PAPER CHEM TECH VIETNAM 2012 is a major event for the pulp and paper companies all over the world. It is all about interacting with the industry and taking orders for the participants. It is a great chance to establish new contacts and renew existing relationships for exhibitors and it is also a precious opportunity to learn the latest market for the visitors. It is a family reunion for all the people concerned in the paper industry.

Booming Market
Vietnam is one of the favorite destinations in Asia for foreign investments since its World Trade Organization (WTO) membership took effect from January 2007. It will be the new engine to power South East Asia economy.
Touted as fast becoming the new China, Vietnam, this new tiger's economy grew by more than 8% last year and Industrial production increased by 14% per year. Since 2001, Vietnam has been enjoying more than 7% economic growth annually whilst its per capita income is up to 1,160 USD in 2010. As it is, foreign direct investment covers 25.8% of total social investment and contributes approx 42% of GDP (State investment 38.1%, Private sector investment 36.1%). Export volume in 2010 increased by 25.5 % compares to the year 2009 (with total revenue: 71.6 Bill USD), with 33.9 Bill USD from Foreign Investment Area, making it the highest among countries in the Asia region, including China.

Strong Growth
South East Asia is expected to become the fastest growing market for Paper in the next 10 years. Paper demand & consumption are rising in Vietnam to supply domestic needs of 84 million people. In 2009, total capacity of paper was 1.8 million tones, increased by 30% from year 2008. It could be seen average annual growth rate of 13-15% in the paper demand and capacity.

Great Demand
The country currently has 300 paper mills but most are small and medium size, using antiquated technology. Outside investment is needed to update existing equipment and to build both new pulp and paper mills. At present, there is a re-constructing activity in the industry, mostly by replacing old equipments with the new better ones, which have much higher capacity. Some investments have already been made. The 2 new projects of SCG Paper (Thailand) and Pulppy Corelex have celebrated the grand opening at the beginning of 2010. They could be the models for the local investors for the coming investments.

As one of the most specialized exhibitions, the annual China international Pulp & Paper Chemicals Exhibition which is co-sponsored by the China Paper Chemical Industry Association, is becoming a key event for entering china paper market.

The exhibition products cover: starch, sizing agent, water-soluble polymer polymers, functional paper chemicals, paper process chemicals, fillers, coating chemicals, adhesives and other paper chemicals, etc. The exhibition area is about 8000 square meters.

World Famous chemicals company Ashland, Dow Chemical, Nalco, Dow Corning, BASF, Roquette, Kemira, 3F CHIMICA, Japan Arakawa, Harima, Star, Mitsui, Mitsubishi Chemical, have all attracted to participate. As well as visitors from downstream companies such as UMIN, PT.Sina, UPM-Kymmene, BEIJING TIANQING CHEMICALS, Jiangsu Feymer Technology Co., Ltd., Pulp Paper China, Jin Feng Yuan paper.
 
Thanks to the dynamic promotional campaign through our domestic and oversea supporter, China Paper Chemicals Industry Association, International Paper Chemicals Science and Technology Engineering Research Center, Japan Chemical Industry Daily, India Chemical Week, Chemical Market Research Korea, Asian paper, RISI, Paper Technology, Chinese Paper industry, China paper magazine, China Paper Chemicals magazine, etc. Chinese Companies will also join the Pulp paper, PAP-FOR RUSSIA, SPCI, Asianpaper, Chemspec and other domestic and international paper and chemicals exhibitions.

BASF has established new ambitious environmental, health and safety goals. The company wants to increase its energy efficiency – defined as the amount of sales products in relation to the primary energy demand – worldwide by 35 percent by 2020, compared to the previous goal of 25 percent. In addition, BASF aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions per ton of sales product by 40 percent, originally set at 25 percent. Within the area of occupational health, BASF will measure its performance with a new, expanded indicator, the “Health Performance Index.” Safety will continue to remain the top priority for BASF.
 
“Since BASF operates in an energy-intensive industry, our success depends on securing a long-term, competitive supply of energy and raw materials. Therefore, we are constantly working on boosting our worldwide energy efficiency,” said Margret Suckale , member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF.
In 2011, BASF increased the energy efficiency of its production processes by 26 percent, compared to 2002. The use of power plants with power-heat-technologies and other individual projects helped the company exceed its goal of improving its energy efficiency. “Our new ambitious goal is to improve the energy efficiency of our production processes by 35 percent by 2020,” explained Dr. Ulrich von Deessen, President of BASF’s Competence Center Environment, Health and Safety. For that reason, BASF will continue to optimize processes within its businesses and invest in new plants.
 
“We also aim to further reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of our production and within the whole value chain,” said von Deessen. In 2011 – as in 2010 – BASF already reached its goal of reducing the greenhouse gas emissions per metric ton of sales product by around 35 percent compared to 2002. The new goal is to lower the emissions per ton of sales product by 40 percent by 2020 compared to 2002. Overall, the company decreased its greenhouse gas emissions within the chemical business by 42 percent since 1990 due to numerous improvements in the production.
 
Emissions to air and water reduced
BASF also succeeded in further reducing emissions to air and water compared to 2002. In 2011, around 61 percent less air pollutants were emitted (excluding the oil and gas production). Emissions of organic substances to water decreased by approximately 74 percent, nitrogen by 87 percent and heavy metals by around 61 percent.
 
Within the oil and gas business, the BASF Group company Wintershall aims to discontinue the continuous flaring of associated gas within its routine operations by the end of 2012 at all of its production facilities. A new goal for Wintershall is to improve the energy efficiency of natural gas transportation: By 2020, it aims to reduce carbon emissions related to the amount and distance of transported natural gas by 10 percent compared with 2010. This will be accomplished through, for example, a more energy-efficient gas pipeline layout and the more intensive reuse of waste heat in the WINGAS Group’s transportation network.
 
Additional new environmental goals were set by BASF for the responsible use of water as a resource. By 2020, the company plans to cut in half the current amount of drinking water it uses for production compared to 2010. It also intends to establish sustainable water management systems at all production sites in areas of water stress. In the last years BASF played a decisive role in the development of the European Water Stewardship Standard, a voluntary European industry standard for the responsible use of water.
 
Focus on health and safety
Health protection will be measured by BASF worldwide with the help of a new “Health Performance Index.” The index comprises five criteria: reported cases of occupational diseases, medical emergency planning, first aid, preventive medicine and health promotion. “We never compromise on safety in daily work, plant, transportation, and product safety,” emphasized von Deessen. To improve occupational and transportation safety, the company wants to reduce the number of accidents by 2020: work-related accidents by 80 percent (base year: 2002) and transport accidents by 70 percent (base year: 2003).

The global AC drives manufacturer Vacon has appointed Tomas Duba the Managing Director for the company's sales offices in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

"During the past few years, Vacon has expanded its operations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and there is a lot of potential for growth. Tomas Duba has a solid background in the AC drives business as well as in the sales and management positions. He will play an important role as we continue to grow in the region," says Matti Vekkeli, Regional General Manager for Vacon's operations in EMEA.

Tomas Duba will be responsible for operations throughout the Czech Republic and Slovakia which include sales, marketing and after-market services. Vacon's Czech and Slovak operations are headquartered in Prague, and Vacon has several systems integrators, OEM clients and distributors in the two countries.

Most recently, Mr Duba held the position of the Managing Director in the Czech and Slovak subsidiary of FlexLink Systems, a worldwide leading manufacturer of flexible chain conveyors.

The former Managing Director of Vacon's subsidiary in the Czech Republic stepped aside from his position on 27 February 2012.

Buckman will showcase its latest products and technology at Tissue World Americas 2012, taking place at the Miami Beach Convention Center, March 20 through 23. Buckman is a regular attendee at Tissue World Americas, the only conference and exhibition targeted at the North and South American producers, converters, distributors, traders and suppliers of soft hygiene tissue paper.

Buckman offers tissue manufacturers worldwide an unmatched combination of new technology, application and technical expertise, and is continually striving to provide more effective and sustainable products for tissue manufacturers. Multiple new products and product advances will be showcased by Buckman at the event.

“This event and its associated technical conference covering new developments in the tissue business present an ideal platform for Buckman to demonstrate its leadership and innovation,” said Mark Christopher, Global Market Development Manager - Tissue. “At a conference and exhibition that have been very well received by the industry, we will be offering attendees a unique opportunity to learn about new techniques and methods to improve operations and profits.”

Among the products that will be featured by Buckman at Tissue World are:

Buckman’s SELECT^SM Yankee dryer adhesive system.   This package provides coating optimization never before achievable with other Yankee dryer packages. SELECT uses a combination of a robust hybrid adhesive in combination with a soft rewettable coating to allow the tissue manufacturer to optimize pressure roll attachment and coating adhesion levels independently.

Buckman® 691 softening technology. This technology gives tissue manufacturers access to a lotion-like feel via a product that can be applied into the manufacturing wet end instead of converting.

Maximyze™ 2535 and 2523S are recently developed enzymatic products created specifically to condition virgin softwood and recycled fiber. This treatment can improve bonding strength, tensile, softness, and bulk as well as reduce energy usage.

Buckman’s innovative creping technologies for TAD, ATMOS and other structured tissue technologies, result in better quality and productivity for Buckman customers.

In addition to participation in the conference, Buckman’s Tissue Product Specialist Jackie Allen will present a paper as part of the Yankee Reliability Summit on Tuesday, March 20. Titled Sustainable Yankee Release Chemistry, and co-authored by Buckman’s Jackie Allen, Daniel Glover and Jian Tan, the paper addresses Buckman’s most recent product development efforts centered on readily biodegradable Yankee releases derived from mostly food-grade vegetable materials. Yankee releases have been traditionally produced from petroleum based raw materials.   Replacing these non-renewable petroleum oils with this new, renewable technology, can provide reduced usage, increased stretch for unit used, and a much cleaner Yankee edge – all characteristics that tissue makers welcome.   This paper will show a portion of the laboratory techniques and data used for product development as well as mill evaluation data on a high-speed tissue machine.

Attendees can visit Buckman at Booth 550 in Exhibition Hall A for more information on Buckman products and technologies.

A leading pulp and paper company in Indonesia has selected PMT Italia as supplier for two replacement suction rolls (one pick-up roll and one press roll) for its pulp machine located in Sumatra, Indonesia.

The pulp machine produces Pulp from Acacia Mangium and Eucalyptus bleached wood. These suction rolls will be designed and manufactured in order to improve machine efficiency and clothing life. The start up is planned for the third quarter of 2012.

PMT Italia S.p.A. confirms with this supply its presence in Indonesia and demonstrates its capability to understand Indonesian paper mills’ requirements for a fruitful cooperation in facing a rapidly expanding pulp & paper production in this area.

Promoting sustainable development and science

Metso Tissue Technology Award

Metso continuously strive to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions to water as well as the atmosphere. Now we want to take one step further and challenge students and scientists around the world, who work with new and innovative solutions for the tissue industry, to contribute to a more sustainable tissue production. 

We are proud to present the Metso Tissue Technology Award.

The award adresses students and scientists, of bachelor degree or higher, who are working with new and innovative ideas or solutions for a more energy efficient tissue making process. The award will be granted every second year, the first time in 2013 and the total prize amount is USD 25,000.

With energy efficiency in mind 

The award has been established by Metso to promote innovative work on energy efficient solutions for the tissue making industry.

- Energy efficiency is a crucial issue for the tissue industry globally and it takes a wide perspective and open mind to explore new areas for innovation, says Marco Marcheggiani, President, Tissue Mills business unit, Metso.

- Being the clear market and technology leader in tissue, Metso wants to stimulate innovative work also outside our own organization by this award.

MarquipWardUnited, a leading manufacturer of advanced sheeting, corrugating and finishing equipment, has announced the addition of Frederic Duquenne to its European Sheeter sales force. Duquenne joins the company as the sales executive for new sheeting machinery for Western Europe and North Africa territories.

Duquenne brings more than fifteen years of increasing responsibility in technical and sales management leadership from Heidelberg Web Press, France; his commercial web press experience spans eight years. Most recently, Duquenne was the France Sales Manager for commercial and newspaper web press at KBA where he demonstrated his extensive record of collaboration and team building that contributed to the growth and profitability goals of his customers.

“Frederic will allow us to communicate in French to our French-speaking customers, enhancing the overall customer experience as well as helping to build on our excellent results from this market sector,” said Steve Brimble, Managing Director Apollo Sheeters Ltd. and VP Sales Europe and Asia.

Duquenne will work from his office in Senlis, France, north of Paris.

International technology Group ANDRITZ has successfully started up the PM11 tissue paper machine supplied to Hengan Group Chongqing. Hengan Group, one of the leading producers of tissue paper in China, now has six ANDRITZ PrimeLine machines in operation. Three more machines will be started up during this year, two of them equipped with the world’s first wide steel yankees (diameter: 5 m) for high-speed machines.

PM11 (type PrimeLine TM W8) started up in a record time of only three-and-a-half months after the beginning of erection. It has a design speed of 2,100 m/min, a width of 5.6 m, and is equipped with energy-saving components such as steel yankee head insulation and a re-evaporation system. ANDRITZ’s scope of supply also included the complete stock preparation and automation system.

The ANDRITZ PULP & PAPER business area, which manufactures its tissue paper machine components in Europe and China, is further strengthening its position as one of the leading suppliers of tissue paper machines and local services in China.

SCA has made a binding offer to acquire the Taiwan-based hygiene products company Everbeauty. The purchase price for the deal amounts to approximately SEK 1.9bn (USD 290m) on a debt-free basis. If the deal is realized, SCA’s positions in Asia, one of the Group’s prioritized growth markets, will be substantially strengthened.

Everbeauty is a leading Asian personal care products company with sales in China, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. The company produces and markets baby diapers and incontinence care products with strong brands such as Dr P for incontinence care products and Sealer for baby diapers.

Within incontinence care products, the company holds a number two position in China and a number one position in Taiwan. Within baby diapers, the company holds a number five position in China and Taiwan.

Everbeauty had sales of SEK 1.6bn in 2010. 60 percent of sales are related to baby diapers and 40 percent comes from incontinence care products. The company has around 900 employees.

The transaction is expected to give SCA access to an extensive distribution network and a strong sales organization as well as production facilities in China and Taiwan.

This proposal is subject to Everbeauty being privatized under Taiwanese law. Completion of the transaction remains subject to certain conditions, including approvals and clearances by relevant authorities in Taiwan. Closing of the deal is expected to take place in the summer of 2012.

“Asia is expected to account for 60 percent of the global growth within hygiene products. The acquisition of Everbeauty would create good growth opportunities in a strategic growth market and with this acquisition, SCA would be the market leader in incontinence care products in Asia, excluding Japan. The acquisition would also strengthen SCA´s market position and geographical reach within baby diapers in Asia”, says Jan Johansson, SCA’s President and CEO.

Today, SCA is present in Asia with personal care and tissue products and on some markets holds leading positions. SCA also holds an 18 percent ownership in Vinda International, one of the leading tissue producers in China.