Week of 8 March 2021: Who dominated your mill design--operations or maintenance?

With experience, one can walk on to an operating floor and determine which faction, operations or maintenance, had the larger influence in a paper mill's design. It is really quite easy. The first giveaway is the width of the operating, or tending, aisle versus the drive aisle.

Predictive Maintenance Trends

In a recent article, IoTforall reported that predictive maintenance is an especially fruitful area for machine learning and AI to make an impact on manufacturing.

Patent Applications and Patents

Sebright Products, Inc.

If you have waste handling needs, Paperitalo recommends Sebright Products of Hopkins, Michigan.

MoistTech: Implementing Lean Manufacturing Principles

Minimize Costs with Moisture & Coat Weight Control

[Adv.] DPAS

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

Former Madison, Maine mill receiving equipment as timber tech firm preps for unique use

By summertime, manufacturing equipment will be on its way to the Madison site, now called Timber Pure Technologies.

Trase: Indonesia's pulp sector has achieved 85% reduction of deforestation since 2011, but remains dependent on carbon-intensive peatland plantations

New Trase data shows Indonesia's substantial success in reducing deforestation rates in the pulp sector is undermined by the impact of developing pulpwood plantations on peatlands - associated with greenhouse gas emissions, fire risk and haze. The data shines a light on the complexity of addressing environmental risks; detailing 170,000 hectares deforested in pulpwood concessions between 2015-2019, despite the zero-deforestation commitments established by leading producers in 2013-2015.

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.

Read the monthly Industree 4.0 newsletters here

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China's Nine Dragons Paper investing US 1.3 billion in Malaysia

Hong Kong-headquartered Nine Dragons Paper announced it will invest US 1.3 billion to open two manufacturing facilities in Malaysia.

Fort Dearborn Company Announces the Acquisition of Hammer Packaging Corporation

Fort Dearborn Company announced that it has acquired Hammer Packaging Corporation. The combined organization takes advantage of Hammer's state-of-the-art technology to enhance Fort Dearborn's leadership position in the decorative label and packaging marketplace by further expanding the company's geographic footprint, capacity and capabilities.

Amcor partners with McKinsey.org to build sustainable recycling systems in Latin America

Amcor is supporting McKinsey.org's "Rethinking Recycling" initiative in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which has worked with 5,000 households, trained more than 120 workers and helped communities to recycle a third of their waste. Before the initiative, there was no formal recycling system and only a minority of the population regularly sorted their waste.

SAP Conference for Forest Products, Paper & Packaging is April 27-29

We are delighted to be speaking at/sponsoring the 2021 virtual International SAP Conference for Forest Products, Paper and Packaging. During three days of dynamic content, you will have an opportunity to meet with the industry's largest players, get hands-on with the latest innovation from SAP and discuss how your organisation can look towards the future and drive digital evolution.

UFP Industries subsidiary purchases J.C. Gilmore in Australia

UFP Industries, Inc. announced that one of its wholly owned subsidiaries, The UBEECO Group, has acquired the assets of J.C. Gilmore Pty Ltd. This transaction adds a wide portfolio of protective packaging to the industrial packaging products offered by UBEECO and its sister company, Integra Packaging, and expands the companies' customer base throughout Australia.

Neenah Grows in Technical Products and adds to its Specialty Coatings Platform with Agreement to Acquire ITASA

Neenah, Inc. announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Global Release Liners, S.L., the parent company of Industrias de Transformacion de Andoain, S.A. ("ITASA"), from Magnum Capital and other minority shareholders for €205 million in cash. Closing is expected to occur in early April and is subject to customary conditions.

WestRock CEO Steven C. Voorhees to step down; David B. Sewell to be successor

WestRock Company announced that Steven C. Voorhees has decided to step down from his position as president and chief executive officer and a director of the Company for health reasons, effective March 15, 2021. In addition, the Company's Board of Directors announced that, following a comprehensive search as part of the Company's long-term succession processes, it has elected David B. Sewell to succeed Voorhees as WestRock's president and chief executive officer at that time.

Kruger Announces Expansion Project, Financial Contributions and Successful Start-Up of TAD Tissue Plant in Sherbrooke Français

Total commitments of $961.1M; 643 jobs created and retained in Québec.

Hot air fan catches fire at WestRock, Chattanooga, Tenn. department says; no injuries reported

Crews with the Chattanooga Fire Department were at the scene of a fire at a WestRock facility on Sunday, Feb. 28.

Fire at Sonoco mill in Ontario

Thirty firefighters responded to the mill as did crews from Hydro One.

Arctic Paper invests $12 million in its hydropower plant at Munkedal mill in Sweden

Arctic Paper put its expanded hydropower plant into operation at Munkedal mill in Sweden. The investment of just over SEK 100 million ($12 million) increases the power from 2 to 6 MW, which in combination with the planned solid fuel boiler is sufficient to meet up to 80% of Arctic Paper Munkedal's energy needs with its own sustainable energy.

Domtar President and CEO, John D. Williams, to return from Medical Leave of Absence following COVID-19 bout

Domtar Corporation announced that John D. Williams will return from temporary medical leave following having contracted the Covid-19 and is resuming authority and responsibility as President and Chief Executive Officer on Monday, March 1st, 2021.

Packaging Corporation Of America Announces Conversion Of Jackson, AL Mill Paper Machine To High-Performance Virgin Linerboard

Packaging Corporation of America announced that it has discontinued production of uncoated freesheet (UFS) grades on the No. 3 paper machine at its Jackson, AL mill and will begin preparing for the permanent conversion of the machine to linerboard.

Mondi Weighs Deal for $7 Billion Packaging Rival DS Smith

Mondi Plc, the packaging and paper group, is exploring a potential takeover of British rival DS Smith Plc, according to people familiar with the matter.

Suzano and Spinnova to build sustainable textile fibre plant in Finland

Brazilian pulp group Suzano and Finnish cellulose fibre startup Spinnova will build a plant in Finland to make a sustainable textile fibre from wood and waste.

Sappi Europe to hike prices for packaging and speciality papers

Sappi Europe announces a price increase for all its packaging and speciality paper grades by 7 - 11% valid for deliveries from 1 April 2021.

Domtar: Hawesville Mill Uses Technology, Culture to Advance Sustainability

Our pulp and paper mills, including our Hawesville Mill in Kentucky, have been using wood fiber, water and basic chemistry to make useful, recyclable products for more than a century. As technology has advanced, our processes have become more efficient and more sustainable.

Smurfit Kappa's Vitop plant the first to be certified ISCC PLUS

Although Bag-in-Box is already a very sustainable packaging, by enabling considerable plastic and CO2 reduction, Smurfit Kappa is continuing to focus effort on raw material innovations, especially by incorporating recycled or bio-based resins to our taps and bags, where the food safety regulations allow it. One of the main steps of this initiative has been recently achieved with the ISCC PLUS certification.

Rayonier Releases Carbon Report Quantifying Its Net Positive Climate Impact

Rayonier Inc. released its first Carbon Report detailing the positive net carbon impact generated by the Company's forestry operations.

Metsä Spring invests in Montinutra, a startup that commercialises wood extract

Metsä Group's innovation company Metsä Spring Ltd has made an equity investment in Montinutra Ltd, a startup converting forest industry side streams into high-value bioactive products. The financing round totals approximately EUR 1 million, and Metsä Spring is participating in the round with current and new private investors.

It's in the bag! Tesco partners with Mondi to close the loop for shopping bags from retailer's own paper waste

Leading global packaging and paper group Mondi and Tesco Central Europe have launched a new partnership, in which Mondi will purchase the retailer's warehouse corrugated waste to create recycled paper for the retailers' shopping bags. Tesco is working towards a net zero emission goal, in line with its sustainability targets to remove, reduce, reuse and recycle wherever possible and Mondi is able to contribute to this vision with its customer-centric approach, EcoSolutions.

Sonoco Named to FORTUNE's World's Most Admired Companies and Barron's 100 Most Sustainable Companies

Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies list is the definitive report card on corporate reputations. Executives, directors and analysts rate companies in their own industry on nine attributes considered critical to a company's global success. In the current survey, Sonoco ranked second overall in the Packaging/Container industry.

UPM rewarded its employees for good performance by paying EUR 51 million in incentives

UPM's goal is to develop, encourage and reward every employee in their work. UPM paid a total of EUR 51 million as short-term incentives to employees in 2020. The incentives were paid for the good 2019 results and for personal success in one's own work. The figures are outlined in the Annual Report that was published today. Over the last five years, UPM has paid nearly EUR 300 million in incentives to its employees.

Domtar Corporation Completes Sale of Personal Care Business

Domtar Corporation announced that it completed the previously disclosed sale of its Personal Care business to affiliates of American Industrial Partners for $920 million. This divestiture is a significant milestone in the Company's strategic transformation to become a leading paper, pulp and packaging company.

Lecta Introduces Adestor PET Laser MW

The new Adestor PET Laser Matt White facestock provides excellent performance for outdoor labelling and durable applications (high resistance to water, chemicals and fluctuating temperatures). This new product is HP Indigo certified and ideal for use with variable data printing technologies.

Finance Authority of Maine honors Pulp and Paper Foundation with 2020 Education at Work Award

The University of Maine Pulp and Paper Foundation has received the 2020 Education at Work for Maine Award from the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) in recognition of their role in revitalizing Maine's forest products industry.

Student profile: University of Washington senior Jackie Kobal

Jackie Kobal is a senior in the Bioresource Science and Engineering (BSE) program and looking forward to an engineering career with a strong sustainability focus.

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.

The Light Green Machine Institute

Ideas you can use now.

Families, education and COVID-19

If you look at the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic, we have another two years or so to deal with this pandemic. Crank down on your kids' educational activities because we're in this for the long run. We're behind in education but with tenacity and effort we'll catch up and maybe even be ahead when things return to normal.

Capital Arguments for February 2021

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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