Monthly Archives: January 2017
Antalis Acquires Ireland Paper Merchant, Swan Paper
(UK, Jan. 21, 2017) Antalis announced on Jan. 14 that it acquired the assets of Swan Paper, Ireland's largest independent paper merchant.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Antalis said the acquisition will further strengthen its presence in Ireland where it already has an annual turnover in excess of EUR 40 million and employs 32 people from its Dublin head office.
Antalis will retain the Swan brand, creating a new Swan Paper division which will be headed up by Swan's Brian Read More...
Kimberly-Clark reports 4Q sales of $4.5 billion
(USA, January 25, 2017) Kimberly-Clark Corporation's sales of $4.5 billion in the 4Q 2016 were even with the year-ago period. Organic sales were up 1%, as volumes increased 2%, while the combined impact of changes in net selling prices and product mix reduced sales by 1%. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates lowered sales 1%.
4Q operating profit was $839 million in 2016 and $630million in 2015.
Adjusted operating profit of $859 million in the 4Q 2016 increased 10% compared to Read More...
Kemira Increases Prices of Polymer Products in Americas
(USA, Jan. 23, 2017) Kemira is announcing price increases on polyacrylamide polymers in all market segments in the Americas.
The increase will range from 5-15%, depending on product type, and will be effective for all deliveries on or after February 1, 2017, or as specific contract terms allow.
Demand recovery particularly in the oil & gas market is straining the global supply of key raw materials for polyacrylamide polymers and has resulted in significant price increases.
“While Kemira continues to take actions Read More...
Idempapers builds its future; specialty paper company facing various internal and external challenges
(Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 23, 2017) Recently, Idempapers filed for a Procédure en Réorganisation Judiciaire (PRJ) at the Commercial Court of Nivelles, Belgium. The filing calls for a period (renewable) of 3 months. The Belgian company which is active in the specialty paper market intends by this means to explore different paths to pursue its development of a new structure on sound and solid foundations.
The paper company based in Virginal (Ittre) today faces various internal and external challenges. In order Read More...
KaiCell Fibers has entered the full Feasibility Study stage for planned bio-product pulp mill in Finland
(Helsinki, Jan. 26, 2017) Finland’s KaiCell Fibers has entered the full Feasibility Study stage, which will determine a complete range of technical and commercial parameters for planned bio-product pulp mill in Paltamo, Finland, during the first half of 2017, as well as set out the basic facts for an Environmental Impact Assessment process to follow.
The FS relies on an assembled team of experienced industry experts. Stefan Fors functions as a project director, having previously led several forest industry projects. Read More...
FNFC signs MOU with Canadian pulp, paper companies
(Canada, Jan. 27, 2017) According to Pulp & Paper Canada, the First Nations Forestry Council (FNFC) and four B.C. pulp and paper companies -- Catalyst Paper, Nanaimo Forest Products (Harmac), Paper Excellence Canada and Zellstoff Celgar Limited Partnership -- have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote and support the growing impact of First Nations on the B.C. forest sector.
The MOU encourages the development of shared information on industry activity and First Nation participation in the industry. Read More...
Watch: Sodra Cell expansion documentary
(Sweden, January 27, 2017) Watch documentary highlighting Swedish pulp firm Sodra’s expansion plans here:
Expansion documentary - Södra (Source: Sodra) Read More...
Faced with global oversupply, Stora Enso scraps chemical pulp mill project
(Helsinki, January 19, 2017) With global pulp supply projected to increase, Stora Enso has reportedly scrapped plans for a chemical pulp mill at its Beihai pulp mill site in China, a Reuters news report quoting Stora executives said.
"The supply-demand of the global pulp market has been negatively impacted by new investments in hardwood pulp production. At the same time, we consider the wood costs to supply the potential chemical pulp mill to be too high, which reduces the competitiveness Read More...
New year starts with improved pulp price momentum; price hikes announced for February
(Singapore, January 17, 2017) While 2016 was a somewhat quite year for pulp prices and no major prices movements were reported in December 2016, the new year has started off on a strong note with both NBSK and BEK producers looking to push price hikes.
In Europe, for instance, “different manufacturers of northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) informed their European customers of plans to raise their prices for NBSK pulp to $820/metr.t with effect from 1 January.” As per Read More...
BIR World Mirror on Recovered Paper / Quarterly Report – January 2017: “steep hike in sea freight rates; OCC prices remained firm in 4Q/16”
(Brussels, Belgium, January 13, 2017) Global economies are continuing to grow at a rather slow pace, with Europe achieving just over 1.2% while the Chinese economy is still maintaining its projected growth of 6.5% and India’s GDP is rising at a rate of 7.5%.
Overall demand levels appeared to firm in the final three months of 2016 when compared to the previous three quarters, pointing towards increasing global demand for fibre. With the approach of the US election, there was Read More...
BillerudKorsnäs makes further investment in Internet of Packaging
(Sweden, January 17, 2017) BillerudKorsnäs is taking a further step into the Internet of Packaging by investing in a minority holding in UK technology company Hanhaa. The company's solution allows users to track not only the location but also the condition of their deliveries in real time and on a large scale no matter the country or carrier.
The investment is being made by BillerudKorsnäs Venture AB, which was formed last spring to develop new business for the Group by Read More...
ANDRITZ to supply main production technologies and equipment for a new pulp mill in Lao PDR
(Graz, Austria, January 17, 2017) International technology Group ANDRITZ has received an order from Sun Paper Holding Lao Co. Ltd. to supply main production technologies and equipment for a new pulp mill located in the city of Xepon, Lao People's Democratic Republic. Start-up is expected in mid-2018.
The ANDRITZ scope of supply includes:
• main process equipment for the woodyard, including HHQ-Chipper, chip screening, and bark processing,
• MC equipment for the complete fiberline, as well as the screening plant and ozone Read More...
Link: Science Says You Should Still Keep Reading Print Books Over e-Books
(Washington DC, USA, January 2017) According to a recent article on the Good website, there are many reasons why you should keep reading paper books over e-books including:
• print books help you sleep
• print books are more powerful tools for developing children and teaching them to read
• we just don't read as well when we're looking at screens.
In addition, a 2016 study by University of Sussex psychologists in the UK revealed that reading physical books to kids makes parents more affectionate, and Read More...
U.S. Containerboard Production Up 7.2% in December 2016
(Washington DC, USA, Jan. 17, 2016) The American Forest & Paper Association released its December 2016 U.S. Containerboard Statistics Report, which said containerboard production was 7.2 percent higher compared to December 2015. The month-over-month average daily production compared to November 2016 was 0.6 percent higher.
The containerboard operating rate for December increased to 97 percent, while the year-to-date operating rate was 0.1 percent higher compared to year-to-date 2015. (Source: AF&PA)
Read More...
Toscotec shipped largest steel yankee dryers ever built
(Italy, January 17, 2017) On 15th December 2016, Toscotec shipped the first two TT SYD-22FT of 2° generation (diameter 6705 mm) from the port of Marina di Carrara, Tuscany.
The first two Steel Yankee Dryers of the largest diameter ever built have left the dock and this is further proof of Toscotec's leadership in the design and manufacturing of the main component of the tissue drying section. The TT SYD-22FT is at the heart of Toscotec PRODERGY tissue machine, which Read More...