News & Events
MoRe goes for nanocellulose development; will bring nanocellulose closer to production and practical applications
(Stockholm, Sweden, Dec. 14, 2016) MoRe Research together with Swedish universities make a major investment in research within the nanocellulose field. A team of two post docs, and one licentiate will be working on development of applications and techniques for production of demonstration material from nanocellulose.
“It is great that we are able to do this major investment in bringing nanocellulose closer to production and practical applications”, says Anna Svedberg, responsible for marketing and development at MoRe Research. “There are Read More...
Burgo Group replaces fuel oil with natural gas at its Virton paper mill in Belgium
(Belgium, 15 December, 2016) Burgo Group announced, in the integrated mill of Burgo Ardennes, the conclusion of a large project aimed at replacing fuel oil used to power the boilers of Virton paper mill in Belgium with natural gas.
The project, which costs Euro 9 million, has an important environmental value, since it will allows an improvement of the mill performance in terms of CO2 emissions.
Founded in 1963 with a cellulose production line, the plant in Virton was equipped with Read More...
Södra Provides SEK 10 Million in Funding for Research and Development
(Stockholm, Sweden, Dec. 15, 2016) In November, the Södra Foundation for Research, Development and Education decided to contribute an additional SEK 10 million to research projects connected with forestry. Six different projects have been awarded grants, one of which focuses on addressing the future market for wood fibre-based products by developing new fibres from existing processing environments.
Sodra Foundation for Research, Development and Education
The mission of the Södra Foundation for Research, Development and Education is to promote research and education Read More...
BillerudKorsnäs to Invest SEK 5.7 Billion in New Board Machine at Gruvön Mill
(Sweden, Dec. 12, 2016) The board of BillerudKorsnäs has today made the decision to carry out the largest investment in the history of the company and one of the largest in Sweden in recent years -- the investment in a new board machine at the Gruvön site. The decision has been made in view of growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions for food and beverages globally.
A Board Machine (Image for representational purposes only)
The investment of SEK 5.7 billion (approx. Read More...
Updated: BEK prices continue to rise; NBSK prices firming up in China
(December 12, 2016) Some updates to our news report dated Dec. 02, 2016 “Pulp producers come out with price hikes for BEK & other pulp grades w.e.f January 01, 2017.”
Both BEK and NBSK prices are reported to be moving up in China. Mercer International and West Fraser have hiked NBSK price hikes by USD20/t in China.
West Fraser had earlier announced a USD20/t hike for softwood BCTMP in China. Millar Western has announced a USD10/t hike for BCTM in Read More...
Tripling of Direct Costs on the European paper industry impedes Europe’s Investment Potential
(Brussels, Belgium, Nov. 24, 2016) A European Commission real-time study on our sector has revealed that over the past 10 years, direct regulatory costs have more than tripled. On average, direct and ETS-related indirect regulatory costs have absorbed more than 40% of the industry’s annual profitability since 2004.
While the paper industry is engaging in major transformation of its production base to capture both growth opportunities and dramatically reduce its CO2 emissions, such regulatory burden diminishes our investment capability and Read More...
Schumacher Packaging takes over Polish paper plant
(Germany, Dec. 08, 2016) German cardboard packaging maker Schumacher Packaging GmbH has acquired a paper plant in Myszków, Poland, under an investment worth about €100 million, the company said in a statement.
Commenting on the latest transaction, Björn Schumacher, the company’s managing director, said that the “paper market is subject to strong price fluctuations. They could not be passed on to the market, especially in the last three years.”
“Since we are improving our delivery capability, we are also securing further Read More...
Xerium introduces TransForm Forming Fabric for Paperboard and Packaging Manufacturers
(USA, Dec. 9, 2016) Xerium Technologies introduces TransForm, a revolutionary new generation of forming fabrics designed specifically for paperboard and packaging machines that lowers energy consumption and extends fabric life, among other considerable benefits.
“Our board and packaging customers continuously demand improvements in uptime efficiency and reduced operating costs while delivering higher product quality at maximum output,” said Bill Butterfield, EVP and CTO of Xerium.
“Utilizing new proprietary polymers and structural designs, our new TransForm line is already helping customers reduce Read More...
BillerudKorsnäs Launches Full Scale Tests Adding Microfibrillated Cellulose to Its Paperboard
(Stockholm, Sweden, Dec. 8, 2016) After promising initial tests, BillerudKorsnäs is now moving ahead with full scale trials adding microfibrillated cellulose, MFC, to its paperboard products. The initiative is made possible through a new cooperation with Norwegian biorefinery pioneer Borregaard.
Recent development has allowed for industrial scale extraction of the components of cellulosic fibres in wood, the fibrils. For a paper and board maker, adding microfibrillated cellulose, MFC, in the production process opens up opportunities for new functionality and for Read More...
Kemira Increases Prices of Polymer Products in Europe
(Helsinki, Finland, Dec. 8, 2016) Kemira on Dec. 1 announced a price increase for its polymer product line across all European countries. The adjustment will be effective January 1, 2017 or as customer contracts allow.
The increase will be an average of 5%, depending on the specific customer segment and applications, and can differ for specific product types in selected geographies. This adjustment is necessary due to overall increased production and supply costs, Kemira said.
Kemira is a global chemicals company Read More...
Belarusian Bellesbumprom’s export to non-CIS states 5.6% up in January-October
(Minsk, Russia, 12 December 2016) Enterprises run by the Belarusian timber, woodworking, pulp and paper industry concern Bellesbumprom exported 5.6% more merchandise to non-CIS states in January-October 2016, Bellesbumprom’s press service told BelTA. According to the source, Bellesbumprom enterprises exported $102.4 million worth of merchandise to non-CIS states in January-October 2016, up 5.6% from January-October 2015. The enterprises exported about 20 kinds of products made by the woodworking industry and the pulp and paper industry. The export of plywood Read More...
Rayonier Advanced Materials and Borregaard gain approvals for $135 million LignoTech JV
(USA, Dec. 9, 2016) Borregaard ASA and Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. announced today the companies have secured the necessary approvals from their Boards of Directors and the appropriate permits to proceed with the investment for construction of a new lignin facility at RYAM’s Fernandina Beach site in Florida. The venture, named LignoTech Florida (LTF), will serve the growing global demand for natural lignin-based products.
Lignin, a natural component of wood, is a co-product of RYAM’s sulphite cellulose manufacturing process. The Read More...
U.S. Market for Boxes Used in E-Commerce to Grow 10% Annually Through 2020
(Cleveland, USA, Dec. 7, 2016) Demand for boxes for e-commerce packaging is forecast to advance more than 10 percent per year to $1.1 billion in 2020, driven by continued robust growth for online retail sales, which will spur concomitant opportunities for boxes needed to ship products. These and other trends are presented in Retail E-Commerce Packaging Market in the US, a new study from The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based industry research firm.
In 2015, boxes accounted for 28 percent of Read More...
Valmet to supply automation technology to Nepa Limited in India
(Helsinki, Finland, Dec. 7, 2016) Valmet announced that it will deliver automation technology to Nepa Limited in India for its two refurbished paper machines and new deinking plant.
According to Valmet, the new automation system will enable the paper mill to increase productivity and improve product quality.
Typically, the order value of this kind of automation system deliveries is below EUR one million, Valmet added.
Valmet’s delivery includes a mill-wide Valmet DNA automation system to control the two paper machines, PM 1 Read More...
DS Smith Acquires P&I Displays and Packaging in Portugal
(London, UK, Dec. 7, 2016) DS Smith on Dec. 2 said that it has acquired P&I Displays and Packaging (“P&I”) in Portugal. The company specializes in display products and services for in-store marketing.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
P&I employs about 120 people.
In a press release, DS Smith said, “P&I is focused on FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) customers and builds on our capability within both the Iberian markets and the display sector, following our recent acquisitions of Creo in Read More...