Over the Wire
TAPPI
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Catalyst Paper, Richmond, B.C., Canada, this week announced the permanent closure of its Snowflake paper mill located in northeastern Arizona, USA, and its subsidiary the Apache Railway Co. The company noted that the decision follows "extensive efforts to improve the operation's financial performance in the face of intense supply input and market pressures." The operation is scheduled to cease production on September 30.
"The decision to close Snowflake is an extraordinarily difficult one given the exceptional effort that employees, unions, and public officials have given to address the unique challenges at this mill, said President and CEO Kevin J. Clarke. "We understand and regret the difficult impact within the Snowflake community and surrounding region created by closure of the mill. I want to acknowledge and thank all who have given us their unwavering support and cooperation. There were no stones left unturned." Catalyst implemented a number of measures since acquiring the Snowflake operation in 2008, to address market challenges and input cost pressures. These included production of higher-value specialty paper grades at what was formerly a newsprint-only mill, capital investment, productivity, quality and service improvements, full leverage of the mill's environmental attributes, and competitive labor agreements. Catalyst has also explored a range of alternatives, including attempting to sell the mill. However, Catalyst explained that with newsprint demand down more than 10% annually since the end of 2008, old newsprint (ONP) price volatility, and higher freight costs as procurement and sales have been forced to go further afield to source recycled paper supply and secure product orders, the mill's profitability could not be restored. ONP prices have increased approximately 163% since 2009, it adds, pointing out that a $5 per ton increase in ONP price has a negative impact of approximately $2 million on EBITDA and approximately $1 million on net earnings. Snowflake generated negative EBITDA since 2009. The closure of the mill is expected to result in savings of annualized selling, general, and administrative expenses and to avoid future operating losses associated with Snowflake. Catalyst recorded a $161.8 million asset impairment charge, required under GAAP, in the latter half of 2011. The closure will result in some initial cash costs, which are expected to be recouped from working capital and the sale of Snowflake mill assets in 2013. "Reduced quality of ONP as municipalities moved to single stream waste recovery combined with ONP price volatility driven by export markets were obstacles on the input side. Added to these challenges are the protracted demand decline for recycled newsprint and other printing papers. While we did everything possible to prevent this outcome, employees, vendors and customers needed the certainty that today's announcement provides," Clarke said. Clarke and other Catalyst executives met this week with employees and union representatives at the Snowflake Mill and Apache Railway Co. to outline the closure plan. The operations currently employ 308 salaried and hourly workers. Catalyst says it will honor its obligations to employees and will work closely with suppliers, customers, and regulators through the wind-down of operations. The site will subsequently be prepared for sale and repurposing. Catalyst produces diverse specialty mechanical printing papers, newsprint, and pulp. With four mills, located in British Columbia and Arizona, the company has a combined annual production capacity of 1.8 million metric tons. ##SHARELINKS##
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Buckeye Technologies Inc., Memphis, Tenn., USA, reports that its president and COO Kristopher J. Matula intends to resign from the company effective August 31, to focus on other interests. Matula will resign from Buckeye's board of directors on August 7.
In conjunction with the Matula's announced retirement, the company said that it will restructure its executive management team in support of its previously announced decisions to close or sell several underperforming or non-core assets. John B. Crowe, chairman and CEO, noted that Matula "has made many significant contributions to the progress and development of Buckeye in his 18 years of dedicated service. He has been a key member of the leadership teams that moved the company forward from the initial IPO in 1995 to our current record level performance. He has been a top contributor and has served Buckeye with distinction. We wish Kris and his family the very best in their future endeavors." Matula said that "it has been an honor to be part of the Buckeye team for the past 18 years. With our business well positioned for the future and a strong leadership team in place, the timing is right for me to retire from Buckeye and focus on other personal interests." In regard to the restructuring, Buckeye's board of directors approved the following promotions that became effective July 24: Steven G. Dean, SVP and CFO was promoted to EVP and CFO; Douglas L. Dowdell, SVP, Specialty Fibers, was promoted to EVP, Specialty Fibers; and Terrence M. Reed, VP, Human Resources, was promoted to SVP, Human Resources. Dean joined Buckeye in 1999, and since that time has held positions of increasing responsibility in the area of finance and accounting. He has served as the company's CFO since 2006. In connection with his promotion, Dean will assume increased responsibilities in the area of information technology. Dowdell joined Buckeye in 1988 and has played leadership roles in the company's Nonwovens division and in the Specialty Fibers division. He has led the Specialty Fibers division since 2006 and will assume increased operational responsibilities. Reed joined Buckeye in 1995 and has held key leadership positions in Manufacturing and Human Resources. He has served as VP, Human Resources since 2006 and will assume increased responsibilities in the area of human resource development. Buckeye currently operates facilities in the U.S., Germany, and Canada. Its products are sold worldwide to makers of consumer and industrial goods. ##SHARELINKS##
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As part of the 2012 TAPPI PEERS Pulping Program, October14-18, in Savannah, Ga., USA, a team of process technology experts will explore several alternative production scenarios for today's kraft pulp mills. Focusing on new and emerging technology breakthroughs and cost-feasible process modifications, one session looks at the technical ins and outs of converting existing bleached kraft market pulp capacity to chemical cellulose (dissolving pulp) production or co-production.
Eric Wiley of Andritz leads off this session with a detailed how-to presentation on upgrading a continuous kraft cooking system with new auto-hydrolysis (water) technology to allow swing production of viscose grade dissolving pulps, while maintaining the mill's ability to produce its staple market pulp grade. This presentation shows mills how to use process flexibility they already have to broaden their product mix as market conditions warrant. This presentation is followed by an in-depth analysis of the complex operating and market-related impacts, negative and positive, of converting market pulp production to dissolving pulp. Enrique Mateos-Espejel with FPInnovations will examine conversion aspects from both the process infrastructure perspective and operating considerations, focusing mainly on the expanded extraction of hemicellulose that directly affects cost and overall production efficiency. He will particularly look at energy demand and projected usage. The Pulping Program at the TAPPI PEERS Conference is specifically designed to provide kraft pulp mills with operating-floor knowledge and information on how to boost operating efficiency and improve overall profitability. Dissolving pulp conversion, bleaching innovations, and non-wood fiber developments are just a few of many breakthrough topics that will be covered. More information about the PEERS Pulping Program is available online. ##SHARELINKS##
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As Boise Inc., Boise, Idaho, USA, celebrates its first anniversary as a partner in the General Mills' Box Tops for Education® school fundraising program, Box Tops clipped from Boise-branded paper products have raised nearly $800,000 in funds for K-8 schools across the country. Box Tops for Education is a top school fundraising program in the U.S., contributing $74 million in the 2011-2012 school year to benefit 90,000 schools.
"Box Tops for Education brand partners like Boise are what really drive the program forward," said Tommy Hillman, Box Tops for Education marketing manager for General Mills. "Schools are directly impacted by the earning potential of these brand programs, which ultimately go to purchase everything from textbooks, laptops, playground equipment, and field trips to teacher scholarships." Box Tops appear on ream packages of Boise X-9® multipurpose paper, Boise HD:P™ digital paper and Boise FIREWORX® color paper. Boise papers carrying Box Tops are available from distributors of office paper and supplies nationwide. "We are proud to put our brands to work to support the educational needs of America's children," said Terry Stepney, Boise Inc. brand manager. "And, in these challenging economic times, we are particularly gratified to help facilitate such a significant contribution to schools. The sustainability of the communities where we work and live is one of our key company values. "Box Tops for Education is a national program, with an impressive impact on schools across the country," Stepney noted. "We see its impact close to home, where the efforts of Box Tops coordinators have made it possible for local schools to purchase library books and physical education equipment, and to help fund activities like reading programs, field trips, and science projects." Boise produces a wide variety of packaging and paper products. Its range of packaging products includes linerboard and corrugating medium, corrugated containers and sheets, and protective packaging products. The company's paper products include imaging papers for the office and home, printing, and converting ##SHARELINKS##
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A new global survey commissioned by Kronos Inc., Chelmsford, Mass., USA, and conducted by IDC Manufacturing Insights, ranked labor productivity the highest among all 11 countries surveyed as the most important factor for achieving manufacturing success. Factors such as modern infrastructure, government support, and foreign direct investment ranked in varying degrees after labor productivity.
Manufacturing managers, directors, and executives in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Spain, the U.K., and U.S. were surveyed for current trends in global manufacturing. Respondents from developed economies fared similar to emerging nations when rating manufacturing's importance, with 70% of all respondents citing manufacturing as the single most important industry for their country's economic health. Some 74.7% of all respondents agreed that a high level of labor productivity is very or extremely important for achieving manufacturing success. While emerging nations rated the need for modern infrastructure higher than mature economies, labor productivity still topped as the main driver of success among all countries. Brazil, Mexico, and Spain scored the highest regarding labor productivity, with 82% in all three countries noting it to be very or extremely important. China, France, India, and Germany scored relatively low, with 66%, 66%, 68%, and 68%, respectively. Brazil respondents ranked the need for modern infrastructure the highest, with 88% rating it as very or extremely important. China, India, Mexico, and Spain followed with 82% in all four countries, and 66% in the U.S. agreed about modern infrastructure's importance. Brazil, India, Mexico, and Spain respondents rated access to foreign investment the highest, with 50%, 50%, 70%, and 60%, respectively, citing it as very or extremely important. Canada, Germany, and the U.S. ranked the lowest, with only 12%, 16%, and 18%, respectively. China ranked government support for the manufacturing industry the highest, with 82% rating it as very or extremely important, and 48% of U.S. respondents agreed to the same. When asked about factors that can improve workforce productivity, training and continuous improvement of the existing workforce was the top choice, with 68.2% of all respondents noting it as effective. Investment in technology followed next, with 63.3%. In regard to issues impacting productivity, the survey found that absences can get in the way. When asked if absenteeism was not a problem, Australia, Canada, U.K., and U.S. respondents agreed the most, with 42%, 48%, 46, and 44%, respectively, demonstrating absenteeism to be a smaller issue. Brazil, France, and Mexico cited absenteeism as a bigger problem in manufacturing, with 24%, 26%, and 22%, respectively, agreeing. The survey also showed that both developed and emerging economies are impacted by a shortage of skilled production employees, with 68% in Brazil, 36% in China, 22% in Germany, 44% in Mexico, and 26% in the U.S. agreeing to a shortage. As far as how the future of manufacturing looks as a career option for the next generation, 88.2% of all respondents were very or somewhat positive about encouraging younger relatives to consider manufacturing as a practical career option. In the U.S., 90% agreed and other nations fared similar. Australia and China ranked the lowest, with 74% 70%, respectively. The respondents were also asked about one strategy that they would recommend for global competitiveness. The winning recommendation, at a combined 45.5%, was that manufacturing companies should keep existing facilities as is and invest in workforce operational excellence methodologies, comprised of strategies for more effective labor cost control, minimized labor law compliance risk, and improved workforce productivity. For more information about this survey, contact Indrani Ray-Ghosal with Kronos. ##SHARELINKS##
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Below is the latest listing of job openings in the TAPPI Career Center. The current listing includes job openings for technical specialists, account managers, director of production planning, sales manager, sales engineer, chemist, maintenance planner, extrusion coating specialist, and process control engineer. Current, specific job openings at companies and locations in the TAPPI Career Center include:
More information about these jobs is available online ##SHARELINKS##
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The summer lull by paper producers and the global economic downturn made life difficult for European pulp manufacturers in July, according to a report by EUWID, Germany, which notes that industry experts all agree that further price reductions are going to occur in softwood pulp. Hardwood pulp producers are also going to find it difficult to maintain their existing price level even though the BEK market is still looking robust, they say.
The downhill trend in the European common currency is only adding to the pressure on prices, EUWID continues. The exchange rate has been roller-coasting for a number of weeks now and has been as high as $1.21 at times. Thus, buyers in the euro region are paying more for pulp in spite of falling U.S. prices. Pulp manufacturers say papermakers should be interested in price stability nevertheless. Pulp prices are said to be their only argument to bring plunging paper prices to a halt at the moment. In spite of more conspicuous reductions in the past few months, EUWID says, prices for softwood pulp are still under more pressure than those for hardwood pulp, and manufacturers do not have much room left to maneuver. Experts do not expect to see any marked improvement in the global economy and thus an upswing in demand on western paper markets until the end of the year at the earliest, EUWID points out, adding that at the moment, only a few have any hopes that the situation could change as early as September. Market players have told EUWID they believe a number of competitors will soon have no choice but to resort to stoppages for market reasons. As always, "no one wants to be the first," EUWID was told. Eucalyptus pulp manufacturers are hoping for growth at least from numerous newly-opened or planned tissue capacities in China. However, this would not compensate for the slump in demand from paper mills in the West either, an industry observer pointed out, EUWID concludes. ##SHARELINKS##
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Wood costs for many European pulp mills have fallen the past six months as the pulp market has weakened. In the Nordic countries, pulp log and wood chip prices have fallen 11% -15% from last spring, according to the Wood Resources Quarterly (WRQ), Seattle, Wash., USA. Despite the price decline, Europe continues to have some of the highest wood fiber costs in the world.
Wood fiber costs for pulp mills fell in practically all major markets of Europe in the 1Q/12 because of weaker pulp markets in late 2011 and early 2012, reports the WRQ. Last year, wood costs in many countries on the continent, including Sweden, Norway, France, Austria, Germany, and Spain, reached record highs, but in all of those markets, prices for pulp log and wood chips are now substantially lower WRQ adds.. The financial instability in many economies in Europe is contributing to the increased uncertainty about the near future demand for pulp and paper on the continent and weakening pulp markets, so many pulp mills are trying to cut production costs to stay profitable. Wood fiber costs have fallen more than other costs (energy, labor, and chemicals) the past six months. Nevertheless, wood costs are still by far the highest cost component when manufacturing pulp, ranging between 55% and 70% of total production costs for the major producers in Europe, according to Fisher International, South Norwalk, Conn. Because of the weaker pulp markets, many pulp mills in France and Germany reduced operating rates, resulting in lower demand for pulp logs last winter. This not only interrupted the almost two-year trend of price increases, but actually contributed to a fall in prices, back to levels previously seen last summer. With the euro weakening against the U.S. dollar, wood prices in dollar terms have declined even more dramatically than in the local currency, WRQ notes. In Northern Europe, pulp log prices have fallen between 11% and 15% from last spring, depending on country and species. It has been difficult to be a forest owner in Sweden the past year, as prices have declined for both saw logs and pulp logs. In parts of Sweden, it is not likely that pulp log prices will decline much further as they are now reaching the same levels as those for energy logs, according to WRQ. Eucalyptus log prices in Spain have been on a steady decline for almost a year and the major fiber consumers have lowered the price they pay to landowners practically every month so far this year. In U.S. dollar terms, the average cost for eucalyptus log has declined by 21% since its all-time-high in the 2Q/11 Despite the recent decline in pulpwood and wood chip price, pulp mills in Europe still have higher wood costs than many of their competitors around the world, WRQ concludes. More information is available online. ##SHARELINKS##
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North American June pulp shipments fell 5.5% y/y and 2.9% on a sequential basis, according to Mark Wilde of Deutsche Bank, citing Pulp and Paper Products Council (Montreal, Qué., Canada) data. Hardwood pulp shipments were quite weak (down 11.4% y/y), driven by weakness in North America, Eastern Europe, and China.
Softwood shipments were generally flat, with weakness in North America and Western Europe, offset by China, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. Total inventories increased by one day of supply to 34 days (hardwood +4 days), Wilde reports. ##SHARELINKS##
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China is now the largest boxboard consumer in Asia, accounting for more than 50% of total Asian boxboard consumption since 2004. Chinese boxboard demand is expected to continue growing through 2016, according to the new report by RISI, Brussels, Belgium, titled China Boxboard Study.
In the study, "we have examined the macroeconomic trends contributing to this growth, as well as the growth fundamentals in 15 major downstream industrial segments," said Ken Waghorne, VP of Packaging at RISI. On the supply side, China's share of total Asian capacity increased from 30% in 2000 to nearly 60% in 2010. The nation's capacity growth is expected to reach a record high of 12.8% in 2012, and will be even higher in 2013. "For virgin cartonboard grades, capacity expansion is expected to hold a double-digit pace in the medium term, which is far above the demand growth trend. Oversupply will force producers to expand channels into external markets, making China a net exporter of boxboard," said Han Yao, economist, Asian Paper Packaging, RISI, and the study's lead author. "As China becomes a more influential player in the global boxboard market, it will be critical for boxboard manufacturers and suppliers to the industry to better understand what drives the market here," he added. ##SHARELINKS##
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Billerud Beetham Ltd., U.K., has ordered from Metso, Finland, a new distributed control system (DCS) and quality control system (QCS) for PM 2 at its Waterhouse Mills, Beetham, Cumbria, U.K., facility. Delivery of the Metso IQ systems is scheduled for this October, with startup planned for November. The investment will improve process control, system reliability, and end product quality
The Metso IQ QCS will be supplied with three scanners and six sensors, including online porosity, machine direction controls, cross direction control of basis weight, project management, training, and commissioning. Metso IQ integrates process quality management, measurements, and profile controls, resulting in faster startups and grade changes, reduced dryer breaks, and better runnability. Billerud Beetham Ltd is part of the Billerud group, a global supplier of packaging paper, operating pulp and paper mills in Sweden and the U.K. The Beetham mill has produced paper for more than two centuries and today produces technically demanding papers for pharmaceutical packaging, food packaging, and other types of industrial purposes. The mill has a production capacity of 45,000 metric tpy of kraft paper and has 135 employees. ##SHARELINKS##
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Fibrek Inc., Montreal, Qué., Canada, temporarily shut down its market pulp mill in Saint-Félicien Qué., starting this past Sunday, July 29, to carry out repairs on the electrostatic precipitator. The shutdown is expected to last about one week, and is being taken, the mill notes, to avoid excessive particulate emissions into the atmosphere
"We will spare no effort to ensure that Fibrek's operations achieve the same environmental performance as those of Resolute Forest Products," said Richard Garneau, president and CEO of Fibrek and Resolute Forest Products Inc. Fibrek is a producer and marketer of virgin and recycled kraft pulp. The company operates three mills located in Saint-Félicien in Canada and in Fairmont , W. Va., , and Menominee, Mich., in the U.S., with a combined annual production capacity of 760,000 metric tons. Fibrek has approximately 500 employees. The Saint-Félicien mill provides northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) pulp to various sectors of the paper industry, mainly in Canada, the U.S. and Europe, for use in the production of specialized products. The Fairmont and Menominee mills manufacture air-dried recycled bleached kraft pulp (RBK) pulp and primarily supply manufacturers of fine uncoated papers. ##SHARELINKS##
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Hansol Paper Co., Seoul, South Korea, has ordered from Metso, Finland, the rebuild of an off-machine coater for the coated woodfree paper production line at its Changhang mill in South Korea. The rebuilt production line will be fully operational during 2013. The value of the order was not disclosed.
"The main target of the rebuild is to convert the production line to also produce thermal paper grades. As a result of the rebuild, the mill will be capable of flexibly changing production between coated woodfree grades and thermal paper grades," said Pekka Turtinen, Metso's senior sales manager. Metso's delivery will include a curtain coating unit, a soft calender, a reel, and a moisturizer for curl control. The new curtain coating unit applies a thin thermal coating layer on the web in a non-contacting operation. Hansol Paper produces printing papers, industrial papers, and specialty papers, including thermal papers, pressure sensitive papers, fancy papers, and inkjet papers. ##SHARELINKS##
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Resolute Forest Products Inc. and Fibrek Inc., both based in Montreal, Qué., Canada, this week announced the completion of their second step plan of arrangement transaction, whereby Fibrek and RFP Acquisition Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Resolute, have amalgamated, resulting in Resolute indirectly owning 100% of the shares of Fibrek. This announcement follows the approval of the arrangement by Fibrek's shareholders on July 23 and the issuance of a final order of the Superior Court of Quebec on July 27 approving the arrangement.
Fibrek has applied for its common shares to be delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange and expects such delisting to be effective as of the close of markets today, August 2. In addition, Fibrek has applied and made the required filings with the relevant Canadian securities regulatory authorities for Fibrek to cease being a reporting issuer or the equivalent in the relevant Canadian provinces and territories. Resolute Forest Products owns or operates 21 pulp and paper mills and 22 wood products facilities in the U.S., Canada, and South Korea. Fibrek operates three pulp mills located in Saint-Félicien, Qué., and in the U.S. at Fairmont, W.Va., and Menominee, Mich., with a combined annual production capacity of 760,000 metric tons. ##SHARELINKS##
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Toscotec, Italy, reports that it has begun building the first TT SYD-18FT (18 ft-dia Yankee dryer) at its specialized workshop in Marlia, Lucca (Italy). Due to the large diameter and overall performance of the TT SYD design, Toscotec says it will be possible to reach a production speed of 1,800 m/min with steam heated hoods. Also, it notes, paper machine overall energy consumptions with the unit are far below today's standards.
The TT SYD-18FT will be delivered to an undisclosed customer at the end of the year and it will be started up in the first quarter of 2013. ##SHARELINKS##
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BASF Corp., Charlotte, N.C., USA, has been awarded the top environmental honor for reclamation of mining land in the state of Georgia by the Georgia Mining Association (GMA). The award recognizes BASF's efforts to return mined lands to their natural state. This is the third time in four years that the BASF Middle Georgia Kaolin site has received the award.
Mining on the McIntyre, Ga., property was complete prior to the 1968 Surface Mine Act, which meant the company was not required to reclaim the disturbed land. However, BASF enlisted the services of Freeport Corp to reclaim this property in 1981 because it is located adjacent to a state highway with high public visibility. As the result of a process that involved terracing to control run-off and minimize erosion, soil preparation, and fertilization, the site currently gives life to vegetation in various states of maturity up to and including planted pine trees. A total of 52,000 slash pine seedlings were planted on the 153 acres throughout the reclamation process. Incorporating Georgia's Best Management Practices for Mining (BMP) for soil and water conservation as well as stabilization, the site also includes a 10-acre stocked settlement pond. "BASF believes environmental protection is one of the cornerstones of sustainable development", said Shane Porzio, VP, Global Kaolin Business Management. "The site's 20-yr history includes eight GMA President's Awards and 10 Outstanding Achievement Awards, which is an acknowledgement of our commitment to being a leader in the area of sustainability." ##SHARELINKS##
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Although dairy volumes in Canada did not grow dramatically in 2011, overall dairy packaging grew by 3% in that year, to reach 5.0 billion packaging units, which compares to a volume CAGR during the review period of 4%, according to a new report by Research and Markets, Dublin, Ireland. Titled Dairy Packaging in Canada, the report shows that within the dairy category, drinking milk is a mature market in Canada and is a staple in most Canadian consumers' shopping lists. It also shows that unit volumes of drinking milk packaging grew by 2% in 2011, which compares favorably with the review period volume CAGR of 2%. ##SHARELINKS##
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International Paper, Memphis, Tenn., USA, has restarted corrugator operations at its Italian San Felice plant near Modena. According to a report by EUWID, Germany, Paolo Pratella, managing director of IP's corrugated packaging business in Italy, said that in April of this year the company made a significant investment to enhance capabilities at its San Felice plant by installing a new state-of-the-art corrugator. However, the devastating earthquakes that hit the Emilia region in May interrupted the ramp-up phase of this new equipment.
IP is currently serving its San Felice customers from the company's other facilities in Italy as well as Spain and France, EUWID notes. Some of the plant's workforce has temporarily transferred to other company operations in Italy. Following restart of the corrugator, more than 70% of the San Felice employees are back at work, the company said. ##SHARELINKS##
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Klabin S.A., Brazil, has ordered from Voith Paper, Germany, a new machine to produce industrial sack paper at its Correia Pinto mill in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. The new PM 23 will have a design speed of 800 m/min and a production capacity of 240 metric tpd. It will use leading edge technology to produce high quality sack paper with reduced resources such as energy, steam, and water. Startup is planned for the last quarter of 2013.
The project scope includes the approach flow system, MasterJet Pro headbox, fourdrinier, Single Nipcoflex shoe press, dryer section with 28 dryer cylinders, a Clupak unit, a MasterReel, slitter and winder, mechanical drive, steam and condensate system, machine ventilation system, lubrication. and complete machine automation. Voith will also supply the electrical and mechanical packages, including electromechanical erection, commissioning, and startup of all equipment necessary for the machine operation, by means of the PLP system (Process Line Package). Klabin S.A., a Brazilian enterprise celebrating 113 years of existence, is the biggest producer and exporter of papers in Brazil. It produces paper and board, corrugated board packages, and industrial sacks. In addition, the company recycles paper and commercializes timber. It has 16 industrial units in Brazil and one in Argentina. ##SHARELINKS##
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NewPage Corp., Miamisburg, Ohio, USA, this week introduced Sterling® Premium, Sterling® Premium Digital™, and Sterling® Premium Digital™ for HP Indigo. Reengineering of the company's Sterling brand was undertaken mainly to provide enhanced optics, an extremely smooth surface, and premium shade—all at a No. 2 price
With the introduction of the new product line, NewPage will be retiring Centura® sheets and web, Productolith® sheets and web, and Sterling® Ultra sheets. Sterling Ultra web products will remain. NewPage notes that, beyond budget-friendly pricing, the new Sterling Premium offers strong value propositions for all stakeholders in the supply chain. "Designers, marketers, and corporate end users get a brand-building premium paper that delivers worry-free consistency. Printers get a superior substrate to showcase their work combined with the runnability they've come to expect from Sterling. A streamlined offering allows NewPage to stock more deeply, ensuring that merchants, printers, and end users have what they need, when they need it, including press-ready mini skids and quick turn custom cut sheets," the company said. NewPage will continue to offer matching digital products – Sterling Premium Digital and Sterling Premium Digital for HP Indigo. The new product lines replace the current Sterling® Ultra Digital™ and Sterling® Ultra Digital™ for HP Indigo offering. Both product lines will include a new 120 lb. gloss and dull cover offering. ##SHARELINKS##
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Stora Enso Specialty Papers, Uetersen, Germany, has launched MediaLiner, a bright white graphic liner for corrugated packaging, displays, and other laminates. This new product is aimed at brand owners seeking "eye-catching" corrugated packaging and displays to boost sales at the point of sale (POS). Stora Enso notes that buying decisions are usually made spontaneously at the POS. Thus the trend in corrugated packaging is changing. Traditional brown boxes are gradually being replaced by multi-functional packaging designed to actively support sales.
Contemporary packaging has to attract customer's attention at the POS, Stora Enso emphasizes. For corrugated packaging, this can be achieved through high-quality graphics, unique surface effects, and tactile appeal of the liner. MediaLiner was especially developed to address these requirements and gives brand owners a host of exciting new ways to create high-impact product appearance, the company says. MediaLiner is produced at the Stora Enso mill in Uetersen from virgin fiber and is therefore white throughout. The resultant brightness is reinforced by a double silk coated surface. "This smooth, bright white surface permits a refreshing, clear color reproduction in printing, allowing the use of brilliant, high-resolution graphics, no matter what the basis weight and type of corrugated board or laminated material," the company points out. The new graphic liner, available in basis weights of 120, 135, 160, 190, and 220 gsm, also features enhanced converting performance and glue absorption characteristics. Suitable for both offset and flexography, it is ideal for pre-print and direct printing using either sheets or reels, Stora Enso says. Free samples can be requested by e-mail. ##SHARELINKS##
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Domtar, Montreal, Que., Canada, has informed North American customers that the price for its two grades of bleached softwood kraft (BSK) pulp was reduced by $30/ metric ton, effective August 1. The reduction takes the new price to $850/metric ton, according to RISI, Boston, Mass., USA. ##SHARELINKS##
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A new study of renewable energy's technical potential finds that every U.S. state has the space and resources to generate clean energy. The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) produced the study, U.S. Renewable Energy Technical Potentials, which looks at each state's available renewable resources for solar, wind, biopower, geothermal, and hydropower energy. The study establishes an upper-boundary estimate of development potential. Economic or market restraints would factor into what projects might actually be deployed.
The report is valuable for decision makers and utility executives because it compares estimates across renewable energy technologies and unifies assumptions and methods. It shows the achievable energy generation of a particular technology given resource availability, system performance, topographic limitations, and environmental and land-use constraints. The study includes state-level maps and tables containing available land area (square kilometers), installed capacity (gigawatts), and electric generation (gigawatt-hours) for each technology. The complete report is available online. ##SHARELINKS##
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Cathay Forest Products Corp., Toronto, Ont., Canada, reports that at its special meeting of shareholders held this week the company's shareholders elected a new board of directors consisting of the following four individuals: J. Bruce Barraclough, Peter K. Brown, C. Ian Ross, and Michael D. Woollcombe.
The company noted that its new board "will update shareholders regarding the status of the company's affairs in due course." ##SHARELINKS##
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Fisher International, South Norwalk, Conn., USA, has named Szymon Siuda senior consultant, Europe Office. Siuda joins Fisher with more than 15 years of sales and marketing strategy experience across a broad range of paper and process industry businesses, including chemical and equipment supply, paper and paperboard manufacturing, converting, consumer packaging, and greenfield startup sectors.
Siuda has a degree in chemical engineering and before joining Fisher International held management positions at several multinational corporations including BASF and Raisio where he was involved in global business development and instrumental in establishing commercial enterprises in Europe, North and South America, and many parts of Asia. "The fact that Fisher International established new offices and research assets in China last year sparked a lot of interest among suppliers who need reliable market intelligence to compete for a seat at the Asian table," noted Stanley Okoro, Fisher International's GM. "No matter what the size of a company, to be effective in such a vast market, resources must be allocated judiciously; every decision has to be made with analytic discipline and supported by data. We're also seeing an awakening on the producer side as European paper companies brace themselves to compete with China for commodities if not markets." Siuda said that "the European paper industry is focused on the opportunities and threats that Asia represents. Serious players are investing in information to leverage their positions because that's where they'll get the greatest return on investment at this point. The stakes are very high and it's virtually impossible to recover from a miss-step resulting from unreliable or incomplete market intelligence. These are not issues that can be managed with predigested thinking and canned answers. The questions being asked require reliable asset data and unique, customized solutions, which is why more people are turning to Fisher International. The mission for the consulting team in Europe is to make sure clients capitalize on the benefits FisherSolve delivers so that our Asia intelligence pays dividends." ##SHARELINKS##
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PaperlinX, Australia, has appointed Andrew Price a non-executive director of the company, effective September 1. Price has 30 years of experience in the paper, print, and supply chain fulfillment industries. He established Stream Solutions, which provided the Australian print industry with an internet-based order fulfillment capability to enhance supply chain efficiencies, and "brings the perspective of a print buyer who understands the changing demands of the paper industry," PaperlinX Chairman Harry Boon noted.
"In the period since the EGM in March, Andrew and I have had discussions about his potential contribution to returning the business to profitability. Following the recent completion of the Strategic Review, and our announcements of the sale of assets and the repayment and restructuring of some debt, the time is now right for Andrew to join the board in the next phase of implementing the ongoing restructure program," Boon added. ##SHARELINKS##
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Greetings fellow nano-advocates!  It's time again to update you on some projects in development, as well as exciting new opportunities to get involved in and help this division grow. Our member benefits include our E-library, Standards, Event & Education Discounts, access to the Membership Directory, and much more. Visit the TAPPI Nano Website for more information and to learn how to join. The mission of the International Nanotechnology Division is to serve as the leading global forum for the community of individuals, organizations and institutions seeking to collectively advance the use of nanotechnology within the forest products industry, and support the development, production and use of renewable or sustainable nanomaterials for all industries. To put it more simply, we are here to:
During this year's conference we got to see some excellent presentations covering a range of near-commercial applications. If you missed it, members can access conference presentations on the website, and nonmembers can purchase the CD at the TAPPI website. Also at the 2012 Conference, another International Standards Workshop was held. Progress on the Roadmap developed after last year's conference was reviewed, as well as work on the first standard in this area: Standard Terms and Their Definition for Cellulose Nanomaterial. In July, a new pilot facility for producing nanocellulose materials was opened at the USDS/FS Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, WI, USA. This new facility can produce cellulose nanocrystals for use by academia and industry alike for research into new products. For information on this visit the Forest Products Laboratory website. Finally, The Division "teams" have also been busy and needs your input. The Technical Team, has begun planning for the 2013 Annual Conference. If you are interested in getting involved in next year's conference, please contact one of the conference co-chairs: Bruce Lyne, Ulla Forsstrom, or Phil Jones. If you're interested in helping create ideas for symposiums and courses, please feel free to contact one of the team leaders - Robert Moon, USDA Forest Service, or Yaman Boluk at the University of Alberta. The Marketing & Promotions team is hard at work to improve the division website and explore student & industry outreach, industry trends (our knowledge needs), and Membership needs. if any of these interest you, please contact team leaders John Cowie, Agenda 2020, or professor Bruce Lyne, Royal Institute of Technology. The Product Resources & Development Team, is looking for ideas for Press & Publications (books, manuals, newsletters, webcontent, webinars), and will work collaboratively with the Marketing team on the website. A division newsletter is also in the planning stages. Please contact Mike Bilodeau, University of Maine, if you are interested in helping on these projects. Don't forget to visit TAPPI's Nanotechnology website for more information and to learn how to join. Until next time, Sean Ireland TAPPI International Nanotechnology Division Chairman ##SHARELINKS##
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Your employees are the backbone of the business and only as viable as their abilities and knowledge. Keep their skills strong this summer. TAPPI has prepared an entire month of training courses for nearly every facet of the industry for both beginner- and advanced-level employees. You can be confident that your employees are getting stellar instruction. Course curriculum is always developed by industry professionals with years of experience, credentials, and recognition. Presentations are never "canned" and are specific to the attendees' work.
TAPPI offers group discounts where your facility can save on course fees per person by registering three or more employees from the same location. Since 1915, the industry's leaders have turned to TAPPI to train and educate their facility's workforce. Why? Because TAPPI consistently delivers the most highly regarded resources for superior education and training for the pulp, paper, packaging, and converting industry.##SHARELINKS##
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Faculty at the TAPPI Linerboard/Medium Manufacture Course to offer more than 250 years of collective experience... Nowhere is the adage ‘Knowledge is Power' more true than at the TAPPI Linerboard/Medium Manufacture Course, August 7-9 at the Atlanta Hilton Northeast. With its expert faculty and countless opportunities to interact one-on-one with each one, this course is like having a group of consultants at your fingertips ready to help you solve the problems you encounter at your facility. You will learn from the best, including:
So that's a total of 250 years of combined experience and knowledge for attendees to draw upon, to learn from, and get answers to your problems.
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Only a few seats remain for the TAPPI Introduction to Kraft Pulping and Bleaching Course, but if you register now, you may be able to snag a place among other peers. This course takes place at TAPPI Headquarters August 13-14.
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The 2012 TAPPI Tissue Properties & Manufacture Course is coming to TAPPI Headquarters in Norcross, Ga., USA., on August 15 -16. This two-day course is a comprehensive overview of the entire tissue manufacturing process taught by leading industry experts.
This is an introductory-intermediate level course. If you are looking for an advanced course on tissue, consider the next TAPPI Tissue Runnability Course scheduled for this November 7-9, in Neenah, Wi., USA. ##SHARELINKS##
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TAPPI and the Pulp and Paper Safety Association (PPSA) are pleased to announce their new course on workplace safety leadership and modern safety management principles... The Safety Management Leadership Course. This course will be held at TAPPI Headquarters on August 15-16. The papermaking, conversion, and paper recycling industries have traditionally suffered from high workplace accident rates. Through a concentrated industry effort, the number of workplace injuries in the paper and pulp industry between 1994 and 2010 declined at a faster rate than the national rate for all private industries. The Safety Management Leadership Course will provide managers and leaders with the best practices in safety for the paper and packaging industry that should help further reduce these workplace safety incidents. The course is designed for anyone involved in workplace safety including human resources, training, safety supervisors, team leaders, plant managers, project leaders, frontline supervisors, and safety committee participants. The course will be led by industry expert and course chair Matthew Kanneberg from RockTenn. "Participants in the course will be able to understand the fundamentals of safety and safety management principles, including recordkeeping, incident investigation, safety culture, managing change safely, understanding safety behavior, risk management, and measuring performance," says Kanneberg. Course registration is limited to 30 participants so please register today! Visit the course website. Early registration discounts are available. ##SHARELINKS##
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TAPPI Headquarters in Norcross, Ga., USA, will host the annual Improving Paper Machine Performance Course August 21-23. This course provides students the tools needed to evaluate the performance of their paper machines against industry standards and evaluate ways to improve performance and optimize efficiencies. This year the course schedule has been expanded to include an important area of operation- evaluating energy savings. Dick Reese of Dick Reese and Associates will help attendees learn how to evaluate energy consumption. Reese has completed energy evaluations on more than 125 paper and pulp machines in 56 mills. Several mills have reduced annual energy cost by $1 million-plus by implementing recommendations from the energy evaluations. After successfully completing this course, participants should be able to:
A degree in engineering or other technical field is suggested, but not required. A good working knowledge of the paper machine is recommended (this is not an introductory course). Please bring your laptop computer for this working course. If you don't have one you may share with another course participant. There is only room for 25 course participants, so please register today. For more information, please visit the course website. Early registration, travel, and lodging discounts are available. ##SHARELINKS##
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Join us on Tuesday, August 14 at the Mid-Valley Country Club in De Pere, Wis., USA. An afternoon shotgun scramble golf outing is planned with dinner to follow. Full event information and registration details are available online. ##SHARELINKS##
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Join us on Tuesday, August 28, at the Grand View Lodge, Preserve Course, in Pequot Lakes, Minn. A morning shotgun scramble golf outing is planned with lunch to follow. Please remember, your participation will help fund scholarships for Lakes States TAPPI/North Central PIMA's Scholarship programs. Prizes will be awarded along with a putting contest and a raffle. Reservation preference will be given to foursomes. Groups of two or less will be placed into foursomes pending availability. We will limit the number of participants to 128. Entries will only be accepted with full payment. For entries received after August 16, the cost is $135.00 per person. Check-in registration will begin at 8:00 am. If you have any questions about this event, please contact: Wfrawley@new.rr.com Full event information and registration details are available online. ##SHARELINKS##
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The NCSU Financial and Strategic Analysis Workshop, October 3-5, 2012, Raleigh, N.C., USA You will learn basic and sophisticated tools to analyze business operations, estimate financial outcomes, and support decision making. In this workshop, you will also discover how to:
Who Should Attend? This workshop is especially beneficial for:
Register today to apply your new skills in business and financial analysis and take your job performance to the next level.
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Join Worldwide Coating Experts at the Advanced Coating Fundamentals Symposium The paper coating community will be converging in Atlanta, Ga., USA, Sept. 10-12, 2012, for TAPPI's 12th Advanced Coating Fundamentals Symposium. This biennial event attracts the world's foremost experts in coating technology and is the preeminent symposium for leading-edge research. Your next opportunity will not come until 2014! As a special added bonus and for your convenience, the Advanced Coating Fundamentals Symposium (ACFS) will be co-located with the 16th International Coating Science and Technology Symposium (ISCST) providing you with insights into coating research in non-paper applications. Your TAPPI registration will allow you extended access in to any of the ISCST presentations. It will also include full printed proceedings of the TAPPI program. The ACFS Technical Program will focus on what it takes to commercialize an innovation -- and includes more than 20 peer-reviewed papers covering novel paper coatings, mechanics of printing, new and emerging technologies, and nanotechnology in paper coating. In addition to learning about all of the latest developments, your registration includes an evening of fun and fellowship with coating colleagues from around the world at the Advanced Coating Fundamentals dinner, scheduled at a distinctive Atlanta venue. Click here to view the program. Click to learn more about ACFS 2012. ##SHARELINKS##
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Pulp and Paper mills often find themselves spending millions of dollars inspecting, repairing, and recovering from unexpected leaks in their boiler tubes, tanks, pressure vessels, exposed and buried pipeline, stacks, bleach towers, etc... Here's your chance to learn how to substantially reduce these costs! Corrosion probe Inc.'s FEMOS Workshop training shows maintenance staff how to rationally manage the mechanical (containment) intregrity of all types of fixed eqpment with a simple, rigorous system utilizing disciplines and procedures by vendors who specialize in the maintenance of rotating equipment. What do you gain from attending? This workshop to be held October 14, 2012, 8 am - 5 pm EDT in Savannah, Ga., USA, will teach attendees how to implement a mill-specific program by using a transparent and disciplined process to systematically design the right inspection plan for each major piece of fixed equipment based on its' materials of construction, present condition, and service conditions. The basic concept employs proven, high-value practices from refining and petrochemical industries for risk based inspection, customizing inspection plans to possible damage mechanism and using fitness-for-service engineering assessments to define damage limits. Who is leading the workshop? Corrosion Probe Inc.'s workshop will employ experienced and renowned TAPPI participants Dave Bennett, David Browe, and Doug Sherman. They will train up to 20 people in a 1-day (6-Hour) workshop. Training is presented so attendees can use their new knowledge to immediately implement FEMOS at their mill. Many working examples are provided and students are invited to bring their mill's costliest fixed equipment inspection and maintenance concerns for case analysis. The FEMOS workshop takes place just before the 2012 TAPPI PEERS Conference and the 2012 IBBC conference. Those attending the FEMOS Workshop can also attend these important events. ##SHARELINKS##
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On Nov. 7-9, 2012, TAPPI will conduct its Tissue Runnability Course at Neenah, Wi., USA. This special course is being taught by technical experts in each area of the machine from wet end operations through creping and process control. The experienced, highly qualified faculty for this course will provide a thorough understanding of the entire tissue making process and current best practices in each area. The 2012 TAPPI Tissue Runnability Course is designed for process engineers, machine supervisors, and reliability professionals who have to maximize uptime and saleable production. It is also an excellent tutorial for suppliers who support tissue making customers. It will help attendees:
After successfully completing this course, attendees will specifically be able to:
TAPPI will award CEU credits to participants who attend at least 80% of the educational sessions and complete a final program evaluation. The 2012 Tissue Runnabilitry Course includes advanced process instruction. If you are looking for an introductory-intermediate tissue course, consider the upcoming 2012 Tissue Properties and Manufacturing Course at TAPPI Headquarters in Norcross, Ga., USA, on August 15-16. Attendance for the 2012 TAPPI Tissue Runnability Course is limited, so please register today at the course website. ##SHARELINKS##
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 The 2012 TAPPI PEERS Conference, October 14-17 in Savannah, Ga., USA, has announced a detailed technical program. Five programming tracks of peer-reviewed sessions, Pulping, Engineering, Environmental, Recycling, and Sustainability, will answer the most pressing business and technical questions faced by pulp and paper companies as they manage raw materials, assets, regulatory requirements, and production assets. Register now and save. In addition to the in-depth, peer-reviewed technical program, Keynote Speaker Don Roberts, vice chairman of CIBC World Markets, will present "A Whirlwind Tour of Investment Trends and Issues in the Global Bio-Energy Space." PEERS will also offer exclusive networking opportunities and insight into new technologies that can help you optimize your mill operations. The TAPPI PEERS Conference will be co-located with the International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference, creating a value-added opportunity for you to expand your learning, networking, and resources by attending both events. See you in Savannah! ##SHARELINKS##
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The 2012 TAPPI PEERS Conference October 14-17 in Savannah, Ga., USA, features a detailed technical program that includes peer-reviewed papers, expert speakers, exclusive networking opportunities and new technologies that can help you optimize mill operations. Of special interest to mills is the Engineering Program which is organized into three sessions/tracks:
TAPPI offers a discounted registration to pulp and paper mills and their corporate offices to attend PEERS Conference. Bring an unlimited number from your mill or office to visit for one day, one hour, or just drop in to see the Trade Fair. Register for PEERS 2012 now and save. The 2012 TAPPI PEERS conference will be co-located with the 2012 International Bioenergy and Bioproducts conference, creating a value-added opportunity for you to expand your learning, networking, and resources by attending both events. See you in Savannah! ##SHARELINKS##
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Operating Excellence (OpEx) Maintenance and Reliability Seminar at PEERS This is a first-time program for the 2012 TAPPI PEERS Conference.
In addition, 2012 TAPPI PEERS Conference, October 14-17 in Savannah, Ga., features a detailed technical program. Five programming tracks of peer-reviewed sessions, Pulping, Engineering, Environmental, Recycling and Sustainability, will answer the most pressing business and technical questions faced by pulp and paper companies as they manage raw materials, assets, regulatory requirements and production assets. The 2012 TAPPI PEERS Conference will be co-located with the 2012 International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference, creating a value-added opportunity for you to expand your learning, networking, and resources by attending both events. See you in Savannah! ##SHARELINKS##
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This comprehensive text covers recovery boilers in great depth and pulls together information on combustion, safety, emissions, plugging, and corrosion. The book also covers fundamental chemical and mechanical engineering principles that bear directly on black liquor and recovery boilers. It contains information about typical values and the normal range of important variables, plus many example calculations, data tables, and charts of relevant material properties or constants and conversion factors. Written by a team of industry experts, the text includes a great deal of practical information such as simple tests to pinpoint problems, important observations to help understand issues for particular operations, and "rules-of-thumb" that are generally used in the industry. This text was written as a project of AF&PA and published by TAPPI PRESS. Click Here to Buy your copy of Kraft Recovery Boilers. View the Table of Contents (PDF). View Sample Pages (PDF). TAPPI MEMBER PRICE: $93.00 Non-member Price: $140.00 ##SHARELINKS##
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TAPPI Press Presents:
 TAPPI Member Gregory M. Siebe passed away June 23rd after a tragic sky-diving accident. Gregory, 27, became a TAPPI member earlier this year. Gregory was a mechanical engineer and graduated from Georgia Tech in 2008, where he was a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity. He worked at Babcock & Wilcox Company in Atlanta, Ga., USA and became a member of TAPPI in February of 2012. Gregory is survived by his mother, D. D. Siebe of Evadale, Tx.; father, Michael Siebe of Minnesota; brothers, Brian Siebe of Evadale, Tx., Cody and Chase Stringfield of Augusta, Ga.; grandparents, Claude B. and Margaret E. Williamson of Vidor, Tx.; numerous uncles, aunts, nephews, and nieces. ##SHARELINKS##
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