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

ipw news

Full-line supplier Voith launched the new InfibraFiner at the Zellcheming trade fair, adding a state-of-the-art, innovative and sustainable product to its BlueLine product family. The award-winning refiner offers up to 28 percent additional capacity and optimum energy efficiency. The development of the InfibraFiner is based on more than 60 years of research and development work and over 1,000 successful installations of its predecessor, the TwinFlo Refiner.

Mondi has partnered with Syntegon, a manufacturer of process and packaging machinery, to develop a recyclable paper packaging solution using recycled fibres for dried foods such as flour, sugar and pasta. The packaging uses Mondi’s award-winning EcoVantage kraft paper which has been approved by ISEGA for the entire food packaging sector. EcoVantage is made from recycled and responsibly sourced fresh fibres and was previously mainly used for paper shopping bags.

Heimbach GmbH and its subsidiaries will be acquired by Albany International Corp. and become part of its Machine Clothing business. The Heimbach shareholders and Albany have agreed on this today. The transaction is subject to approval by the regulatory authorities, which is expected in the course of the second half of the year. Until then, Albany and Heimbach will continue to operate as independent, separate companies.

SCA is successfully utilizing Voith's digital and automation solutions with the aim of optimizing the production efficiency of its new XcelLine PM 2. Last year, Voith successfully commissioned the paper machine at its Obbola site. The high-performance machine produces 725,000 tons of kraftliner annually with basis weights between 100 and 200 gsm and has a design speed of 1,400 meters per minute.

While brands and retailers are looking to increase their usage of paper-based packaging, plastic still has core advantages in certain end-use applications including barrier and other factors. A new report from Smithers – The Future of Paper vs Plastic Packaging Markets to 2028 – provides valuable insights and forecasts for the battle between paper and plastic across more than 20 specific end-use applications.

The first trade show focusing on sustainable packaging, Édition Spéciale by Luxe Pack in Paris is set to demonstrate how vital the issue of sustainability is for luxury goods. Mondi will be showing a selection of high-quality, sustainable packaging papers made from natural materials in the historic clothes market hall of the Carreau du Temple in Paris on 7 and 8 June 2023. In addition, 15 different presentations will give visitors the opportunity to learn about current trends and innovative product developments.

bio-fibre news

Valmet will supply a Valmet DNA Automation System to an energy-from-waste (EfW) facility under construction in Essex, the United Kingdom. The order was placed by Hitachi Zosen Inova AG (HZI), which is the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor of the facility. This is the nineteenth time that HZI has chosen Valmet’s automation technology for its EfW plant projects. The plant owned by Indaver Rivenhall Ltd. will be started up in 2026.

In its largest funding ever, EU Life has granted 10 million Euro for a project to scale up OnceMore^®, an innovative, first-of-a-kind industrial-scale system for recycling of blended textile waste. The project is a collaboration between Swedish Forest industry group Södra and Austrian company Lenzing.

AFRY had a pivotal role in assisting Liquid Sun to define the crucial steps towards the development of an operational hydrocarbon electrolyzer prototype. Through a collaborative partnership, AFRY provided support to Liquid Sun, setting the stage for the realisation of this technology to replace fossil fuels with synthetic hydrocarbons.

International technology group Andritz has installed a new spunlace pilot line at its center of competence in Montbonnot, France. It allows customers and partners to conduct trials for producing nonwovens from recycled and/or natural fibers such as hemp, flax, and cotton. The new pilot line features optimized web forming and entanglement for smooth processing of sensitive and irregular fibers. The innovative card set-up is designed to protect and maintain the quality of the fibers while achieving outstanding productivity rates.

The aim at Holmen Iggesund has always been to work closely with brands and other partners across the value chain. To advance this further, the company has created a new department. Showcasing how its collaborative approach will help meet customer needs, the Future Packaging department is developing packaging with exciting new fibre-based concepts.