Recent Articles

Stora Enso has completed the union negotiations regarding the closure of pulp and paper production at Kvarnsveden. A total of 340 people will be permanently laid off.

In this newly created, standalone role, Mr. Owenby will be responsible for all Pactiv Evergreen operating functions globally, assuming the operations leadership responsibilities that Mike Ragen, Pactiv Evergreen's Chief Financial Officer (CFO), accepted in 2018.

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. announced that it has completed its previously announced sale of its lumber and newsprint assets (the "Purchased Assets") to GreenFirst Forest Products Inc. ("GreenFirst"), a Canadian lumber company, for a total purchase price of approximately US$235 million, subject to final adjustments.

Roseburg announced plans for a multi-million dollar investment in new technology at its Western manufacturing operations, the result of an extensive analysis of strategic business opportunities in the West. As part of the restructuring, the company will close its particleboard plant in Dillard, Oregon, and offer current team members employment opportunities elsewhere in the organization.

Thunder Bay firefighters and four pumper trucks responded Wednesday morning to what a spokesperson called a "stubborn" fire that heavily damaged a large piece of equipment in the Resolute sawmill wood yard.

The company confirmed an upcoming $17 million investment in the sawmill, a significant increase from what it initially committed to the project.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation has announced a series of executive leadership changes in support of its global business.

Smurfit Kappa announced it is investing $22 million to expand its corrugated plant in Culiacan, North-West Mexico. It demonstrates the company's continued commitment to the Mexican market with expanded capacity, capabilities and products offerings for local customers in the fresh produce segment.

Rengo announced that it was resolved at its Board of Directors' meeting that it will take over all shares for subscription of Taiko Paper Mfg., Ltd. (TPM) through third-party allocation on September 1, 2021 and make it a wholly owned subsidiary.

Conifex Timber Inc. announced that it has made the difficult decision to temporarily curtail lumber production at its Mackenzie, British Columbia sawmill for two weeks commencing August 23, 2021.

That fact that the Board continues to defend and extend the poison pill despite clear opposition from its stockholders, and over and above the objections of shareholder advisory firms, such as Institutional Shareholder Services ("ISS"), who have clearly opposed retention of the poison pill, only serves to demonstrate that the Board's interests are not aligned with those of its stockholders and fresh perspectives are sorely needed in the boardroom.

A new kraftliner production line, PM 27, which was supplied by Valmet to Klabin, was successfully started up at Puma Project in Ortigueira, Paraná, Brazil.

Lecta announces a change to its senior leadership team. Eduardo Querol, Group's CEO, will step down from that role and will become Vice Chairman of the Group and Special Advisor to the Chairman.

Metsä Tissue appoints Tobias Lüning as Senior Vice President, Central Europe. Tobias has previously held various leadership positions within Metsä Tissue, latest as Vice President Supply Chain, West und Country Manager Germany.

Per Ivar Berg (58) has been appointed new Managing Director at Norske Skog Saugbrugs AS from February 1, 2022.

Weyerhaeuser has announced the appointment of Travis Keatley as senior vice president of Timberlands, effective Sept. 13. Keatley has served as vice president of Western Timberlands for the company since January 2020, and his appointment follows the planned retirement of Adrian Blocker, who will stay on through mid-October to serve as a senior advisor and aid in the transition.

Serendipitously, we drove by the Columbia Pulp Mill in Lyons Ferry, Washington one day while driving through the region called the Palouse. The Palouse is an amazing geographical area rich in agriculture, particularly small grain (wheat, barely, etc.). They have wheat straw (the feedstock for Columbia Pulp) coming out their ears, so to speak. In times past, I have been not too kind in my comments about this facility and the attempt once again to make wheat straw pulp. However, they may succeed, and if the management would choose to school me on their experience and plans, I'll make a sincere effort to get by and see the mill sometime soon.

The PM40 closed Friday, 13 August 2021, at 4353.

Get the latest PM40 updates by listening to the weekly Nips show and the PM40 Daily Show on Pulp & Paper Radio International.

The PM40 closed 3 September 2021 up 46.3% from the 4 September 2020 level.

In this issue of Disconnected Comparisons, we evaluate Schweitzer-Mauduit and 3M.

The 2021 forest fire season has impacted tens of thousands of British Columbians in communities across the province. The donation will be used to support immediate relief efforts for families and help with long-term recovery and preparedness for future events.

Officials at the Sappi Somerset Mill said Monday that although Gov. Janet Mills has assured them the mill will not close in response to issues with relicensing the Shawmut Dam, they are still concerned about the future.

Finding new ways to address our environmental challenges is reliant on our ability to foster innovation to find ways of driving systemic change.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced $5.3 million in grants to restore, enhance and protect longleaf pine forests in nine southern states. The grants will leverage $6.9 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of $12.2 million.

As a result, Canfor's BC mills are expected to operate at approximately 80% of production capacity and operating schedules may continue to vary as economic conditions warrant.