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ABB Releases Second Edition of ABB Fiber Guide
The new edition of the ABB Fiber Guide provides information on new advancements such as fiber morphology online measurement tools like its L&W Freeness and Fiber Online.
BB has announced the launch of the second edition of AABB Fiber Guide which is a comprehensive reference guide that covers extensive information on fiber. It will educate the paper mills on how the raw materials in the pulp can impact the overall operations.
The latest edition features the ABB brand and covers new advancements in measurements, such as fiber morphology online measurement tools like its L&W Freeness and Fiber Online.
The Fiber Guide was originally published by Lorentzen & Wettre in 2006. Lorentzen & Wettre supplied the pulp and paper industry with a number of different products to evaluate the quality of pulp, including wood chips, classifiers, laboratory digesters, among other things. After acquiring L&W in 2011, ABB decided to continue the legacy of assisting the industry with educational materials.
ABB noted in a statement that the purpose of this book is to support and motivate people working in all areas of the pulp and paper industry, by introducing new methods for paper making. It is specifically written for people working with the production of pulp and their developers, customers, and suppliers.
The handbook presents a general overview along with detailed information about fiber analysis and possibilities on how to use measurements to improve pulp and paper processes. n
Image source: ABB
IPMA: India's Paper & Paperboard Exports in 9 months of FY 2021-22 Surpasses Exports of entire FY 2020-21
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The paper and paperboard exports in the April-December period of this fiscal are worth INR 10,236 crore as compared to INR 5,032 crore.
February 11, 2022
ndia's exports of paper and paperboard in the nine months Iof FY 2021-22 have surpassed the exports achieved in the entire FY 2020-21, as per the recent data shared by IPMA (Indian Paper Manufacturers Association).
The total exports in the nine months (April-December) of the current financial year (FY 2021-22) have been 2,195.7 thousand tonnes as against 1441.1 thousand tonnes in the AprilDecember period of FY 2020-21. This amounts to a growth of 52.36 percent over last year. Meanwhile, the total exports of paper and paperboard products in FY 2020-21 were 2,190.8 thousand tonnes valued at INR 7,824 crore (~USD 1,058 million).
In terms of financials, the export in the April-December period of this fiscal is worth INR 10,236 crore (~USD 1,380 million) as against INR 5,032 crore (~USD 681 million) of the AprilDecember period of FY 2020-21. That is, financially speaking, the paper and paperboard exports rose by 103.42 percent.
Sharing the data of the paper and paperboard exports of the Indian paper industry, IPMA said, “India's exports of paper & paperboard in the first nine months of FY 2021-22 have already overtaken record exports achieved in entire FY 2020-21.” n
Image source: IPMA
Orient Paper Appoints Ashwin Laddha as New CEO and MD
January 15, 2022
he Board of Directors at Orient TP a p e r & I n d u s t r i e s L t d . h a s appointed Mr. Ashwin Laddha as the new Chief Executive Officer of the company with effect from 14th January 2022.
Further, the Board has also in-principle decided to appoint Mr. Laddha as the new Managing Director & CEO of the company with effect from 1st April 2022, in place of Mr. M.L. Pachisia whose tenure of appointment as Managing Director shall be expiring on 31st March 2022. Mr. Laddha, 46 years old, is an MBA graduate and holds Bachelor's Degree in Commerce. He is a dynamic business strategy and marketing professional with a diverse background and extensive global experience across all facets of b u s i n e s s & m a r k e t i n g o p e ra t i o n s, product management, sales management and finance with strengths in realtime business decision making and identifying ROI drivers.
Prior to joining Orient Paper, Mr. Ashwin was Joint President & Regional Sales Marketing Head (Pulp & Fiber Business) of Grasim Industries Ltd. He has over two decades of diverse experience across pulp & fiber and telecom business. During his career, he held leadership roles in strategic business & operational planning, global sales & marketing in G r a s i m I n d u s t r i e s a n d S t e r l i t e Technologies Ltd. n
shareholders' approval.
Commenting on the announcement, Founders, R.S. Agarwal and R.S. Goenka said, "We are happy to announce the redesignation of Mohan Goenka and Harsha V. Agarwal as Vice Chairman-cum-Whole Time Director and Vice Chairman-cumManaging Director respectively. They have been in the forefront of running & growing the organisation for over two decades and their ascension today is the formal recognition of their contribution by our esteemed Board." n
Mr. Ashwin Laddha
Emami Founders Step Down From Executive Positions, Pave Way for Next Generation
Both the Founders will not accept any emoluments from the Company for taking up their new positions. The decision comes in the wake of Board restructuring that was part of the succession planning of the FMCG business of the Group.
February 3, 2022
mami Ltd. has announced that its founders, Mr. R.S. Agarwal Eand Mr. R.S. Goenka have expressed their desire to step down from their executive roles appointing second generation family members at the top as part of a succession exercise.
Accordingly, the Board unanimously decided to appoint Mr. R.S. Goenka as Non-Executive Chairman while re-designating Mr. R.S. Agarwal as Chairman Emeritus effective 1st April, 2022.
The Emami Ltd. Board also acceded to Sushil K. Goenka's desire to step down from his current position as the Managing Director of Emami Ltd. as part of the transition process and has re-appointed him as a Whole-Time Director of the Company effective 1st April, 2022.
Mr. Mohan Goenka and Mr. Harsha V. Agarwal, Whole-Time Directors of Emami Ltd., have been spearheading multiple functions and growing the business successfully thereby gaining immense exposure to steer the organisation forward. The Board therefore found them to be deserving candidates and re-designated Mr. Goenka and Mr. V. Agarwal and WholeTime Directors as Vice Chairman-cum-Whole Time Director and Vice Chairman-cum-Managing Director respectively, effective April 1, 2022 to steer the organisation forward, subject to
Emami Ltd.
N R Agarwal Industries Appoints Dipankar Rai as the New CFO
The paper manufacturer has appointed Dipankar Rai as the Chief Financial Officer who is a Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary, and MBA with more than 22 years of experience.
January 12, 2022
NR Agarwal Industries Limited (NRAIL) has announced the appointment of Dipankar Rai as the Chief Financial Officer. As published in news daily – the appointment of the new CFO has been effective from 27th December 2021.
Dipankar Rai is a Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary, and MBA and holds over 22 years of experience in the industry.
N R Agarwal Industries is a key manufacturer of a range of products including coated duplex boards and newsprint. The company markets its products countrywide through a network of dealers and also exports them worldwide.
Established in 1993 and engaged in the business of manufacturing quality finished paper products, NRAIL pioneered the
Representational image
use of 100 percent deinked wood-free recycled furnish for the same. The company serves with its high-quality paper products both domestic and international markets. n
Government Viewing Agroforestry as Path to Carbon Neutral Growth
The government is looking at agroforestry as one of the ways to help India get on a carbon neutral growth path.
February 3, 2022
he Budget has included it as one of the four interventions Twhich will be used for the country's "transition to carbon neutral economy". Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the Budget, pitched for these interventions as important climate actions and said agroforestry and forests on private land would be promoted through adequate policies and required legislative changes.
"In addition, financial support will be provided to farmers belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), who want to take up agroforestry," she said. Though she did not explain it further, the government may go for certain amendments in the Forest Conservation Act and the Indian Forest Act to promote agroforestry and forests on private land in tune with global practice to treat such green cover as an important mitigation tool.
Agroforestry is practised in both irrigated and rainfed conditions where it produces food, fuel, fodder, timber, fertiliser and fibre and contributes to food, nutritional and ecological security, sustains livelihoods, alleviates poverty and promotes productive and resilient cropping.
Image source: Libreshot Currently, the government is working on agroforestry and afforestation programmes under National Project on AgroForestry of the agriculture ministry and National Mission for Green India. Over 10 percent of the total budget of the environment ministry in 2022-23 (INR 3,030 crore) has been earmarked for the Green India mission. n
This is the fourth HERB recovery boiler ANDRITZ is currently installing in India, demonstrating it's strong presence in the Indian pulp and paper market.
January 10, 2022
NDRITZ has successfully started up a new 950 t/d HERB Achemical recovery boiler at JK Paper Limited, Unit: CPM at Fort Songadh, in the Tapi District of Gujarat state, India.
The boiler is designed to process hardwood black liquor and enables environment-friendly and more energye f f i c i e n t o p e r a t i o n c o m p a re d t o t h e d i re c t - c o n t a c t evaporator boiler currently used at the mill. This will significantly increase the mill's pulp produc tion and power-to-heat-ratio. The boiler also features a unique air system to minimize air emissions.
The scope of supply also included:
Ÿ Engineering for the entire system except for the civil works and the electrical and automation equipment
Ÿ Complete pressure parts
Ÿ Auxiliaries such as start-up oil burners, black liquor burners, smelt spouts and high-pressure steam valves and piping
Ÿ Safety-related system (SRS)
Mr. AS Mehta, President & Director of JK Paper Ltd, says: “The entire ANDRITZ team has worked tirelessly and zealously to see that the commissioning was trouble-free and fast. This has
New HERB recovery boiler from ANDRITZ at JK Paper been achieved despite many constraints during the COVID-19 pandemic. Team JK Paper conveys its warmest gratitude to the ANDRITZ team for this wonderful support.” n
Lower Coal Allocation Impacts Operations of Paper Mills in India
In a communication to the Union ministers of coal & mines and railways, the Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA), apex body for the industry, stated that paper mills are facing rapidly dwindling coal stocks.
January 5, 2022
s reported in a leading daily — operations at paper mills in AIndia are getting severely affected due to lower coal allocation by Coal India and its subsidiaries and non-availability of adequate railway rakes for transportation of coal from mines to paper mills.
“In view of the continuing coal shortage and non-availability of adequate railway rakes, paper mills in India are finding it extremely hard to source adequate and un-interrupted thermal coal supplies as feedstock for their captive power plants and are facing rapidly dwindling coal stocks available with them. As a result, operations of paper mills across the country are getting severely impacted”, stated Mr. A S Mehta, president of IPMA.
According to IPMA, Pulp & Paper Industry is capital and power
Image source: Unsplash
intensive and has invested a huge amount of money in setting up captive power plants (CPPs) for sustained supply of power and steam for the process requirements. Captive power plants reduce the generation and distribution load on the country's
entire power system. Paper Industry is a continuous process industry and energy cost is a significant part of the total production cost in paper mills.
For the last several months, Coal India and its subsidiaries have prioritised coal supplies to the power sector/thermal power plants on priority at the cost of non-power/non-regulated sectors. The problems have been compounded by even priority allocation of railway rakes to the power sector/thermal power plants.
"A resurgent paper industry is a must for sustained economic growth of the country since paperboard/packaging is crucial for all kinds of essential goods, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, food products, soaps, milk cartons, hygiene products, etc," the IPMA said in a statement. Tissue paper helps in improving the hygienic conditions and is used in all health-conscious institutions/areas like hospitals, etc. Similarly, writing & printing paper is essential for labels, pharmaceutical inserts, and all educational institutes.
If supplies of coal from allocated/designated mines to paper mills as prior to June 2021 are not restored on priority, a large number of paper mills may need to have prolonged shutdowns resulting in shortage of writing & printing paper and packaging paper in the market and this may have cascading impact on all FMCG, food and pharma sectors.
IPMA has urged the government to consider priority allocation of both coal and railway rakes to captive power plants of the Pu l p & Pa p e r I n d u s t r y at a p a r w i t h t h e r m a l p owe r plants/power sector. n
ITC Partners with Invest India to Crowdsource Innovative Ideas for Single-Use Plastic Substitution
This partnership will enable ITC-PSPD to leverage India's rich start-up repertoire whilst also providing support to the country's start-up ecosystem.
January 3, 2022
TC Paperboards and Specialty Papers Division (PSPD) has Ic o l l a b o r a t e d w i t h I n v e s t I n d i a t o l a u n c h t h e ' I TC
Sustainabilit y Innovation Challenge', which would support innovative start-up ideas on sustainable packaging and smart waste management solutions.
ITC PSPD, through the Startup India portal, is inviting responses from startups towards challenges laid out by the Company to find sustainable and smart technology-based solutions that can substitute single-use plastics and automate the waste segregation process with smart technology-based solutions to improve efficiency and speed.
The startups selected for the 'ITC Sustainability Innovation Challenge' will be offered incentives at various stages of the programme. This includes mentorship from experts, paid pilot opportunity, and assistance in testing and certification at the 'Development Stage'. This will be followed by support to enable market expansion and capacity building through funding opportunities in the 'Early Market Play Stage'. Additionally, startups, at the 'Late Stage' will get procurement opportunities and could be evaluated, on a case to case basis, for funding and acquisition opportunities as well. The deadline to submit proof of concept was 28th February, 2021.
Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Vadiraj Kulkarni, CEO of ITC PSPD said, “Disposal of plastic and non-biodegradable waste continues to pose the biggest challenge in solid waste management in India. The problem is further aggravated due to inefficient segregation of post-consumer waste at the source which leads to a lot of waste ending up in landfills which is highly polluting.. We, at ITC, believe that businesses, both big and small, with their immense managerial and innovative capacity, can come together to contribute significantly towards finding innovative and sustainable packaging and waste management solutions leading to transformative changes in the society. This philosophy manifests in the new 'ITC Sustainability Innovation Challenge' which underlines our ongoing engagements with the start-up ecosystem through collaboration with Invest India to crowdsource out-of-the box ideas for phasing out single-use plastics by 2022.”
Mr. Deepak Bagla, MD & CEO, Invest India said, “We look forward
ITC Paperboards and Specialty Papers Division
to accelerating efforts towards a more sustainable economic growth through the ITC Innovative Sustainability Challenge. Innovative startups will be able to showcase Made-in-India solutions that propel India towards a circular economy. On behalf of Invest India, I invite start-ups to be part of India's growth journey.”
For sustainable packaging, ITC is inviting ideas to replace plastic-based products with compostable food delivery solutions using molded fiber packaging based on wood fibre, agri-waste, etc. Besides, the 'Sustainability Innovation Challenge' with Start-up India is also inviting solutions under recyclable and/or compostable barrier coatings for papers and paperboards category.
For the challenge of waste segregation, collection, and handling, ITC PSPD is inviting innovative and technologybased solutions for managing household and municipality waste based on different material type such as Paper, Metal, Glass, Rigid Plastic. The ideas must include an effective revenue model for the waste management ecosystem and lead to significant incremental benefits over prevailing methods as the desired outcome from the solutions.
ITC Paperboards is a clear leader in Value Added Paperboards in India. ITC PSPD has been a pioneer in introducing specially designed branded Paperboards based on end-use applications. Among the sustainability initiatives, the Company is focusing on substituting single-use plastics packaging with fibre-based solutions. Some of the sustainable packaging innovations pioneered by ITC are – the Omega Series: completely Biodegradable under composting conditions as well as the Filo Series: completely Recyclable in existing standard recycling conditions. Other innovations include Bioseal: biodegradable packaging for packaged/fast-food & personal care industries and Oxyblock: recyclable structure with barrier properties for edible oils, etc. ITC's flagship Wellbeing out of Waste (ITC WoW) programme, partners with municipal bodies across India to bring the benefits of integrated waste management systems to 1.5 crore citizens in India. n
Finance Ministry Imposes Anti-Dumping Duty on Decor Paper from China for Five Year
As per the notification issued by DGTR — ITC Limited had filed an application seeking initiation of anti-dumping investigation concerning imports of Decor Paper, originating in or exported from China.
January 3, 2022
inance Ministry has imposed definitive anti-dumping duty Fon 'decor paper' imports from China.
As reported in a leading daily — based on the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) recommendations in its final findings in September this year, the revenue department has now imposed definitive anti-dumping duty that ranged from USD 110 MT to USD 542 per MT.
Diversified major ITC Limited's paperboards and speciality papers division, which accounts for close to 80 percent of the domestic production of decor paper, had filed the petition seeking anti-dumping duty on this key material used by the decorative industry. It is also used as base paper for printing and as a barrier paper for waxing and coating.
India produces about 24,227 MT of decor paper, and ITC accounts for the dominant share (about 80 percent) of this production. Pudumjee Paper Products Ltd. and Shree Krishna Paper Mills & Industries Ltd. are the other domestic manufacturers of decor paper.
In the case of decor paper produced by Kingdecor (Zhejiang)
Decor Paper
Co Ltd., the anti-dumping duty has been pegged at USD 116 per tonne. For decor paper produced by Shandong Boxing Ouhua Special Paper Co Ltd., the revenue department has pegged the anti-dumping duty at USD 110 per tonne. A similar duty of USD 110 per tonne has been imposed on decor paper produced by Zibo-OU-MU Special Paper Co Ltd. For all other producers, the anti-dumping duty has been pegged at USD 542 per tonne. n
A.Celli Starts up Complete Turnkey Tissue Plant at Partex Star Group in Bangladesh
The Tissue line supplied by A.Celli Paper produced its first Jumbo roll in December 2021 with full satisfaction of the customer.
January 20, 2022
.Celli Paper successfully started up in December 2021 Athe turnkey Tissue plant supplied to Par tex Star Group.
The line, installed for the production of bulky and soft Tissue with high levels of absorbency, includes a low-consumption complete stock preparation from 100 percent pure cellulose pulp, the “Control and Automation System”, the ancillary services and the field equipment.
The scope also includes a new iDEAL® Tissue machine with a width of 2800mm at the pope reel and a maximum operating speed of 1800 m/min, a 15-foot forged steel Yankee Dryer, an EWIND® T100 three-ply Tissue slitter rewinder and, finally, a reel handling system.
Mr. Shamsul Arefin Chowdhury, collaborator of A.Celli Group, says, “It was extremely satisfying to produce the first Jumbo Roll with A.Celli Tissue machine. We at Partex Tissue Ltd. would like to thank A.Celli for the state-of-the-art technology and services they provided us with, which allowed for a wonderful start up without any sheet breaking. All of this was possible despite the COVID 19 pandemic situation and the consequent limitations.” n
Partex Star Group is one of the largest Bangladeshi private sector enterprises.
Georgia-Pacific to Invest USD 500 Million in Tissue and Towel Business in Green Bay
The project will enable the expansion of the company's premium and private label brands.
January 20, 2022
eorgia-Pacific has announced significant investments, Gwhich total more than USD 500 million, at its Green Bay, Wisconsin, Broadway mill. The investments will greatly enhance the company's retail consumer tissue and towel business.
Investments to the Green Bay mill include building a new paper machine using through-air-dried (TAD) technology, as well as adding associated converting equipment and infrastructure. Engineering and related work is beginning immediately, with start up of the new machine scheduled for the first half of 2024.
“This truly is an investment in our customers and consumers who value the quality of our products,” said Christian Fischer, Georgia-Pacific president and chief executive officer. “We appreciate the local community, Brown County, state officials and all of our employees' hard work and efforts to continue making our Green Bay Broadway mill more competitive for the long-term.”
Image source: Georgia-Pacific
The improvements will allow expansion of Georgia-Pacific's own premium brands as well as supporting the growth of current and potential customers' premium private label brands.
The Green Bay Broadway mill currently operates seven paper machines and several converting operations to make bath tissue, paper towels, napkins and facial tissue for both retail and away-from-home uses. Capital investment at all of GeorgiaPacific's Green Bay facilities have totalled more than USD 700 million since 2006.
“This significant investment demonstrates our commitment to Georgia-Pacific's consumer business, our hard-working teams and our current and potential customers,” said Fernando Gonzalez, president – Georgia-Pacific Consumer Business. “It also allows us to further leverage the many advantages we have, including our breadth of offerings, excellence in manufacturing operations, commitment to quality and focus on research and development to create products that consumers value.” n
provide regenerative solutions. The Skutskär site has a production capacity of 540,000 TPA and it produces fluff, hardwood, and softwood kraft pulp.
Being the leading producer of fluff pulp in Europe, the expansion will further enhance both operational efficiency and the site's carbon footprint performance. Stora Enso's investment in
Over 100 Years of Excellence at BTG – High Per formance Blades
Duroblade® coating blades are factory-honed to each customer's individual requirements. The blades are known for their improved coatweight control, higher solids content, improved fiber coverage, increased backing roll lifetime and Streak reduction.
January 26, 2022
TG has been very successful in providing integrated, Bhighly specialized solutions for the global pulp and paper industry. These solutions are based on BTG's expertise and the leading products that have been introduced over the last century.
As part of BTG's 100 year anniversary, the company is offering a series of 1-page focused flyers, sharing some insight on the products that have helped make BTG successful – and that are still delivering tremendous benefits to clients.
The focus of this issue is on high performing blades. Almost 40 years ago, BTG invented a revolutionary technology for the coated board and paper industry: Duroblade®. This breakthrough innovation allowed for the manufacture of blades with an outstanding lifetime compared to traditional steel blades. This innovation increased machine efficienc y tremendously and also improved surface properties that allowed for further cost reduction. Learn more about the high performing blade principle and benefits in this dedicated document.
Duroblade
A flyer on the challenges of consistency measurement and about the BTG MEK is also available. n
Stora Enso Invests EUR 40 Million at its Sweden Facility
Following the investment in new bleaching technology, Stora Enso will be able to reduce the number of bleach lines from three to two that will improve cost competitiveness and the carbon footprint of the production site.
February 4, 2022
Stora Enso will invest EUR 40 million (~USD 45.86 million) in new technology and restructuring of its fluff pulp production facility in Skutskär, Sweden. The aim is to increase cost efficiencies and further improve the site's environmental footprint, which also coincides with Stora Enso's goal to
Stora Enso Skutskär mill in Sweden
new bleaching technology also aligns with its ambitious climate targets.
Stora Enso had revised its Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in 2021. The Finnish company is committed to reducing absolute Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) from operations by 50 percent by 2030, aligned with the 1.5-degree scenario. The transition to new technology will enable a carbon footprint reduction of 5 percent.
Johanna Hagelberg, Executive Vice President, Biomaterials division at Stora Enso, says, “Our Skutskär site is already close to carbon-neutral, and through this investment, we are now taking the next important step towards a climate-positive contribution. Moreover, technology upgrade investments will further sharpen our competitiveness in the growing hygiene products sector.”
With the investment, the number of bleach lines will be reduced from three to two which will improve cost competitiveness. The implementation of this plan is projected to start in Q1 2022, with the upgraded bleaching plant estimated to be in operation in Q2 2023, followed by the closure of the obsolete bleach line in Q2 2024. n
U.S. Paper Industry Reaches Record for Containerboard Production in 2021
The preliminary data indicates total containerboard production in 2021 increased 5.6 percent compared to 2020, the ninth increase in the past 10 years.
January 18, 2022
he American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has Treleased preliminary 2021 data from U.S. paper and paperboard mills indicating record containerboard production, the material used to make cardboard boxes.
"Paper products and materials like containerboard help to meet the needs of consumers seeking sustainable choices," said AF&PA President and CEO Heidi Brock. "These are some of the most-recycled materials in the United States — in fact, more paper by weight is recycled from municipal waste streams than plastic, glass, steel and aluminum combined."
Based on this information, the consumption of old corrugated containers (OCC) may also reach record numbers with data to be published by AF&PA.
O CC co n s u m p t i o n i s s t ro n g l y t i e d to p ro d u c t i o n o f containerboard, and through November 2021 consumption already reached 22.2 million tons, just shy of the previous fullyear record set in 2020.
"Consumer demand is growing for sustainable paper products, and our industry is investing to meet evolving customer and consumer needs," Brock said. "AF&PA members are dedicated to advancing the circular economy and our shared commitment to sustainability, as demonstrated by our Better Practices Better Planet 2030 goals."
Paper recycling rates have grown over time and remain consistently high, meeting or exceeding 63 percent since 2009. In 2020, nearly 66 percent of paper was recycled.
"Paper recycling is a success story," Brock said. "That's because of the industry's investments, education efforts, the wide availability of paper recycling programs, and the many millions of Americans who recycle each day."
The paper industry has completed or announced around USD 5 billion in manufacturing infrastructure investments from 20192023 to continue the best use of recycled fiber in our products. These investments will help increase the amount of recovered paper used by U.S. paper and paperboard mills by approximately 8 million tonnes — a 25 percent increase over 2020 levels. n
Representational image: Containerboard
Voith Paper Appoints Dr. Michael Weiss as its new CTO
Dr. Michael Weiss succeeds Frank Opletal as the Chief Technology Officer and Member of the Management Board of Voith Paper. His journey with the technology group began in 2006 as a development engineer and up until now, he has held various positions in Research & Development department.
February 7, 2022
oith Paper has appointed Dr. Michael Weiss as Chief VTechnology Officer and member of the Management Board. He started in his new role on February 1, 2022, succeeding Frank Opletal, who is going into well-deserved retirement after 38 years at Voith Paper. In his role, Dr. Michael Weiss reports directly to Andreas Endters, President & CEO of Voith Paper.
Since 2006, Dr. Michael Weiss has held various positions in the development of pioneering technologies and innovations at Voith Paper, most recently as the Vice President New Business and Research. In his prior role as VP New Business & Research, he has been in charge of innovation management, the simulation department and the central laboratory at Voith Paper since 2017. As CTO, he will contribute his many years of experience in research and development to drive Voith Paper's innovation strategy around the differentiation criteria of sustainability, efficiency, and full-line supplier. The main aim is to find answers to the megatrends of sustainability and digitalisation and to make them usable for the paper industry.
Andreas Endters, President & CEO of Voith Paper, says, “As the technology leader and full-line supplier, Voith Paper has always been a reliable partner for its customers when it comes to breaking new ground. Especially today, the paper industry needs more innovations to make production more efficient and sustainable. With his experience and his visionary view of
Dr. Michael Weiss, Chief Technology Officer, Voith Paper
the possibilities that lie in the sustainable material paper, we are pleased to appoint Michael Weiss to the Voith Paper Management Board.”
Dr. Michael Weiss had joined Voith Paper as a development engineer and has held various positions in research & development, where he dealt with the topics of process optimisation, m a t h e m a t i c a l s i m u l a t i o n , w a t e r m a n a g e m e n t , a n d wastewater treatment, among other things. From 2017 he held the position of Vice President New Business & Research. Dr. Weiss studied process engineering at the RWTH Aachen University and completed his Ph.D. in chemical engineering at the University of Oxford, UK. n
Mondi Sets Ambitious Science-Based Plans to Transition to Net-Zero by 2050
The Net-Zero plan set out by the global paper and packaging leader aligns with the Science Based Targets initiative's new Net-Zero Standard.
January 17, 2022
Mondi has accelerated its plans to take climate-positive actions by committing to transition to Net-Zero by 2050. This next step builds on almost two decades of progress, including a 45 percent reduction in specific greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions against a 2004 baseline and science-based targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in 2019.
Andrew King, Mondi's Group CEO, remarks, “Mondi has a long track record of investing in our operations to reduce our GHG emissions and the Board's approval of our new Net-Zero plan
Image source: Mondi
reinforces our commitment to contributing to a better world. The adoption of science-based targets in line with 1.5°C is an important milestone in our journey to net-zero. However taking action today is an absolute imperative and we already have a clear roadmap to achieve our 2025 milestones.”
Mondi's Net-Zero plan, which was developed to align with SBTi's new Net-Zero Standard, commits to reducing GHG emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 in line with a 1.5°C scenario. Mondi submitted its Net-Zero commitment to the SBTi in December 2021 and has signed up to the UN Business Ambition. G l a d y s N a y l o r, M o n d i ' s G r o u p H e a d o f S u s t a i n a b l e Development said, “Our current emissions reduction targets were approved by the SBTi in 2019 and we have now increased our ambition in line with climate science and the SBTi's new Net-Zero Standard. While we work with SBTi to validate our new targets, we're taking action - doing the long-term planning to achieve our commitments and working every day to ensure that we are on track to meet our milestones in line with our MAP2030 sustainability framework.” n
Sappi Expands Production for Fusion Topliner in its Flagship Mill in Austria
The pulp and paper company designed – Fusion Topliner as an alternative to traditional corrugated liners in the market which are kraft liners and test liners. It is recommended for applications such as premium quality consumer goods packaging and POS displays.
February 4, 2022
appi has announced the expansion of its production of SFusion Topliner grade in its flagship mill in Gratkorn, Austria. Fusion Topliner, that is, a white virgin fiber liner for high-quality corrugated packaging, will also continue to be manufactured at Sappi's Ehingen mill in Germany.
With this expansion, Sappi is not just scaling up its production capacity in the corrugated board business but is bringing production closer to its customers – to assure a sustainable and short supply chain in Europe.
As an alternative to kraft liner and test liner, Sappi developed its Fusion Topliner, which has now become the most widely used corrugated liner made from pure virgin fiber. It is recommended for applications such as premium quality consumer goods packaging and POS displays as it stands out more than the conventional corrugated liners.
The production of the topliner is now being expanded from the German mill in Ehingen to include Sappi's flagship mill in Gratkorn. Thus, the available capacities are increased to include the production of Fusion Topliner besides graphic papers. The volume availability is going to be increased month by month to support the expected demand of our customers, and to fulfil large-scale requirements in the corrugated board segment.
Luis Mata, Sales Director Packaging & Digital Solutions, Sappi, explains, “Gratkorn offers the best possible technical prerequisites for the production of our Fusion product. With the investments we have made, Sappi is strengthening its packaging and speciality paper business as well as the Gratkorn mill itself.” n
Sappi Fusion Topliner |Image source: Sappi
The global provider of consumer, industrial, healthcare and protective packaging has acquired American Recycling of Western North Carolina which processes around 30,000 TPA of recovered fiber.
January 11, 2022
onoco Recycling, a unit of Sonoco, has announced its Sacquisition of American Recycling of Western North Carolina, a privately-owned paper recycler in Asheville, North Carolina. American Recycling of Western North Carolina processes approximately 30,000 TPA of recovered fiber. The company is expecting to generate approximately USD 9 million in sales in 2021 and it is strategically located approximately 65 miles from Sonoco's Newport, Tennessee, uncoated recycled paperboard
mill, according to the news release on the acquisition by Sonoco.
Palace Stepps, Division Vice President and General Manager, Sonoco Recycling, says, “This acquisition provides Sonoco's mill operations with a stable, lower-cost supply of recovered fiber with the opportunity to grow volumes in the region.”
Sonoco Recycling collects approximately 2.8 million TPA of old corrugated containers (OCC), mixed paper, metals, and plastics through its five material recovery facilities and 20 recycling centers annually.
Image source: Sonoco
January 31, 2022
Stora Enso and Tornator will restore 1,000 hectares of low forest cover peatland in eastern and southern Finland between 2022 and 2027. The restoration will increase biodiversity along with enhancing the habitat in the restored land by removing trees that have grown in the area after drainage. After harvesting, ditches will be blocked to raise the water level in the peatland.
Speaking on the restoration initiative, Niina Partanen, Environmental Manager at Stora Enso, comments, “Restoring peatland to an as natural state as possible starts with harvesting when the ground is frozen and able to support forestry machinery. After the restoration measures, the drained peatland will, in the long term, recover to its natural state. We will use the harvested wood for renewable and recyclable products that replace fossil-based raw materials.”
Image source: Stora Enso
In the long term, with the restoration of low forest cover peatland, the amount of carbon sequestered in peat will increase. Improving peatland habitat will contribute to the recovery of vegetation and other species, the condition of the waterways beneath peatlands, and thus, for example, the recreational use of lakes. At the same time, berry picking and hunting opportunities in these areas will be improved. n
Smur fit Kappa Announces USD 33 Million Investment in Fortaleza, Brazil
In the expansion, a new corrugator, which will increase the Shelf-Ready Packaging (SRP) capability, and several high-end printers will also be installed to provide the high level of precision for e-commerce packaging.
February 01, 2022
murfit Kappa has announced an investment of over USD 33 Smillion in Brazil to expand the capacity of its plant in Fortaleza in order to cater to the growing demand for innovative and sustainable packaging. The expansion, which includes the installation of a new corrugator, will increase the Shelf-Ready Packaging (SRP) capability for FMCG customers in a range of sectors including fresh fruit, home appliances and pharmaceuticals.
Several high-end printers will also be installed to provide the
high level of precision and quality that is required for eCommerce packaging. In addition, a new innovation centre will foster even more customer collaboration and enhance the development of impactful, sustainable, and market-leading packaging solutions.
Laurent Sellier, CEO of Smurfit Kappa the Americas, said, “Almost 30 percent of the total Brazilian population resides in the Northeast region, and Fortaleza offers the perfect platform to strengthen our presence in this attractive and fast-growing part of the country.”
“Brazil is an essential market for Smurfit Kappa and we are excited to dedicate significant resources of the company's global investment plan to expand our presence in the Northeast.”
Image source: Smurfit Kappa
Koehler Paper Sets New Production Speed Record With Voith Paper Machine
It is the fastest MG paper machine in the world with consistent speed of more than 1,400 m/min. To celebrate this event, Voith handed over an engraved glass plate to Koehler Paper, which records this historic speed record.
January 3, 2022
Designed as one of the most efficient specialty paper machines in the world, Koehler Paper commissioned Voith's production line 8 at its Kehl mill at the end of October 2019 - after a previous project time of only around two and a half years.
Thanks to ongoing optimization, the company recently achieved a groundbreaking level of performance for the production of around 40 GSM base paper at a continuous speed of more than 1,400 m/min. Thanks to intensive cooperation, permanent project support and continuous optimization from Koehler and Voith, the line achieved an average speed of 1,410 m/min over a period of 24 hours as well as a maximum value of 1,432 m/min - a world record for the MG paper machine.
On the occasion of this event, Voith presented Koehler Paper with an engraved glass plate that records this historic speed record. At the award ceremony at the Kehl mill last week, Dr. Michael Trefz, President Projects at Voith, was pleased to present the recognition: "An outstanding value, which was made possible by the cooperation between Koehler and Voith, the combination of extensive technical knowledge and a long-standing and trusting partnership. Koehler and Voith are thus once again demonstrating their pioneering spirit in paper production." Dr. Stefan Karrer, COO at Koehler, and Joachim Uhl, Mill Director in Kehl, also appreciate the cooperation and are proud of the team's performance on production line 8: "The optimizations have enabled us to raise our machine to a new level."
Joint development of trailblazing packaging paper products
Another outcome of the collaboration between Koehler and Voith is the development of cutting-edge products. As part of the development partnership for new paper grades, Voith carried out several test series on the R&D pilot coater at the Voith Paper Technology Center in Heidenheim. The technological requirements of the new paper grades were investigated in depth and then implemented in the new production line. This has resulted in the innovative products of the NexFlex® product line, Koehler's flexible packaging paper.
(L-R) Dr. Stefan Karrer, COO Koehler; Joachim Uhl, Mill Director Kehl; Dr. Michael Trefz, President Projects Voith Paper; Michael Rendsburg, President Voith Paper Projects EMEA.
With a volume of EUR 300 million, the entire production line 8 is one of the largest investments in Koehler's history. As well as the XcelLine paper machine and an offline coating machine, the project includes a BlueLine stock preparation system including wet end process and a VariPlus winder. The facility is
designed to produce around 100,000 tonnes per year of various paper grades. An offline coating machine enables variable coating orders and combinations, resulting in an enormous range of grades. This extensive range of different paper grades and basis weights from 22 GSM to 95 GSM is another unique selling point of the production line. PM 8 paper machine thus supplies already finished paper and raw paper for the further finishing process. A special technical highlight is the MG cylinder, which has a diameter of 7,315 mm, the largest of its kind worldwide at the time of installation. The cylinder gives the paper its unique smoothness, which is essential for optimum downstream processing. Thanks to the MCB air dryers, the coated paper is dried extremely gently and without contact, while at the same time maintaining high thermal efficiency. A special calender design ensures final calendering of the specialty papers. n
Voith will be Operating Climate Neutrally at all its Sites as of January 1, 2022
January 15, 2022
oith has achieved an ambitious sustainability goal, i.e. of Vthe beginning of 2022, the Group has successfully reduced the CO emissions at all its sites to “net-zero”. Therefore, 2 Voith operations will be climate-neutral from January onwards.
This move cements Voith's pioneering role in the decarbonisation of industrial production. All Voith sites worldwide undertook enormous efforts to achieve this major accomplishment. Increased energy efficiency and the comprehensive use of renewable energy sources were key factors in reaching the Group's CO reduction goals. 2
Since FY 2011-12, Voith has successfully reduced its energy consumption by 28 percent. In addition, the Group relies on energy from renewable sources. Until the beginning of FY 2021-22, the proportion of renewable energies in the Voithwide electricity mix could be increased from 44 percent in the previous year to 87 percent. In addition, the Voith sites are generating more and more energy from solar and hydropower – currently approximately 6 GWh/a.
Image source: Voith According to a TÜV-verified analysis of the Voith products launched in 2019-20 and their potential deployment, the products achieve annual CO savings of almost 3 million tons 2 compared to 2.2 million tons produced. The Group is continuously striving to further reduce the carbon footprint of its products during their service life at customer sites. n
Stora Enso to invest EUR 23 million at its Varkaus Mill in Finland
With the investment, the f lexibility of the product range and the Varkaus mill site's total capacity will be increased by around 10 percent. While the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and the preparatory work for the investment will be immediately started, the expansion is expected to be completed by 2022-end.
December 29, 2021
tora Enso has announced the investment of EUR 23 million S(~USD 26 million) in its Varkaus containerboard mill site in Finland. The objective of the investment is to increase the flexibility of the product range and to increase the site's total capacity by approximately 10 percent. This will also increase the use of recycled fiber in the production in addition to fresh wood fiber. The investment is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.
The Varkaus mill site has a production capacity of – 310,000 TPA of unbleached softwood pulp and 390,000 TPA of high-quality brown and white top containerboard for corrugated board, i.e. kraftliner. Besides unbleached softwood pulp, around onethird of the total packaging board recycled in Finland is utilised
as its raw material at the paper mill.
As an integral part of the Stora Enso Packaging Materials Division, the Varkaus mill has extensive know-how in utilising wood fibers beginning from product design to finished products and up to recycling. Since the recycling of paperboard packaging products is a key sustainability goal, investments in recycling capacity are a concrete way to support this goal. Stora Enso aims to achieve 100 percent renewable products in line with Circular Economy and have positive carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.
Jarkko Tehomaa, Varkaus Packaging Board Mill Director, Stora Enso, says, “The investment will increase the capacity of our recycled fiber site and give us the flexibility to increase the use of recycled fiber in our portfolio. The investment will also improve production efficiency through
Stora Enso's Varkaus Mill site in Finland
technical changes in both the board machine and the pulp mill drying machine.”
The environmental impact assessment (EIA) and the updating of the environmental permit, and the preparatory work for the investment, will be immediately started. n
Holmen Iggesund Paperboard Orders Effluent and Sludge Treatment Line from ANDRITZ
The sludge handling line including proven ANDRITZ gravity tables, and the entire key equipment will be provided with a special surface coating to protect against the harsh coastal environment at the Workington mill.
January 31, 2022
orkington, UK-based Holmen Iggesund Paperboard Wmill has ordered a state-of-the-art primary effluent and sludge treatment line from Valmet. The technological solution includes – channel screening, clarifying, automated flocculant and coagulant dosing, and sludge dewatering. The startup of the line is scheduled for the first quarter of 2023.
The mill will replace the existing primary effluent treatment plant to improve the efficiency of the system and reduce the level of total suspended solids (TSS) in the outfall. ANDRITZ Aqua-Screen channel screens are particularly designed for handling wastewater streams which will ensure effective coarse screening and removal of large contaminants from the influent to the clarifiers.
The state-of-the-art sludge handling line, including proven ANDRITZ gravity tables prior to ANDRITZ sludge screw presses for minimum flocculant consumption, lowest solids load in the filtrate, and highest possible sludge dryness. The entire key equipment will be provided with a special surface coating to protect against the harsh coastal environment at the Workington mill.
The scope of supply also includes – field instruments, tanks, agitators, and process pumps as well as installation and service support after commissioning to maintain the highest availability of the plant. n
Image source: Holmen Iggesund
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