Leading Stories

Veritiv Becomes Privately Held Company

The planned conversion of the Escanaba paper mill to produce cartonboard has stalled due to economic conditions, according to company officials.

Purchase and sale agreements with Forest Investment Associates set to increase cash flow and optimize portfolio value

The net impact of the transaction on Mativ's debt is expected to be a reduction of more than $600 million, which equates to approximately 35% of Mativ's outstanding debt balance as of the end of the third quarter, and is subject to customary post-closing adjustments.

Green Bay Packaging -- a paper company that makes shipping containers, cartons and label products -- is set to build a new regional corporate headquarters to replace its current facility in Germantown.

The Saica Group has unveiled its Research, Development & Innovation (R&D&I) Centre at its El Burgo de Ebro plant in Zaragoza, Spain. The centre will service Saica's four divisions globally: Saica Natur, Saica Paper, Saica Pack and Saica Flex.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a SEK 1.3 billion (approximately Euro 110 million) loan agreement with Swedish company Billerud, a world-leading paper and packaging materials supplier. The loan supports investments in the modernisation and upgrade of a bioproduct mill, including the replacement of a recovery boiler.

The Espanola Pulp and Paper Domtar Mill will enter the final stage of idling on Nov. 30.

Potential layoffs would last a maximum of 90 days and could be implemented in several installments during 2024. A total of 1,100 people were involved in the change negotiations at Metsä Board's seven mill locations in Joutseno, Kaskinen, Kemi, Kyröskoski, Tampere, Simpele and Äänekoski.

UPM invests nearly Euro 10 million in the modernization of the Korkeakoski sawmill. A new split saw supplied by USNR will start operating at the sawmill in 2025.

It's back to business as usual at the Kruger paper mill in Corner Brook after a week-long shutdown.

Opinion follows skeptical previous ruling from last year.

Felix Schoeller North America is using a new silicone-coating operation at its Pulaski facility, having publicly introduced it for the first time on Nov. 15.

Boise Cascade announced an indefinite curtailment of its lumber production in Chapman, AL. The curtailment will affect approximately 80 positions. The plywood operations at the Chapman location are not part of the curtailment.

Union workers at the Woodland Pulp mill in Baileyville have voted to accept an offer from the company, ending a strike that began October 14.

The workers had hoped to be back on the job Dec. 1, but the company says international paper markets have not recovered as anticipated.

The mill will have an annual production capacity of about 160,000 cubic metres of Kerto LVL and is expected to start production in the second half of 2026.

Rayonier Advanced Materials (RYAM) of Fernandina Beach has submitted an application to the state for a bioethanol production plant that would be located at its current cellulose production complex.

Details of the incident remain unknown as the investigations are under way.

UPM Pulp, UPM Timber, UPM Communication Papers and UPM Biofuels will start change negotiations on possible temporary layoffs. The negotiations are conducted to prepare for possible temporary adjustment of production in the Finnish units should the uncertainty in the operating environment continue.

The project to expand folding boxboard production capacity has been completed at the Husum integrated pulp and paperboard mill in Sweden.

Striking workers at the Woodland Pulp mill in Baileyville say that five picketers were arrested on Monday.

Due to uncompetitive wood prices from the Polish State Forests' monopoly and low market demand across paper and board products, the company decided to significantly reduce the planned multiannual strategic investment project at MM Kwidzyn relating to energy, further pulp integration and the product range, which was announced end of April 2023. Instead, MM Kwidzyn will focus its investments on increasing its already high share of renewable energy of currently 69 % even further.

Smurfit Kappa, a paper-based packaging company, has announced it will make a $68 million investment and create 200 new jobs in Anderson County.

As required by the Takeovers Code in Hong Kong, Essity has today confirmed that discussions are ongoing with a number of interested parties in respect of a potential transaction regarding Essity owned shares in Vinda. No decisions relating to the future ownership of Essity's Vinda shares have been made. Vinda has made a public announcement as required by local laws.