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

Mondi has launched Hug&Hold, a recyclable, paper-based solution to replace plastic shrink wrap for PET bottle bundle packs. FMCG brands, including beverage producers, aim to reduce their use of unnecessary plastic. These aims are matched by consumer expectations, with global consumers looking for less plastic when purchasing product. Mondi's new Hug&Hold solution is therefore timely, meeting the sustainability needs of brands and their customers.

Valmet will supply pulp technology equipment for a new pulp stream of unbleached kraft pulp to Zellstoff Pöls AG, Austria. The company is a part of the Heinzel group. The order was included in Valmet’s orders received of the second quarter 2022. The delivery is planned for June 2023. The value of the order will not be disclosed.

Whether a paper product is particularly tear-resistant, absorbent, water-proof or soft: Its properties are a result of intentional measures taken in the wet-end or during conversion. Knowing the right quantity of additives needed to achieve the desired effect saves resources and helps attain optimum product quality. Germany’s emtec Electronic GmbH will present its product palette of specialized measuring and testing equipment, each designed to optimize product quality while saving time and resources, at the MIAC in Lucca, Italy from October 12-14, 2022.

Stora Enso has signed an agreement to divest its Maxau paper production site in Germany, and all related assets to Schwarz Produktion, part of Schwarz Group, one of the top retailers in the world. The enterprise value is approximately EUR 210 million. Closing is expected in the beginning of 2023, at the latest, subject to regulatory approvals.

Packaging paper manufacturer Sappi Europe and packaging machine manufacturer Kallfass have signed a collaboration agreement. As part of the partnership, the two companies are consolidating their expertise to develop a sustainable, paper-based alternative to film-based primary secondary packaging in the non-food packaging sector.

International technology group Andritz has acquired J. Parpala Oy, a major player in the maintenance and repair of environmental equipment for industrial production and power generation plants in Finland. The company was founded in 2011 and operates sites in Kokkola and Kaskinen.

Antti Kiljunen has been appointed Metsä Group's SVP, Group Finance. He reports to Metsä Group’s CFO Vesa-Pekka Takala. Kiljunen moves to his new role from the position of CFO of Metsä Fibre. Leena Salmio, who has who has held the position of Metsä Group’s SVP, Group Finance since 2021, will retire in March 2023.

Stora Enso acquires De Jong Packaging Group, based in the Netherlands, for an enterprise value of approximately EUR 1,020 million. This acquisition will advance Stora Enso’s strategic direction, accelerate revenue growth and build market share in renewable packaging in Europe. De Jong Packaging Group is one of the largest corrugated packaging producers in the Benelux countries. Its product portfolio and geographic presence will complement and enhance Stora Enso’s offering, especially in fresh produce, e-commerce and industrial packaging.

Sami Riekkola (M.Sc. Eng.) has been appointed Business Line President, Pulp and Energy, at Valmet as of October 1, 2022. Sami Riekkola currently holds the position of Business Line President, Automation Systems, at Valmet. In his new position, he will continue as a member of Valmet's Executive Team reporting to President and CEO Pasi Laine. Bertel Karlstedt, the current President of Valmet's Pulp and Energy business line, will concentrate on leading ongoing, large customer delivery projects within the Pulp and Energy business line supporting the development of long-term customer relationships as Senior Vice President, reporting to Sami Riekkola.

Turkish cardboard manufacturer KMK Paper selected Toscotec for the complete rebuild of PM1 at its Kahramanmaras paper mill in Turkey. Scheduled for the first quarter of 2023, the project will increase the machine’s production capacity and significantly improve paper quality. PM1 produces packaging paper grades, including fluting, testliner, kraft paper, and gypsum board. The rebuild encompasses the entire paper machine from the forming section to the reel and it incorporates both Toscotec and Voith’s technology. The supply includes a DuoShake unit in the wet section to ensure optimal formation at a low MD/CD tensile ratio, and a NipcoFlex shoe press to achieve higher paper quality and dryness.

Kemira will increase prices for all product lines in both of its segments in EMEA region effective immediately. Costs for electricity and natural gas have rapidly increased and add to the general inflationary trends of the recent months. Therefore the commercial conditions need to be adjusted accordingly. The price increases will be substantial and vary by product.

The 54th annual Pulp and Paper International Congress and Exhibition in Sa~o Paulo, Brazil from October 4-6, 2022 will focus on technological trends, governance and innovation in the context of promoting greater sustainability. Emtec Electronic GmbH will present a selection of its paper measuring and testing devices that help reduce resource waste and optimize quality.

Mond will showcase innovative sustainable packaging at this year’s Fachpack, the trade fair for packaging, packaging machinery and packaging design in Nuremberg. The team will demonstrate how Mondi’s customer-centric approach helps customers map their path to sustainability by asking the right questions along the value chain, considering the needs of customers, their products and our planet. During the Fachpack trade fair, Mondi will also present its product highlights to trade visitors in a short 30-minute presentation at the Innovationbox.

Metsä Group is inviting applications for its apprenticeship training programme, which will begin in January 2023. Approximately 65 new jobs will be offered in the production units across Finland. Metsä Group’s 18-month apprenticeship training programme has become a well-established way for the company to secure its future labour needs and promote competence development.

Huhtamaki has sold its operations in Russia to Espetina Ltd. Espetina is a holding company owned by Alexander Govor and Iury Kushnerov. The transaction includes four manufacturing units in Russia, employing 724 people. On April 14, 2022, Huhtamaki announced its intention to divest its operations in Russia. This followed an earlier decision to stop all investments in Russia at the outbreak of the invasion of Ukraine.

International technology group Andritz has received an order from Yuen Foong Yu Consumer Products Co., Ltd. (CPG) to supply a PrimeLineCompact M1600 tissue production line (PM10) to its mill located in Chingshui, Taiwan. Start-up is scheduled for the fourth quarter in 2023.

Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC), part of Barry-Wehmiller’s Converting Solutions platform, came to the aid of Sierra Hygiene Products, a paper converting manufacturer located in Frostburg, Maryland. Sierra Hygiene Products recently expanded its facility and purchased two paper rewinders from a company in China. The equipment arrived, but because of visa complications, the service technicians were unable to travel to the U.S. to assemble and install the new machines.

bio-fibre news

A state of the art review of the collection and sorting systems across Europe, conducted by 50 companies throughout the entire packaging value chain, highlights several recommendations to improve efficiency. The 4evergreen alliance has endorsed systems that provide adequate sorting at the point of collection.

The significant reduction of water usage in paper manufacturing is based on an increasing rate of circular water usage in paper production. At sites which use predominantly recovered paper, the water circuits are often partially or completely closed. Despite the advantages associated with the resource protection, some adverse effects can be observed caused by an increasing accumulation of dissolved, colloidal and suspended material in the process water. This comprises in addition to hampered quality of the product also side effects like increased cleaning efforts caused by agglomeration and deposition of material on paper manufacturing aggregates. The potential to release substances to the aqueous phase during disintegration has so far not been considered in the method PTS-RH 021:2012 evaluating the recyclability of packaging products.