In recognition of the International Year of Forests 2011, MEPs Riikka Manner, Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos and Gaston Franco are hosting the exhibition and workshop "Forest Sector's Contribution to the EU Bio-economy" at the European Parliament, 6-9 September 2011.The aim is to highlight the vital role that Europe’s forests and forest products play in contributing to the overall 2020 objective of the European Union of achieving a sustainable bio-economy.

From responsible resource stewardship and supply of solid wood products, from packaging to ground-breaking materials, like food additives and hi-tech chemicals, via innovative wood architecture construction and bio-energy, the European forest sector’s contribution to the bioeconomy is far-reaching.

“Not only does it use a renewable raw material extracted from an ecosystem that grows both in area and in volume, but it also delivers many non-wood goods and services that contribute to a better planet and to a better society. Promoting wood in construction is undoubtedly a way of fostering sustainable growth provided that the material stems from forests managed sustainably. Wood has an important role to play in the energy and green growth challenge” Ms Manner said.

The week of events held in the European Parliament will showcase the most remarkable values, goods and services that forests and related sectors deliver to society.

“At a time when greenhouse gas mitigation and a shift to new sources of energy are top priorities, forests have an essential role that must be better recognised by European policy makers” according to Luis Manuel Capoulas Santos.

Forestry is an important motor for rural development, creating jobs for about 3.5 million people, providing income and contributing to strengthen the less developed regions in Europe.

European forests are also crucial in maintaining and offering other environmental benefits to Europe’s citizens. “Pure water, rich biodiversity, prevention of erosion and carbon absorption are just some of the multiple environmental benefits that sustainably managed forests are delivering today and will continue to deliver in the future. A balance needs to be found between these benefits and the other economic and social functions of forests. Mr Gaston Franco added.

Riikka Manner continued: “The International Year of Forests shouldn’t be seen as an achievement in itself but rather as a step towards a better and more concrete recognition of all the benefits that forests can provide in a well thought-out policy context”.

Fortress Paper Ltd. (“Fortress” or the “Company”) (TSX:FTP) wishes to report that the construction relating to the conversion of the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill from a NBHK pulp to a dissolving pulp operation is proceeding substantially on schedule. However, due to rescheduling of the delivery and installation of specialized equipment, the enhancement of certain processes, and other ancillary matters, the Company has decided to marginally delay the necessary shut down of the mill required to make tie-ins and upgrades on existing equipment. Accordingly, the production of dissolving pulp is now scheduled to commence in early November 2011. The Company believes that the enhancements to certain processes will provide for a smoother start up and ramp up to full production capacity.

The deferment in the production of dissolving pulp is partially mitigated by the mill’s existing production of specialty pulp which yields a higher margin as compared to NBHK pulp. This specialty pulp is manufactured in strict accordance with certain technical specifications requested by the Company’s customers. The Company believes that, as a result of the extensive development and training experience derived from achieving the tolerances required for this unique specialty pulp, the mill will be positioned for a more efficient transition to dissolving pulp production later this year.

Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, adjusted its guidance for the full-year 2011 due to unfavorable foreign exchange rate developments and a softening of the global economy in the current business year. The mid-term EBITDA margin target for 2015 was confirmed.

The first two months of the second half-year have been marked by a continuing unfavorable development of foreign exchange rates and increasingly difficult economic conditions, negatively impacting Clariant’s operating business. While overall demand remained robust, a softening has become evident in some regions and end markets. In view of the developments in the last few weeks, the initial assumptions on exchange rates as well as on economic growth rates for 2011 are no longer valid. Therefore, the previous full-year 2011 guidance needs to be adapted to the changed conditions. Sales are expected at CHF 7.0 - 7.2 bn while the EBITDA margin before exceptional items should reach between 12.8% and 13.2%, still above the 12.7% reported in the last business year.

CEO Hariolf Kottmann commented: “We confirm our mid-term target of an EBITDA before exceptionals of above 17% for 2015. This is based on an improvement in our competitive position resulting from the global asset network optimization program, further savings as well as a successful integration of Süd-Chemie, which will substantially contribute to the group’s performance in the coming years. The solid base and the sound financial position achieved in the last two years allow us to consequently implement our profitable growth strategy.”

Conference Call
Clariant invites you to a conference call on September 5, 2011, at 07.30 am (CEST) to discuss the recent developments:

+41 (0) 91 610 56 00 (Europe)
+44 (0) 203 059 58 62 (UK)
+1 (1) 866 291 41 66 (USA - Toll-Free)

Playback
The playback will be available 1 hour after the conference call for 48 hours until September 7th inclusively:

+41 (0) 91 612 4330 (Europe)
+44 (0) 207 108 6233 (UK)
+1 (1) 866 416 2558 (USA)

Participants will be asked to enter the Code 17240 followed by the # sign.

Modern premises create an optimal working environment

Endress+Hauser continues to invest in its future: The measurement engineering specialist’s Dutch sales center has moved into a new building in Naarden. The modern office building cost just under eight million euros.

Bricks, glass and plenty of daylight: Endress+Hauser’s new building in Naarden, Netherlands.

Yesterday saw the inauguration of the new building, after a construction period of only one year. “We wanted a groundbreaking office building which creates the best possible working conditions for all our people,” says Rob Hommersen, managing director of the sales center. “We also stressed that the architecture should reflect openness, sustainability and transparency.”

A high atrium with glass frontage characterizes the new building; a masonry facade lends it elegance. The building has been constructed with eco-friendly materials and meets high standards in terms of energy consumption. Almost 5,000 square meters of floor area accommodate offices, a workshop, a logistics area and a restaurant. If needed, the building can be easily enlarged.

Inauguration of Endress+Hauser Netherland’s new building: Managing Director Rob Hommersen, Joyce Sylvester, Major of Naarden, Klaus Endress, CEO of the Endress+Hauser Group, and Jan Kamminga, President of the Dutch Federation of Technological Industry, cut the ribbon.

In 1960, a small sales office in the Netherlands was the first foreign subsidiary of the young Endress+Hauser company. Today, the sales center employs over 130 people. The new building in the small town of Naarden, 20 kilometers south-east of Amsterdam, was erected immediately next door to the previous headquarters.

In the Netherlands, Endress+Hauser cooperates mainly with global customers in key industries such as water & wastewater, food & beverage, oil & gas and chemical. Thanks to the development of the business with service offerings and automation solutions, the Dutch sales center has seen above average growth in the past years.

Metso has signed an agreement with Inbicon A/S of Denmark for the supply of technology capable of converting biomass into second generation fuel ethanol. The value of the agreement will not be disclosed.

The agreement covers cooperation in designing and supplying full industrial scale biomass refinery equipment by combining Metso’s fiber processing technology and Inbicon’s technology for bioethanol production. Metso applies the equipment to the refineries, where non-wood raw materials like wheat straw, bagasse and oil palm fruit residues can be utilized to produce ethanol, solid biofuel for energy production, and animal feed.

Lars Dahlqvist, Senior Vice President, Metso’s Fiber Processing unit says: "With this agreement we have taken an important step towards supplying our equipment for the new industry of biomass conversion. We look forward to working with Inbicon and see them as a fast track to commercialization of a whole new industry of biomass refining. We are now ready to deliver the equipment for commercial size plants for second generation bioethanol."

Inbicon A/S develops technology for conversion and refining of soft lignocellulosic biomass into fuel, feed, and green chemistry products. In December 2009 the first Inbicon Biomass Refinery was inaugurated in Kalundborg, Denmark, to demonstrate the technology. The plant converts wheat straw into fuel grade ethanol, animal feed, and lignin pellets for energy production. Inbicon is a subsidiary of DONG Energy A/S.

OMNOVA Solutions today announced price increases of up to $0.10/wet pound on all SunKote® lubricants and Sequarez® and Sunrez® insolubilizers sold into the North American paper and paperboard markets. These increases will be implemented on all list and off-list prices, effective September 15, 2011, and are necessitated by escalations in the costs of key feedstocks.

OMNOVA Solutions is a technology-based company with pro forma sales for the twelve months ending May 31, 2011 of $1.2 billion and a global workforce of approximately 2,800. OMNOVA is an innovator of emulsion polymers, specialty chemicals, and decorative and functional surfaces for a variety of commercial, industrial and residential end uses.

As part of the Myllykoski integration, UPM has completed a comprehensive review of the long term competitiveness of its publication paper mills. The review has covered asset efficiency, production input availability and costs as well as end-use markets.

As a result of the review, UPM plans to adjust its magazine paper capacity to match the needs of its global customer base. Therefore, UPM will start negotiations with employees on the plan to permanently remove 1.2 million tonnes of magazine paper capacity in Finland, Germany and France, and 110,000 of newsprint capacity in Germany. The plan also includes restructuring of the overlapping paper sales and supply chain networks and global functions.

The planned measures include:
• permanent closure of the UPM Myllykoski mill in Kouvola in Finland
• permanent closure of the UPM Albbruck mill in Germany
• permanent closure of the paper machine 3  at the UPM Ettringen mill in Germany
• transfer of the sheeting lines from UPM Albbruck mill to UPM Plattling mill in Germany
• sale or other exit of the UPM Stracel paper mill from UPM Paper Business Group
• restructuring of overlapping paper sales and supply chain network as well as global functions.

In addition, UPM plans to temporarily close the paper machine 2 producing uncoated fine paper at UPM Nordland Papier in Germany and streamline operations in Pietarsaari pulp and paper mills in Finland.

The planned closure of the Myllykoski and Albbruck mills and the paper machine 3 of UPM Ettringen would be scheduled by the end of 2011. The Stracel mill sales process would start this autumn and is expected to be completed within twelve months.

The implementation of the plan would reduce the number of employees by approximately 1,170. Based on the plan, UPM will book in the third quarter of 2011 an approximately EUR 70 million write-off in fixed assets and make a provision for costs of approximately EUR 200 million. Net cash impact from the restructuring plan amounts to approximately EUR 170 million. Annual synergy benefits of the Myllykoski acquisition including the planned actions are estimated to total approximately EUR 200 million.

“The paper industry faces severe challenges due to high raw material, energy and logistics costs, and considerable overcapacity. The profitability of our paper business is clearly below the level required to run long-term sustainable operations. The planned restructuring would further strengthen the cost competitiveness of UPM’s paper operations and reduce the future need for major maintenance investments”, says UPM’s President and CEO Jussi Pesonen.

“With the planned actions we would respond to the magazine paper overcapacity challenge for our own benefit. In addition, we would ensure the efficient use of our remaining capacity. However, this plan would not solve the cost challenges of the industry,” says Pesonen.

“Our aim is to improve the profitability and cost competitiveness of our magazine papers. The planned measures would immediately reduce the unit costs of UPM’s magazine papers and newsprint from the level before the acquisition of Myllykoski.  In spite of the restructuring, we would be able to serve our paper customers better through our improved product portfolio and geographic scope”, says Jyrki Ovaska, President of UPM Paper Business Group.

“The planned closures are very unfortunate for the affected employees but restructuring is the only way to make a fundamental improvement in the cost competitiveness of our paper business. UPM will carry out the restructuring negotiations in a responsible and professional manner in line with the national legislation of the respective countries,” says Ovaska.

UPM will consider options to establish a “From-job-to-job” programme appropriate to the local legislation provided the plan proceeds to implementation.  The planned actions will be discussed in the upcoming negotiations with employees and authorities.

source: www.upm.com

For a decade now, the graphic and printing industry has been shaken by a considerable structural upheaval. The growth of digital media has upset the operating environment of the printing industry, driving businesses to merge and to cut capacity.

The worldwide financial crisis that unfolded in 2008 hit European printers hard, and although the worst is now behind, the industry is not expected to recover its former volume. While digital media are chipping away the demand for traditional printed matter, raw material costs are also rising, and cost-effective Asian competitors are putting pressure on the market.

VTT studied the present situation of the European printing industry and explored means for future survival by interviewing more than 30 representatives at 18 European enterprises in the field. The study shows that in order to survive, the European printing industry must either increase production efficiency and flexibility, increase the value of printed products or launch new applications and services exploiting printing competence. These are the ways in which the industry can survive in a situation where print runs are shrinking but the range of printed products is expanding.

Production efficiency may mean, for example, that printing presses support a wider range of formats and products more flexibly than before. Hybrid printed products, combining digital and traditional printing, are a case in point. Efficiency can also be improved by moving production methods closer to the end user and using a printing press for processing the printing substrate.

Interactive media combining digital and printed media enables product and service applications, where the user experience is extended. Applications where mobile phones are used as an intermediate link between these two media are already on the market. Virtual reality proves to be a source of added value for printed products. In the future, we will see an independent, interactive printed product that does not need an intermediate device such as a mobile phone. The third future option for the printing industry involves using their equipment and expertise to serve the needs of other sectors, employing printing technology to create completely new products.

Sustainability is an issue the industry needs to take into focus both in product development but also in marketing. There are different, not necessarily fact-based opinions on the sustainability of printed media. In order to stay alive and prosper, the European printing industry must conform to the needs of consumers and corporate media users in terms of the sustainability and usability of its products.

The renewal requires the entire cluster to work together. Although the whole industry is challenged, proactivity is needed especially from the major enterprises, so that the change could be effected smoothly and throughout the sector. Based on the study now completed, VTT is setting up three research projects through which the competitiveness of the industry is enhanced in the future. These projects cover all three survival scenarios referred to above: efficiency, added value and new products. VTT is to form industrial consortia for each three individual projects. Companies throughout the print value chain are invited to join and to steer the research.

Metso Corporation’s Board of Directors has decided to modify the company’s business structure in order to more effectively reach the company’s future business targets. According to the decision, Metso’s Power business, which is presently part of Energy and Environmental Technology segment, will be integrated with Paper and Fiber Technology segment. Recycling business, also currently part of Energy and Environmental Technology, will be managed as a separate entity and Metso will review other strategic alternatives for it.

“Our order book is currently at the record high level giving us good backbone for further development. To ensure continued profitable growth and value creation of Metso, and to gain the critical size needed to be competitive, we have made decisions to sharpen our business portfolio. We are focusing on businesses in which we can have a strong global market position and in which services and technology close to the customers are decisive competitive advantages. Short and long term value creation through growth and profitability development has been the major factor in selecting the way forward. Additionally, with this decision, we aim to increase the simplicity and transparency of Metso’s businesses”, says Matti Kähkönen, Metso’s CEO.

Metso's mining and construction business is developing strongly, benefitting from the high economic growth in the emerging markets. These countries are investing strongly into infrastructure and demanding a lot of minerals. This growth is expected to continue in the coming years. "The growth in mining and construction is demanding a lot of resources, and we have to be ready to invest into that and further build our global presence to support the profitable growth”, says Matti Kähkönen. “Our long term target is to be a leading global provider of mining technology and services”.

Pulp, paper and power industries offer solid growth and profit opportunities. Metso’s ambition is to develop the business as the leading global pulp, paper and biopower solutions provider and further develop our business in other biomass technology solutions. "We believe that through increased global integration of the Paper, Fiber and Power businesses we can further improve our profitability and cash flow and create a platform for further strategic development and growth", says Matti Kähkönen.

In Automation business, Metso aims to grow particularly in flow control business. In addition to developing the currently well-performing Automation business as an independent segment, there is a big potential in using automation to support Metso’s offering in the different customer industries, especially in mining and construction, to differentiate and expand their own content. Currently most developed linkages exist in pulp, paper and power businesses.

In the new operating structure, Metso’s reporting segments will be:
Mining and Construction
Automation
Pulp, Paper and Power
Recycling and Valmet Automotive businesses will be managed as separate entities.

The Board of Directors appointed the management of the new segments:
Mining and Construction, Mr Andrew Benko (as before)
Automation, Mr Perttu Louhiluoto (currently head of Energy and Environmental Technology)
Pulp, Paper and Power, Mr Pasi Laine (currently head of Paper and Fiber Technology)

In addition to his business responsibilities, Pasi Laine will continue as Executive Vice President and Deputy to CEO. The other members of the Metso Executive team will continue in their current positions.

The operative planning of the new business structure will be finalized by the end of 2011 and it will be effective as of 1 January, 2012. Until then, the current reporting structure of three business segments (Mining and Construction Technology, Energy and Environmental Technology and Paper and Fiber Technology) will be in use.

source:

M-real Corporation, part of Metsäliitto Group, has on 1 September closed the transaction to divest the entire share capital in M-real Hallein GmbH to the Schweighofer Group.

The signing of the transaction was announced on 30 June 2011.

The divestment is expected to reduce M-real’s annual sales by approximately EUR 75 million and improve the operating result by approximately EUR 5 million based on Hallein mill’s actual performance in 2010.