TAPPI has announced a new Tissue Division to provide a wide range of products, services, and learning opportunities for members and industry professionals involved in tissue manufacturing and converting. Tissue is a fast growing, technically demanding and innovative area that converges with pulp and paper, consumer, and away from home hygienic products.

"The TAPPI Tissue Division is poised to provide a full range of professional products and services covering this dynamic and rapidly growing industry segment," notes Larry N. Montague, TAPPI president and CEO. "The new division will expand upon the world class peer-reviewed learning opportunities already offered through TAPPI. Persons working in tissue will find the Tissue Division to be of great value to their company as well as their professional development."

For the past two years, TAPPI has covered news and technology advances through the print and online magazine Tissue360° and the Over the Wire Tissue e-newsletter. With this new division, TAPPI will expand these efforts with peer-reviewed, non-commercial educational content and networking opportunities. The best opportunity to experience this will be at the Tissue360° Forum April 29 - May 1, 2014, in Nashville, Tenn., USA. TAPPI tissue experts will select and review presentations covering important technical topics on tissue manufacturing and converting. In addition, several courses and workshops will be offered in Nashville, including Tissue 101 – Properties and Manufacturing.

TAPPI’s technical committees will also meet in Nashville to review and issue new standards and TIPs (Technical Information Papers). The association welcomes new members to participate in these activities. Committees seeking new members include: Tissue360° Forum Technical Program Committee; Tissue Education Committee;Tissue360º Advisory Committee; Yankee Dryer and Safety Reliability Committee; Tissue Properties Subcommittee; Tissue Awards Committee; and Converting Committee.

Volunteering with TAPPI is an excellent way to expand your personal network, develop leadership skills and gain technical knowledge from the industry’s thought leaders. For more information on volunteering, contact Scott Springmier. 

The most rapid growth in tissue manufacturing and converting is occurring in emerging markets, where hygienic tissue consumption (towel, facial, and bath tissue) is increasing with the standard of living. In high consumption markets like North America, private label brands have been growing faster than national brands, resulting in new capacity and a growing need for credible technical information as well as a knowledgeable, well trained workforce. TAPPI is ideally positioned to meet this need.