Resolute Forest Products Inc. has just announced that its board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to 15% of the company's common stock for aggregate consideration of up to $100 million. Repurchase transactions will be funded using the company's sources of liquidity.

"Having recently exhausted our previous repurchase program, it is appropriate to introduce a new program to be ready to act opportunistically to return capital to shareholders when conditions are right," said Yves Laflamme, president and chief executive officer. "We believe that proper capital allocation is a top priority and that it must be done in a disciplined manner. Accordingly, we intend to strike a balance between value-creating opportunities such as high-return projects with opportunities to return excess capital to shareholders."

Under the new share repurchase program, the company is authorized to repurchase from time to time shares of its outstanding common stock on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions in the United States. The timing and amount of stock repurchases will depend on a variety of factors, including the market conditions as well as corporate and regulatory considerations. The share repurchase program may be suspended, modified or discontinued at any time, and the company has no obligation to repurchase any amount of its common stock under the program. The repurchase program has no set expiration date. The company intends to make all repurchases in compliance with applicable regulatory guidelines and to administer the plan in accordance with applicable laws, including Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Metsä Board, the leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards and part of Metsä Group, has designed the Arctic Blue Gin package with an impressive holographic design inspired by the Northern Lights. Arctic Brands Group, the Finland-based spirit company, tasked Metsä Board to design the dramatic package using MetsäBoard Pro FBB Bright lightweight folding boxboard.  

Metsä Board designed the package structure, the original graphics, and the embossing. The Northern Lights image was created by printing on top of Envirofoil®, a plastic-free, holographic metallization effect designed by the paper converter, Hazen. It uses 1% of the aluminium of traditional foil laminates– making it economical and environmentally friendly.  

“We wanted to convey an image of a clean, crisp winter’s night highlighted by the flaming exotic Northern Lights,” says Mark Beamesderfer, Packaging Services Director Americas, Metsä Board. “Producing such highly challenging print requires a lot from the material. Smoothness and stiffness is required, so the paperboard properties had to offer a uniform smooth surface, crease and fold exceptionally well, and provide economic and environmental superiority.”

Voith introduces UpElement to its expanding portfolio of tissue press fabrics. The modular treatment increases efficiency by achieving significantly faster startup times. Through an optimized surface enhancement UpElement improves dewatering properties during startup. As a result, manufacturers benefit from a higher production yield over the run of one felt cycle.

Smooth performance during startup is crucial for maximum efficiency in tissue production. With UpElement Voith offers an innovative solution that is specially tailored to meet these production challenges. As part of the Voith’s Element-Series of add-on solutions, the modular treatment complements the manufacturer’s existing press fabrics portfolio for tissue, and thus fits in well with the PressMax AdvancedPRODUCTS.

The modular treatment UpElement enables faster startup times and higher production gains.

Faster startup time, stable operating conditions
Due to their unique technology, the felts have a higher saturation capability during startup which ensures optimal dewatering of the paper web. UpElement makes startup up to 50 percent faster compared to standard press fabrics, without compromising operational stability or long-term performance.

Higher production yield with each Voith felt
By reaching full machine speed significantly faster, UpElement not only keeps energy consumption to a minimum, but also delivers notably higher production output per felt: Depending on the operating setup, UpElement can increase output by an additional 100,000 € worth of saleable product per year. In this way, a quick return on investment can be expected.

“UpElement has proven itself in several trial runs resulting in immediate repeat orders from international tissue manufacturers,“ says Susanne Klaschka, Global Product Manager Press Section, Voith Paper. “We are proud to provide customers with yet another innovative solution to make tissue production even more efficient, more profitable and more sustainable.”

For more information about UpElement please visit: www.voith.com/fabrics

About the Voith Group
The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has more than 19,000 employees, sales of € 4.3 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.

The Group Division Voith Paper is part of the Voith Group. As the full-line supplier to the paper industry, it provides the largest range of technologies, services, components and products on the market and offers paper manufacturers solutions from one single source. The company’s continuous stream of innovations takes papermaking to the next level and facilitates resource-conserving production. With its Servolution concept, Voith offers its customers tailored service solutions for all sections of the production process. Voith Papermaking 4.0 ensures that equipment is optimally connected, while the secure use of generated data enables paper manufacturers to improve plant availability and efficiency.