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Metso's complete automation package for Allimand's new paper machine in Spain
The latest generation automation technology will allow the plant expand its product range and develop new products
Metso has won an order to supply an extensive automation package to French supplier Allimand for the new paper machine to be erected in the new Miquel y Costas' plant in la Pobla de Claramunt, Spain. The new production line, which is the latest generation, will allow Miquel y Costas expand its range of papers and develop new products.
Metso automation's highly reliable and proven technology was selected both by Allimand and Miquel y Costas as the best answer to the high technical and performances expectations of this new production line.
Metso automation's delivery will comprise Metso DNA automation system for machine, process and drive controls, Metso Process and Quality Vision for web inspection and web break analysis and Metso IQ quality control system including MD and CD quality controls with Metso IQ Moisturizer. Commissioning is scheduled for the last four-month period of 2012.
Allimand is a French paper machine manufacturer who designs and manufactures completes turnkey machines of 4 to 8 meters wide and also supplies rebuilds to existing paper machines.
Miquel y Costas is a Spanish group, incorporated in 1929, and consisting of 13 companies, all centred on the paper industry and covering everything from marketing to services. The group is today among the worldwide leaders for the production of specialty lightweight papers, with the main specialisation being hi-tech cigarette papers.
BTG at Tissue World Americas 2012
Visit BTG at Tissue World Americas 2012 to see how BTG can help improve your bottom line!
BTG: helping the tissue maker improve economic performance and quality, thanks to in-depth process- and customer knowledge and advanced technologies. We work hand-in-hand with the customer to develop innovative, cost-effective ways of improving his operation, replying to his specific demands and needs.
Visit booth 740 to discuss how we can help you improve your bottom line:
* Reduced fiber costs, reduced consumable costs, improved tissue machine uptime and converting plant yield: all of these are possible through the application of the industry's most widely used particle charge detector, zeta potential measurement and our highly efficient equipment for the evaluation of retention aids.
* Web breaks, edge build-up, flying sheet: to significantly reduce these production constraints we introduce our fines management concept based on new generation optical consistency transmitters for fiber, ash and fines.
* Bulk improvement, improved fiber yield, enhanced softness and consistent quality: all possible thanks to our range of high-performance creping doctors and our unique creping blade holder, which allows for independent adjustment of linear load and creping pocket angle - while running!
* Our collaborative project approach to tissue mill economic enhancement (TTC, Total Tissue Capability) drawing on a comprehensive package of equipment, specialist know-how and consumables - all geared to optimizing your tissue operation
We will be presenting a joint paper with ICT in the Yankee Forum on the 20th and in Session 3 on the 21st on how ICT Iberica and BTG managed to reduce operational costs related to blade chatter.
BTG - raising your productivity
Xerium Technologies to be Featured on 21st Century Business Television
Xerium Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:XRM), a leading global manufacturer of industrial textiles and rolls used primarily in the paper production process, has announced that the company will be featured in the 21st Century Business series on the Fox Business Network, scheduled to air on Saturday, February 4th.Stephen R. Light, Xerium’s Chairman, CEO and President, will discuss the company’s innovative SMART Technology, which is a growing platform of real-time paper machine optimization tools to help maximize output and reduce operational costs.
For a schedule of upcoming airtimes, click on the link below:
http://www.21cbtv.com/clearance-report/21cb2222-fbn.pdf
to see the video please press play below
Mondi showcases professional printing products
Mondi showcases professional printing products the at Grafische vakbeurs trade fair in Hardenberg, Holland, February 7-9, 2012
Highlights include Mondi’s professional printing papers tailored for hybrid, high-speed inkjet, Indigo, and digital printing technologies.
The global pulp and paper producer Mondi will be exhibiting select papers from its professional printing portfolio at this year’s Grafische vakbeurs in Holland at stand 202 in hall 2. To promote its development of papers for specific printing technologies, Mondi will present the full DNS® product range, which also includes DNS® indigo and DNS® high-speed inkjet, as well as Color Copy, Color Copy indigo and the newly launched BIO TOP 3® next.
“Our professional paper portfolio reflects the latest trends in printing technology tailored for the machines most widely used by professional printers. In 2011 we launched a number of papers that focus on several key areas, namely high-speed inkjet, Indigo, digital colour laser and hybrid printing,” explains Johannes Klumpp, Marketing and Sales Director for Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper. “Graphische vakbeurs is a good opportunity for visitors to learn more about how our paper technology complements machine technology so printers can achieve the best results.”
Indigo paper
DNS® indigo and Color Copy indigo received HP’s 3-star approval, which is the highest performance rating for HP Indigo digital presses and indicates the best performance in terms of runnability, ElectroInk fixing and blanket compatibility. During the production process of these papers a special primer is applied to ensure perfect adhesion of HP’s ElectroInk. Due to a special primering method, Mondi Indigo papers have an unlimited shelf life, which ensures consistently exceptional print results on Indigo machines even after several years of storage.
High-speed inkjet paper
DNS® high-speed inkjet was developed in close cooperation with OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) with a specially optimised surface for fast absorption of water-based dye or pigment inks at printing speeds of 200 meters/minute and higher. A unique characteristic is its extremely smooth paper surface, which resembles the surface of coated paper. This enables printers to create print products with high appeal. Due to its range of grammages from 80 to 160 g/m², DNS® high-speed inkjet is ideally suited for versatile print applications, such as transactional or transpromotional documents, direct mail applications, books, brochures or vouchers. The paper’s smooth surface and optimal whiteness level allows for even ink distribution and optimal logo reproduction.
Digital colour laser paper
Color Copy is recognised for high quality full-colour print results due to its smooth surface and soft white shade, whereas the high-white shade of DNS® premium achieves bold contrasts for eye-catching text and graphics. The variations found within Mondi’s digital printing paper portfolio ─ shade, texture, recycled grades – further enhance the flexibility of digital print technology in terms of print applications and size of print runs.
Hybrid paper
Launched in the latter part of 2011, BIO TOP 3® next is the newest addition to the company’s portfolio of hybrid printing papers developed for increased printer compatibility and a wider range of applications. Hybrid optimised papers ensure perfect compatibility with digital and offset technologies.
Visitors can learn more about Mondi’s professional printing portfolio by visiting stand 202 at Grafische vakbeurs and at www.mondigroup.com/printing.
AkzoNobel invests €80 million to supply new Suzano pulp mill in Brazil
AkzoNobel is planning to invest €80 million in the construction of a new pulp Chemical Island facility in Brazil. The plant, operated by the company's Pulp and Paper Chemicals business, Eka Chemicals, will supply the Suzano Maranhão pulp mill. This is AkzoNobel's second largest investment in Brazil in the past 12 months and further expands Eka Chemicals' sustainability-focused Chemical Island concept.
"This 15-year agreement emphasizes the importance of high growth markets for AkzoNobel and will help drive the company's medium-term strategy of doubling revenue in Brazil to €1.5 billion," said Rob Frohn, AkzoNobel Executive Committee member responsible for Specialty Chemicals.
The investment will involve supplying, storing and handling all chemicals for the 1.5 million ton per year pulp mill, which is being constructed in Imperatriz, Maranhão, Brazil. The mill is expected to come on stream in the last quarter of 2013.
"We are very proud to have been awarded this project; it underlines the value our Chemical Island concept brings to our customers," said Pulp and Paper Chemicals General Manager Ruud Joosten. "The future demand for pulp and paper in Latin America and China is forecast to increase substantially over the next decade and these investments ensure that we are part of that growth."
Commenting on the agreement, Ernesto Pousada, COO at Suzano Papel e Celulose, said: "Eka Chemicals is a long and reliable partner to Suzano Papel e Celulose. Via this deal, we are ensuring our plant will use the latest and most sustainable chemicals available – something which has been key for us."
The new facility will expand AkzoNobel's well-established pulp and paper activities in Brazil. The business already successfully runs Chemical Islands, as well as other production units, on several customer sites. It also operates bleaching and paper chemical plants in Jacareí, Rio de Janeiro, Três Lagoas and Jundiaí.
Clariant Full Year 2011 Results - Press Conference
CLARIANT 2011 FULL YEAR RESULTS PRESS CONFERENCE - Wednesday 15 FEBRUARY 2012 - 09.00 CET
Clariant will be presenting its 2011 Full Year Results on 15 February, 2012
Location:
SIX Swiss Exchange
ConventionPoint
Selnaustrasse 30
CH-8021 Zürich
www.conventionpoint.ch
Please register with Jennifer Burri (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) - by latest Wednesday February 8, 2011, if you want to attend the full year results presentation in person.
You will also have the opportunity to join the media conference via a live webcast at the following location:
http://gaia.world-television.com/clariant/20120215/mc/extern/trunc
Or by dialing in via phone line by using one of the following numbers:
+41 (0) 91 610 56 00 (Europe)
+44 (0) 203 059 58 62 (UK)
+1 866 291 41 66 (USA - Toll-Free)
Questions may be raised via the webcast or via the e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
In order to enable us to start on time we ask all participants to dial in 5 - 10 minutes before the conference is scheduled to start.
An audio plug-in capability will be made available during the press conference.
Please note that the press release along with other supporting material will be issued and posted on www.clariant.com at 07.00 CET on February 15.
ThermoSafe® Brands Announces Price Increase
hermoSafe Brands®, a business unit of Sonoco, has announced a price increase of 4 -7 percent across most of its product portfolio, effective March 5, 2012. This price increase will affect all expanded polystyrene (EPS) and polyurethane (PUR), including custom and cataloged shipper solutions and components globally.
The price increase is necessary to cover rising costs in raw materials, labor, energy and transportation. “At ThermoSafe, we continually invest in our operations, technology, people and infrastructure to ensure we offer industry leading solutions, products and services at competitive prices,” stated Mary Kate Phillips, director of North American Sales. “Despite our efforts to offset cost increases through Lean initiatives, we reached a point where we must raise prices to offset the ongoing inflation in our costs.”
ThermoSafe’s customers will be contacted individually regarding the specifics of the price increases.
“ThermoSafe continues to offer highly innovative solutions using state-of-the-art technologies and equipment to take care of our customers in their mission-critical shipments of pharmaceuticals, clinical trials samples, blood, investigational drugs, food or chemicals that are temperature sensitive. We continually strive to provide our customers with the best value at the best possible prices,” said Prakash Mahesh, vice president of Marketing and Business Development.
ThermoSafe Brands is the largest manufacturer of temperature-assurance packaging and the leading provider of thermal testing solutions for life sciences customers.
For more information about ThermoSafe Brands’ complete line of products, please visit the Company’s website athttp://www.thermosafe.com or contact our customer service at (800) 505-1886.
Introducing the FM Global NatHaz Toolkit
FM Global has expanded complimentary access to its resources on preparing for natural hazard events with the launch of its NatHaz Toolkit.
Drawing upon FM Global's 175 years of research and engineering related to earthquake, flood, freeze and windstorm, the NatHaz toolkit includes podcasts, checklists and videos on protecting property from natural catastrophes. The resource is now available 24/7 through the Knowledge Center on fmglobal.com.
View the NatHaz Toolkit.
Outokumpu confirms agreement in principle with ThyssenKrupp
Outokumpu confirms that it has reached an agreement in principle in its negotiations with ThyssenKrupp to combine Inoxum, the stainless steel unit of ThyssenKrupp, with Outokumpu under the operational leadership of Outokumpu. This is pending the approval of Outokumpu's Board of Directors later today and execution of definitive agreements.
The agreement reached with the German labor representatives overnight marks a significant milestone in the negotiations. Specifically, it covers the following areas:
- Closure of the Krefeld meltshop by end of 2013.
- The melt shop in Bochum will be preserved until the end of 2016.
- No compulsory redundancies in German production sites until end of 2015.
- Planned total reduction of 850 jobs in Germany of which ThyssenKrupp has committed to offer alternative jobs within ThyssenKrupp for up to 600 of current Inoxum employees.
According to the tentative agreement reached with ThyssenKrupp, the transaction would value Inoxum at an enterprise value of EUR 2.7 billion. The Consideration for Inoxum would comprise a cash payment of EUR 1 billion, new Outokumpu shares representing 29.9% of total share capital (post rights offering and directed share issue to ThyssenKrupp), a loan note of EUR 235 million (initial value) to be issued to ThyssenKrupp and the assumption by Outokumpu of certain liabilities of Inoxum of EUR 422 million. In connection with the transaction, Outokumpu plans to conduct a fully underwritten rights offering of EUR 1 billion, supported by certain key shareholders.
The combination would create significant cost synergies, starting in 2014 and estimated to reach a run-rate of EUR 225-250 million p.a. by 2017 at the latest. Any definitive agreement would be subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals.
OMNOVA Solutions Reports Fourth Quarter 2011 Results
OMNOVA Solutions Inc. has announced a net loss of $10.4 million, or a diluted loss per share of $0.23, for the fourth quarter ended November 30, 2011. Included in the fourth quarter net loss was a loss from discontinued operations of $16.7 million, or a diluted loss per share of $0.37, related primarily to non-cash asset impairment charges of $13.6 million.
"Operating profit improved sequentially in the fourth quarter despite continued weakness in market demand," said Kevin McMullen, OMNOVA Solutions' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Fourth quarter results were positively impacted by lower raw material input costs, which declined from an all-time high in the third quarter, but were still higher than the prior year. We also generated positive cash during the quarter and increased our cash balance to approximately $106 million.
"For full year 2011, the Company achieved record operating profit despite unprecedented raw material inflation. Our Performance Chemicals business, including ELIOKEM, achieved its best annual profit performance and the ELIOKEM acquisition was accretive in the first year. As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the ELIOKEM acquisition, we are very enthusiastic about the long-term value we can create together," McMullen said. "Additionally, with the decision to exit commercial wallcovering, the Decorative Products segment is better positioned to be a positive contributor to OMNOVA's future financial results.
"While we are optimistic about the fundamental improvement we have made to the long-term business outlook for the Company, we are clearly facing some near-term headwinds with raw material price volatility and uncertain market demand," McMullen added.
Discontinued Operations
As part of the Company's strategy to focus on businesses with greater global growth potential, the Company decided in the fourth quarter of 2011 to exit commercial wallcovering, and these businesses were classified as discontinued operations. On December 12, 2011, the Company completed the sale of the North American commercial wallcovering business. Total sale proceeds from the North American assets were $10.0 million along with potential future royalty payments.
The Company's European-based commercial wallcovering business, known as Muraspec, serves the global commercial wallcovering market outside of North America, including Asia. Muraspec has been operated on a stand-alone basis and will continue business as usual to design, produce, sell and service its commercial wallcovering and other products. The Company is pursuing the sale of the ongoing Muraspec business.
The Company recorded a loss of $16.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 for discontinued operations which was related primarily to non-cash asset impairments of $13.6 million. OMNOVA will record a gain of approximately $9.8 million related to the sale of the North American commercial wallcovering business in the first quarter of 2012.
Commercial wallcovering results in the fourth quarter were sales of $19.3 million with an operating loss of $3.9 million excluding unusual items. For the full year 2011, the commercial wallcovering operations generated net sales of $70.2 million and an operating loss of $7.9 million excluding unusual items.
Reported Consolidated Results for the Fourth Quarter Ending November 30, 2011
Net sales increased $111.1 million, or 58%, to $301.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to $190.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2010. The sales improvement was driven by $81.8 million of revenues from the ELIOKEM acquisition and increased OMNOVA legacy sales of $29.3 million. The higher OMNOVA legacy sales resulted from price increases of $44.4 million and $2.0 million of favorable currency translation effects, which were partially offset by volume decreases of $17.1 million.
Gross profit in the fourth quarter of 2011 increased to $55.8 million, compared to $32.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, due primarily to the ELIOKEM acquisition. Raw material costs in OMNOVA's legacy business increased $39.4 million in the fourth quarter versus the same period last year. Gross profit margins in the fourth quarter of 2011 were 18.5%, compared to margins of 16.8% in the fourth quarter of 2010. The increase in gross profit margin percentage was due primarily to productivity and pricing actions.
Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) in the fourth quarter of 2011 increased to $26.0 million, or 8.6% of sales, compared to $19.3 million, or 10.1% of sales, in the fourth quarter of 2010. The increase of $6.7 million in SG&A was due primarily to the ELIOKEM acquisition, partially offset by a bad debt reserve recovery of $1.7 million. The decline as a percentage of sales was due to higher sales and the Company's focused ongoing efforts to control costs and leverage SG&A across its global operations.
Interest expense in the fourth quarter of 2011 was $9.5 million, an increase of $6.4 million from the fourth quarter of 2010, due to higher borrowing levels and an increase in interest rates resulting from refinancing activities relative to the ELIOKEM acquisition in December 2010.
Income from continuing operations before income taxes in the fourth quarter of 2011 was $10.8 million, compared to a loss of $5.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2010.
For the fourth quarter of 2011, income tax expense was $4.5 million, a 41.7% effective income tax rate. In the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company recorded a tax benefit of $89.2 million related to the reversal of a deferred tax asset valuation allowance in the U.S., which was no longer required. Cash tax payments in the U.S. over the next few years are expected to be minimal because the Company has $124.8 million of U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards and $109.1 million of state and local tax net operating loss carryforwards with expiration dates between 2022 and 2032.
In the fourth quarter of 2011, income from continuing operations was $6.3 million, or $0.14 per diluted share. Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, was $16.7 million related primarily to non-cash asset impairment charges of $13.6 million, or $0.37 per diluted share. The net loss was $10.4 million, or $0.23 per diluted share.
As of November 30, 2011, the Company's debt of $457.3 million was comprised of $250.0 million of 7.875% Senior Notes maturing in 2018, a term loan of $198.0 million maturing in 2017 and $9.3 million of foreign operations borrowings. The Company maintained its strong liquidity position as global cash and cash equivalents totaled almost $106 million. Also, on November 30, 2011, there were no outstanding borrowings under the Company's U.S. revolving asset-based credit facility, and the available borrowing capacity was $83.8 million.
Performance Chemicals Fourth Quarter 2011 Results
Net sales during the fourth quarter of 2011 increased $110.2 million, to $241.4 million, compared to $131.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. The ELIOKEM acquisition added $81.8 million of sales versus the prior year. Performance Chemicals' legacy sales increased $28.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 due to positive pricing actions of $39.6 million and $0.2 million of foreign currency translation effects, partially offset by volume decreases of $11.4 million. Segment operating profit was $24.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to $17.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, an increase of $6.5 million (see Table 1).
Performance Chemicals Adjusted Segment Operating Profit for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $22.5 million, compared to the fourth quarter Pro Forma Adjusted Segment Operating Profit of $25.0 million in 2010 (see Table 3). The adjusted operating profit margin was 9.3% for the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to the pro forma adjusted operating profit margin of 12.2% in the fourth quarter of 2010. The decline in the operating profit margin was due primarily to the volume declines.
NewPage Corporation, a major customer, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 2011. Early in the first quarter of 2012, the Company completed a new two-year supply contract with NewPage and has been designated as a Critical Vendor. NewPage paid a cash settlement to the Company on its pre-petition bankruptcy trade receivable balance. The Bankruptcy Court has approved the settlement. As a result, in the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company reversed $1.7 million of the $2.6 million bad debt charge that it recorded for the NewPage receivable in the third quarter of 2011.
The specialty product lines within Performance Chemicals recorded strong double-digit sales growth in global drilling chemicals, continuing a year-long trend with increasing participation in high temperature, high pressure drilling environments around the world. Significant progress was made in obtaining customer approvals for tire cord latex from OMNOVA's new plant in Caojing, China. Also, Performance Chemicals introduced its bio-based co-polymer hybrid chemistry into both carpet and coated paper applications following successful commercialization with several specialty customers.
Decorative Products Fourth Quarter 2011 Results
Results of continuing operations excluding commercial wallcovering (see Table 2) were sales of $60.0 million during the fourth quarter of 2011, an increase of $0.9 million, or 1.5%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2010. Sales improved for North American and China coated fabrics and for decorative laminates but declined in performance films and Thailand coated fabrics. Adjusted Segment Operating Profit was $2.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to a Pro Forma Adjusted Segment Operating Loss of $2.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2010 (see Table 3). The improvement is related primarily to productivity and pricing actions.
During the quarter, raw material price recovery was significantly higher than the previous year and continued the trend of sequential quarterly improvements in 2011. Globally, coated fabrics sales into the transportation and contract upholstery markets were very strong, driven by double-digit volume growth in after-market automotive, motorcycle, recreational seating and healthcare applications. The Thailand coated fabrics sales drop reflected the massive flooding in the region which impacted the manufacturing plants of customers. The Company's Thailand plants were not damaged and continued operating. Laminates sales grew double-digit in the store fixture and kitchen and bath segments, driven by specification of OMNOVA's products by a major DIY store chain.
Earnings Conference Call - OMNOVA Solutions has scheduled its Earnings Conference Call for Friday, January 27, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. ET. The live audio event will be hosted by OMNOVA Solutions' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Kevin McMullen. It is anticipated to be approximately one hour in length and may be accessed by the public from the Company's website (www.omnova.com). Webcast attendees will be in a listen-only mode. Following the live webcast, OMNOVA will archive the call on its website until noon ET, February 17, 2012. A telephone replay will also be available beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET on January 27, 2012, and ending at 11:59 p.m., ET on February 17, 2012. To listen to the telephone replay, callers should dial: (USA) 800-475-6701 or (Int'l) 320-365-3844. The Access Code is 231350.