Sappi Europe informs customers of further unavoidable price adjustments to its Speciality Paper grades due to the continued and unprecedented high level of raw material, chemical and logistics costs in combination with highly volatile and unpredictable energy prices.

Therefore, further price increases for all Coated and Uncoated Flexible Packaging, Label and Silicone Base Papers will be applied for shipments as of 1 March 2022.

Sappi’s European sales team will be in further contact directly with customers to discuss the details of the implementation, taking into account individual existing agreements.

Sappi understands that circumstances  are extremely difficult and remains committed to managing its business effectively, supporting the industry and serving its customers.

About Sappi

Sappi is a leading global provider of sustainable woodfibre products and solutions, in the fields of Dissolving pulp, Printing papers, Packaging and speciality papers, Casting and release papers, Biomaterials and Bio-energy. As a company that relies on renewable natural resources, sustainability is at our core. Sappi European mills hold chain of custody certifications under the Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™ C015022) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC/07-32-76) systems. Our papers are produced in mills accredited with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 50 001 and ISO 45 001 certification. We have EMAS registration at 5 of our 10 mills in Europe. 

Sappi Europe SA is a division of Sappi Limited (JSE), headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with 12,500 employees and 19 production facilities on three continents in nine countries, 37 sales offices globally, and customers in over 150 countries around the world.

Learn more about Sappi at www.sappi.com

Scandicore launches world’s first paper tube lids made with PulPac’s revolutionary Dry Molded Fiber technology. Bridge volumes will be manufactured by PulPac and first art print deliveries with the new lid are estimated to reach consumers this spring. 

Scandicore, one of the Nordic region’s leading manufacturers of sustainable cores and tubes for the manufacturing industry, have together with PulPac, world leader and owner of Dry Molded Fiber, developed a paper lid to perfect the company’s paper tubes. One of Europe’s leading online stores for art prints will be first in line to offer their products in completely plastic free and fiber-based packaging from Scandicore.

“Safeguarding the environment and the quality of our products, are our primary competitive advantages. The physical strength of the Dry Molded Fiber products, in combination with resource efficiency, where valuable water resources and energy are saved, in addition to significant reductions of CO2, makes this a strategic investment for Scandicore. We have been listening to the market. This solution is heavily asked for by our customer and we are proud to start the journey to support the green and sustainable choice of our customer” says Eva Engström, CEO at Scandicore.

Dry Molded Fiber, invented and owned by PulPac, is a fiber forming technology that can replace single-use plastic with sustainable fiber-based alternatives at low cost. The patented technology is available to converters that set up their own production. To accelerate the shift, PulPac has together with partners developed the PulPac Modula standardized machine platform, now starting to roll out to licensees and available at the PulPac Tech Center for sample and bridge volume production.

“We offer a ‘wheat to bread’ setup, delivering application development, tool making, and sample production to ease the transition to Dry Molded Fiber. In close collaboration with our clients, we develop competitive, and sustainable market ready applications. The paper tube lid is a perfect fit for our technology, and we are happy to partner with Scandicore to bring this unique solution to the market”, comments Sanna Fager, Chief Commercial Officer at PulPac.

About Scandicore
Scandicore is one of the Nordic region’s leading manufacturers of paper cores for the manufacturing industry as well as a supplier of tubes for consumer market. Contribution of sustainable products with limited CO2 footprint is on the daily agenda of Scandicore as well as a long-term  commitment. Scandicore AB is part of the family-owned industrial group, the Mustad United Group. www.scandicore.com

About PulPac
PulPac provides the packaging industry with a groundbreaking manufacturing technology for low-cost, high-performance fiber-based packaging and single-use products. By pioneering the technology of cellulose molding PulPac enables their customers to replace single-use plastics with a sustainable and cost competitive alternative globally. www.pulpac.com

About Dry Molded Fiber
Dry Molded Fiber, invented and patented by PulPac, is a manufacturing technology designed for the circular economy. It leverages globally available, affordable, and renewable cellulose fibers to produce high performance fiber-based packaging and single-use products with highly competitive unit economics. Dry Molded Fiber also saves significant amounts of valuable water resources and energy, resulting in up to 80% lower CO2 footprint compared to alternatives. The process is up to ten times as efficient as conventional fiber molding invented over 100 years ago.

In an industry first, James Cropper has launched a coloured paper range using dye derived from plant extract which would have otherwise been wasted. The new Wainwright Colours from Nature range, which launches this month, is the papermaker’s latest in a list of innovations which create value from waste streams.  

With plant-based dyes more commonly used in the textile industry, the new collection marks the first application to paper; promising market leading environmental credentials without compromise on technical performance.  

The first two shades, Limestone and Herdwick Brown, are both derived from rosemary residue, a waste stream in some food production. The rosemary is grown as an annual agricultural crop before the non-edible waste from the plant is extracted and upcycled into the dye, which is added to James Cropper’s 100% FSC® recycled paper. 

Designed primarily for the packaging and publishing sectors, extensive research and development work has ensured no compromise on the technical performance of the range.  The Wainwright Colours from Nature collection offers a bleed-free, rub resistant dye which has lightfastness similar to that achieved using industry standard synthetic dyes. 

The latest innovation from the Kendal-based papermaker heralds the first step in developing more sustainable colour options sourced from renewable origins that can be replenished responsibly, including food waste and inedible plant sources.  

The colours were created to celebrate James Cropper’s partnership with The Wainwright Prize, an annual literary award for the best UK-based nature and global conservation writing. The colours are inspired by author Alfred Wainwright’s love for the Lake District landscape and James Cropper’s desire to protect it. 

Joanne Storey, R&D Programme Lead at James Cropper comments: “Whether it’s used coffee cups, food waste or other pre and post-consumer waste, by repurposing these valuable streams, we continue to support transition to a more circular economy. 

“From the use of renewable materials and low impact manufacturing processes, to producing high quality products that are easy to recycle, we are committed to sustainability at every turn, and our expertise in colour is part of that.  

“It’s the first-time plant-based dyes have been used in modern papermaking; a breakthrough which marks the first step into the development of more natural colour options. We are investigating botanical dyes extracted from a wide variety of origins including plants, shells and fungi; and expect the range to expand significantly.” 

The Wainwright Colours from Nature range is available from stock in 350gsm, ideal for presentation packaging, business stationery and invitations.  The natural dye technology can also be applied to bespoke projects through James Cropper’s Tailor Made service.  

For more information visit www.jamescropper.com/wainwright-coloursfromnature. 

About James Cropper   

James Cropper is a prestige paper innovator based in the English Lake District, supplying distinct, custom-made paper products to many of the world’s leading luxury brands, art galleries and designers.   

Throughout 175 years of high-quality paper production, the business has been carefully stewarded and nurtured by six generations of the Cropper family and is renowned globally for individual expertise in colour and fibre innovation.       

Since the beginning of 2021, Grupo Gondi has been producing light recycled corrugated base paper with its PM 7 at the new Papel y Empaques mill in Monterrey. As a full-line supplier, Voith supplied the entire production line, including the BlueLine stock preparation system; the XcelLine paper machine; and MCS, DCS and QCS automation solutions. For the green field project Grupo Gondi also relied on the OnCare.Health and OnCare.Asset digital maintenance solutions from Voith's Papermaking 4.0 portfolio. The intelligent maintenance management system started at the same time as production and has since then provided intelligent maintenance support in daily operations. In addition, Grupo Gondi uses the Voith Paper Webshop to order new spare and wear parts.

• Grupo Gondi successfully uses the OnCare.Asset maintenance management system and partly OnCare.Health condition monitoring solution at PM 7 in the Papel y Empaques mill in Mexico
• Installation of the user-friendly systems was fast and smooth
• Digital solutions from the Papermaking 4.0 portfolio provide support in daily operations and ensure more efficient processes and minimal downtimes

After one year, Grupo Gondi is now taking stock: The company is very satisfied with the successes achieved, the current status and the partnership with Voith. "We saw the new plant as an opportunity to integrate leading digital technologies from Voith," says Victor Alcantar Lara, Corporate Manager Projects & Maintenance at Grupo Gondi. "After looking at all the benefits of Voith's digital solution package, we were convinced by the smart applications. With the help of the digital products, we get a direct link to Industry 4.0. Voith is always at our side with valuable expert knowledge and pursues the highest quality standards in every project. We are therefore very happy about the trusting and good partnership with Voith."

At the beginning of the project, Voith harmonized all data sources together with Grupo Gondi. For a seamless material management process, the Voith experts connected OnCare.Asset to Grupo Gondi's ERP system via a bi-directional interface. The integration of the systems took only a few weeks and went smoothly. Since then, the condition monitoring solution OnCare.Health has partly analyzed machine data at the Mexican plant, targeting reduction of unplanned and planned downtime. In addition, the OnCare.Asset digital maintenance management system forecasts the appropriate maintenance measures on a preventive basis. To increase predictability the systems will be fully interfaced in the first quarter of 2022. In addition, the maintenance personnel benefit from quick and easy identification and ordering of spare and wear parts via the Voith Paper Webshop. Thus, the digital solutions significantly increase the productivity, maintenance efficiency and process stability of PM 7.

"Through intensive teamwork, coaching and training, all team members in Monterrey were quickly trained and qualified to operate the digital solutions," says Francisco Javier Lozano Hernandez, Manager Planning & Scheduling Monterrey at Grupo Gondi. "OnCare.Health now partly monitors the current condition of the plant at all times, registers even the smallest anomalies, sends warning signals to the operators and independently develops optimization options. Combined with OnCare.Asset intelligent maintenance management, the solutions will increase and maintain our world-class machine availability."

"We use the maintenance system every day and can now also use it to document and track current statuses," adds Victor Alcantar Lara. "Thanks to the user-friendly operation and the continuously growing data collection, the operators have a comprehensive overview of the maintenance status and can react proactively and efficiently. The digital solutions can also be controlled flawlessly from a distance."

With the campaign "PAPER IS ON," Voith highlights the following focus topics of the Papermaking 4.0 digital product portfolio: full-line supplier, efficiency, sustainability, cloud solutions, automation and innovation. Learn more and visit our homepage: voith.com/PaperIsOn.

About Grupo Gondi
Grupo Gondi is a leading paper packaging company with 66 years of experience in the Mexican market. The company currently employs over 7,800 people. A total of 14 converting plants and 7 recycled paper machines are in operation. The company specializes in the production of recycled paper, corrugated boxes, pre-printed corrugated boxes and solid fiber containers, folding containers, micro-corrugated boxes and digital boxes, as well as services to support the production of these products. In total, Grupo Gondi produces more than 1.1 million tons of paper per year.

About the Voith Group
The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has around 20,000 employees, sales of € 4.3 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.

The Group Division Voith Paper is part of the Voith Group. As the full-line supplier to the paper industry, it provides the largest range of technologies, services and products on the market and offers paper manufacturers holistic solutions from a single source. The company’s continuous stream of innovations facilitates resource-conserving production and helps customers minimize their carbon footprint. With its leading automation products and digitalization solutions from the Papermaking 4.0 portfolio, Voith offers its customers state-of-the-art digital technologies to improve plant availability and efficiency for all sections of the production process.

The Chinese company will rely on A.Celli and PMT technologies for their new paper machine dedicated to the production of low basis weight fluting.

A.Celli is proud to announce that it will provide key equipments to Shanying Paper (Jilin) Co., Ltd.

The scope of supply will include numerous PMT ÆGO™ branded solutions, such as the STREAM S headbox equipped with the SMARPRO dilution control system, the FORM T top former, the shoe press with Tri-nip configuration and the SIZER FO size press. In addition, A.Celli Paper will provide Shanying with two E-WIND® P100 rewinders and a core handling system.

A.Celli Paper and PMT will handle the design and production processes respectively and the expected delivery time of the supply is 12 months.

Once started-up, the new paper machine will be able to produce fluting with basis weight ranging from 70 to 170 gsm and web width of 7300 mm, all at a design speed of 1100 m/min.

Mr. Wang Xin, Project Manager of Shanying Paper (Jilin) Co., Ltd., said: “The core of this project is a line designed for the production of packaging paper with low basis weight. In particular, the shoe press with the tri-nip configuration will guarantee a higher production flexibility and product quality while reducing energy consumption”.

Mr. Zhan Zong, General Manager of Shanying Group's business department, said: "We are very happy to sign this cooperation agreement and we believe that the combination of PMT and A.Celli technologies can provide Shanying with excellent results".

SHANYING PAPER (JILIN) Co. Ltd. – COMPANY PROFILE

Shanying Paper (Jilin) Co., Ltd. was founded in 2020 and is a subsidiary of Shanying International Co., Ltd. The company counts numerous production lines that use both domestic and imported waste paper as raw material to make packaging paper, including testliner and fluting, and newsprint.

In an era of supply chain shortages (and always), Cortec® Coated Products (CCP) is an outstanding source of VCI (vapor corrosion inhibitor) coated paper for four reasons.

1. Vertical Integration
Cortec® oversees the VCI paper coating process from start to finish, first by blending its own proprietary VpCI® paper coating at its Cortec® headquarters plant, then by coating it at up to 1200 feet (366 meters) per minute on the wide-width coater at CCP in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. In this way, Cortec® is able to oversee every stage of the process for quality control. The resulting paper is perfect for wrapping or interleaving metal parts to protect them against rust during storage or shipment.

2. Flexible Options
CCP is also noteworthy for its flexibility and wide selection range. While CCP has many stock options for paper weight, rolls, and sheeting; customers can also request custom sizes and perforations (for greater convenience) or order jumbo rolls to convert at their own plant (for greater economy). CCP even offers large format paper widths that are difficult or impossible to find elsewhere.

3. Fast Turnaround
In addition to flexible options, CCP has fast shipping turnaround on all stock items. This is a welcome relief at a time when supply chain shortages seem to be everywhere. The CCP shipping office operates 10 hours a day, four days a week, to quickly fill orders on its many in-stock coated papers. For instance, CorShield® VpCI®-146 Paper is ready to order in a variety of sheet and roll sizes and weights. It also comes in creped and reinforced paper versions for cushioning or anti-tear needs.

4. Environmental Initiatives
Another noteworthy feature is CCP’s membership in the Wisconsin Green Tier Program since 2010. As such, CCP has been an example of practical environmental initiatives, such as reducing paper scrap. CCP also produces several USDA Certified Biobased Products, of which one (EcoShield®
VpCI®-144) is a VCI paper with a recyclable moisture barrier coating (not plastic). Depend on Us for VCI Packaging! CCP is here to serve with a wide range of options when it comes to naturally biobased corrosion protection packaging. Whether your interest is wide-width coated VpCI® paper, custom perforated rolls, or fast turnaround when no one else has what you are looking for, CCP is ready to help.

Contact Cortec® today to let us know your coated paper needs and take full advantage of your dependable resources at CCP:
https://www.cortecvci.com/contact-us/

Valmet will supply a new headbox to Naini Paper Limited’s Kashipur mill in India. The investment is targeted to strengthen Naini Paper’s capability in delivering high-quality paper to its customers and secure its market position with growing productivity.

The order is included in Valmet's orders received of the first quarter 2022. The value of the order will not be disclosed. The delivery is scheduled to take place in December 2022, and the start-up in the first quarter of 2023.

“We expect to achieve quality improvement and production enhancement with this new headbox supplied by Valmet,” says Pawan Agarwal, Managing Director, Naini Papers Limited.

“The headbox rebuild will help Naini Papers to reduce energy consumption through less breaks, to achieve materials savings through furnish optimization and to improve profile uniformity for better paper quality. We are very happy to start working with Naini Papers and are looking forward to a successful project together,” says Varun Jain, Director, India Region, Valmet.

OptiFlo Fourdriner headbox

Valmet's delivery includes an OptiFlo Fourdriner headbox and the Valmet IQ Dilution Profiler with CD controls to Naini Paper’s PM 2 at their Kashipur mill. The innovative single layer headbox with a dilution system will improve web profiles, formation, and productivity of the machine. It will have an operating speed of 900 m/min and a wire width of 3,260 mm.

Information about Naini Papers Limited

Naini Papers Limited, which was started in 1995, is one of the few premier paper manufacturing facilities in India. Naini offers high quality writing and printing papers with improved physical and optical properties. Naini is a market leader in producing single layer cup stock (for making paper cups) and saturating kraft (for making laminates).

Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers.

Valmet's strong technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bioenergy production. Our advanced services and automation solutions improve the reliability and performance of our customers' processes and enhance the effective utilization of raw materials and energy.

Valmet's net sales in 2021 were approximately EUR 3.9 billion. Our more than 14,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward - every day. Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland and its shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.

Read more www.valmet.com

Engraving Solutions, the Körber Group company that specializes in designing and engraving embossing rolls, presents two innovative services that meet tissue manufacturers’ demand for products with a low environmental impact.

Giacomo Tambellini, Sales Account and Product Engineer comments: "For some time we have observed that our customers have two major needs: on the one hand they need solutions that limit the waste of energy and raw materials, and on the other hand they are concerned with cost saving.  With the two new Buy-Back and Rised services, we believe we have responded to both requirements”.

Buy-Back and Rised are complementary: the first is in fact a buy-back service, conceived after a careful evaluation of the unused embossing rollers by the Körber purchasing department; the engraved pattern on the roller is immediately destroyed and the surface regenerated to be used again.

The second service is Rised, thanks to which a new roller is made starting from the one regenerated. The result is a product with the same performance as the new one, but at a lower cost.

Tambellini concludes: "This is a truly circular economy: thanks to the buy-back service, unused rollers are recycled, while with Rised products are created as new, safeguarding the environment by reducing the emissions necessary to build new ones".

New trademark reflects Solenis’ long-standing commitment to driving measurable value for customers through sustainability solutions

Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals for water-intensive industries, has trademarked the name for its environmental, social and governance (ESG) program. Now known as ESG+C™, the updated name formalizes the company’s long-standing commitment to delivering measurable value to its customers.  

The U.S. Patent and Trade office granted Solenis final trademark approval for ESG+C™ in December 2021.  

The addition of the “+C” represents the Solenis customer and accentuates the company’s focus on delivering strategic initiatives, metrics, benchmarking and quantifiable results to help customers stay competitive and meet their sustainability goals. 

“While the demand for sustainability has been evolving for some time, the last 12 to 18 months have seen an acceleration in consumer awareness,” said Solenis CEO, John Panichella. “Solenis has a long history of providing ESG advisory, consultation and auditing services that emphasize the customer just as much as the other aspects of ESG.”  

Solenis trademarked its ESG+C™ program to reflect the company’s long-standing commitment to driving measurable value for customers through sustainability solutions.

For example, the Solenis ValueAdvantage^SM program identifies, documents and measures the value Solenis contributes to customers’ businesses with chemistry, support, service and expertise. Solenis promises to deliver a documented, quantified 5% return on each customer’s investment. Customers can leverage the findings of ValueAdvantage^SM in their own sustainability report to demonstrate progress to their stakeholders, such as investors, partners and employees. 

To recognize these partnerships in driving sustainability, Solenis introduced a structured sustainability award program in 2020. This program recognizes specific and verifiable customer projects that have delivered meaningful, measurable results against one of five sustainability indicators: reduced water use, reduced energy use, improved carbon footprint, reduced waste and optimized raw material utilization.  

Through these ESG+C™ initiatives, Solenis is helping customers measurably reduce their environmental footprint. ESG+C™ successes include: 

• Solenis helped one U.S. customer make changes to boiler water treatment, saving 23,131 kilowatts of energy, keeping 4,950 tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and conserving nearly 2 million gallons of water — the equivalent of 47,619 full bathtubs. 
• A customer in Europe implemented a Solenis dewatering solution to save 185 million gallons of water and cut 1,413 tons of carbon dioxide emissions — equal to 1,077 cars driven for an entire year. 
• An online cleaning program for heat exchangers at an Asian geothermal plant reduced downtime and lowered energy use by 210,000 kilowatts. 
• A South American biorefining operation worked with Solenis experts to create efficiencies through advanced flocculants, saving nearly 8 million gallons of water a year. 

Solenis maintains details on all of its sustainability partner projects, providing customers with a valuable resource for identifying additional opportunities to positively impact their sustainability efforts. 

For information about the company’s commitment to sustainability, visit www.solenis.com/en/sustainability/strategic-vision. 

About Solenis 
Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, focused on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries, including the pulp, packaging paper and board, tissue and towel, oil and gas, petroleum refining, chemical processing, mining, biorefining, power, municipal, and pool and spa markets. The company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids and functional additives, as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, minimize environmental impact and maintain healthy water. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 47 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of over 6,000 professionals in 120 countries across five continents. Solenis is a 2021 US Best Managed Company. 

For additional information about Solenis, please visit www.solenis.com