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

ipw news

Following its rebuild and start-up in October 2023, PM 4 at DS Smith's Viana Paper Mill reached final acceptance. The rebuild has increased production from 400,000 tons to 430,000 tons of kraftliner and high-performance top kraftliner per year, at a design speed of 1,200 m/min. This improves the plant's overall efficiency and further strengthens its position in Southern Europe.

International technology group Andritz has developed the PrimeDry HotAir Box, an innovative solution that enables tissue producers to reduce energy consumption and CO₂ emissions while increasing machine efficiency.

The annual Big Buyer trade show has established itself in the industry as a fixed meeting point for paper manufacturers as well as wholesalers and retailers. As a global packaging and paper company, Mondi will be exhibiting at stand B32 and showcasing a selection of papers from its premium Color Copy, NAUTILUS^®, BIO TOP 3^® and IQ brands. The international trade event from 27 to 29 November in Milan is dedicated to products in the stationery, office, party, creativity and toy sectors. Visitors can attend a variety of conferences to learn more about current trends and innovative product developments.

Ranpak announced the launch of its new GrasiKraft™paper void fill made with grass fibers. Ranpak is, as they claim, the first company in the world to offer grass paper as part of its standard product portfolio for void fill, which joins its innovative suite of products including automated packaging solutions and paper converters that can serve any application required within a box.

SCA has recruited Petteri Kalela as the new President of business areas Containerboard and Pulp and member of the executive management team. Kalela has extensive experience in the forest industry and has held several business leadership roles in Europe and Asia.

Mondi has recently completed a €90 million investment upgrade in its Mszczonów plant near Warsaw which doubled its capacity, making it the largest corrugated solutions plant in Poland, and one of the biggest in Europe. The plant is now ideally set up to meet the needs of manufacturers requiring innovative and sustainable packaging solutions with enhanced levels of quality and service. Mondi Warsaw is set to host an event inviting customers to explore the upgraded plant and engage with Mondi experts on packaging innovation, trends and circular solutions.

Valmet is to deliver an automatic dewiring line to Södra Cell’s pulp mill in Värö, Sweden. The delivery will connect to the existing pulper feed system and safely handle the reject bales from the baling line. The new equipment is estimated to be taken into operation in autumn 2025. The order is included in Valmet’s orders received of the third quarter 2024. The value of the order will not be disclosed. An order of this size and scope is typically worth between EUR 1,5 million and EUR 2 million.

UPM Raflatac is expanding its direct thermal (DT) linerless label offering with the launch of its new OptiCut™ WashOff solution. The new linerless label is specifically designed for returnable and reusable plastic food containers, including PP, HDPE and PET crates used in food logistics. Available to customers now, the label launch meets the need for innovative plastic packaging solutions, driven by evolving regulations and consumer demand.

Felix Schoeller will be making a price increase for its digital media products as of 1st January 2025. The global specialty paper manufacturer based in Osnabrück has already informed customers and partners so that they can plan ahead. The price adjustment will be customer-centric, cost-sensitive and based on partnership to ensure stability and long-term predictability on all sides.

Algerian tissue producer WAFA Group has partnered with Toscotec for the turnkey supply of a new AHEAD tissue line (PM1) at their Ain Oussara facility, south of Algiers. The project is planned for 2026. The AHEAD machine has a sheet trim width of 2,850 mm and an annual production capacity of over 40,000 tons. Designed to deliver superior drying efficiency with the lowest possible energy consumption, it is equipped with the latest press generation, a third-generation design TT SYD Steel Yankee Dryer with a patented heads insulation system, and high-efficiency TT Hood. The tissue line will process 100% pre-dried virgin pulp and converting broke.

International technology group Andritz has successfully started up another PrimeLineCompact S 1800 tissue machine at the Xuan Mai Paper mill in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The first Andritz tissue machine supplied to Xuan Mai has been in operation since 2020.

bio-fibre news

October 30^th marked the fifth anniversary since the launch of OnceMore^® - the Swedish innovator brand that produces dissolving pulp used to produce viscose, lyocell and model textiles. To celebrate, OnceMore^® is launching OnceMore^® Together - a collective of innovative yarn and textile suppliers dedicated to transforming the textile industry.

United under one global organization at Tissue World Istanbul, BW Converting’s hygiene business segment will highlight the importance of sustainability in its machinery and product production cycles and share strategies for energy-saving, waste reduction and the adoption of sustainable production methods. BW Converting’s hygiene brands include Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC), Winkler + Dünnebier (W+D), STAX Technologies and Northern Engraving and Machine.