below please find a selection of the latest news from the world of pulp and paper. And don't forget to visit our new LinkedIn and Twitter accounts. We look forward to a lively exchange.

ipw news

Toscotec launches Ingenia, a new concept tissue machine to produce premium quality structured tissue paper. The quality generated by Ingenia line is substantially higher than textured tissue and close to Through Air Drying (TAD) produced paper, but using 35% less energy. With Ingenia Toscotec responds to the challenge of today’s paper market calling for premium quality tissue obtained with lower energy use and lower capital investment than TAD lines.

ABB has been awarded a software and service contract by Asia Symbol Group in China to provide the ABB Ability^™ Manufacturing Execution System (MES) for a new production line, with delivery and commissioning ongoing throughout 2022. The expansion will help Asia Symbol to optimize its overall production process across all lines at its Guangdong mill, providing better oversight for planning, scheduling and continuously improving efficiency and reducing waste.

One year ago, Voith started up a modern pilot coater in its Technology Center in Heidenheim, Germany, after an extensive rebuild. Since then, the demand for pilot trials for coated and sized paper grades has increased enormously. In particular, barrier coatings for sustainable packaging papers are being explored by numerous customers from countries around the world. Together with the other pilot machines, all production steps throughout the entire papermaking process are covered – from stock preparation to coating and calendering.

Lessebo Paper announces its partnership with Legion paper to represent its portfolio of environmentally friendly, high quality paper qualities in the United States. Lessebo Paper has been producing paper since 1693, making it one of the oldest paper manufacturers in Sweden. The company focuses on sustainable and innovative uncoated graphic paper in the premium segment, consisting of Lessebo Colours, Lessebo Design and Lessebo Digital.

Valmet has progressed in reviewing its operations in Russia and implementing its exit plan. Already in the spring, the company decided not to make any new sales projects in Russia. In addition, it canceled EUR 70 million of its order backlog on March 31, 2022.

Mondi has collaborated with German machine supplier Beck Packautomaten to create a functional paper solution that has the “potential to revolutionise eCommerce” by replacing plastic packaging and creating right-sized packaging for a wide range of products.

The pandemic has changed the dynamics of all markets, highlighting the criticalities issue of the economies but at the same time opening up new opportunities. Supply Chain is one of the business sectors that have been affected significantly and companies and suppliers alike are facing new challenges. Körber, thanks to its experience in the sector and its cutting-edge research and development center, is evolving from simple machinery supplier to strategic partner of technologically advanced solutions through the Körber ecosystem.

Following the report that a helicopter carrying six tissue industry professionals in addition to the pilot went missing in the area between the provinces of Lucca and Modena yesterday, iT’s Tissue issued the following statement.

The paper industry is facing unprecedented challenges. Rising material prices, high energy costs and changing framework conditions require new approaches and solutions. This year's hybrid Zellcheming trade show serves as an exchange platform of pioneering process and product technology innovations for the paper, cellulose and fiber-based industries. Voith will present under the motto “Papermaking for Life” at the Zellcheming trade show, Booth 24, Hall North.

Due to the expansion of the sustainable paper portfolio, and the ongoing development of technical speciality papers, Drewsen Spezialpapiere will discontinue the production of its Procuverto grades with effect from 1 July 2022. For Drewsen, this is the next logical step in the desire to focus on sustainable, future-oriented paper solutions and to facilitate further growth.

Stora Enso has started a feasibility study at its paper production site in Langerbrugge, Belgium, for the conversion of one of the two paper lines into a high-volume recycled containerboard line. Aligned with Stora Enso’s strategic focus on renewable materials, the investment would support the growth opportunity created by the increasing demand for recycled packaging board.

The EU Parliament approved a very ambitious, yet realistic, target for how much CO₂ European forests should help remove from the atmosphere. The goal could be reached only by adapting our forests to climate change threats and increasing their annual growth, including afforestation. Lawmakers also rejected a proposal to combine the agricultural and forestry sectors in the tabled revision of the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) regulation. This should ensure that forests will not be used to compensate for emissions from farming, which is known to be a “hard to decarbonise sector”.

bio-fibre news

The renowned viscose specialities manufacturer Kelheim Fibres has won the Techtextil Award in the “New Concept” category for their project “Cellulose-based nonwovens for highly absorbent reusable products”. The award is intended to make cutting-edge developments visible, promote unconventional thinking and intensify the dialogue between researchers, manufacturers, and users - and thus “exactly matches the philosophy of the fibre expert”.

Huhtamaki announced plans to expand its molded fiber product manufacturing unit in the city of Hammond, Indiana, as part of its investment in Fiber Solutions. The investment, which is expected to start ramping up towards the end of 2023, will enable Huhtamaki to better serve existing and new customers in North America with a broad range of sustainable, fully recyclable and compostable, fiber-based packaging solutions, manufactured from 100% recycled North American raw material.

International technology group Andritz has received an order from Veolia Services Suomi, a Veolia Group company, to supply a biomethanol purification plant. The plant, which will be integrated into Metsä Fibre’s bioproduct mill in Äänekoski, Finland, refines the crude sulphate methanol generated in pulp production to obtain commercial-grade biomethanol.