Recent Articles

International technology Group Andritz has successfully installed a new Multi Motor Drive (MMD) and drive control system for paper machine 3 at Hamburger Containerboard Group's mill in Pitten, Austria, completing this demanding retrofit project within a very short time. The installation and start-up of the Andritz scope took less than two weeks.

In June, one of Europe's leading producers of publication papers, Norske Skog, commissioned the technology group Voith to rebuild the PM 1 production line for the future production of recycled packaging paper. In addition to the extensive rebuild of the PM 1, Voith will supply a new BlueLine stock preparation system and efficiency-enhancing services. Located in the Vosges area, the plant will produce 550,000 tons of containerboard per year with a wire width of 9,300 mm. The focus is on lightweight packaging papers between 70 and 135 g/m2. Commissioning is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2023.

Valmet will supply a boiler upgrade and a flue gas cleaning system to Stora Enso's Anjala-Ingerois sites in Finland. The goal of the investment is to reduce the emissions and to ensure flexible use of different fuel mixtures in heat production, as well as to achieve better boiler performance and higher boiler efficiency.

Valmet will supply a conversion from paper machine to fluff pulp drying machine at Daio Paper Corporation's Mishima mill in Japan. The delivery will include new machinery, rebuilds and automation in the pulp drying line and reel system in the existing paper machine PM15.

Valmet will supply the ninth tissue line delivery, including an extensive automation package, to Turkish tissue producer Hayat Kimya. The company has decided to invest in a new tissue machine at their new mill in Russia, with a target to meet the increasing demand for their high-quality tissue products. The new line will add 70,000 tons of tissue to their current production of facial, toilet and towel tissues. The start-up is planned for the end of 2022.

International technology group ANDRITZ is supplying major energy-efficient and environmentally friendly pulp production technologies and key process equipment for Bracell's Project "STAR" in the city of Lençóis Paulista, São Paulo state, Brazil.

Reported insider trading since the last issue of PaperMoney.

The bill passed 63-35 in the Assembly and 20-12 in the Senate. It would allow the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to provide a timber cooperative, which is made up of people throughout the timber industry in the state, a $50 million loan to purchase the Verso Mill in Wisconsin Rapids and a $15 million loan to purchase the Flambeau River Papers Mill in Park Falls.

Cascades Inc. is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with an affiliate of funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, "Apollo") to sell its 57.6% equity interest in Reno De Medici S.p.A. ("Reno de Medici", or "RDM") for an all-cash price of €1.45 per share, corresponding to a total net cash consideration of approximately €315.3 million (approximately CAN$461 million).

Financial implications associated with the closure of the Appleton facility include an estimated annual EBITDA benefit of $7 million to $8 million, excluding estimated one-time cash closure costs of $5 million to $6 million and one-time non-cash charges of approximately $45 million.

Novolex, an industry leader in packaging choice, innovation, and sustainability, announced it has acquired the business of Flexo Converters USA, Inc. and certain of its affiliates. The intention to acquire was originally announced May 17.

Essity has finalized its acquisition of the remaining 63.8% of the shares in the Australian hygiene company Asaleo Care. Essity AustralAsia, which is the name of the regional unit going forward, will be consolidated into Essity's accounts as of July 1st , 2021.

The new 298,000 square foot facility will be located in McDonough, Georgia and is the latest in a series of investments in protective packaging manufacturing facilities to support e-commerce demand. Pregis recently announced two manufacturing facilities in Texas, one in Bethel, Pennsylvania, in addition to an existing facility in Elk Grove Village, Illinois.

Stora Enso has completed the co-determination negotiations concerning the closing down the pulp and paper production at its Kvarnsveden site in Sweden. The closure will take place by the end of the third quarter of 2021.

Klabin SA is going to invest 342 million reais ($69 million) in 23 projects throughout 2022, according to a securities filing on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for Georgia-Pacific said damage from the fire was relatively minor and that internal systems helped suppress the flames before they spread. However, fire crews were still on the scene to check for pop-up fire or extension. Heavy smoke was also an obstacle for crews that night.

In 2021, Mercer Celgar is embarking on a capital investment project to upgrade our existing woodroom. This project has a total cost of $31.4 million, of which $4.5 million is funded through Natural Resources Canada's Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program.

As a result, the number of positions at UPM Raflatac will decrease by 129.

A fire in a warehouse on June 25 on A dock at Powell River's Paper Excellence Catalyst paper mill is now under control.

No one is injured after a fire in a machine at the Georgia Pacific mill in Green Bay on Saturday night, June 26.

Norske Skog will invest approximately EUR 250 million in the conversion of Golbey PM1, and a syndication of financing facilities of approximately EUR 175 million is being finalised, subject to final documentation and final approval from the relevant export credit agency.

CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc. announced a definitive agreement to sell 18,063 acres of prime Oregon timberlands - known as the Bandon property - for $100 million in cash, or approximately $5,536 per acre, to Roseburg Resources Co.

The project includes an upgrade of the wood yard, fiber line, evaporation plant and paper machine. Start-up is planned for the fourth quarter of 2023.

The Mayr-Melnhof Group ('MM') and a subsidiary of funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. ('Oaktree') have reached a firm intention on the sale of MM's virgin fiber cartonboard mills located in Eerbeek, Netherlands, and Baiersbronn, Germany, to Oaktree for an equity value of EUR 104.6 million and net debt subject to final closing accounts.

Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. announced that it has acquired a portion of the issued ordinary share capital of Elopak ASA (President & CEO: Thomas Körmendi, "Elopak"), a Norway-based liquid paper packaging company operating in Europe and North America, as a Cornerstone investor in Elopak's initial public offering on the Oslo Børs.