after experiencing technical problems two weeks ago, our last newsletter (due December 08) could not be sent. If you're interested, you can find a copy here.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a great Holiday season! Stay safe!

And as always, below please find a selection of the latest news from the world of pulp and paper.

ipw news

Toscotec has successfully introduced TT LowMistFormer, the latest innovation of the wire section of Crescent Former tissue machines. Originally designed by Voith, the system has been integrated into Toscotec’s design as part of the efficient know-how exchange between Voith and Toscotec following the acquisition. TT LowMistFormer technology has been applied on several Ahead tissue machines manufactured by Toscotec.

The European paper industry fully supports the EU ambition of making Europe the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050 and building a European circular economy. The carbon neutrality objective requires the European pulp and paper industry to become even more sustainable, efficient and innovative. It demands that we continue on our transformational journey, while maintaining our international competitiveness.

For a more efficient and stable paper production, Voith presents the new automatic outer layer gluing system TailFix. In the edge area of the parent roll, the solution reliably fixes the loose paper ends with a special glue and thus prevents the occurrence of flying paper shreds. Paper breaks, rejects and malfunctions at the reel, winder and calender can thus be prevented.

Valmet will supply an extensive paper machine grade conversion rebuild with an automation package to Model Paper Eilenburg in Germany. In the project, the paper machine, which currently produces newsprint grades, will be rebuilt to produce lightweight, recycled containerboard grades. The start-up is scheduled for the beginning of 2024.

Andritz has successfully started up one of the two PrimeLineTM W 2000 tissue machines delivered to Guangxi Sun Paper, China, for its mill in Beihai City, Guangxi Province. The second tissue machine (TM6) is expected to be started up by the end of this year.

Resolute Forest Products Inc. announced the indefinite idling of pulp and paper operations at its Calhoun (Tennessee) mill. Tissue manufacturing and converting will continue at the site and the adjacent distribution center will remain in full operation.

Toscotec participated in the dryer section rebuild of PM2 at Omnia Advanced Materials Alife mill in Italy with the supply of 16 TT SteelDryers. PM2 produces highly customized specialty paper including gaskets, absorbency, and filtration media for numerous industrial and consumer applications.

At the Paperex India convention at the Indian Expo Center in Greater Nolda, Delhi-NCR from January 9-12,2022, Emtec Electronic will present specific testing and measuring devices that help manufacturers avoid common issues in paper manufacturing and converting.

Customers worldwide rely on Voith's modular Papermaking 4.0 portfolio to individually optimize their production with digital industrial applications. Based on extensive expertise, Voith is introducing OnEfficiency.BreakProtect, OnView.VirtualSensorBuilder and OnView.MassBalance, three new apps on the IIoT platform OnCumulus.

The European Commission has released a gas decarbonisation legislative package. It addresses the challenge of integrating renewable and low-carbon gases in the existing gas market. This is welcome news for the forest fibre and paper industry. Our sector is already investing massively in greening its energy sourcing and is, with a 62% share of its energy, the largest industrial producer and consumer of renewable energy in Europe.

Metsä Group has donated EUR 250,000 each to the University of Helsinki and the University of Oulu. These donations will be allocated to science, agriculture and forestry at the University of Helsinki and to technology at the University of Oulu. Metsä Group wants to invest in developing teaching and research in these fields.

Valmet will supply a long-term Performance Agreement and a board machine rebuild to Metsä Board Husum in Sweden. The main goal is to increase board machine BM 1’s Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE) and annual folding boxboard (FBB) capacity by 200,000 tonnes. Valmet delivered BM 1 to Metsä Board in 2016. The start-up of the rebuilt BM 1 is scheduled to take place in the fall of 2023.

Andritz has received an order from Klabin to supply energy-efficient and environmentally leading key equipment and processes for Klabin’s Puma Capacity Increase II project in Ortigueira, Paraná, Brazil. Start-up is scheduled for the second quarter of 2023.

The Navigator Company announced that it will increase the price list between 10% and 15% for all its UWF products dispatched from January 3rd onwards. This price increase includes a rise of the surcharge announced in the last communication of October 15th, from 50 EUR/t to 100 EUR/t.

Ingolf Thom (46), MBA, has been appointed Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Safety and a member of the Global Executive Team at Huhtamaki as of January 10, 2022. He will report to President and CEO Charles Héaulmé and will be based in Espoo, Finland.

bio-fibre news

Over the past 14 days, the wholesale cost of natural gas in Germany has risen by more than 50%. This increase presents an extraordinary challenge for industry, and there is no sign of support or intervention from the Government. Indeed, recent statements are destined to provoke a worsening of the situation.

Finland-based circular fashion and textile technology group Infinited Fiber Company has selected AFRY as the main engineering partner for its new flagship factory for producing regenerated textile fibres for some of the world’s leading fashion and apparel brands.

Stora Enso is extending its packaging offering with a new portfolio of bio-based foams from wood. The products are fully recyclable and can be used for protective and thermal packaging. Lightweight wood foams address the need for climate-friendly, renewable and circular cushioning materials in inner packaging.