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

The Scandinavian Packaging Association (SPA) has honoured Mondi’s work with Sweden’s aPak AB to create a more sustainable, cost-effective and efficient method for packaging door consoles for a global truck manufacturer. The innovative ‘Protector Bags’ solution developed by Mondi recently won a prestigious SPA 2019 ScanStar award.

Everyone had one goal in mind and then it happened: The paper machine at the Kehl plant produced its first paper role on October 22, 2019. A historic day for the traditional company Koehler on its way into the future. “We are proud of everyone who worked together with us to reach this moment,” says Kai Furler, CEO of the Koehler Group. The new Paper Machine 8 has just produced the first tambour. This brings a long construction and planning phase to a close, which began with in-house pilot studies back in February 2017. Furler is looking forward to energetically cornering the flexible packaging paper market.

ABB is donating software solutions and pulp and paper automation expertise to the Sappi Skills Centre, based in Umkomaas, South Africa near Sappi’s Saiccor Mill - the largest single site dedicated to dissolving wood pulp. The donation supports the Skills Centre, which was established by Sappi in 2018 to equip local youth with the basic technical skills needed to prepare them for meaningful employment.

Valmet has been chosen as the second most attractive employer by the Finnish engineering professionals. The ranking was published in Universum’s annual survey, which is the biggest employer survey in Finland. Last year Valmet was ranked as fourth. The company has done comprehensive work for its employer brand across organizational boundaries.

SealView technology captures the development of wear on every single seal strip and can be used with conventional and Voith HydroSeal seal strip designs. Its functional principle is based on a non-electric solution, which ensures maximum reliability in the adverse suction roll environment.

Stora Enso has completed the divestment announced on 25 July 2019 of its 60% equity stake in the Dawang Mill in China to its joint venture partner, Shandong Huatai Paper. The transaction will not have any material impact on Stora Enso’s operational EBIT. Following the transaction, Stora Enso’s net debt will decrease by approximately EUR 22 million and annual sales by approximately EUR 60 million.

Valmet will supply a coated board machine for Graphic Packaging International’s (GPI) mill in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in the United States. With this investment in the latest coated board technology, GPI is committing to sustainable packaging with exceptional product quality and cost competitiveness for producing coated recycled board (CRB) grades. The start-up of the machine is scheduled for the first half of 2022.

The new paper machine at the Obbola paper mill in Umeå, Sweden, will produce 725,000 tons of kraftliner per year. With a wire width of 10,200 mm and a design speed of 1,400 m/min, the PM 2 will be the most productive of its kind. The start-up of the machine is scheduled for the first quarter of 2023.

Stora Enso’s Paper division is planning to make organisational changes to improve competitiveness and ensure efficient customer service after the Oulu Mill conversion for production of kraftliner for packaging. The planned changes would primarily affect commercial functions and operations support. The planned changes could result in a reduction of a maximum of 135 employees in the Paper division by the end of 2020.

At the end of May 2019, international technology Group ANDRITZ started up the PM3 paper machine for speciality papers supplied to Zellstoff Pöls AG (part of the Heinzel Group), Austria, for the production of bleached kraft paper grades. This start-up took place two weeks before the date scheduled.

GAW technologies GmbH in Graz / Austria was commissioned by Papierfabrik Palm with the supply of a chemical preparation and supply system for the new paper mill in Aalen / Germany. The new paper machine PM5 will double the capacity of the plant and replace three existing paper machines. It will produce lightweight and high-quality fluting and testliner grades from recycled fiber. The plant will be commissioned in 2021 and will have an annual capacity of 750,000 tons.

The Eldorado Brasil pulp mill in Três Lagoas, Brazil, set an outstanding production record of 5,576 ADmt/d on September 21, 2019, with ANDRITZ technologies. In addition, production has been running for the past 200 consecutive days without a sheet break on the MS2 line.

For the second year running, Stora Enso’s Sustainability Report 2018 has been included in the top ten sustainability reports globally according to the latest Reporting matters publication by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

BASF has recently launched a new high molecular weight dispersing agent: Dispex^® Ultra PX 4290, which features excellent performance in pigment stabilization, outstanding color strength and brilliant viscosity reduction. Dispex^® Ultra PX 4290 offers the benefits of higher pigment loadings while maintaining exceptional flow characteristics. Other highlights also include improved gloss, anti-flooding behaviour and excellent flocculation stability.

Metsä Fibre, Metsä Group’s pulp and sawn timber industry, has been awarded for the company’s sustainability work by the EFQM Global Excellence Award. The company won the Outstanding Achievement for Sustainability Award and reached the EFQM rating Recognised for Excellence 6 Stars. EFQM organisation gave the Outstanding Achievement in Sustainability Award to Metsä Fibre for the excellent work the company has done in promoting and continuously developing sustainability. Metsä Fibre received special thanks for the ways it takes sustainability into account in its investments and action plans, and for the way sustainability is reflected in the corporate culture at all levels of the organisation.

Since the European Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUP) was introduced, both consumers and member states have started to reconsider many plastic packaging items on the market. By 2021, plastic cutlery will be banned in the EU. While targeting some of the issues related to unrecyclable items and potential littering, the demand for eating on-the-go will remain. There is therefore a great need for a new generation of food service packaging to fill this gap.

Ahead of the trilogue negotiations on EU Taxonomy regulation, the bioenergy, agriculture and forest sectors would like to raise the attention of the European legislator on the importance of a coherent and consistent legislative framework if we truly want to boost investment in sustainable technologies.

(A CEPI / Bioenergy Europe Joint Press Release)

Clariant unveils new high-performance additives promoting reduction in the consumption of fossil resources, to support the creation of value chain cycles which utilize viable and sustainable renewable sources and combat climate change.