below please find a selection of the latest news from the world of pulp and paper.

ipw news

BillerudKorsnäs is introducing two new low grammages of their flagship cartonboard product, CrownBoard Prestige^®. Made at KM7, one of the world’s most modern board machines, the two new low grammages are particularly interesting for the graphical industry.

Designed as one of the most efficient specialty paper machines in the world, Koehler Paper commissioned Voith's production line 8 at its Kehl mill at the end of October 2019 - after a previous project time of only around two and a half years.

4evergreen, the cross-industry alliance perfecting the circularity of fibre-based packaging from across the industry’s value chain, announced Hans Wortman as new Chair.

Stora Enso has completed the installation of dispersion barrier technology at its Forshaga site in Sweden and production has now started. Completion of the installation follows the company’s EUR 10 million investment announced in 2020. The installation was carried out on time and the production of new products will be ramped up during the coming months.

International technology group ANDRITZ has signed an agreement with GE Steam Power to acquire parts of their Air Quality Control System (AQCS) technology, including the technology center in Växjö, Sweden. Closing of the transaction was reached on 1^st of July 2021.

Valmet will supply recycled fiber lines for Umka Cardboard Mill rebuild in Serbia. The order is a continuation of Valmet’s board machine rebuild delivery, which will be started up during the second half of 2021. The main target of the rebuild is to increase the customer’s production capacity and improve end-product quality. The recycled fiber lines are scheduled to start-up during the first half of 2022. The order was included in Valmet’s orders received of the first quarter 2021.

Global packaging and paper group Mondi has partnered with German manufacturer VPF, an expert in self-adhesive materials and coatings, to create the world’s first sustainable release liner range made from recycled paper.

ABB has launched its latest generation of Color Control with new features that improve overall quality and enable faster color matching, making it easier for operators of all levels to match specifications and eliminate the guesswork normally associated with shading.

Paraibuna Embalagens has commissioned Voith to supply its Quality Control System (QCS) OnQuality of scanners and sensors to the company’s new paper production line in Juiz de Fora, Brazil. Paraibuna, which is among the largest manufacturers of packaging paper and corrugated cardboard in the country, is standing out for the production of recyclable and biodegradable packaging solutions and is starting up its new PM 8 in Juiz de Fora in September 2021.

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.

Valmet will supply two OptiConcept M container board making lines with extensive packages of automation, services and industrial internet applications to Zhejiang Shanying Paper in Jiaxing City, Zhejiang province, China. The orders are included in Valmet's orders received of the second quarter 2021. The values of the orders will not be disclosed.

Sappi Europe has partnered with Shippeo, a company acting in real-time transportation visibility solutions. This partnership will create a fully transparent supply chain, helping to boost efficiency and customer satisfaction through innovative digital supply chain capabilities.

Mondi is increasing capacity for their paper-based MailerBAG range to further replace plastic packaging in eCommerce with a recyclable solution made of responsibly sourced renewable materials.

International technology Group ANDRITZ and Graz University of Technology’s Institute for Biobased Products and Paper Technology have agreed on close educational cooperation. Starting in the summer semester of 2021, industry-experienced ANDRITZ Automation specialists will contribute to the master's degree program “Process Engineering, Specialization: Biobased Materials and Fiber Technology” by giving a series of lectures to provide a comprehensive overview of current opportunities and challenges in electrical engineering, automation, and digitalization in industrial production.

The PCD (Particle Charge Detector) provides valuable information on the charge of colloidal dissolved substances in an aqueous solution. Reliable measurement of charge and insights into how different materials are interacting, enables the optimization of various industrial processes including wet end chemistry in paper making.

The shaking unit DuoShake, already established on the market for decades, is now available with an 800 nM drive motor and the latest control and automation technologies. This complements the DuoShake DG designed for 250 nM, with both variants now achieving a stroke length of up to 35 mm. The DuoShake 800 DG optimizes the alignment of the fibers in the cross direction and contributes to a homogeneous fiber distribution through a high-frequency shaking of the breast roll.

Valmet and Stora Enso have signed a three-year service agreement for the company's Beihai mill in China. The service agreement contains the following services: support with service visit, emergency service visit response time, on-site expert and remote support via Valmet Performance Center to improve availability and optimize process performance.

ABB has been contracted by Arctic Paper Grycksbo, a producer of high-quality graphical fine paper in Europe, to install a new drive and automation system for its Winder 10 at its mill in Grycksbo, Sweden, to improve the plant’s production and availability as well as meet the latest requirements for safety and machine directive.

bio-fibre news

For the fourth time, the international start-up competition “Plan B - Biobased.Business.Bavaria.” organised by BioCampus Straubing honoured the best new business ideas in the field of biobased solutions. Dr Crnoja-Cosic, Director New Business Development, and Matthew North, Commercial Director, represented Kelheim Fibres at the award ceremony. The manufacturer of special viscose fibres has been working with the BioCampus Straubing for many years and is a supporter of the competition, this year as prize sponsors.

Voith recently joined the 4evergreen alliance, an association of more than 60 companies along the entire value chain of fiber-based packaging with the common goal of increasing the recycling rate of fiber-based packaging to over 90% by 2030. “We are very pleased to be part of the 4evergreen initiative”, says Bernd Gueldenberg, Senior Vice President Research & Development at Voith Paper. “The cross-industry alliance's goal of driving sustainable, recyclable fiber-based packaging solutions fits perfectly with Voith's DNA and our vision to improve our world with highly sustainable and efficient technologies.” Various future projects are planned as part of the alliance.