Over the Wire
TAPPI
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Domtar Corp., Montreal, Que., Canada, reports that it will permanently shut down one pulp machine at its Kamloops, B.C., Canada facility. The decision will result in a permanent curtailment of Domtar's annual pulp production by approximately 120,000 air-dried metric tons of sawdust softwood pulp and will affect approximately 125 employees.
The pulp machine, known at the mill as the "A-Line," is expected to be closed by the end of March. "Prevailing economic conditions in the global pulp markets and the deteriorated competitiveness of this small pulp manufacturing line, coupled with unforeseen boiler repair costs, have forced us to rationalize this pulp production capacity. We will focus our energy and resources on optimizing the larger, more competitive 'B' pulp manufacturing line, which will continue to operate," said Mike Edwards, SVP, Pulp and Paper Manufacturing. "Employees affected by this change have earned our appreciation and we thank them for their contributions to the Kamloops Mill." The Kamloops pulp operation will continue to operate its remaining pulp manufacturing line with an annual capacity of some 350,000 air-dried metric tons of softwood kraft pulp, and approximately 300 employees. Domtar says it will take appropriate measures to assist employees affected by this decision in accordance with the collective agreement, Domtar policy, and legislation. Domtar produces a wide variety of fiber-based products, including communication papers, specialty and packaging papers, and adult incontinence products. The foundation of its business is a network of wood fiber converting assets that produce paper grade, fluff, and specialty pulps. The majority of its pulp production is consumed internally to manufacture paper and consumer products. Domtar is the largest integrated marketer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America. ##SHARELINKS##
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International Paper, Memphis, Tenn., USA, has reached an agreement to sell its Temple-Inland Building Products division to Georgia-Pacific for $750 million in cash, subject to certain pre-and post-closing adjustments. The assets to be sold include 16 manufacturing facilities—five solid wood mills, four particleboard plants, two medium-density fiberboard plants, one fiberboard plant, and four gypsum wallboard plants.
"While not core to IP's strategy, Temple-Inland Building Products is an industry leader," said John Faraci, chairman and CEO. "I am pleased to have reached a deal that recognizes the strength of the business and provides excellent value for IP shareowners." Temple-Inland Building Products facilities are located across eight states, primarily in the southeastern and eastern portions of the U.S., with access to five of the top 12 housing markets. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2013, subject to satisfaction of various closing conditions, including obtaining required governmental approvals. IP intends to use the proceeds from the sale to reduce its debt. Additionally, the company announced its intention to report a new (Non-GAAP) adjusted EPS measure, "Operating Earnings," beginning with its fourth quarter 2012 earnings release. Operating earnings is defined as earnings from continuing operations (GAAP), excluding special items and non-operating pension expense, which is impacted by changes in interest rates and plan returns. Significant declines in interest rates over the past several years have caused an extraordinary increase in certain components of pension expense that the company considers to be unrelated to underlying operating performance. This move will thereby reduce the volatility in earnings from non operational factors and improve the transparency of the performance of current operations. For the nine-month period ended Sept. 30, 2012, non-operating pension expense was approximately 0.18 per share on a continuing operations basis. The company will provide further information concerning the new reporting format with its next quarterly earnings release. ##SHARELINKS##
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At the Association of Suppliers to the Paper Industry (ASPI) Spring 2013 Meeting, February 27 - March 1, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla., USA, two of the paper industry's most respected CEOs will be sharing insights and perspectives on their companies and how suppliers can contribute to their success. Bob Snyder, president and CEO of Orchids Paper Products, Pryor, Okla., a fully integrated manufacturer of tissue products primarily for the at-home private label market, and Alexander Toeldte, president and CEO of Boise Inc., Boise, Idaho, producer of a wide variety of packaging and paper products, will both be participating in the meeting.
"ASPI is extremely pleased to have secured the participation of such highly-respected leaders as Bob Snyder and Alexander Toeldte," said Carl Howe, ASPI president and VP of sales for the Kadant Paperline Group. Snyder began his career in the pulp and paper industry in 1970. Since then, he has held senior management positions in multi-machine, multi-site manufacturing facilities, nationally and internationally. He is a past president of PIMA (Paper Industry Management Association), and currently serves as a TAPPI board member. Toeldte has served as Boise's president, CEO and a director since the company's inception in February 2008. Previously, he was EVP, Paper and Packaging and Newsprint, with Boise Cascade L.L.C; chair of Algonac Limited, a private management and consulting firm based in New Zealand; EVP of Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd.; and CEO of Fonterra Enterprises; served in various capacities with Fletcher Challenge Limited Group; and was a partner at McKinsey & Co. He is the chairman of the board of directors of the American Forest & Paper Association. Also on the program will be Mark Watkins, SVP for MeadWestvaco Corp. (MWV), Richmond, Va. MWV provides packaging solutions to the healthcare, beauty and personal care, food, beverage, home and garden, tobacco, and commercial print industries. In light of the growing importance of safety in the industry, ASPI also announced that that Sandra LeBarron, director of Environmental, Health & Safety, Finch Paper LLC, will be discussing her work with TAPPISAFE and how it can be implemented in different mills. Additionally, ASPI meetings regularly feature financial perspectives from industry analysts and consultants. To add to the take-away impact for this spring's meeting, Michael L. Newsom, managing director, Qorval, Louis Solimine, partner, Thompson Hine LLP, and Chip Dillon, partner, Vertical Research Partners, will also speak at the spring meeting. Prospective participants in the ASPI Spring 2013 Meeting are encouraged to make reservations prior to the hotel cut-off of Feb. 4, 2013. More information is available online. ##SHARELINKS##
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The newly formed TAPPI Process & Project Engineering Committee is conducting a survey to better determine what capital project strategies today's pulp and paper mills are implementing to stay in-tune and competitive under progressively lean operating conditions. To participate anonymously in this survey (no participant/mill information requested), please use the online link below. This survey will take only a few minutes to complete.
Online Capital Projects Survey If you are interested in learning the results of the survey or would like more information on the new TAPPI Process & Project Engineering Committee, please contact Craig McKinney at TAPPI. Your participation is very much appreciated. ##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 a variety of positions, including director of operations, maintenance training manager, safety manager, papermaking technology manager, engineering intern, sales manager, and technical sales rep. 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 NBSK (northern bleached softwood kraft) pulp business has become much stronger in recent weeks, EUWID Pulp and Paper, Germany, reports. The stabilization, it adds "was spurred by large sales of spot volumes around the globe and by pulp mills in Europe and Canada going offline for maintenance."
Consequently, softwood pulp prices edged higher in November, as anticipated, EUWID notes. However, suppliers did not always manage to tack on the full amount, it points out, and producers often struck deals with their customers that will see an intermediate step with the remaining amount to be added this month. "There was actually no need to split this mark-up given supply and demand at present," one producer told EUWID, adding that the market would have easily taken the full hike. However, a few competitors had apparently signaled their willingness to compromise at the London Pulp Week, sparking a chain reaction throughout the industry, EUWID said. Observers are predicting that pulp prices will rise again at the start of the year amid producers' low inventories and full order books. On the other hand, EUWID adds, converters feel that Europe's paper industry is in poor condition and thus intend to fight against additional mark-ups in rapid succession. ##SHARELINKS##
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Softwood pulp prices are rebounding in North America, up $20/metric ton in November for a second consecutive month, according to Mark Wilde with Deutsche Bank. North American NBSK (northern bleached softwood kraft) pulp rose to $870/metric ton. The key drivers are seasonally stronger demand, increased shipments to China, lower mill inventories, and autumn maintenance outages, Wilde explains.
North American hardwood pulp prices were essentially flat m/m in November, except NBHK (northern bleached hardwood kraft) pulp, which was up $5-$10/metric ton, Wilde says. ##SHARELINKS##
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Cascades Inc., Kingsey Falls, Que., Canada, has extended its Small Shareholder Program to Feb. 15, 2013, at 4:00 p.m. EST. The voluntary Program, originally scheduled to expire on Dec. 17, 2012, enables eligible registered and beneficial shareholders who owned 99 or fewer common shares of Cascades as of Sept. 17, 2012, to sell them without incurring any brokerage commission.
Cascades notes that it makes no recommendation as to whether or not an eligible shareholder should participate in the program. The decision to participate should be based upon a shareholder's particular financial circumstances. Eligible shareholders may wish to obtain advice from their broker or financial advisor as to the advisability of participating. ##SHARELINKS##
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Georgia-Pacific, Atlanta, Ga., USA, this week agreed to acquire the assets of Temple-Inland Building Products' business from International Paper Co. The purchase price is $750 million and the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals. The acquisition is anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2013.
"This acquisition is a long-term investment that will create value for our customers and our company," said Jim Hannan, G-P's CEO and president. "These high-quality assets with teams of talented employees are strategically located near large, growing regions of building products customers and will fit well into our existing operations. This will allow us to expand our geographic footprint and enhance our service to new and existing customers." Temple-Inland manufactures a wide array of building products at 16 facilities in the U.S. These products include gypsum, lumber, fiberboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF), and particleboard. ##SHARELINKS##
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KP Tissue Inc., Mississauga, Ont., Canada, this week announced the closing of its initial public offering of 8,000,000 common shares of the corporation at a price of $17.50 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of $140 million. The common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol KPT. The proceeds will be used to subscribe for 8,000,000 units of Kruger Products L.P., which will provide KP Tissue Inc. with a 15.7% interest in Kruger Products L.P.
The underwriters have also been granted an over-allotment option, exercisable within 30 days, to purchase up to an additional 1,200,000 common shares from the corporation. If the over-allotment option is exercised, the corporation will use the proceeds from the sale of these additional shares to subscribe for additional units of Kruger Products L.P., which will result in KP Tissue Inc. having up to a 17.6% interest in Kruger Products L.P. The remaining 84.3% interest in Kruger Products L.P. (or 82.4% if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) is held by Kruger Products 2010 L.P. (Kruger 2010), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kruger Inc. In connection with the offering, Kruger 2010, Kruger Products L.P., and the corporation entered into an Exchange Agreement under which Kruger 2010 may exchange at any time its units of Kruger Products L.P. for common shares of the corporation on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment in accordance with the Exchange Agreement. As of Dec. 13, 2012, Kruger 2010 is the registered holder of 43,009,999 units exchangeable for 43,009,999 common shares of the corporation, which would represent approximately 84.3% of the corporation's outstanding common shares. KP Tissue Inc. is a corporation created with the sole purpose of acquiring an equity interest in Kruger Products L.P., initially, with the proceeds from the initial public offering of its common shares. Kruger Products L.P. is a producer of tissue products for household, industrial, and commercial use. ##SHARELINKS##
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Kruger Inc., Montréal, Qué., Canada, this week announced that it will shutdown No. 2 paper machine at its Corner Brook, N.L., Canada, newsprint mill for a period of two weeks, starting December 23. Production is scheduled to resume on January 7.
The 15-day curtailment will result in a 4,000 metric ton reduction in newsprint output and will affect 110 employees. Kruger is a major producer of publication papers, tissue, lumber, and other wood products, corrugated cartons from recycled fibers, green and renewable energy, and wines and spirits. The company operates Canadian facilities in Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, and Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as in the U.S. ##SHARELINKS##
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NewPage Corp., Miamisburg, Ohio, USA, reports that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware in Wilmington, Del., USA, has confirmed its Chapter 11 Plan. The plan was accepted by the overwhelming majority of NewPage creditors entitled to vote. The company will now proceed to close on the restructuring transactions contemplated by the plan.
"We are pleased that the Court has confirmed our Chapter 11 Plan, clearing the way for us to officially exit bankruptcy, hopefully by the end of this year," said George Martin, president and CEO for NewPage. "We will exit bankruptcy with substantially less debt and new financing at lower interest rates. NewPage will be well positioned to serve the needs of our customers and compete successfully in the North American paper industry." Newpage is a producer of printing and specialty papers in North America with $3.5 billion in net sales for 2011. The company owns paper mills in Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, with a total annual production capacity of approximately 3.5 million tons of paper. ##SHARELINKS##
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Norske Skog, Norway, has ordered from Metso, Finland, a grade conversion rebuild from newsprint to lightweight coated (LWC) grades for PM 2 at its Boyer mill in Tasmania, Australia. The rebuilt production line will be fully operational after several phases of rebuild during the first quarter of 2014. The value of the order was not disclosed.
The main target of the rebuild is to convert the newsprint machine into a competitive lightweight coated paper (LWC) production line. The delivery also includes a cooperation agreement aimed at achieving key objectives of the conversion. The future capacity of PM 2 after the rebuild will be 140,000 metric tpy of lightweight coated grades. Metso's delivery will include a rebuild of the existing machine calender and a new ValSizer sizing section, a coating preparation and supply system, a TurnDry Compact air dryer, an OptiLoad calender, a ValReel reeler, a WinBelt C winder, and parent roll handling equipment. Norske Skog has 11 wholly and partly-owned mills in nine countries, and is one of the world's largest producers of publication papers for publisher of newspapers, magazines, and periodicals, as well as grades for advertising purposes. ##SHARELINKS##
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Quesnel River Pulp, Quesnel, B.C., Canada, a division of West Fraser, has made significant commitments to reducing its energy consumption. For those achievements, the mill has received a $250,000 incentive from FortisBC, a local regulated utility company, which could grow to $1 million over the next three years. The pulp mill is the first participant in FortisBC's Industrial Technology Retrofit Program, which offers monetary incentives to industrial natural gas customers in exchange for energy efficiency improvement projects.
"Incentives like this make significant commitments to energy reduction for industrial customers viable," said Doug Stout, VP of energy solutions and external relations for FortisBC. "We're thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with West Fraser, and we look forward to working with industrial customers to assist in improving the efficiency of their operations." By undertaking the program, Quesnel River Pulp will receive funding up to 50% of the cost of its energy efficient upgrades, to a maximum of $1 million. The incentive from FortisBC covers the costs of the project, including new equipment, installation, and old equipment removal, including taxes. With the aid of the incentive, Quesnel River Pulp may be able to reduce the payback period on its equipment investment within a few years. "The incentive from FortisBC offers significant value to our operation. Our plant process uses a lot of energy, and this partnership with FortisBC has allowed us to make smart decisions with respect to equipment upgrades," said Keith Carter, GM of Quesnel River Pulp. "These upgrades reduce our dependence on fossil fuel energy sources and create savings that are critical to the competitiveness of our business." A major component contributing to the efficiency was the replacement of heat exchangers with more efficient spiral-wound units. The new units reduce the amount of natural gas required for drying the pulp. The pulp mill will save approximately 70,000 gigajoules (GJ) of natural gas annually, the equivalent amount of natural gas consumed by all customers in the city of Vancouver over the course of two days. The savings will also amount to an estimated 3,317 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of taking 650 cars off the road per year. The Industrial technology Retrofit Program is available for FortisBC industrial customers who use more than 10,000 GJ for process heating. Depending on consumption, participants have the option of receiving up to 75% of the cost of implementing new equipment up to a maximum of $375,000, or receiving up to 50% of the cost to a maximum of $1 million. ##SHARELINKS##
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Tembec Inc., Montreal, Que., Canada, this past week approved the renewal of its Shareholder Rights Plan. The plan is subject to acceptance by the Toronto Stock Exchange, and is also subject to shareholder approval and ratification, which the company will seek at its Annual and Special Shareholder Meeting currently scheduled for Jan. 31, 2013. Subject to shareholder approval at such annual and special meeting, the plan would be effective as of January 31.
The plan is designed to encourage fair treatment of the company's shareholders in the event of any take-over bid for the company's common shares. It provides the board with sufficient time to assess and evaluate any unsolicited take-over bid, and to explore and develop, if appropriate, alternatives that enhance shareholder value and to give shareholders adequate time to consider any such transaction. In connection with the plan, the board authorized the issuance of one right in respect of each common share of the company outstanding as of the close of business on Jan. 31, 2013, and one right will attach automatically to each common share issued after such date. Each right entitles the holder of the right to purchase from the company an additional common share at the exercise price, which has initially been set at C$100.00, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the plan. The rights will become exercisable only when a person, including any related party, acquires or announces its intention to acquire beneficial ownership of common shares which, when aggregated with its current holdings, total 20% or more of the company's outstanding common shares without complying with the "Permitted Bid" provisions of the Plan or without the approval of the board. Following the occurrence of such exercise event and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, each right would entitle the holder of the right, other than the acquiring person or any related persons, to exercise his or her right and purchase common shares of the company at a substantial discount to the market price at that time. The Plan is not intended to prevent take-over bids. Under the Plan, a "Permitted Bid" is to be made to all registered holders of voting shares by way of a takeover bid circular prepared in accordance with applicable securities laws and must comply with certain other conditions. Tembec notes that there is currently no proposed or pending unsolicited take-over bid for the company, of which management is aware. A copy of the plan is available online. ##SHARELINKS##
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The Carton Council of North America, Vernon Hills, Ill., USA, reports that since its formation in 2009, the number of households that can recycle cartons has grown from 18% to now more than 40%, an increase of 128%. This represents more than 47.9 million U.S. households.
"In these budget-strapped times, the private sector is increasingly identifying solutions and ways to help the public sector meets its sustainability goals. Our work through the Carton Council is a great example of how business competitors can find common ground and work together to solve big challenges, which in our case is the lack of access to recycle what we know is a very environmentally friendly package—the carton," said Jason Pelz, VP, environment, Tetra Pak North America, and VP of recycling projects for the Carton Council. In 2009, 21 million households could recycle shelf-stable and refrigerated cartons, which contain common food and beverage items like milk, broth, and juice, according to the Carton Council. Now, more than double that amount are able to recycle cartons through their community's recycling programs, including programs in Dallas, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, San Diego, and Los Angeles. Today, 43 states and 62 of the top 100 U.S. cities accept cartons. More information about consumer programs, including whether there is a carton recycling program in your community, is available online. "We know firsthand the economic, social, and environmental power in recycling cartons and wholeheartedly support the Carton Council's efforts to grow carton recycling access across the country," said Jeff Fielkow, EVP of revenue and growth with ReCommunity, a recycling and recovery company focused on reducing the volume of landfilled waste. "The Carton Council has proved to be a crucial and impactful partner in expanding access to recovering the valuable materials contained in cartons." Cartons are a highly recyclable material, the Carton Council emphasizes, noting that, in fact, the paper fiber contained in cartons is extremely valuable and useful in making new products when recycled. Depending on what area of the country the cartons are recycled in and which paper mill they are sent to, recycled cartons can be made into office paper and tissues, and can even be used as one of the materials for wallboard manufacturing. The fact is, there is a high demand for recycled cartons, and recycling cartons increases waste diversion from landfills while still offering a potential revenue stream from the sale of cartons, the Council says. Cartons offer a sustainable packaging solution. In addition to being made mainly from a renewable resource, cartons are lightweight and have a compact packaging design. They also have a low carbon footprint throughout their life cycle, allowing them to be shipped more efficiently, and in the case of shelf-stable cartons, they can be shipped and stored without requiring refrigeration, further reducing their carbon impact. "We know from experience that residents respond more favorably to recycling when they are given opportunities to include more materials," said Dale Gubbels, CEO of Firstar Fiber, a materials recovery facility (MRF) that handles residential recycling collection for the City of Omaha, Neb. "With the Carton Council's assistance, we were able to secure guaranteed market outlets for cartons, which in turn helped us convince the City of Omaha to allow the inclusion of cartons in the recycling program." While the 40% access milestone is being celebrated in communities across the country, the Carton Council has its eyes set on even bigger numbers, with the goal of having carton recycling as widely accessible as possible. "Our efforts in the U.S. will not stop at 40% access. Now, we see 50% on the horizon and are aiming much higher," said Pelz. "We want cartons to be as common in curbside bins as they are on store shelves." ##SHARELINKS##
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Liansheng Paper Industry (Longhai) Co., Zhangzhou, China, has started up its new Metso (Finland)-supplied containerboard production line, PM 5, at the company's Longhai site in Fujian province in China. The new 7.25-m-wide PM 5 has an annual production capacity of approximately 350,000 metric tons of recycled testliner in the basis weight range of 100 to 140 gsm. The design speed is 1,200 m/min.
Metso's delivery included a complete boardmaking line from headbox to reel with air systems, a size supply system, a quality control system, and a winder. The PM 5 testliner production line features a novel two-layer forming process with only one hybrid forming unit equipped with the new OptiFlo layering headbox. With this innovative technology, a two-layer web can be produced with only one headbox, providing excellent profiles due to a unique dilution system and good formation due to new type of hydraulics. "The PM 5 startup was successful with a stable operating process. The desired targets were achieved. I hope that we can continue a very good cooperation with Metso also in the future," said Rongjun Xue, project manager of Liansheng Paper. Liansheng Paper Industry is a subsidiary of Fujian Liansheng Paper Co., Ltd. A third Metso-supplied production line for Fujian Liansheng, PM 6 is to start up at the Longhai site this month. The PM 6 boardmaking line will produce recycled fluting grades. It has the same width and design speed as PM 5. ##SHARELINKS##
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Metsä Board, Finland, plans to sell its Alizay office paper mill in France to the French department of Eure that will resell it to different buyers. Eure will acquire the site for a total of EUR 22.2 million and resell it to Thai paper manufacturer Double A, which reportedly intends to buy the properties and assets needed to restart paper activities for an amount of EUR 15 million, while French energy company Neoen is to take over energy operations for EUR 3 million. The remaining land and parcels are to be managed by EPFN (Établissement Public Foncier de Normandie), which will develop new activities and create a river port, among others activities.
The department of Eure explained it acted as a mediator between Metsä Board and the buyers since the two parties had not been able to find an agreement. The takeover was to guarantee reindustrialization and exploit the economic potentials of the site, it added. Between 150 and 200 jobs are said to be created in a first step, and possibly 250 in the long term. According to Metsä Board, an agreement on the sale to the department of Eure will probably be signed before the end of the year. A spokesman of French trade union Filpac CG, stated in a EUWID Pulp and Paper (Germany) report that Double A would continue to produce office paper at Alizay with an unchanged capacity of around 300,000 tpy and also planned to add copy A paper to the product portfolio. The group would initially only use virgin fiber as a raw material, but envisaged continuing the production of recycled office paper at a later date, he added. Operations are scheduled to be resumed in April 2013. Metsä Board had earlier decided to close the Alizay mill and stopped paper production. The site was permanently shutdown in early 2012. ##SHARELINKS##
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MWV Specialty Chemicals, a division of MeadWestvaco Corp (MWV), Richmond, Va., USA, reports that it has completed the purchase of Resitec Industria Quimica Ltda., a Brazilian company that serves the Latin American pine chemicals industry. Financial results for Resitec will now be reported as part of MWV's Specialty Chemicals division.
With approximately 115 employees, Resitec currently provides chemical products for the rubber, lubricants, food, and adhesives markets. Its operations include a manufacturing facility located in the city of Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, an administrative office located in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, and a tall oil refinery in the city of Palmeira, Santa Catarina, Brazil. "We welcome our new colleagues to MWV," said Ed Rose, president, MWV Specialty Chemicals. "This acquisition reinforces our commitment to the specialty chemicals market in Brazil and in Latin America." ##SHARELINKS##
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 Due to the increasing demand for fiber based packaging made with renewable materials, Stora Enso Specialty Papers has broadened its MediaSet basis weight offering. MediaSet is now available in basis weights of 80, 90, and 100 gsm.
Specially developed for high-speed-converting, the paper is optimized for the production of packaging wrappers, for example confectionery as well as for labeling of cans and jars. Brand owners, printers, packers, and fillers can take advantage of a number of important properties of this sized, one-side-coated paper, the company notes. The high-white, glossy surface of MediaSet, in conjunction with an outstanding offset printability, supports a high quality and freshness emphasized product presentation at the Point of Sale (POS). The high bulk, excellent runnability and very good glue adhesion allow high and highest speed in printing, converting, packaging, and labeling lines. This makes MediaSet also an economical choice for packaging production and labeling. MediaSet, especially suitable for the production of food packaging, is produced at Stora Enso Uetersen mill, Germany, from sustainably produced virgin fibers. On request, MediaSet is also available with FSC- and PEFC-certification. Free of charge samples can be requested by e-mail. ##SHARELINKS##
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Ashland Water Technologies, Wilmington, Del., USA, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc., this week announced it will increase prices immediately, or as contracts allow, by up to 15% on select products within its portfolio of process and water treatment additives sold in North America. The price increase is being driven by higher raw material and other input costs.
"In light of the current cost environment, this action is necessary to enable us to continue providing industry-leading product support and value to our customers," said Guy West, VP, North America, Ashland Water Technologies. "We will continue to work in partnership with our customers to help mitigate these increases." Ashland Water Technologies is a leading specialty chemical supplier of process, utility, and functional chemistries globally. It offers innovative chemical and equipment technologies designed to help customers improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, and minimize environmental impact. ##SHARELINKS##
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Ence Energy and Pulp, Spain, this week announced an increase in the price of its paper grade pulp to $800 per metric ton, effective January 1. The increase was prompted by the growth in demand for short-fiber paper pulp worldwide.
Ence notes that the increasing demand for tissue, produced from the type of paper pulp that Ence makes, has maintained an average annual growth rate of more than 4% and performed very positively in new markets with high growth potential. The demand for tissue is especially strong in China where it has experienced annual growth rates of more than 10% in recent years. Ence is a producer of eucalyptus pulp and the second largest company in terms of sales in Continental Europe, with a share of more than 15% of the European market. The company exports almost 87% of the pulp it produces. ##SHARELINKS##
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Metsä Fibre, Finland, reports that it will increase the price of Botnia Nordic Pine (NBSK—northern bleached softwood kraft) in Europe, effective January 1. The new price will be $840/metric ton, CIF Metsä Fibre's usual European ports.
All other terms regarding this grade remain as previously agreed, the company noted. ##SHARELINKS##
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Södra, Sweden, reports that it will raise the price of its softwood pulp in Europe to $840.00 per metric ton. The increase becomes effective January 1, the company noted.
Södra's business is organized into four business areas: Södra Skog (timber raw products, forestry services); Södra Timber (wood products); Södra Cell (paper pulp); and Södra Interiör (interior wood products). Some 4,000 people work for the company. ##SHARELINKS##
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Stora Enso, Finland, also reported this week that it has begun informing its clients that it will increase the price for NBSK (northern bleached softwood kraft) pulp by $20 per metric ton, to $840 per metric ton in the European market, effective January 1.
The price hikes follows Stora Enso's increase this past November to $820 per metric ton in Europe. ##SHARELINKS##
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SCA, Stockholm, Sweden, has approved an investment of approximately SEK 380 million (approximately $57.2 million) in expanded cooperation between SCA's industries in the Sundsvall region and Sundsvall Energi AB. The agreement will enable SCA to increase its deliveries of energy to Sundsvall's district heating grid.
The investments will cover the rebuilding of two boilers, a new facility for handling and grinding wood pellets, and equipment for cleaning flue gases at Ortviken paper mill. Östrand pulp plant will also be connected to Sundsvall's district heating grid as part of the investment. As a result of the investments, deliveries of heat derived from renewable fuels to Sundvall's district heating grid will increase. Ortviken paper mill will then have the capacity to deliver up to 300 GWh/a based on wood pellets from SCA's BioNorr facility in Härnösand. Oil consumption in Sundsvall will be reduced by a total of 25,000 cubic meters annually as a result. For Ortviken, the annual decrease in oil consumption will be 4,500 cubic meters, thereby reducing the mill's already low carbon footprint by about 40%. The new facilities are expected to be operational in November 2013. ##SHARELINKS##
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VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, along with Finland-based Fortum, Metso, and UPM, reports to have developed a technique that enables the cogeneration of heating energy and bio-oil in the same power plant cost-effectively and sustainably. VTT's technique is based on combining pyrolysis and fluidized bed technology. The new technique is expected to boost bio-oil production volumes considerably in the next few decades.
VTT received an innovation award for the new technology. The award was presented this month by the European Association for Research and Technology Organizations (EARTO). "The innovation prize brings up the long-term work that VTT has done in developing renewable energy sources. EARTO wants to reward innovations that have significant societal and economic impact. The prize indicates that we have been successful in this work," says Anne-Christine Ritschkoff, EVP, Strategic Research, VTT. Bio-oil has for a long time been pegged as the successor of fossil fuels as our future source of energy. However, large-scale commercial use of bio-oil in heat generation requires a cost-effective production technique. The new technique patented by VTT enables a considerable cut in the production cost of bio-oil. Fast pyrolysis involves heating biomass such as forest industry waste to a high temperature to form gas. When the gas is cooled, it condenses into liquid known as bio-oil. Combining the pyrolysis process with traditional fluidized bed boilers used in power plants brings a range of efficiency gains. Producing bio-oil with the new technique is cheaper than in a separate pyrolysis process. Bio-oil plants that are integrated into power plants are extremely energy-efficient, because the energy contained in the by-products of the pyrolysis process can be recovered in fluidized bed boilers. This is a significant improvement, because the by-products can contain as much as 40% of the original biomass's energy. In turn, lost heat from the power plant can be used in the bio-oil production process. Cogeneration offers higher efficiency than separate production, and the investment and operating costs of the plant are lower than in separate production. The use of bio-oil has significant positive effects on the environment. By replacing fossil fuels with bio-oil in heat generation, carbon dioxide emissions can be cut by 70% – 90%. Sulfur emissions are also considerably lower. The technique is due to enter commercial production towards the end of 2013 when the energy company Fortum opens its new integrated bio-oil and heating plant in the city of Joensuu in Finland. The plant is designed to produce 50,000 metric tons of bio-oil per year. The volume is enough to cover the annual heating needs of 24,000 average-sized homes. VTT is involved in European standardization work to promote the commercialization of the innovation. There are currently around 200 power plants in Europe and North America that could be converted to include a bio-oil plant. This would mean more than 10,000 new jobs in the forestry and logistics sectors, for example. A video about the technology is available online. ##SHARELINKS##
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 SCA, Stockholm, Sweden, has appointed Boo Ehlin VP of media relations. Ehlin will be responsible for group media contacts and will report to Joséphine Edwall-Björklund, SVP of corporate communications. His appointment becomes effective March 1.
Ehlin has longstanding journalistic experience and many years of experience in working with media. Among other things, he has been head of press at the Swedish banks SEB and Nordea as well as acting head of press for the energy company Vattenfall. He has also worked as communications director for Swedish Bankers Association. "The recruitment of Boo Ehlin is important in our process of strengthening the SCA-brand and enhancing the image of SCA as a leading global hygiene and forest products company," said Edwall-Björklund. ##SHARELINKS##
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Robert J. Nobile has been appointed CFO of Philadelphia, Pa., USA-based PaperWorks Industries Inc. He will report directly to President and CEO Mark Staton.
Nobile will be responsible for all PaperWorks Industries finance, accounting, and treasury activities as well as advising Staton, and the rest of the staff regarding operations, strategy, policies and practices, mergers and acquisitions, and other relevant matters. Nobile's experience spans the spectrum of public and private chief financial and public accounting positions. Most recently, he was CFO and SVP of finance of Opnext, a public company manufacturing optical devices, modules, and sub-systems primarily for data and telecommunication networks. Prior to that, Nobile was CFO and SVP of business integration for Kodak Polychrome Graphics, a joint venture of Eastman Kodak and Sun Chemical, having come from Sun Chemical as the CFO of its Polychrome division. Nobile began his career with Arthur Andersen, where he rose to senior manager. "On behalf of all the personnel, I want to personally welcome Bob to PaperWorks in this critical leadership position, and I am sure that each and every PaperWorks employee will support him in the coming phases of the company's development, growth, and success," Stanton said. ##SHARELINKS##
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Recognize Star Performers at Your Mill! Do you know of a star performer who deserves some recognition? Nominate them for one of the prestigious awards available from the PIMA Division of TAPPI. They will appreciate being honored at PaperCon and in Paper360° magazine. The deadline for nominations is Jan. 15, 2013. Award descriptions and nomination details are available online. Questions? Contact Scott Springmier. PIMA Awards include:
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The December 2012 edition of the Empire State TAPPI - New York/Canadian PIMA Newsletter has been released.
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 The 2013 TAPPI PEERS Conference, September 15-18 in Green Bay, Wis., USA., is the perfect forum for paper industry professionals both to acquire practical operating insights and to network with industry peers in technical sessions, tutorials, round tables, new technology sessions, and workshops. Papers are now being accepted for the 2013 technical program; suggested topics are as follows:
Learn more. Once again, next year's PEERS Conference will be co-located with the International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference (IBBC). Authors interested in presenting a paper should upload their abstract to TAPPI's Speaker Management System byMarch 1, 2013. Abstracts should be 1-2 paragraphs in length. Authors will be notified of acceptance by March 28. For more information, contact Craig McKinney, TAPPI Program Manager, at 1.770.209.7294 ##SHARELINKS##
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 The Call for Papers has been extended for the 2013 TAPPI International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials, June 24-27, 2013, on the KTH Royal Institute of Technology Campus in Stockholm, Sweden. Abstracts must be entered into the TAPPI Speaker Management System by January 11, 2013. This is a great opportunity to share your research findings with industry experts, scientists, health and safety specialists, legal and government policy makers, and leading researchers from around the world. Participate as a Sponsor or an Exhibitor! There are several ways in which your organization can participate with a range of prices and benefits to meet your business objectives. View the Prospectus. ##SHARELINKS##
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Dictionary of Paper, Fifth Edition
By Michael Kouris An essential reference tool for everyone in the industry, this dictionary defines more than 5,300 terms commonly used in the pulp and paper industry. The dictionary was revised and updated by a team of industry experts led by Michael Kouris, TAPPI JOURNAL Editor Emeritus. The 5th edition of The Dictionary of Paper is the most comprehensive dictionary ever published by TAPPI. 1996. 450 pages, hard cover. This is also available in CD-ROM format. View the Table of Contents Product code: 0102B058 Member Price: $75.00 Non-Member Price: $112.00 ##SHARELINKS##
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 An Andreas Ahlbrandt winner, TAPPI member Ginger Cushing says being an active member of TAPPI's PLACE Division has served her professional development well by providing a solid network of packaging experts whose knowledge helped her win new business on many occasions. "They helped me understand the individual elements of packaging and how our components and processes work in concert," she said.Cushing first joined TAPPI in 1988 when her colleagues at Mica, where she was a bench chemist, began urging her to do so. "They made me see it was the place to be," she said. Since then, she has held various chair positions, conducted courses, and has written and delivered numerous white papers. In addition to the Ahlbrandt award, Ginger was also named one of TAPPI's Finest Faculty for her participation in courses and symposia, and is a past recipient of the best paper and best session awards.  Ginger says being so active in TAPPI has provided many lasting benefits to her career, including a go-to network of packaging experts whose knowledge has helped her win new business on many occasions. "They help me understand the individual elements of packaging and how our components and processes work in concert." If you would like to be featured in this section, or would like to suggest a fellow member to profile, please fill out the Membership Questionnaire and return it as an attachment to MemberSpotlight@tappi.org. Find out more by reading this month's Member Spotlight. Read the full TAPPI In-the-Spotlight to see this member's bio and related Q&A section. ##SHARELINKS##
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 Registration for the 14th TAPPI European PLACE Conference, May 6-8, 2013, at the Swissotel in Dresden, Germany, is now open with an exclusive savings opportunity! Delegates that register online during the month of December and book their accommodations in the same transaction will receive a special early registration discount. During this busy holiday season, TAPPI is happy to pass this special "gift" on to you!
Call for Papers Has Been Extended
There is still time to submit your abstract and take an active role in this not-to-miss event. View the Call for Papers and submit your abstract through the TAPPI Speaker Management System before December 14.
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 If you're planning a career in the pulp and paper (or packaging) industry, this event will put you on the cutting-edge of some groundbreaking technology. Make plans now to attend the 2013 TAPPI-PIMA Student Summit, January 19-31, 2013, in Raleigh, N.C., USA. This is a rare opportunity for advanced undergraduate and graduate students to meet face-to-face with industry leaders and gain valuable information on what forces are shaping the industry today - plus the added bonus of the inside track on employment and career development. Program Session Topics:
The 2013 TAPPI-PIMA Student Summit includes:
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 The TAPPI Shipping, Receiving and Warehousing (SRW) Workshop, April 9-10, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn., USA, is the paper industry's premier educational and networking forum for the entire paper industry supply chain. The workshop provides anyone interested in the logistics and shipment of paper the opportunity to see new technology and hear experts on a wide range of topics – all under one roof - focused on reducing in-transit damage. "The safe, damage-free shipment of paper products to customers around the world is a very important element of pulp and paper industry logistics," notes Larry N. Montague, TAPPI president and CEO. "A wide range of factors can cause damage during shipment and the SRW Workshop is the premier event focusing on how mills, and their customers, can lower costs and improve product quality by reducing damage to rolls during transit." The SRW Workshop is an interactive and collaborative workshop put on by industry professionals representing the entire paper supply chain, including shippers, carriers, printers, and publishers. Presentations and collaborative discussions on topics including car quality, safe truck loading and securing, intermodal loading and securing, damage classification, inspection, and claims procedures are provided. Experts with extensive experience and practical background knowledge representing Class 1 railroads, intermodal providers, warehouses, shippers, and dunnage manufacturers are part of the extensive program offered during this two-day workshop. For more information visit the SRW website. ##SHARELINKS##
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TAPPI has scholarships to offer. You have a chance to apply for some green (funds to pay tuition, etc.) to fund a satisfying green career. These scholarships are available for graduate and undergraduate students with an interest in the pulp, paper, converting, and packaging industries. There are two general types of scholarships:
What this message means to you: If you're a student, here is a great way to apply for financial assistance for the 2013-2014 school year. Note that requirements will vary according to scholarship source, so you'll need to check the qualifications carefully. A reference document is available to guide you.
The deadline to apply for Technical Division Scholarships is February 15, 2013; the deadline for the Cullison scholarship is May 1, 2013. Mark your calendar now to allow yourself time to create an application that reflects the hard work you've been investing in your career. If you are affiliated with a college or university, share this with your students, peers, or other staffers who work with students. They will be glad you did If you're in the industry, perhaps you know of students worthy of scholarship assistance with their education, please pass this information along. ##SHARELINKS##
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 Registration is now open for the TAPPI Introduction to Pulp and Paper Technology Course scheduled for January 7-10, 2013 in St.Petersburg, Fla., USA. This is one of TAPPI's longest running courses. Why is this course one of our most popular? Intro to Pulp and Paper Technology is unique in that it provides information on how each individual part of a paper mill influences another. This course allows you to understand how materials, pulping, and paper-making processes affect paper and board properties. You will also be delivered a broad overview of pulping and paper-making technology, including the entire pulping and paper-making process from raw materials and wood prep. to pulping and mill operations. Four Reasons to attend Intro to Pulp and Paper Technology:
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 The Secret, Second Edition What Great Leaders Know and Do By: Ken Blanchard & Mark Miller
At one time or another, everyone in a position of authority-whether in a multinational corporation or a local volunteer group-wonders what the key to great leadership is. And who better to answer that question than the team of Ken Blanchard, whose books on leadership have sold over 20 million copies, and Mark Miller, who worked his way up from line worker to vice president of one of the largest fast-food chains in the country. In The Secret, Blanchard and Miller use the uniquely accessible "business fable" format that Blanchard pioneered to get at the heart of what makes a leader truly able to inspire and motivate people. Debbie Brewster, recently promoted and struggling, finds herself about to lose her job due to poor performance. In an attempt to save her career, she enrolls in a new mentoring program offered by her company. Much to her surprise, Debbie finds her mentor is none other than Jeff Brown, the president of the company. Debbie decides that she is going to ask her new mentor the one question she feels she desperately needs answered: "What is the secret of great leaders?" Jeff's immediate answer-that great leaders serve their followers-completely flummoxes Debbie. Over the next 18 months, Jeff helps Debbie discover and explore five fundamental ways that leaders lead through service. The Secret puts what Blanchard and Miller have learned about leadership in a form that anyone can easily understand, embrace, and pursue. It is a book that will benefit not only those who read it, but also the organizations they work in an the people who look to them for guidance. The second edition includes revised and updated content including:
Item #: 12SECRET View the Table of Contents and Preview. Member Price: $23.00 ##SHARELINKS##
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After a record attendance in 2012, PaperCon will bring together a wider assortment of CEOs, mill managers, superintendents, scientists, process engineers, and suppliers for the 2013 conference, scheduled for April 27 to May 1, in Atlanta, Ga., USA. PaperCon 2013 has expanded its already comprehensive technical program to include two new events covering tissue and nonwovens technology. "PaperCon 2013 attendees will benefit from an expanded program providing additional learning and networking opportunities in several key areas," comments Larry N. Montague, TAPPI president and CEO. "Two co-located events - Tissue360º Forum and NETInc – will make new tissue and nonwovens tracks available to full conference registrants. Expanded coverage of these dynamic industry segments makes PaperCon an even more valuable resource." PaperCon's large and comprehensive technical program, the industry's largest, offers a range of topics including Management (PIMA) Papermaking, Coating and Graphic Arts, Recycled Paperboard (RPTA Production - Technical Seminar), and Reliability (OpEx Workshop). An array of networking opportunities such as the PaperCon trade fair, receptions, lunches, and committee meetings, and a New Technology Showcase will make it the industry's must-attend event in 2013. More information is available online. ##SHARELINKS##
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The 2013 International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials will be held June 24-27, 2013, on the campus of the KTH Royal Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. For sponsorship inquiries, please contact Raine Hyde at 1 770-209-7256.
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TAPPI Press is known around the world as an industry-specific publisher of current, reliable, practical, and useful products that help members, students, and other readers enhance their technical knowledge to solve technical problems. TAPPI now offers safety training on DVD. Key benefits of DVD training include:
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 "The inclusion of the Tissue360 Forum at PaperCon 2013 will add comprehensive coverage of this dynamic segment to the industry's best technical program," notes TAPPI President and CEO Larry Montague. "The forum will provide business insights and peer-reviewed technical papers covering developments in one of the industry's most rapidly growing and technically innovative grade sectors." Tissue360 Forum topics will include an overview of hygienic product market drivers, raw material usage and supply, wet and dry end additives, latest hybrid tissue making technology and runnability/operational tips. All material will be selected and peer reviewed by TAPPI members with tissue expertise. The program is open to all full PaperCon registrants. An invitation to Present at the Tissue360 Forum has been issued. Industry professionals interested in presenting a paper, panel, roundtable, or poster on any of these topics should submit an abstract no later than November 20, 2012. PaperCon brings together CEOs, mill managers, superintendents, scientists, process engineers, and suppliers for the largest pulp and paper technical program in the world. No other event provides such a comprehensive program, networking opportunities and trade fair among such a distinguished group of industry leaders. ##SHARELINKS##
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 The International Mechanical Pulping Conference, sponsored by PI, TAPPI, PAPTAC, SPCI and PTF, will be held on June 3-5, 2014, in Helsinki, Finland. IMPC 2014 is a major part of PulPaper, one of the world's most premier pulp and paper exhibitions, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of PI, the Paper Engineers' Association. The Conference Program Committee invites you to submit papers on the following topics:
Authors interested in presenting a paper or a poster on these topics should submit an extended abstract (˜500 words) to impc2014@vtt.fi. Abstracts are due by February 28, 2013. Authors will be notified of acceptance by May 31, 2013 and final manuscripts are due March 31, 2014. If you have any questions, please contact Sari Liukkonen, Chair of the Program Committee at +358 40 586 0384, or by e-mail at impc2014@vtt.fi. ##SHARELINKS##
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