southeast's most powerful educational and professional networking experience in the bioenergy arena.

BioPro Expo will include in-depth case studies and technical sessions from experts in a variety of industries. In addition, there will be a comprehensive tradeshow and hands-on technology interaction. Additional input from governmental agencies will supplement this experience with perspective on the rapidly changing regulatory and funding environment impacting renewable energy efforts.

Registration fees are $485 for TAPPI members and $746 for non-members, if confirmed by July 2, 2010. Onsite registration is $735 for TAPPI members and $1,125 for non-members. Registration information is available at www.bioproexpo.org.

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Offered for the first time in years, TAPPI is pleased to unroll the Tissue Runnability Course, April 19-21, 2010 – an essential program for paper professionals at TAPPI's Atlanta headquarters. This course offers a comprehensive understanding of the tissue making process at many levels that can be applied immediately on the job. Instructional topics are focused on helping attendees improve the quality of their products, diminish waste and poor output and reduce frustrating down-time. The course material is designed with the objective of helping participants thrust production into high gear.

The Tissue Runnability Course is designed expressly for engineers, machine supervisors, technical resources, lead operators and technical personnel in tissue and towel mills. The three-day event covers the impact of recycled furnishes on paper characteristics, the principles of wet-end chemistry with machine operation, cleaning and conditioning of felts and wires, causes of tissue runnability problems in the press/Yankee/hood drying systems, identifying improvement opportunities on the dry-end of the paper machine, and pinpointing problems with the Yankee dryer steam, coating, and hood systems to increase machine productivity. The course schedule is led by industry-recognized instructors.

Tissue Runnability is limited to 30 participants, so prompt registration is encouraged for this course. Early bird registration ends March 19, 2010.

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The 2010 International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference (IBBC) is now an important conference component of BioProExpo™. IBBC will include technical presentations, expert panels, case studies, and reports from projects that address the production of biofuels and bioproducts through: the use of forest and agricultural biomass resources; biorefining technology; feedstock and harvesting improvements to increase yield and quality of biomass; and leveraging forest products manufacturing infrastructure.

Presentations are being sought in the following topic areas:

Technology Track: Seeking strong technical papers with a focus on presenting new findings in Biomass Supply & Demand, Biomass Harvesting & Preparation, Advances in Conversion Pathways and Advances in Bioproducts.

Deployment Track: Seeking case studies and updates from pilot scale, commercial, and pre-commercial operations in Biorefineries, Repurposing the Traditional Pulp and Paper Mill, Harvesting and Preparation, Technical Economic Analyses, Commercial Collaborations for Enabling Technologies and Project Deployment Issues.

For more information on the IBBC Call for Papers, visit http://www.bioproexpo.org/ibbc_call.asp.

Abstract Requirements: Abstracts should be no more than 200 words.
Submission Deadline: March 22, 2010
Presentations Deadline: August 2, 2010
Submit Abstracts to: IBBC@tappi.org
Event Website: www.bioproexpo.org

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Date(s):
Spring 2010 -- April 12-14
Fall 2010 -- October 4-6
Spring 2011 -- April 4-6
Fall 2011 -- October 3-5

Location:
Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport

The Black Liquor Recovery Boiler Advisory Committee (BLRBAC) guides the safe installation and operation of recovery boilers at kraft paper mills. Their meetings draw attendees from all over the world, from the operating mills, the manufacturers of recovery boilers and associated equipment, to engineers from the insuring companies. Many members of BLRBAC are also TAPPI members that serve on the Steam and Power Committee.

Visit www.blrbac.org for registration information and additional details or contact David Parrish at david.parrish@fmglobal.com.

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Date: March 15-19, 2010
Location: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina

Need to know more about pulping, bleaching, chemical recovery, recycling, papermaking and converting to do your job better? Gain an excellent overall view of the basic concepts in pulp and paper manufacturing while increasing your understanding through hands-on laboratory exercises.

Using a combination of balanced lectures and laboratories, this workshop will provide you with an easy-to-learn and lasting introduction to pulp and paper technology, operations, and markets, including:

• Overview knowledge of the entire pulping and papermaking process
• How different processes affect paper properties
• Hands-on lab experiments to enhance your understanding of process
• Run a pilot plant paper machine
• Close interaction with Pulp and Paper Professors in small groups

Learn more about the course, and register to attend, here. You can also download the complete course brochure.

CEUs available. This course will also be held June 7-10, 2010; and October 4-8, 2010.

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A Call for Presentations/Posters has been issued for the 2010 TAPPI International Conference on Nanotechnology for the Forest Products Industry, 27-29 September, 2010, in Espoo, Finland. This annual, internationally recognized event brings together leading researchers, industry experts, government representatives, and other stakeholders to share  advances and perspectives on nanotechnology-based products for the forest products and related industries.

To leverage research advances and offer participants new opportunities for knowledge sharing, the 2010 Technical Program Committee invites contributions from participants working with nano-enabled bio-materials, products, and their processing. Analysis of challenges and trends in emerging markets for forest products that are based on nanotechnology are sought to provide a foundation for new research and industrial activities. The organizers also  encourage submissions on other aspects of nanotech products including law, policy, economics and environmental health and safety. View the Call for Papers.

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