Major Announcements

Paperitalo Publications CEO Jim Thompson has been calling mills this morning (15 Feb 21) and found general reports of widespread abnormal conditions due to the extremely cold weather. If the mills can get natural gas, they are slowed down, just trying to keep the mills from freezing up. Spot natural gas prices are as high as $300/mmBtu and purchased electricity is on curtailment in many places.

The company has started pre-engineering for increasing the annual production capacity of folding boxboard machine BM1 at the Husum mill in Sweden by approximately 200,000 tonnes.

The plan is to break ground this spring with a completion date in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Verso Corporation announced the appointment of Randy J. Nebel as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Nebel has served as interim President and Chief Executive Officer since October 2020 and has been a member of Verso's Board of Directors since November 2019.

Domtar Corporation announced that John D. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer, has contracted the Covid-19 and is taking a temporary medical leave of absence.

The Nomination Committee of BillerudKorsnäs has decided to propose that Jan Svensson shall be elected as Chairman of the Board of BillerudKorsnäs, at the Annual General Meeting that will be held on 5 May 2021.

The United Steelworkers (USW) said that the union is saddened by the news that former United Paperworkers International Union President Wayne E. Glenn passed away on January 3, 2021.

After 25 months of construction and installation of the Musketeers mill project, Grupo Gondi's 7th paper machine has produced its first paper reel.

The 160,000 square-foot facility will serve approximately 900 customers from the Building Materials Distribution's (BMD) Houston Distribution Center. 

Pro-Gest Group's founder Mr Bruno Zago announces that Mr Francesco Zago will be taking over the role of the Group CEO from 2021.

The Södra Foundation for Research, Development and Education has decided to grant an additional SEK 8.7 million to 11 research projects linked to forest management and forest industry. The biggest investment in this year's second round of funding will focus on potential applications for cross-laminated timber (CLT).

Dunn Paper, a leading manufacturer and supplier of high performance, advanced paper and tissue for use in food, medical, and specialty markets unveiled today changes within the organization beginning with the appointment of David Apollonio as President and CEO. Apollonio will lead the organization from the Company's new headquarters located in Alpharetta, Georgia.

According to its website, Cosmo has begun recalling some of its approximately 200 employees and hopes to be running at full capacity by February 1, 2021.

Dunn Paper, a leading manufacturer and supplier of high performance, advanced paper and tissue for use in food, medical, and specialty markets unveiled today changes within the organization beginning with the appointment of David Apollonio as President and CEO. Apollonio will lead the organization from the Company's new headquarters located in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Mondi, a leading global packaging and paper manufacturer, will open its new state-of-the-art paper bags plant in Cartagena, Colombia in January 2021.

UPM has completed the employee consultation process started in October on its plans to improve efficiency in global functions.

International Paper announced a plan to pursue a spin-off of the Company's Printing Papers segment into a standalone, publicly traded company ("SpinCo").

Stora Enso is investing EUR 14 million to build a granulation and packing plant for lignin, allowing easier packing and handling of lignin compared to powder and wet form.

The new mill would add 2.2 million tonnes of annual pulp capacity to Suzano's operations.

Continued talks with representatives of a company interested in perhaps acquiring the shuttered Verso paper mill in Duluth have intensified in recent weeks, drawing increased attention to the fate of the facility and the 220-plus people it employed before a shutdown was announced in late June.

Paper Excellence Canada has announced it plans to restart the No. 3 paper machine at its Catalyst paper mill in Crofton, effective in early January 2021, which is good news for some 58 employees who will head back to work after a prolonged layoff.

Resolute Forest Products chief executive Yves Laflamme will retire next year and be replaced by chief financial officer Remi Lalonde, the company announced.

PotlatchDeltic Corporation's board of directors today announced that Eric J. Cremers, currently the company's president and chief operating officer, has been appointed president and chief executive officer of the company, effective January 1, 2021.

The feasibility study will evaluate a possible upgrade and expansion of existing integrated pulp capacity from 370 000 tonnes to 780 000 tonnes annually and a possible increase of 120 000 tonnes in board capacity.

Peter Secchia -- a West Michigan businessman, Michigan State University donor and longtime figure in Republican politics -- died Wednesday at the age of 83, his wife, Joan Secchia, confirmed in a statement.