AbitibiBowater (NYSE: ABH) (TSX: ABH) announced today a capital investment plan that will lead to the restart and upgrade of its currently idled sawmill located in Ignace, Ontario. The C$32 million investment includes the addition of an energy system and kilns to dry lumber, and a planer and packaging system to allow for the production of finished lumber ready for market. Engineering, design and construction activities will occur over the next two years, with a return to production forecast for 2014. The investment is subject to the Company reaching an acceptable labor agreement with the United Steelworkers union and finalizing an agreement on municipal matters with the Township of Ignace.

The Ignace project is consistent with AbitibiBowater's overall strategy of achieving greater efficiency with existing assets, focused growth and building on proven competencies, according to Richard Garneau, President and Chief Executive Officer of AbitibiBowater. "Assuming satisfactory outcomes in discussions with the United Steelworkers and the Township of Ignace, the project announced today will result in a sawmill of good scale by eastern Canadian standards and will allow the Company to more efficiently use the wood supply presently available to us," stated Garneau. "Lumber is and will remain a core business for the Company, particularly where it can favorably affect the economics of our pulp and paper facilities. Once the restart and upgrade are completed, Ignace will be well-positioned to supply both the domestic and U.S. markets."

"We are currently planning on a design and construction schedule running through 2012-13, and a return to full production in late 2013/early 2014. The sawmill will also contribute to improving the cost of fiber for our pulp and paper mills in Thunder Bay and Fort Frances," said Yves Laflamme, Senior Vice President, Wood Products, Global Supply Chain and Information Technology.

This is the fourth significant announcement by AbitibiBowater in Ontario, resulting in over C$100 million in investments. "We have a strong relationship with the Province of Ontario, and we are working together on creating better conditions for capital investments. We would in particular like to thank the Honourable Michael Gravelle, Ontario Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry, for his support," concluded Richard Garneau.

AbitibiBowater and other member companies of the Forest Products Association of Canada, as well as a number of environmental organizations, are partners in the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement. The group works to identify solutions to conservation issues that meet the goal of balancing the three pillars of sustainability linked to human activities:  economic, social and environmental.

Minerals Technologies Inc. (NYSE: MTX) has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Specialty Minerals Inc., has entered into an agreement with ABC Paper Limited to build and operate a satellite precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) plant at ABC Paper's integrated  pulp and paper mill at Saila Khurd located in the northern India state of Punjab. ABC Paper Limited is a Mumbai stock exchange-listed company controlled by the widely known and respected Khaitan family. The company has more than 30 years of papermaking history in India.

The satellite PCC plant, which will produce about 25,000 metric tons of PCC a year and is expected to become operational in the third quarter of 2012, will be wholly owned and operated by Specialty Minerals' Indian subsidiary, Minerals Technologies India Private Ltd.

"We are very pleased to enter this partnership with ABC Paper Ltd., which is recognized for its leadership in producing environmentally friendly printing and writing papers," said Joe Muscari, chairman and chief executive officer. "Minerals Technologies has seen its growth in India accelerate as consolidation and expansion takes place and the valuations of Indian paper producers have increased. This agreement marks our fifth satellite PCC plant in India, making us the PCC leader in that country, and we believe that our new PCC-enabling technologies like our Fulfill(TM) products will help create more value for our new customers there."

ABC Paper is a leading producer of agro fiber-based printing and writing papers. The company's pulp and paper mill began operations in 1980 after developing its mill complex in a rural agricultural area. ABC paper's ongoing use of waste agricultural grasses as the primary fiber source for its high-quality papers, and production of a biopolymer lignin base from another onsite satellite venture, places it in near the top of a category of environmentally conscious paper producers.

ABC Paper Ltd. enjoys a strong customer base across India for of its range of writing and printing papers. The paper company has its own distribution network contributing to more than 90 percent of its sales, and these 80-plus distributors across India give it one of the stronger distribution networks. This customer service is coupled with known brands and differentiation based on quality. Brands include ABC Gold, ABC Sapphire, Pearl White and Blue Diamond. The recent introduction of PCC into the market is also strongly driving ABC to improve its paper quality.

In 2010, ABC completed a multi-year expansion project that more than doubled its papermaking output, with the high point being the startup of the new paper machine 4.

PCC is a specialty pigment for filling and coating high-quality paper. By making use of PCC as a replacement for more expensive pulp, customers like ABC Paper are able to produce brighter, higher quality paper at lower cost. Minerals Technologies originated the satellite concept for making and delivering PCC on-site at paper mills and the concept was a major factor in revolutionizing North American papermaking from an acid to an alkaline-based technology. Minerals Technologies constructed its first PCC satellite plant in 1986. Today, the company has 57 satellite plants in operation or under construction around the world and continues to lead the industry with consistent quality and technical innovation.

Novel High-Filler Technology Will Provide This Papermaker Significant Cost Savings by Increasing PCC Filler Usage 20%

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Minerals Technologies Inc., (NYSE: MTX) has announced that it has signed a commercial agreement with Phoenix Pulp & Paper Public Co. Ltd., to provide Fulfill(TM) E-325,  a new, high-filler product under the Fulfill^(TM) technology platform at a paper mill in Nam Phong, Thailand.

This agreement confirms the commercial progress of what Minerals Technologies has branded Fulfill(TM), a portfolio of high-filler technologies that offers papermakers a variety of efficient, flexible solutions that decreases dependency on natural fiber and reduces costs. Fulfill(TM) E-325 allows papermakers to increase loading levels of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) by three to five points, which replaces higher cost pulp and increases PCC usage by up to 25 percent.

"We are very pleased that Phoenix Pulp & Paper Public Company Limited will be using this new technology that will allow them to produce higher quality paper at lower cost," said Joseph C. Muscari, chairman and chief executive officer. "This agreement further illustrates that the revitalization of our new product pipeline and resultant commercializations is beginning to gain traction, and of our on-going commitment to advance our technology leadership throughout each of our global markets."

"Phoenix Pulp & Paper Public Company Limited is our latest customer to sign a commercial agreement for Fulfill(TM) E-325, which is tailored for specific operational parameters at different papermakers depending on their individual needs," said D.J. Monagle, senior vice president and managing director, Paper PCC. "We are continuing to trial the product-along with the other products under the Fulfill^(TM) brand platform--and are actively engaged with 19 paper mill sites worldwide for E-325 deployment."

PCC is a specialty pigment for filling and coating high-quality paper. By substituting Minerals Technologies' PCC for more expensive wood fiber, customers are able to produce brighter, higher quality paper at lower cost. In 1986, Minerals Technologies originated the satellite concept for making and delivering PCC on-site at paper mills and the concept was a major factor in revolutionizing papermaking in North America. Today, the company has 57 satellite plants in operation or under construction around the world and continues to lead the industry with consistent quality and technical innovation.

Minerals Technologies Inc. is a resource- and technology-based growth company that develops, produces and markets worldwide a broad range of specialty mineral, mineral-based and synthetic mineral products and related systems and services. The company recorded sales of $1.0 billion in 2010.

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For further information about Minerals Technologies Inc. look on the internet at http://www.mineralstech.com/

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A new automated process control system has been introduced at the Ust-Ilimsk Branch of Ilim Group. The system was installed in the cooking and bleaching shops of the Branch's Pulp Line 1. Total investment cost is USD 1.5 million.

The goal of installing the new process control system by Yokogawa (Japan) is to replace the obsolete ABB system. This will increase the production output at PL-1, and improve the cooking, washing and bleaching processes. Moreover, the new system will help reduce the consumption of chemicals and pure cold water and decrease the environmental impact on the Angara River.

The new process control system in PL-1 will allow the Mill to control all production processes according to unified algorithms. This will significantly improve the manufacturing performance indicators and quality of the product.

The new Yokogawa automated process control system was installed as part of Ilim Group's investment project aimed at upgrading the washing area in Pulp Line 1. The upgrade project will also include replacement of the old liquor presses and improvement of the washing process flow.

NewPage Corporation, the leading producer of printing and specialty papers in North America, has been named by the Dayton Business Journal as one of ten local companies to win their first "Healthiest Employers Award."

The Dayton Business Journal engaged Healthiest Employers, an independent organization dedicated to promoting wellness in business, education and non-profits, to review the nominations and choose the winners. All nominees were measured using six core areas of workplace wellness:

• Cultural and leadership commitment
• Foundational components
• Strategic Planning
• Communication and marketing
• Programming and interventions
• Reporting and analysis

NewPage launched its Wellness Initiative in January 2010 with the goal to create a wellness environment for NewPage employees by increasing awareness and engagement in personal wellness through a variety of NewPage activities and programs, including those offered by the company's health care plans. To reach this goal, the NewPage Wellness Committee has planned several program activities aimed at reducing the incidence of the most prevalent conditions experienced by NewPage plan participants. Such activities include preventative doctor visits and testing, biometric screenings, flu shots, health fairs and, most recently, friendly company-wide weight-loss and fitness competitions. In addition to wellness activities, NewPage also offers several programs that provide wellness coaching and comprehensive management for employees with health conditions such as diabetes and asthma.

"This award recognizes the commitment we have to the health and wellness of our employees," noted Glenn Grill, vice president, Human Resources. "We appreciate being acknowledged and plan to continue initiatives designed to increase our employees' awareness and engagement in personal wellness."

The Dayton Business Journal and area businesses congratulated and honored the winners at an awards breakfast this morning at the Schuster Center in Dayton.

SOURCE NewPage Corporation

Deadline for abstracts: 14 October 2011

Conference Theme:

Boosting Performance for Better Quality, Sustainability and Profitability

Tissue World Americas 2012 will include a technical conference covering new developments for producers and converters of soft hygienic tissue paper. The meeting will be held on 21-23 March 2012 at the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC), Miami Beach, Florida, USA.

Authors wishing to present a paper concerning new and innovative technology and solutions are invited to submit an abstract for consideration on the program. Speakers are requested to submit an abstract of 100-200 words outlining the paper to be given and the reasons why they believe that this is of interest to tissue makers and converters. The focus should be on Benefits and Results, rather than Features. Also, you should also indicate the preferred session for presenting the paper, if possible.

Technical sessions are proposed as follows:

1. Papermaking Developments

2. Energy Reduction and Savings

3. Softness, Strength and Surface Treatment

4. Converting and Printing

5. Wrapping, Packaging and Logistics

6. Stock Prep, Recycling, Fibers and Water

7. Process Control, Testing and Maintenance

8. Auxiliary Components in Tissue Making

These guidelines for presenters must be respected:

1. Presentations must cover new, innovative technology concerning tissue making and converting.

2. Focus on Benefits and Results, rather than Features.

3. Make the presentation fast, sharp and interesting. DO NOT try and give a very detailed scientific paper. Instead, highlight the most important points that will give benefits to tissue makers and converters and get their attention. You can go into more details at your booth at the show.

4. Priority will be given to papers prepared in cooperation with mill personnel.

5. Presentations must be non-commercial. Your presentation is NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SALES PITCH for your company or products. Emphasis should be on the technology and its application to the tissue business.

6. High quality visual aids should be used.

7. 15 minutes maximum will be allowed for technical presentations. THIS TIME LIMIT MUST BE RESPECTED.

8. Complete presentations, including all diagrams and artwork, must be provided to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. no later than 18 February 2012.

VERY IMPORTANT! All deadlines must be respected. If the final complete presentation is late, the speech may be removed from the program.

AkzoNobel announced today that Jonathan Atack has been appointed the company’s new Corporate Director Investor Relations. He will take up the position on October 1, 2011.

A British national, Atack was until recently Chief Financial Officer at ING Investment Management in the Netherlands. He has held several roles within ING since 2004 including positions in investor relations as well as finance and risk management. Prior to his time at ING, he worked in investor relations at easyJet, Royal Bank of Scotland and Six Continents.

“We are delighted to welcome Jonathan to AkzoNobel. His extensive experience at a variety of multinationals will bring valuable expertise to our team and further improve the professionalism of our investor relations,” said Keith Nichols, AkzoNobel’s Chief Financial Officer.

Atack holds a degree in Engineering Science from the University of Oxford and an MBA from London Guildhall University.

Automation and power equipment to improve efficiency of pulp production facility in Indonesia

ABB recently won an order from Marubeni Corporation, Tokyo to de-bottleneck the pulp production facility at their PT. Tanjungenim Lestari Pulp and Paper in South Sumatra, Indonesia. ABB will provide electrical and automation equipment to help the mill improve its energy efficiency and production processes.

ABB’s solution will optimize the equipment at PT. Tanjungenim Lestari Pulp and Paper. The project is part of an ongoing process to update automation and optimization at the mill.

ABB’s scope of supply includes 6.3 Kv Medium Voltage MCC’s, 400V Low Voltage MCC’s and accessories. ABB will also deliver several 415V Low Voltage and 6Kv Medium Voltage Motors for this project along with a drive cabinet and control boxes.

The project will be implemented by ABB’s Pulp and Paper Regional Center in Singapore. ABB will engineer and commission the system and will also provide project management.

Founded more than 150 years ago, Marubeni Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, has provided products and services to a broad range of industries. These fields encompass importing and exporting, as well as transactions in the Japanese market related to food, textiles, materials, pulp and paper, chemicals, energy, metals and mineral resources, transportation machinery and offshore trading.

PORT ALICE - The north island's largest industrial employer has temporarily shut down, but despite how it sounds, that shutdown has the economy booming.

The Neucel Speciality Cellulose Mill in Port Alice is halting production for one month in order to carry out 35-million dollars worth of upgrades.

Nearly 300 workers are involved in those upgrades, many have been brought in from out of town, and that's having a huge ripple effect for local businesses.