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

ipw news

Voith’s service solutions for each machine segment of the production line offer papermakers direct access to the expertise of the international full-line supplier. At DS Smith’s Kemsley Mill in the UK, a service approach with regular inspections of all stock preparation equipment ensures optimal maintenance for resource-efficient production and high-quality stock. DS Smith has now confirmed its trust in Voith again by extending their service contract at Kemsley mill, UK, for the entire stock preparation of four production lines for a further three years.

There is no doubt that there is enough paper for the upcoming election! But what will we make paper from in the long term? The INGEDE Symposium in February will address this question. Paper for recycling is still in short supply, the circulation of daily newspapers is falling, and with it the amount of raw material in the paper bins. There is now toilet paper made from cardboard or straw, but these raw materials are not suitable for high-quality recycled paper.

The German company emtec Electronic GmbH has decided to strengthen its business in North America (including the USA and Canada) and go its own way. In order to be as flexible as possible in the North American market, the company has opted for direct sales.

UPM Raflatac and WWF Poland have renewed their contract to build a smarter future beyond fossils together. During the new three-year contract period the collaboration will focus on enabling the development of circular economy and promoting privately protected areas, especially wetlands in Poland. The three-year contract will also involve UPM Raflatac's internal and external stakeholders to increase engagement and support for these two important initiatives given the challenges we are facing today.

Mondi's Nautilus^® ProCycle, a high-quality paper made from 100% post-consumer waste for demanding print applications, demonstrates that sustainability and excellence can go hand in hand. Mondi has expanded the Nautilus^® ProCycle portfolio by including grammages between 100 and 300 g/m² for folio and 100 and 120 g/m² in reel format. The paper meets the highest ecological standards, which are reflected in relevant certifications such as Cradle to Cradle^® Bronze, Blue Angel, FSC™ and EU Ecolabel. This enables companies to contribute to the circular economy, conserving natural resources and promoting sustainability.

Valmet is to supply the modernization of ŠKO-Energo’s heating plant in Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic. The project includes converting the two existing circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boilers from coal to biomass and delivering a new bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) boiler. The order also includes a flue gas cleaning system for the new boiler and modifications to the flue gas cleaning systems of the upgraded boilers. The order is included in Valmet’s orders received of the fourth quarter 2024. The value of the order will not be disclosed.

Lessebo Paper is proud to unveil its latest environmental figures for Lessebo Recycled 1.3, a premium recycled paper quality launched to meet the highest standards of sustainability. With carbon emissions as low as 7.81 kg CO₂ per ton of paper, measured according to the Paper Profile standard, this product boasts one of the lowest carbon footprints in the paper industry.

International technology group Andritz has acquired ATN Engineering B.V., a Dutch company specializing in advanced recycling technologies. This strategic acquisition strengthens Andritz’s position in recycling solutions by adding ATN’s state-of-the-art degassing and de-oiling systems to its portfolio.

The German manufacturer of security papers, Drewsen Spezialpapiere, has acquired Portals Papers, a renowned British producer of high-security papers, passport papers and identity documents. This strategic acquisition unites the expertise of two specialized specialists, offering the market an unparalleled range of knowledge and capabilities. In an age where counterfeit products can be created and disseminated with increasing ease, the merger of Drewsen and Portals marks a pivotal development. Together, they offer an exceptionally broad range of security features for paper solutions, ensuring diverse and even the highest levels of counterfeit protection.

The German KVM manufacturer Guntermann & Drunck (G&D) presents SecureCert, a new security feature for its KVM-over-IP systems. This new feature meets the most stringent security requirements and enables use in mission-critical environments. SecureCert ensures adherence to the important security standards FIPS 140-3, Common Criteria and DoDIN APL, thus protecting data and IT infrastructures in particularly sensitive areas such as government institutions or other security-critical areas.

On 6 November 2024, the 4evergreen Alliance held its Sponsors Council and 5th Annual Conference in Brussels, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss the latest advancements and future goals for fibre-based packaging.

Chinese tissue producer Hengan International Group started up a Tadvision^® tissue machine supplied by Toscotec at their headquarters facility in Fujian. This is the second of two TAD (Through-Air-Drying) machines that Toscotec supplied to Hengan, of which the first came online in 2023 at their Xiaogan mill in Hubei.

Venator - a global manufacturer of pigments and additives – today announced a mandatory price increase of €300/t for all titanium dioxide pigments and performance additive products sold in Europe, Africa and the Middle East (EMEA), effective February 1, 2025 (customer terms permitting). This adjustment is necessary to address the sustained elevated and volatile energy costs that are impacting manufacturing across Europe.

bio-fibre news

Valmet is to supply the modernization of ŠKO-Energo’s heating plant in Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic. The project includes converting the two existing circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boilers from coal to biomass and delivering a new bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) boiler. The order also includes a flue gas cleaning system for the new boiler and modifications to the flue gas cleaning systems of the upgraded boilers. The order is included in Valmet’s orders received of the fourth quarter 2024. The value of the order will not be disclosed.

International technology group Andritz supplied and recently commissioned two new refining and cottonizing lines for Van Robaeys, France. These fully customized teXline bast fiber lines enable the company to increase its production of textile fibers from flax. With the new lines, Van Robaeys is responding to the growing demand from the French market for cottonized and high-quality textile fibers from natural sources. Europe is the world’s largest producer of flax fibers, showing a 133% increase in flax cultivation areas between 2010 and 2020.