Week of 7 December 2020: Power and Energy--I told you so

Several times in this column over the years, I have told you to not demolish energy assets (that are in good shape) just because you stopped using them. Properly secure and preserve them and wait for policies to change. With an impending change in federal administrations here in the United States, expect an energy priority change within a year. This may come about by regulation changes or economics (the ranking of various fuel costs changing). These changes may be so severe they push some mills out of business.

Paper Bottles

If you were not aware, BillerudKorsnäs, has a paper bottle innovation project wherein they are working on the development of the world's first 100 percent recyclable and biodegradable paper bottle for carbonated beverages.

Patent Applications and Patents

Paperitalo interviews Industrial Air, Inc.

Recently, Paperitalo sat down and talked to Andy Cochrane, PE of Industrial Air, Inc. of Greensboro, North Carolina.

Increased Efficiency and Consistency with Moisture Control: Product Quality from Lab to Line

The MoistTech series of online moisture sensors for measurement and control are designed for full real time process control, developed for instant non-contact measurement for all types of moisture sensor applications.

[Adv.] Fulton Systems

(Adv.) SAP offers you an easy direct link to their breaking developments

Kimberly-Clark Continues Crucial Work Amidst Pandemic to Address the Global Sanitation Crisis

As the pandemic has unfolded, many people focused on access to essential products such as toilet paper. Yet over 2 billion people - or 1 in 4 - around the world - continue to lack access to basic sanitation, including a toilet. Additionally, 785 million - or 1 in 10 - do not have clean water close to home.

Pactiv Evergreen Commits to 100 Percent Recycled, Recyclable or Renewable Materials

Evergreen Packaging was recently integrated into Pactiv after operating separately under the same holding company.

Where is Jim this week?

As I travel, I am always looking for someone to go to dinner with, share a barbeque sandwich lunch and so forth.

Pratt Industries and Talo Analytic International celebrate 25 year relationship

Gary Byrd of Pratt Industries and Jim Thompson of Talo Analytic International recently celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the two companies' relationship. The relationship started in November of 1993.

For the occasion, Talo Analytic International commissioned a "tombstone" reminiscent of those typically prepared to celebrate a deal closing and presented it to Mr. Byrd.

Talo Analytic International began working with Pratt Industries when Pratt's Conyers, Georgia Mill was first financed. Talo Analytic International has been the principal technical adviser on the financing of every Pratt mill in the United States. Talo Analytic International was also a key adviser on the Visy Tumut Mill in Australia in the late 1990's.

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Valmet to temporarily lay off 372 employees due to low workload

The negotiations concerned in total about 940 employees out of 1,680 employed by the Services business line and EMEA area organization in Finland. Valmet estimated at the start of the negotiation process that the need for temporary lay-offs would be around 360 employees at this stage. The negotiations concerned all personnel groups.

MM Karton is investing over EUR 100 million in the Frohnleiten cartonboard site

Innovative, fully digitized processes will significantly increase the efficiency of waste paper processing and at the same time reduce the specific consumption of energy and water.

Stora Enso invests in production line for granulated lignin

Stora Enso is investing EUR 14 million to build a granulation and packing plant for lignin, allowing easier packing and handling of lignin compared to powder and wet form.

International Paper Company Announces Spin-off of Printing Papers

International Paper announced a plan to pursue a spin-off of the Company's Printing Papers segment into a standalone, publicly traded company ("SpinCo"). The transaction will result in two streamlined, leading companies well positioned for long-term success.

SCA changes name from Paper to Containerboard

SCA is changing the name of its business area Paper to business area Containerboard as of January 1, 2021.

Kimberly-Clark investing $140M, hiring 33 workers in Corinth, Mississippi

It's the second major investment in the non-woven facility in the past year; last November, the company invested $20 million to expand the capacity of the nonwovens line, and added 25 jobs. The multi-phase project added 45,000 square feet.

UPM has completed employee consultation processes

UPM has completed the employee consultation process started in October on its plans to improve efficiency in global functions. UPM increases efficiency of its global functions by reorganising and streamlining the functions' operations in five countries. This will decrease the number of positions in the functions by 67, of which 46 in Finland.

Metsä Board to release capital from its pulp business and to focus on growth in paperboard

Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, has on 1 December 2020 signed an agreement to sell a 30 percent stake in its Husum pulp mill in Sweden. The buyer is the Swedish forest owners' cooperative (ekonomisk förening) Norra Skog, with whom Metsä Forest Sverige, responsible for Metsä Board's wood procurement in Sweden, has simultaneously entered into a long-term wood supply agreement.

SCA divests SCA Wood Supply UK Ltd to BSW Timber Ltd

SCA Wood Supply UK Ltd, which is engaged in the manufacture and distribution of timber and associated products for the Home Improvement and Builders Merchant sector in the United Kingdom, has today been divested to BSW Timber Ltd. SCA will keep its organization for the sales of wood products to industrial customers in the UK.

$70 million in revenue bonds issued for Pratt expansion in Conyers, Georgia

Of the total amount, $26.5 million will fund real property and $43.5 will go toward equipment for the 300,000-square-foot expansion.

Sappi Southern Africa scores Platinum in EcoVadis Sustainability Rating

Globally accredited sustainability ratings provider EcoVadis has scored Sappi Southern Africa Platinum Medal status in its assessment of how well the company has integrated sustainability principles into its business and management system.

Have you tried the Paperitalo Supplier Directory lately?

If you are looking for goods and services in the pulp and paper industry, you need to check out the Paperitalo Directory!

Graphic Packaging issued violation from Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy over unauthorized construction

EGLE is ordering the company to cease the use of one of its boilers for its recycled paperboard line.

Firefighters battle structure fire at US Paper Mill in Menasha, Wisconsin

Fire crews battled a structure fire Wednesday morning, Nov. 25, at US Paper Mill.

Stora Enso partially suspends production in Oulu, testing over 1,000 workers

Production at Stora Enso's Oulu paperboard mill has been partially suspended due to numerous coronavirus infections confirmed among employees at the site.

BillerudKorsnäs Introduces Unique Home-compostable Paper Laminate for Flexible Packaging

E-Commerce mailer bags made from BillerudKorsnäs' Xpression E-com paper have 50 percent lower fossil emissions than virgin plastic mailer bags and using this leads to the removal of biogenic carbon from the atmosphere.

DS Smith to Launch Virus Resistant Packaging

As we adjust to the new normal with packaging playing an ever greater role in our lives, fears around packaging safety are front of mind. Six in ten consumers now claim to wash their hands thoroughly after touching packaged groceries and household products.

Sun Chemical Adds Two More Printing Processes to Online Troubleshooting Guide

Sun Chemical has further enhanced its online troubleshooting guide (http://inktsa.sunchemical.com) by adding potential solutions to common pressroom challenges in coldset and metal package printing processes.

Enviva Commemorates First Shipment of Sustainable Biomass to Japan

Enviva Partners, LP announced that its first shipment of sustainable wood pellets is on its way from Port Panama City in Florida to Japan's Iwakuni Port.

Suzano Included in 2021 Corporate Sustainability Index

The ISE is an index that tracks the performance of listed corporations based on the aspects of corporate sustainability, social justice, environmental balance and corporate governance.

Lecta Goes One Step Further as a Responsible Company with New Adestor Recyclable Packaging

Lecta's new soft-wrap paper is 100% recyclable and meets the current EN:13430 standard for recoverable containers and packaging.

Smurfit Kappa's Strength in Innovative Design Leads to Award Success in Brazil

The ABRE awards recognises packaging which stands out as icons of excellence in quality, technology, design, functionality, sustainability and innovation.

Sappi North America Receives Platinum Rating from EcoVadis

Company recognized again for top-standard sustainability efforts, scoring in the top 1% of companies evaluated.

Kimberly-Clark Named by Working Mother as One of the "Top 75 Companies for Executive Women"

Company earns fourth consecutive award for championing women's advancement.

Mondi to open its first paper bags plant in Colombia to serve South American customers

It will be Mondi's first operation in South America, reinforcing the group's strength as a global paper bags supplier with a wide local footprint.

SFI Conservation Grant to Help North Carolina State University Study Climate Change Mitigation and Preventing Biodiversity Loss in Forests

North Carolina State University is investigating the crucial role that SFI-certified forests play in facilitating landscape connectivity in a changing climate.

Student Spotlight: Geordin Craun of Western Michigan

Paperitalo Publications was able to catch up with Geordin Craun, a senior in the program. We asked her a few questions about her experiences at Western Michigan.

NC State Names New Dean of College of Natural Resources

Myron Floyd has been named dean of the College of Natural Resources at North Carolina State University after a nationwide search. His appointment becomes effective April 1.

The Light Green Machine Institute

Ideas you can use now.

Saving energy

Saving energy was a topic Jim Thompson discussed a few weeks back. With fuel prices at record lows, it seems a weird time to discuss saving energy. But back in the day, when Union Camp was an entity in the 70s and 80s, the company leadership were geniuses at forecasting the paper industry fortunes six months to a year in advance. It seemed when everyone else was doing one thing we were doing another. And some time later, our approach was usually proven the best.

Capital Arguments for November 2020

Check out TALOtech groups on LinkedIn

The purpose of the TALOtech groups on LinkedIn is to provide a convenient forum for people working within the manufacturing part of this industry to share technical and operating related dialog to promote safe and competitive operations.

Energy & the Environment News

Your contributions are welcome in this department, regardless of point of view. A few criteria--if you send us a copyrighted piece, also provide a permission to publish statement from the owner. We will not publish overtly political pieces or anonymous pieces.

About SAP Selects

This section contains a collection of Paperitalo articles highlighted by SAP for their relevance to how the paper and packaging industry is evolving and how technology can help support that progress.

Just around the corner now

A bit of technology five years in the making. It is about time.

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