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

Stay healthy!

ipw news

Iggesund Paperboard’s paperboard mill in Workington, UK, did not have a single accident that led to absence during the whole of 2019. Quite an achievement, especially considering that more than 320 people work there, in a heavy process industry.

The Covid-19 sanitary crisis is unprecedented. The industry associations supporting the European Paper Recycling Council (EPRC) are saddened to see that so many people have lost their lives due to the pandemic. The lockdown measures taken to slow down contamination are deeply impacting our lives as well as business operations.

Valmet and Orora Limited have signed a multi-year Mill Maintenance Outsourcing (MMO) agreement to continue taking care of the site maintenance of Orora’s Botany B9 board making line in New South Wales, Australia. In addition to the MMO agreement, Valmet and Orora have signed a Performance Agreement targeting clear and systematic production and maintenance improvements. Both agreements include Valmet Industrial Internet (VII) solutions to provide a live link between customer and Valmet experts for process optimization. The value of the agreements will not be disclosed. The renewed MMO agreement will be effective as of July 1, 2020.

Mack Brooks Exhibitions has announced the postponement of Chemspec Europe, the International Exhibition for Fine and Speciality Chemicals. The 35^th edition of the event, which was planned to take place at Koelnmesse in Germany from 27 to 28 May 2020, is postponed to 11 – 12 November 2020 following the escalation of COVID-19 in Europe and globally.

Cepi, the European paper industry association, and its members across Europe are shocked and saddened by the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically impacting people globally and in Europe, with a growing number of lives lost.

“We have taken the situation very seriously and implemented all necessary measures to guarantee the safety of our people: employees, transport operators and customers.”

Given the uncertainty facing a large number of events around the world due to the progression of COVID-19, International Pulp Week 2020, that was scheduled to take place in Vancouver from June 14^th – 16^th, has unfortunately been cancelled.

New-Indy Containerboard has chosen technology leader ABB to provide the integrated electrical and automation systems and equipment for its Columbia paper machine rebuild in Catawba, South Carolina, USA. The leading supplier of high-quality recycled containerboard for the corrugated box industry is rebuilding its Number 3 paper machine to diversify its product capabilities.

Valmet will supply key board making technologies to Sri Andal Paper Mills for its new containerboard making line, located in Tamil Nadu, India. The start-up of the machine is scheduled for the first half of 2021. The order is included in Valmet's orders received of the first quarter 2020. The value of the order will not be disclosed. The value of a project of this type and scope is typically around EUR 12-15 million.

International technology group ANDRITZ has recently started up the world’s first biomethanol plant using ANDRITZ’s self-developed A-Recovery+ concept at the Södra Cell Mönsterås pulp mill in southeastern Sweden.

Smurfit Kappa has entered the soft-drinks market with its new QuickConnect Vitop (QVC) tap. Specifically developed with the industry in mind, the QuickConnect Vitop tap has been designed to fit existing soft drink and wine dispensers that are widely used in fast food chains and restaurants to serve drinks by the glass.

Voith has developed a new generation of sensors with regards to availability, reliability and maintenance handling. As the main components of the Quality Measurement System, the sensors measure the most important quality parameters of the paper being produced, such as basis weight, moisture, caliper and ash. The Quality Control System reduces as much as possible the variability in machine direction (MD) and cross direction (CD). This allows paper manufacturers to move quality targets in the most profitable operational zones – for example to maximize the moisture content of the paper.

Valmet will supply a coated board making line (PM 2) with extensive packages of automation and Industrial Internet solutions for APP’s Guangxi Jingui Pulp and Paper’s (GJPP) Qinzhou mill in China. The start-up is scheduled for 2021. The order is included in Valmet's orders received of the first quarter 2020. The value of the order will not be disclosed. The total value of an order of this type and scope is typically around EUR 150-200 million.

bio-fibre news

Metsä Fibre, part of Metsä Group, has made the decision to build the “world’s most modern sawmill” in Rauma. The value of the investment is approximately EUR 200 million. Construction will begin in the spring of 2020. Production at the sawmill is set to begin during the third quarter of 2022. The coronavirus outbreak may have an impact on the schedules. The pre-engineering phase of the Kemi bioproduct mill continues, and Metsä Group expects to be ready to make a decision on this approximately EUR 1.5 billion mill in the autumn of 2020.