Recent Articles

Huhtamaki, a key advanced manufacturer of sustainable packaging solutions for consumers around the world, has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Jiangsu Hihio-Art Packaging Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of paper bags, wraps and folding carton packaging in China.

IT Tech Packaging, Inc., a leading manufacturer and distributor of diversified paper products in North China, announced the Company has completed fundamental constructions on its new tissue paper production line (the "PM10") and is working on the installation of affiliated equipment.

Smurfit Kappa has announced a significant investment in its Hoya paper mill and board manufacturing plant in northwest Germany. It is the latest phase of an investment programme, which commenced in 2011, and this last phase will see production output increase by 70 kt to 450 kt per annum.

Sylvamo Corporation, a subsidiary of International Paper that is in the process of being spun off into an independent, publicly-traded company, could put its headquarters in Memphis.

Stora Enso will start co-determination negotiations with employees at its Kvarnsveden Mill in Sweden and Veitsiluoto Mill in Finland regarding a plan to permanently close down pulp and paper production at both mills. The planned closures would take place during the third quarter of 2021, and affect directly 670 people in Finland and 440 people in Sweden.

Global manufacturer USG Corporation will open a 90,000-square foot facility in the Montbello neighborhood.

Specific proposals outlined in the letter include removing the Company's value destructive "poison pill," executing a modest stock buyback program, and conducting a non-deal equity roadshow to educate the institutional investment community on RRD's recent deleveraging and growth initiatives. As a longstanding, supportive shareholder of RRD, Chatham strongly recommends RRD undertake these actions to enhance value for all the Company's stakeholders.

The Board of Directors of UPM-Kymmene Corporation has today decided to complement its Audit Committee composition by appointing Emma FitzGerald as the fourth member of the committee. The appointment is made following the stepping-down of Ms FitzGerald from her CEO role in Puma Energy Ltd., which allows her availability to Audit Committee work. Ms FitzGerald is also a member of UPM Board's Remuneration Committee.

Rengo has acquired all of Toppan Printing's shares of its consolidated subsidiary Rengo Toppan Containers and made it a wholly owned subsidiary, as well as changed the company name to "RG Containers Co., Ltd."

Two of the country's largest pulp and paper unions, Unifor and the Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC), have agreed to continue to work together in the next round of pulp and paper bargaining for members across Western Canada.

Arctic Paper consolidates the sales organizations for Scandinavia and the Baltics into a joint company, Arctic Paper ScanBaltics.

Procter & Gamble announced it will hike prices on baby care, feminine care and adult incontinence products in September to respond to higher commodity costs.

The takeover offer of Greater Manchester-headquartered Scapa - which values the healthcare and industrial group at more than £410m - has completed.

Sari Pajari-Sederholm has been appointed Metsä Group's EVP, Strategy as of 1 May 2021. She has worked within Metsä Group since 2007 e.g. as the Metsä Group's CIO and in various management positions in the paperboard business, Metsä Board. Pajari-Sederholm moves to her new role from the position of Metsä Board's SVP, Sales and Marketing.

A new strategy function is being formed within Södra and Malin Nordin has been recruited as Director of Strategy.

If you have been in the packaging, containerboard or tissue sectors for the past 15 months, you are generally smiling already. Now, the economy is coming roaring back. For the first quarter, the US economy grew at a 6.4% annual rate. Last year, the economy declined by 3% while box shipments rose by 3.5%.

The PM40 closed Friday, 30 April 2021, at 4329.

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

In this issue of Disconnected Comparisons, we evaluate PCA and Boise Cascade.

The PM40 closed 30 April 2021 up 86.5% from the 1 May 2020 level.

Before a federal judge could approve a proposed sale of the closed Ponderay Newsprint Mill to a California-based venture capital company, concerns were raised during a court hearing Thursday about potential plans to use power allotted to the mill for cryptocurrency mining.

DS Smith warned on Thursday of higher packaging prices as an online shopping boom during the pandemic has led to a surge in demand for boxes, coupled with a shortage of raw materials and higher paper prices.

Kruger Products L.P. is now a signatory of the Canada Plastics Pact (CPP), making it the first tissue manufacturer to be part of this national commitment. The company recently launched its 10-year sustainability strategy, Reimagine 2030, which includes a target of reducing the virgin plastic in its trademark branded packaging by 50% by 2030. Joining the CPP is the first tangible example of the company's commitment to achieving its new targets.

Neenah, Inc. proudly achieves nine verified U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Certified Biobased Products in their durable label solutions lineup as further evidence of its commitment to sustainability efforts.

Norske Skog's Board of Directors has made the final investment decision to convert one machine at the Bruck (Austria) industrial site from newsprint to recycled containerboard production. This is the first major step of the two planned European conversion projects in the group's strategy of establishing Norske Skog as a leading independent European producer of recycled containerboard.

Mohawk Fine Papers, Inc., North America's largest privately owned manufacturer of fine papers and envelopes, unveiled a groundbreaking portfolio of papers, Mohawk Renewal, made from rapidly renewable, sustainable fibers--namely hemp, straw and recycled cotton--in April of last year.