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

BTG's ReelTime™ is the latest BTG solution aimed at tissue makers, targeting process variations from the pulper to the headbox, while at the same time predicting and impacting product quality in “real time”. The ReelTime solution combines innovative measurement, visualization and analytical software, supported by process and tissue-making expertise and knowledge.

Mondi has entered the bike packaging market with its Protector Bags, providing a new sustainable solution for Diamant to replace plastic wrapping used around the handlebars of its Trek and Diamant brands. Germany’s oldest bike manufacturer will now use Mondi’s recyclable Protector Bags that are made from renewable materials. The change means that Diamant will reduce its plastic use by 16 tonnes every year – around 85% of its previous consumption – as well as saving costs in logistics and transportation.

International technology group Andritz has received an order from Steinbeis Papier GmbH to supply a complete stock preparation line for conventional wastepaper and special grades, featuring a capacity from 78 to 200 t/d, for its mill in Glückstadt, Germany. Start-up is planned for the end of the first quarter of 2023.

Roger Jakeman has been appointed as AkzoNobel’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO), succeeding Klaas Kruithof, who retired as of July 1, 2022. In his new role, Roger will lead the company’s Research and Development (R&D) function, driving the innovation and sustainability agenda. He will also continue to head up the Product Management Center of Excellence.

Zellcheming Expo 2022 attracted numerous representatives of the international paper and cellulose industry to the RheinMain CongressCenter (RMCC) in Wiesbaden. Over three days, from June 29 to July 1, this major industry event offered some 1,864 registered attendees and more than 130 exhibitors, sponsors and partner companies extensive opportunities for intensive information exchange and casual networking in and with the industry, as well as the official launch of the Women4Paper mentoring program, which will start in the fall.

As the first step in a long-term plan to use locally generated renewable energy, Drewsen is investing in three wind turbines. These are located approximately two kilometres from the mill and become property of Drewsen today, 1st July.

ABB has successfully devised a spare parts and maintenance program for Saigon Paper, Vietnam, enabling the company to drive productivity in their mills. The ABB team created a recommended spares and gap analysis using mySpareParts Manager, an ABB-facing tool that built a custom report with required distributed control system (DCS) spare parts for Saigon Paper’s operations. Not only did it show how to optimize the cost of inventory and the exact lifecycle of the DCS equipment for advance planning of upgrading and replacing, but it also helped identify the minimum necessary spare parts, expanding initial scope from seven items to fifteen.

Representatives of the European paper value chain gathered in Brussels on Wednesday have pledged to recycle 76% of all paper consumed by 2030. The commitment was taken during the 8th edition of the European Paper Recycling Awards which saw two projects, breaking new ground for how far paper recycling can go, receiving the highest distinction in the European paper recycling community. The video recording of the event is available online.

Sunset Converting Corp is an AFH private label tissue converting source for redistributors in Canada and the United States. Their industry experience, reputation for quality products, and commitment to innovation prompted the construction of a new mill in Quebec to better serve these markets. The 2020 expansion also provided an opportunity to install two Perini MyLine on the Sunset production floor.

Fedrigoni among sustainability champions: The Group was awarded the Platinum Medal by the international ESG rating agency Ecovadis, which annually examines 75,000 companies of all sizes and from 200 manufacturing sectors around the world, evaluating their operations and management systems from the standpoint of environmental care and social responsibility. This result places the Group in the top 1% of companies in the same industry worldwide for ESG performance.

Siemens AG has launched an open digital business platform, Siemens Xcelerator, to accelerate digital transformation and value creation for customers of all sizes in industry, buildings, grids and mobility. The business platform makes digital transformation easier, faster and scalable. Siemens Xcelerator includes a curated portfolio of internet of things (IoT) enabled hardware, software and digital services from across Siemens and certified third parties; a growing ecosystem of partners; and an evolving marketplace to facilitate interactions and transactions between customers, partners and developers.

Toscotec introduces TT Induction SYD, a “carbon-reduction breakthrough that redefines Yankee dryer technology entirely”. TT Induction SYD uses electrical induction instead of steam energy to dry the paper web, thereby cutting direct greenhouse gas emissions to zero.

Valmet will deliver two chip washing and defibrator systems to Siempelkamp Maschinen- und Anlagenbau GmbH as part of Siempelkamp’s panelboard plant deliveries to two different end customers, one in Europe, one in Asia. The start-ups of the systems are planned for 2023 and the beginning of 2024. The orders were included in Valmet’s orders received of the first quarter 2022. The value of the orders will not be disclosed.

AkzoNobel has announced that Gregoire Poux-Guillaume will become the company’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as of November 1, 2022. He will succeed Thierry Vanlancker, who has been CEO and member of the Board of Management since 2017, and whose term of office is coming to an end.

The EU Parliament has now adopted its mandates for negotiations on the revision of the emissions trading scheme (ETS), the EU’s main carbon pricing tool, and the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM). Both are instruments to attain the EU’s 2030 climate objectives, supported by Cepi. The Commission’s plan to decarbonise EU industries is now also being reviewed by the European Council. Most importantly both pieces of legislation will have to demonstrate more rigorously that they can be applied to the real economy, and that the goals fixed can be met in spite of adverse economic conditions.

At the beginning of June, the XcelLine PM 6 supplied by Voith was successfully started up at the Jinzhong site in the central Chinese province of Shanxi by the paper manufacturer Shanxi Qiangwei Paper. As full-line supplier, Voith delivered the entire production line. The machine has a wire width of 7 m, a design speed of 1,200 m/min and produces plasterboard liner and containerboard with a basis weight of 90 to 160 gsm. An annual production of over 300,000 tons is possible. Voith's latest solutions enable highly efficient, resource-saving and sustainable production.

Andritz has successfully implemented new processes and tools for equipping all of its automation solutions with a high level of cyber security. In partnership with Otorio, an OT security provider based in Israel, Andritz offers automation solutions that help to protect customers' production infrastructure and all related assets against cyber- attacks in the best way possible, thus reducing the risk of production downtime to an absolute minimum.

Kati ter Horst, Executive Vice President, Paper Division and a member of the Group Leadership Team, has decided to leave Stora Enso as of 1 July 2022. After more than 25 years with the Company, she will now pursue career opportunities outside of Stora Enso. Kati ter Horst joined Stora Enso in 1996 and has been leading the Company’s Paper division since 2014.

bio-fibre news

European Bioplastics (EUBP), the association representing the interests of the bioplastics industry in Europe, has elected a new Board. The EUBP leadership team will be headed by its new Chairperson, Stefan Barot (BIOTEC) and supported by the new Vice Chairpersons, Lars Börger (Neste) and Mariagiovanna Vetere (NatureWorks). “Never before has our industry received that much of attention. Economically and politically, these are pivotal times, and I’m very pleased to be able to support our industry in my new role as EUBP Chair”, says Stefan Barot.

Andritz has established a new inline Wetlace™ CP pilot line with an original design at its center of competence in Montbonnot, France. From now on, Andritz partners will be able to conduct trials and test all options available for wipes production – from carded staple fibers to pulp and various combinations thereof – thanks to the new inline Wetlace™ CP line.