Author Archives: vital
WestRock to Build New Corrugated Packaging Plant in Brazil
(USA / Brazil, Sept. 19, 2017) WestRock Company announced plans [yesterday] to build a new corrugated box plant in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo to meet growing demand from WestRock’s regional customers in South America.
“WestRock’s corrugated packaging business in Brazil continues to perform well, with strong relationships with customers in attractive growth markets,” said Steve Voorhees, chief executive officer, WestRock. “Our new corrugated packaging plant will enable our exceptional team in Brazil to serve these customers even better Read More...
Two Sides Global Anti-greenwash Campaign: 278 Leading Companies Remove Misleading ‘Go Green’ Claims
(Washington DC, Sept. 19, 2017) Two Sides research into more than 600 of the world’s leading corporations, including banks, utilities, telecoms and insurance providers, has shown that a total of 460 of those companies have been using misleading and unsubstantiated environmental statements, despite specific advertising legislation to protect consumers in many countries. To date, 278 of those companies have removed such statements as a result of ongoing engagement by Two Sides.
“We’re really pleased that Two Sides is having such Read More...
Domtar and PCA Lead Uncoated Free Sheet Price Increases
(New York, Sept. 12, 2017) The following is insight from Vertical Research Partners’ packaging and forest products analyst Chip Dillon on the recent uncoated free sheet price increase announcements.
Domtar and Packaging Corp Lead Uncoated Free Sheet Price Increases
“Last Wednesday we learned from trade publication RISI that Domtar announced a $40 per short ton price increase on its main uncoated free sheet paper grades — with its remaining paper grades adjusted accordingly based on the existing standard differentials and upcharges. Read More...
Sappi Europe hikes printing paper prices
(Brussels, Belgium, Sept. 14, 2017) Due to an unexpected further sharp rise in raw material prices, Sappi Europe is forced to continue passing on this cost inflation by increasing its WFU (woodfree uncoated) and WFC (woodfree coated) Sheets and Reels grade prices from October 2017 onwards by 5-8%.
Despite strong order books and good operating rates, margins continue to be depressed by this severe input cost inflation.
Sappi’s sales representatives will be in touch with their customers to agree on the Read More...
Södra to increase the price for its NBSK Pulp in Europe to $920/tonne
(Stockholm, Sweden, Sept. 1, 2017) Södra said that it has informed its customers that the price for NBSK (Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft) pulp in Europe will rise to $920/tonne, effective September 1.
This latest price announcement reflects very strong demand globally, according to Magnus Björkman, VP Marketing and Sales Södra Cell.
“The market is principally being driven by Asia, namely China, but we are seeing continuing robust business climate and demand in Europe too,” Björkman said.
This is Södra’s fourth price hike Read More...
Fibria Produces First Eucalyptus Pulp Bale on New Production Line at Tres Lagoas Mill; the new pulp mill started operations ahead of schedule
(Sao Paulo, Brazil, August 28, 2017) Fibria said that the first bleached eucalyptus pulp bale at its new pulp production line in Três Lagoas (Brazil) was produced on August 26, 2017, and therefore successfully concluded the production cycle.
The new pulp line officially started operations on Aug. 23.
According to Fibria, the pulp produced has Forest Stewardship Counsel (certificate number FSC-C104120) and Cerflor/PEFC.
Fibria said that its suppliers and other business partners of the Horizonte 2 Project will work together in the Read More...
Smurfit Kappa Acquires Russian Corrugated Packaging Company, Soyuz
(Dublin, August 22, 2017) Smurfit Kappa announced that it has acquired the Russian corrugated packaging company, Soyuz, based in Moscow. The company has approximately 300 employees.
Smurfit Kappa already has three plants in Saint Petersburg, Russia producing paper-based and Bag-in-Box® products for customers across Europe.
“This acquisition enables Smurfit Kappa to further strengthen its position in Russia and broaden its offering to its multinational and local customers,” the company said in a press release.
Pim Wareman CEO of Smurfit Kappa North East Read More...
Elopak Launches Pure-Pak Cartons with New Paperboard ‘Natura Life’ by Stora Enso
(Helsinki, August 29, 2017) The collaboration between Elopak and Stora Enso has resulted in the launch of the first gable top cartons made from natural brown unbleached paperboard, creating the Naturally Pure-Pak® carton with a highly distinctive, natural look and feel.
The new paperboard, Natura LifeTM by Stora Enso, retains the natural brown colour of the wood fibres and has a visible fibre structure. This creates a naturally different, sustainable and authentic package that meets demands from growing trends in Read More...
Neenah launches Kimdura DualTech
(USA, August 22, 2017) Neenah Paper has characterized its new synthetic paper as “a significant addition” to its portfolio of labels for harsh environments. The Neenah Performance Labels portfolio of high performing, highly engineered substrates is designed for applications in demanding conditions. Its Kimdura line of label stock has been used for more than 30 years for challenging applications – including labels and tags for drum chemicals, hazard communications, health care, industrial, logistical and outdoor. Kimdura DualTech is available Read More...
Mondi to Postpone New Speciality Kraft Paper Machine Investment at Steti Mill
(Czech Republic, August 30, 2017) Mondi announced that it has decided to postpone its EUR135 million investment in a new 90,000 tonne per annum machine glazed speciality kraft paper machine at its Steti mill in the Czech Republic.
In January of this year, Mondi announced plans to invest a total of EUR 470 million in the modernisation and expansion of the Steti mill. The project consists of the installation of a new recovery boiler, the rebuild of the fibre lines, Read More...
33 Companies Joining Forces with VTT to Develop New Generation Sustainable Forest Products
(Finland, August 30, 2017) Together with a large industrial consortium, VTT Technical Research of Finland has launched a EUR 4.5 million project to speed up the development of fibre-based products as alternatives to oil-based materials like plastics. The project, funded partly by the European Regional Development Fund ERD, has brought together 33 companies, ranging from small to large, global companies.
The Future Fibre Products project coordinated by VTT will transform laboratory-scale results into pilot-scale demonstrations for products and processes with Read More...
Rapid technology changes drive growth in speciality papers market
(London, UK, 15 Aug 2017) The speciality paper industry is changing as fast as the markets are moving. New machinery and technology is entering the markets, as the commodity printing and writing market went through rapid decline and now is slowly shrinking in the developed countries. This will tend to disrupt the speciality paper makers, as new technology will enable faster and wider machines to effectively and economically produce more technical speciality grades.
Smithers Pira’s latest report ‘The Future of Read More...
Smithers Pira forecasts steady growth for liquid paperboard demand
(London, UK, 15 Aug 2017) There will be steady increases in demand for liquid paperboard materials across the next five years according to the latest in-depth industry study from Smithers Pira.
Exclusive data published in The Future of Liquid Paperboard to 2022 shows production of liquid packaging board (LPB) and food/cupstock (FCS) boards combined passed the 7 million tonne mark in 2015. This has grown by over 3% annually on average since 2012. Reaching 7.2 million tonnes in 2016, this Read More...
Voith builds new XcelLine board machine for Bohui Paper Group
(Heidenheim, Germany, August 18, 2017) In February 2017 Bohui Paper Group contracted Voith to supply a new board machine. The BM 4 will be built at Dafeng in the Chinese province Jiangsu and following completion will be one of the largest board machines in the world. Voith will supply the complete XcelLine process line from wet end process to winder. This reduces the number of interfaces for the customer to a minimum and provides cost transparency for the entire Read More...
Mercer International’s 2Q revenues up 30 per cent
(Montreal, Canada, 16 Aug 2017) Mercer International Inc. reported results for the 2Q ended June 30, 2017. For the 2Q 2017, net loss was $2.1 million, compared to a net loss of $4.2 million in the comparative quarter. In the prior quarter, net income was $9.7 million.
Total revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2017 increased by approximately 30% to $283.2 million from $218.1 million in the same quarter of 2016 primarily due to 24% higher pulp revenues Read More...