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

ipw news

Mondi is expanding its range of medium, high and very high barrier paper-based packaging to support customers on their journey to use more sustainable packaging solutions. Thanks to Mondi’s extensive research and development activities, expertise in both paper and plastic as well as investments in new technology and increased capacity, the company has further evolved its portfolio and now offers a full range of FunctionalBarrier Papers to customers. By applying different barrier technologies, such as extrusion coatings, aqueous coatings and other very high barriers, this range of paper-based packaging solutions is fit for purpose and can be used for a variety of applications.

Quality control systems are an important factor in paper production to continuously optimize production and quality processes. Thanks to their compact design, flexible use and high reliability, Voith's OnQuality quality control systems (QCS) have already been used in over 750 installations worldwide on existing and new lines. The system can be used for all paper grades as well as for nonwovens.

Valmet will supply an extensive rebuild for Sappi’s Somerset paper manufacturing facility in Skowhegan, Maine, USA. Previously, Valmet rebuilt the paper machine 1 (PM1) and with its success, Sappi has chosen Valmet again to rebuild the paper machine 2 (PM2). The order is included in Valmet's orders received of the fourth quarter 2022. Its value will not be disclosed, but such an order is typically worth between EUR 90 and 120 million.

ABB has enhanced its L&W Bending Tester with new features to deliver easier and more reliable operator-independent bending resistance and stiffness measurements. The L&W Bending Tester, which measures resistance to bending in paper and packaging, is a standalone benchtop instrument featuring a large touchscreen with user-friendly interface and improved post-processing for ease-of-use and instrument check and calibration. Integration with other ABB offerings, such as L&W Lab Management System (LMS), also means connectivity to the full Quality Data Management module within the larger Manufacturing Execution System (MES), enabling greater visibility of quality data across the mill and enterprise.

The sustainability agenda means corrugated board, folding cartons, moulded pulp, flexible and speciality papers, are all receiving new interest from packaging buyers. Worth a total of $425.4 billion in 2022, each of these have their own established places in the world market, but the need to implement more sustainable packaging strategies is pushing innovation and opening new higher-value applications.

For more than two years now, the Italian company Toscotec has been a subsidiary of Voith and since then has been serving the business with new lines and major rebuilds in the tissue paper sector for the entire Voith Group. As a result, intensive cooperation began, which among other things resulted in an optimized BlueLine stock preparation portfolio for the tissue production. The optimized portfolio is convincing, with more than 10 stock preparation systems for the tissue sector ordered worldwide in the last two years and with some already in operation. Voith has delivered over 70 machines, and many more are currently being processed.

Mondi has partnered with Noel Alimentaria, supporting them and their choice of a paper-based solution for food products that greatly reduces the use of plastic. Mondi worked closely with Noel Alimentaria to identify the best possible packaging solution for their range of plant-based and meat food. The collaboration resulted in Noel Alimentaria choosing Mondi’s PerFORMing paper-based tray to pack its rebranded range of sliced plant-based food and vegetarian burgers ‘Verday’. Verday is used by Marks and Spencer’s for its ‘Plant Kitchen’ range in the UK and supplied to Nordic markets for ham and charcuterie products.

Effective March 1st, Ib Jensen takes over from Jan Secher as Chief Executive Officer of Perstorp Group, a specialty chemicals company headquartered in Malmö, Sweden, and since 2022 part of Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG). Ib Jensen is a highly respected senior industry executive with a long career as CFO and extensive experience from M&A and integration of acquired companies, something that will be required in the next phase for Perstorp.

Valmet has been selected to rebuild the cooking, fiberline and evaporation plant of Andhra Paper’s Rajahmundry unit in India. The delivery is scheduled to take place in December 2023, and the start-up is planned for the first quarter 2024. The order is included in Valmet’s order received of the fourth quarter 2022. The value of the order will not be disclosed.

bio-fibre news

The Swedish electrofuel developer Liquid Wind has selected AFRY to provide basic engineering for the balance of plant for its second electrofuel facility in Sweden – FlagshipTwo in Sundsvall. Liquid Wind’s ambition, together with Sundsvall Energi, is to develop a 100,000-ton electrofuel facility.