Ilim Group’s new papermaking machine at Koryazhma mill in Arkhangelsk region, built as a part of Big Koryazhma investment project, produced its first paper on March 03.

During the coming weeks, Ilim Group’s specialists, supported by experts from International Paper and representatives of equipment suppliers, will be working together to bring the machine up to full production, and help it meet all of the product quality parameters.

New high-quality office and offset paper will soon enter Russian market.

Big Koryazhma is a $270-million investment project involving construction of a new paper machine, installation of an off-machine coater, cut-size and folio sheeters, construction of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) plant as well as implementation of some infrastructure projects. Construction of a new paper machine in Koryazhma started in summer of 2011. As a result of the project, Russia’s most advanced state-of-the-art paper machine has started operations which will produce more than 150,000 tons of office paper per year.

In summer of 2013, the company will also start producing 70,000 tons of coated paper per year to make Ilim Group Russia’s only manufacturer of this product. The project was approved by Ilim Group’s Board of Directors on June 30, 2010. The Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation has given this project a top priority status.

source: whatwood

Following a comprehensive analysis, Clearwater Paper Corporation (NYSE:CLW) has announced the planned permanent closure of its Thomaston, Ga., tissue converting and distribution facility. The gradual shutdown of converting equipment will occur on a schedule throughout the year, with some operations running into the first quarter of 2014, affecting a total of 150 employees.

"This has been a difficult decision—one where the company reviewed many scenarios and alternatives to closing the plant," said Tom Colgrove, president of Clearwater Paper's consumer products division. "We have concluded that consolidating regional converting and permanently closingThomaston was the solution to best serve the needs of our southeastern customers and improve the overall logistics of our national manufacturing network."

Displaced Thomaston employees will be given an opportunity to apply for open positions at other Clearwater Paper facilities. In addition, the company is offering separation and incentive pay for employees who remain at Thomaston until their established final day of work. Also, the company is working closely with West Central Georgia Private Industries Council and the Economic Development Division at the Southern Crescent Technical College to assist with career transition services where needed. Clearwater Paper will integrate most of the equipment from Thomaston in its facilities atOklahoma City and Shelby, N.C.

"Our goal is to provide jobs where possible to our valued employees who are willing to relocate," said Colgrove. "Where the company cannot do that,Clearwater Paper wants to ensure we are doing as much as we can to help affected employees through this difficult transition."

The company expects the total impact of non-recurring exit-related costs to be approximately $6-$7 million of which approximately $4-5 million will be incurred in 2013. The cost savings benefits resulting from the equipment relocation and converting facility optimization, which are part of the company's previously announced cost savings programs, are expected to be fully realized beginning in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Source: Clearwater Paper Corporation

Are you looking for insights into the future of our industry? Are you interested in knowing about the big megatrends shaping paper consumption trends?

From today, the complete 2012 End Use Analysis Report from Sappi is available to you, focusing on the industry's solutions to face an uncertain future. This study is based on interviews and conversations with industry leaders of the paper value chain.

Find out how industry changes will impact your business by downloading the full report now

Ahlstrom, a global high performance fiber-based materials company, presents its expanded Ahlstrom Easylife(TM) wallcover range at the China Wallpaper Exposition in Beijing on March 7-10, 2013. The company is developing new products in order to strengthen its leadership in the Chinese wallcover market.

Ahlstrom Easylife(TM) product offerings range from 3D appearances to new backing and coated facing materials. Additionally, Ahlstrom will be partnering with HP, presenting its EasyLife(TM) digital printing products with HP's latest Latex printing technology. Ahlstrom EasyLife(TM) is quickly expanding into the digital arena and is positioned as one of the leading substrates for nonwoven digital wallcover applications.

Furthermore, Ahlstrom will sponsor the Ahlstrom EasyLife(TM) Cup, Wallcovering Design Contest at the China Wallcovering Expo, March 5-7, 2013. Here talented wallcovering designers will gather together, displaying their creative and exquisite work, many of which are based Ahlstrom EasyLife(TM) nonwoven materials. This type of contest is a great way to encourage creative and unique designs, facilitating the positive growth of the Chinese wallcover market.

All Ahlstrom's new wallcover substrates have been developed to reduce environmental impact, as sustainability is a key focus for Ahlstrom. All products utilize FSC pulp and are CE and RAL approved. Recycled polyester is used in several new products, a process that has reduced our cradle-to-gate environmental impact by 10%

Ahlstrom is a global leading producer of wallcover substrates, producing the widest product range on the market. Its materials are manufactured in Europe and North America and are part of Ahlstrom's Building and Energy business area. In order to further support development of the Chinese wallcovering market, Ahlstrom will commence manufacture of nonwoven wallcover substrate in Binzhou, Shandong province. Production of high quality and innovative wallcover substrates will start during late 2013.

Ahlstrom booth at 12th China (Beijing) Wallpaper Exposition by Build Decor is E4-C08.

On March 3rd, 2013 the European Regulation 955/2010 (known as Timber Regulation) entered into application; it applies to timber and all timber products, including paper. The main goal is to ensure the legal origin of all timber and derived products  which are imported and/or traded for the first time within the European Union’s borders.

The Regulation applies to whoever places timber and/or timber products on the European market for the first time (“operators”) and prohibits the introduction and trade of illegally harvested timber; operators will have to exercise a Due Diligence System in order to mitigate the risk of illegally harvested timber products by means of a risk analysis and mitigation  approach.

Moreover, the Regulation provides an obligation of traceability for whoever trades within the European market (“traders”), by keeping record of information referred to suppliers and customers  involved.

Burgo Group has created and always applied its own Good Forestry Management Policy, with the selection and responsible evaluation of its suppliers; this assured that the totality of the fibrous raw materials are controlled and traceable, unless certified with FSC^® or PEFC chain of custody.

Consequently, in concomitance with the entering into application of the Regulation and in full compliance with it, Burgo as an “operator” brings into action an appropriate due diligence system; at the same time, as a “trader”, it implements an appropriate traceability system, providing all the relevant information and immediately informing all customers accordingly. 

Vacon has published its Annual Report 2012 in Finnish and English. The reports are available as PDF files on the company website in English at www.vacon.com and in Finnish at www.vacon.fi.

You can order the printed version of the report from the company's website under Investors > Material subscription or by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The printed reports will be mailed to the shareholders only by request, not automatically. The printed reports will be mailed as of week 13.

Vacon's Corporate Governance Statement and Remuneration Statement 2012 also have been published today on the company's website at www.vacon.com.

VACON OYJ

Helsinki-2012 was a banner year at the Metso Flow Laboratory, where a corporate initiative to increase the numbers of valves certified to the most stringent environmental emissions standards continues. In 2012, numerous Neles® metal-seated and Jamesbury® soft-seated valve products were certified to meet the requirements of the global ISO15848-1 standard, complying with many standards mandated in specific regions, including TA-Luft (Germany) and EPA 40 CFR parts 60/63 (USA).

ISO15848-1 certified valves are regarded as fulfilling the most stringent emission standards, and meeting this qualification signifies compliance with many other emission standards. It is also a mandatory requirement of the majority of current projects in the oil and gas industries worldwide.

Metso's control and on-off valve product series include ball, butterfly and eccentric rotary plug valves in pressure classes ASME #150-600. In 2012, representative products from these series were shown to meet ISO15848-1 requirements for:

· Highest temperature class (+400º C with graphite packing) for metal seated valves and (+200 º C with PTFE packing) for soft seated valves

· Low leakage class (B)

· Class A (bellows seal tightness) of the Neles D1F series cryogenic valves with graphite packing

Metso valve products minimize fugitive emissions even at high operating temperatures, meeting demands of even the harshest hydrocarbon processing plant environments. By minimizing fugitive emissions, these products help improve health and safety for workers, allowing plants to meet regulatory standards, and reduce product losses.

Mondi’s new ColorLok® campaign offers a chance to win one of three island holidays to Thailand, Tenerife and Malta

With an online island treasure hunt, Mondi asks participants to find the treasure chest and unlock the benefits of ColorLok® Technology – vivid colours, bold blacks and fast drying times on inkjet printers.  

After further expanding its range of ColorLok^® papers, global packaging and paper producer Mondi has launched a new campaign that highlights the benefits of ColorLok^® Technology. The fast drying times, vivid colours and bold blacks achieved with Mondi ColorLok^® papers are part of the company’s online treasure hunt, where players are led through a course of ColorLok® Islands. The game prizes feature holidays for two to Koh Samui, Thailand; Tenerife, Canary Islands; and Malta. In addition, Mondi will give away four trips within Austria.

For a chance to win one of these prizes, customers must enter a ColorLok^® code at www.mondigroup.com/colorlok. Codes can be found on promotional stickering on select A4, 80 g/m² reams of Mondi papers with ColorLok^® Technology as well as lottery tickets distributed in magazines and by sales agents. Further codes will also be issued on www.mondigroup.com/colorlok.

“Mondi ColorLok® brands bring an added value especially in smaller offices and home offices, where inkjet printers are most often used. Mondi has a wide range of ColorLok® papers, which include high-white, off-white and recycled brands, offering customers a variety of options for any application,” explained Johannes Klumpp, Marketing and Sales Director, Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper.

Mondi’s ColorLok^® Portfolio

Mondi offers twelve papers with ColorLok^® Technology, the latest being NAUTILUS^® Classic, a 100% recycled paper. ColorLok^® Technology is based on a class of paper additives that visibly enhance the print quality of inkjet documents printing while also providing faster drying time. A specific chemical interaction between additives and the pigment holds the pigment on the paper surface while the rest of the ink penetrates deep into the paper, resulting in the crisp, vivid print quality.

Mondi’s online ColorLok^® treasure hunt will be online from 1. March to 30. June, 2013.

Clearwater Paper Corp.has announced that it entered into an accelerated stock buyback agreement ("ASB agreement") with Goldman, Sachs & Co. to repurchase an aggregate of $50 million of Clearwater Paper common stock. The company will acquire the common shares pursuant to the ASB agreement as part of its $100 million stock repurchase program. This program, which was announced on January 17, 2013, in conjunction with the sale of $275 million of 4.5% senior notes by the company, is targeted to be completed in 2013. The remainder of the repurchases under this program may be made, at management's discretion, in both public market and private transactions, are subject to certain limitations, and may include the use of derivative contracts or additional structured share repurchase agreements.

Under the ASB agreement, the company will pay $50 million to Goldman, Sachs & Co. and will receive a majority of the shares underlying the ASB agreement, from Goldman, Sachs & Co. on March 6, 2013. The remaining shares to be repurchased under the ASB agreement, if any, will be based generally on the daily volume-weighted average price of Clearwater Paper common stock during the term of the ASB agreement.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including statements regarding the aggregate dollar value of shares authorized to be repurchased pursuant to the stock repurchase program, the execution period for the stock repurchase program, and the manner in which stock repurchases may be conducted. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections that are subject to change, and actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, the company's ability to generate cash; fluctuations and volatility in the company's stock price; the company's execution of, and realization of the benefits from, its TAD tissue expansion strategy; market acceptance of and competitive pricing pressure for the company's products; increased market supply of TAD tissue products; changes in transportation costs and disruptions in transportation services; changes in raw material, maintenance and energy costs; changes in the cost and availability of wood fiber and wood pulp; loss of a large customer; customers' product preferences; changes in the United States and international economies; changes in expenses and required contributions associated with the company's pension plans; cyclical industry conditions; changes in the Alternative Fuel Mixture Tax Credit or Cellulosic Biofuel Producer Credit regulations and the company's eligibility for such tax credits; environmental liabilities or expenditures; unanticipated manufacturing disruptions; changes in general and industry-specific laws and regulations; labor disruptions; and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in the company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements.

Clearwater Paper Corporation