News & Events
U.S. Containerboard Production Increased 1.5 Percent in January 2017
(Washington DC, Feb. 21, 2017) The American Forest & Paper Association released its January 2017 U.S. Containerboard Report, which said containerboard production was 1.5 percent higher compared to January 2016. The month-over-month average daily production compared to December 2016 was 0.2 percent lower.
The containerboard operating rate for January decreased from 97 percent (in Dec. 2016) to 96.5 percent, which was 1.7 percent higher compared to January of last year. (Source: AF&PA)
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Link / India: Sirpur Paper Mill put up for sale by banks
(Adilabad, Telengana, India, Feb. 2017) The closed Sirpur Paper Mills Limited (SPM) has been put up for sale by banks to recover their dues amounting to ₹422.21 crore. The sale is being seen as the first concrete step towards reopening of the unit which has 2,000 staff and workers on its rolls besides 1,000 contract workers.
SPM was an integrated pulp and paper mill, one of the largest manufacturer of variety and colour paper. It was started in 1938 in Read More...
New Product Category Rule Developed for Roundwood and Pulp/Paper
(Emeryville, California, Jan 25, 2017) An innovative Product Category Rule (PCR) specifying rules for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) focused on wood and paper has been developed by the North American Environmental Paper Network (EPN), an independent not-for-profit coalition with diverse expertise in forest and paper sustainability issues, and SCS Global Services (SCS), a leader in third-party environmental certification, auditing and standards development.
Initially announced in September 2015 and now finalized, this framework allows for the development of LCAs and Environmental Read More...
New Study Projects Steady Growth for Molded Fiber Pulp Packaging in Western Europe
(Feb. 16, 2017) Future Market Insights (FMI) in its upcoming outlook titled “Moulded Fibre Pulp Packaging Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2016-2026” projects a steady growth in demand for moulded fibre pulp packaging.
According to FMI, the global market for moulded fibre pulp packaging is heavily driven by the robust adoption of eco-friendly and biodegradable packaging solution. Moulded fibre pulp offers packaging convenience and is cost effective having minimum warehousing or inventory costs.
Apart from egg packaging, leading players Read More...
Stora Enso to shut down one SC paper machine at Kvarnsveden mill in Sweden
(Stockholm, Sweden, Feb. 16, 2017) Stora Enso today announced that it will start co-determination negotiations with employees at its Kvarnsveden Mill in Sweden regarding a plan to reorganise the mill, including a permanent closure of paper machine (PM) 8.
Kvarnsveden Mill
The planned actions would affect a maximum of 140 employees, Stora Enso said.
PM8 has an annual capacity of 100,000 tonnes of supercalendered (SC) uncoated magazine paper and it is planned to be shut down by the end of the second Read More...
Pulp firm Mercer reviews Q4/16: “growth in softwood deliveries continue to be strong; looking at strong prices in February / March”
(Calgary, Canada , Feb. 10, 2017) [Extracts from Q4 2016 Financial Report & Conference Call dated Feb. 10, 2017] Mr. David M. Gandossi – Chief Executive Officer, Mercer International, discusses the Q4/16 pulp & paper market and the outlook for 2017.
Q4 Overview & Outlook:
Results:
Mercer International Inc. reported results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2016. The company recorded an EBITDA of $57.8 million compared to $47.9 million in Q3 2016. Our Q4 result reflects steady pulp demand, Read More...
Andritz to upgrade board machine for Consorzio Cartiere in Tivoli; capacity increase from 78,000 to over 100,000 t/a
(Graz, Austria, Feb. 15, 2017) Andritz was awarded an order from Consorzio Cartiere in Tivoli, Italy, to upgrade the board machine and related stock preparation line at the mill in Tivoli. After start-up, which is scheduled for the beginning of 2018, the capacity of the board machine will be increased from 78,000 to over 100,000 t/a. The paper machine has a design speed of 1,000 m/min and produces fluting, testliner, corrugated medium and imitation-kraft papers with a basis weight Read More...
Link: A case for print vs. digital; “replicating print in a digital device not so easy”
(USA, December 2016) In digital journalists Roger Fidler’s vision of the future, news and information were headed to the nascent internet, where stories would be instantly published from one computer to millions more, eliminating the need to operate an expensive press run by expensive workers. A tablet, he thought, was the perfect device to replace paper. Readers could click on boxes that revealed data or more information about a particular subject. Advertisers could produce immersive, interactive ads. And the Read More...
Catalyst Introduces New Line of Lightweight Flexible Packaging Papers, LEAP
(Canada, Feb. 15, 2017) Catalyst Paper announced a new line of packaging papers, branded LEAP. These coated and uncoated lightweight flexible packaging papers for food packaging will be produced at the company’s Biron mill in Wisconsin as of February 2017.
Catalyst’s LEAP packaging papers are designed for food applications such as flat or pinch bottom bags, sugar packets, poly and adhesive laminated products, and ice cream treats. Available in 15 to 50 pound basis weights (lbs per 3,000 ft2), LEAP Read More...
Verso Introduces NK Series of Lightweight Natural Kraft Machine Glazed Papers
(New York, Feb. 14, 2017) Verso today announced the introduction of its NK Series, a family of lightweight, machine-glazed natural kraft papers manufactured using unbleached virgin fiber. The NK Series will be produced at Verso’s Androscoggin Mill in Jay, Maine, with an initial focus on foodservice and flexible packaging applications such as quick service restaurant and concession bags, sandwich wraps, pouches, microwave popcorn bags, and specialty tape and waxing base.
“Market demand continues to grow for unbleached fiber papers as Read More...
Resolute FY 2016 sales drop 3 per cent year-over-year
(Montreal, Canada, Feb. 14, 2017) Resolute Forest Products Inc. reported a net loss for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, of $45 million, compared to a GAAP net loss of $214 million in the same period in 2015. Sales were $889 million in the 4Q 2016, essentially unchanged from the 4Q 2015.
Excluding special items, the company reported a net loss of $3 million, compared to a net loss of $26 million in the 4Q 2015.
For the year, the company Read More...
Smurfit Kappa Expands its Bag-in-Box Business in Europe with Acquisition of Litbag
(Dublin, Ireland, Feb. 14, 2017) Smurfit Kappa announces an agreement to purchase the company Litbag, in order to reinforce its position in Southern Europe.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
According to Smurfit Kappa, Litbag has specific expertise in multi-layer EVOH barrier films which offer the advantage of extended product shelf life. Today it is one of the leaders in the Portuguese wine market exporting to several countries including Spain and France.
“The Bag-in-Box® business continues to show significant potential for Read More...
Valmet receives an order system from Anhui Shanying Paper in China
(Helsinki, Feb. 15, 2017) Valmet has received an order for an online condition monitoring system from Anhui Shanyin Paper Industry Co., Ltd. in Ma’anshan, Anhui province, China. The new system will be installed on the mill’s paper machines 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 to secure high process availability, efficient maintenance and safety.
The order was included in Valmet’s fourth quarter 2016 orders received. The value of the order is not disclosed. Typically, the order value of these kinds of Read More...
Archroma extends tetrasulfonated optical brightening agents capacity in Europe; supports future innovation in sustainable whiteness solutions
(Spain, Feb. 14, 2017) Archroma, a global leader in color and specialty chemicals, recently announced that it will invest in a new production facility for tetrasulfonated optical brightening agents (OBAs) at its existing production site in Prat del Llobregat, Spain.
The significant investment focuses on extending production capacities primarily to serve demand in Europe and providing a platform for future innovations to be introduced in sustainable whiteness solutions.
Tetrasulfonated OBAs are the most commonly used optical brightening agents in papermaking. Their Read More...
Neenah Paper Reports 2016 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results
(Alpharetta, Ga., USA, Feb. 15, 2017) Neenah Paper, Inc. (NYSE: NP) today reported 2016 fourth quarter and full-year results.
Fourth Quarter Highlights
• Revenues of $220.5 million decreased 4 percent compared with the prior year.
• Operating income of $21.9 million increased 5 percent compared with the prior year.
• Record net sales, operating income, earnings per share and cash provided by operations.
• Net sales of $941.5 million increased 6 percent compared with $887.7 million in the prior year.
• Operating income of $114.1 million Read More...