For Cascades, supporting employees in their philanthropic initiatives has always been of paramount importance, which is why, in 2012, the company created its first "Socio-Hero" contest. Taking inspiration from the well-known "Eco-Hero" contest, this new contest recognizes employees who are exceptionally dedicated to their communities.

Cheryl Hicks, Joseph Boachie and Johanne Fournier stand out for their active involvement in causes they care deeply about. The selection committee was touched by the positive actions they carry out on a daily basis, good deeds that often go unnoticed by the general public. The winners each received a prize of $1,000, to be donated to the non-profit organization of their choice.

The U.S. winner, Cheryl Hicks, who was chosen for her remarkable kindness, is actively involved with four organizations in her area: Safe Voices, The Root Cellar, Good Shepherd Food Bank and Hope Haven Gospel Mission. This "Socio-Hero" also sits on the advisory committee of the Culinary Arts Department at Central Maine Community College, where she helps to promote the program.

Joseph Boachie, the winner in English Canada, gives himself body and soul to the organization he co-founded, Connecting Paths Canada. He also created the "Ready-to-Learn" program, a free, individualized learning program that provides approximately 60 young people with what they need to succeed in school.

The Québec winner, Johanne Fournier, is a shining example of generosity for us all. Every year, she manages to assemble more than a hundred Christmas baskets piled high for low-income families who benefit from the services at La Maisonnette des Parents.

Cascades wishes to shine the spotlight on these employees, whose hard work makes a real difference in their communities. They embody concrete examples of mutual support, generosity and the gift of self. Cascades is extremely proud to have these Cascaders, who perpetuate the core values of the company in their daily lives, as part of their large family. The company strongly encourages them to continue with their pursuits and invites their colleagues to follow their example. Congratulations to the three winners and all those who were nominated!

Market2Mill, Forest2Market’s recovered fiber price report and benchmark, is now reporting Sorted Office Paper (SOP) and Export OCC prices and market trends. In addition, prices are now being reported for the California/Nevada sub-region.

“These changes are in response to the feedback we receive from our customers. Our goal is to report on all recovered paper grades, says Suzanne Hearn, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Forest2Market, “and as we have customers that request the addition of grades to the report, we will work with all of our subscribers to meet the reporting requirements. We aim to add transparency to recovered fiber pricing so that so that our customers can make better informed business decisions. Supply and demand are the only factors that should affect price in an efficient market and, to that end, we will continue to strengthen Market2Mill reports by adding grades.”

Launched in April 2011, Market2Mill has already undergone several expansions. While the initial reports covered DLK and OCC, Forest2Market quickly accumulated enough data to split OCC prices into two categories: those traded under contract and those traded on the open market.

“With the inclusion of SOP prices in our price report and benchmarks, document destruction companies will—for the first time—have the tools they need to compare their performance to, and improve their performance against, the market,” says Hearn. “And export markets have been drawing high volumes of fiber away from the US domestic supply. The strength of demand coming out of Asia in particular has created a price differential between export and domestic markets. By adding export prices to our reports, Market2Mill subscribers will have a global picture of the market.”

Market2Mill is the only product on the market that reports volume weighted average prices derived from actual transactions submitted by subscribers, who use this to accurately assess their performance against the market and develop forward-looking pricing strategies.

Karelia governor Aleksandr Hudilainen announced that Bank Sankt-Peterburg was chosen as investor for troubled Kondopoga pulpmill.

"We will be crediting the pulpmill, but we are not going to enter this business", bank's press service told WhatWood.

"Quite a good way out of the deadlock is appearing. An investor came who is willing to undertake mill's liabilities to other banks. Within two weeks, the whole financial model will be developed. Next time we'll meet with the representatives of the largest banks that credited Kondopoga pulpmill to discuss the matter of debt transition to Bank Sankt-Peterburg", Hudilainen said.

The mill closure is out of question, governor added. Instead, the bank suggests full upgrade of the mill and gradual conversion to other forest products, probably pulp, within three or four years, as newsprint demand is gradually falling.

Today, only one papermaking machine out of seven operates at the enterprise. In early February, the management is going to launch two more machines.

The bank was presented among five possible investors at the board meeting on January 24. Karelian government suggested attracting business structures belonging to Albert Laritskiy, while the Board supported the option to merge with Volga newsprint mill, another giant of the industry. This option was also supported by the leaders of Karelian trade unions. Volga’s head of PR department Andrey Solovyov in an interview to WhatWood said then that the company "is not yet commenting" on the possible merger.

In December 2012, the mill’s management signed a regulation to lay off

2,400 workers (40% of total headcount) on indefinite leave. They are paid two thirds of regular wages.

WhatWood made a detailed report on the mill’s position last October.

Back then, Gubernia Daily newspaper published two photos of a letter allegedly shared among mill workers and signed by Chief Executive Vladimir Bibilov. The letter told the mill is facing hard times.

Kondopoga mill produces newsprint and paperboard. Company’s share on the newsprint market in Russia is estimated at 39%. The mill’s sales declined 4.25% down to 10.07 billion Rubles (€249.7 million) in Q3 2012. Kondopoga managed, however, to curtail net loss threefold to

361.4 million Rubles (€9 million).

Unique High-Filler Technology Provides Significant Cost Savings in Reduced Fiber Consumption by Increasing PCC Filler Usage 
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NEW YORK, February 4-Minerals Technologies Inc., (NYSE: MTX) announced today that it has signed a commercial agreement with a major North American paper company to provide Fulfill(TM) E-325, a new, high-filler technology, at a paper mill in the United States. This is the company's second commercial agreement with a North American papermaker.

Minerals Technologies now has 11 agreements with paper mills that have adopted the Fulfill(TM) E-325 technology that the company introduced in late 2010. These agreements confirm the commercial progress of the Fulfill(TM) brand, a portfolio of high-filler technologies that offers papermakers a variety of efficient, flexible solutions that decreases dependency on natural fiber and reduces costs. The Fulfill(TM) E-325 series allows papermakers to increase loading levels of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), which replaces higher cost pulp, and increases PCC usage without compromising product quality or performance.

"We are very pleased that this fine papermaker, which has chosen to remain unnamed for competitive reasons, has adopted our new FulFill(TM) technology at one of its major papermaking facilities," said Joseph C. Muscari, chairman and chief executive officer of Minerals Technologies. "The 11 commercial agreements we have with papermakers around the world reaffirms our commitment to advance our technology leadership throughout our global satellite network." 

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.

Metso will supply Hyogo Pulp Industries, Ltd. with a pulp drying line for its mill in Tanigawa, Japan. The start-up of the line is planned for the last quarter of 2014. The value of the order will not be disclosed.

Metso’s scope of supply includes a pulp drying line excluding the building and civil works. The main parts of the delivery are a wet end, a pulp dryer, a cutter layboy and a baling line.

”Metso received the order from Hyogo Pulp as Metso's solution best matched Hyogo Pulp's requirements in terms of easy adjustability for different grades,” says Antti Suoknuuti, Vice President, Sales, Fiber business line, Metso.

Hyogo Pulp has been shifting from market pulp production with wet lap machine for domestic supply into exporting pulp to China, Korea, Taiwan and Southeast Asia and therefore Hyogo Pulp need to change to production of fully dried pulp. The capacity of the new pulp drying line will be 770 air dried tons per day and the width at the cutter layboy 3.9 meters.

The order is included in Metso's Pulp, Paper and Power fourth quarter 2012 orders received.

Hyogo Pulp Industries, Ltd. is a family-owned company, founded in 1955. It is located in Tanba city, Hyogo prefecture, Japan. The company is the only producer of various types of unbleached kraft  market pulp in Japan and leading the unbleached kraft pulp market in East Asia. The company’s annual capacity is 200,000 tons and the number of employees is 140. The company also provides biomass energy to a regional energy company.

The Metso-supplied complete containerboard production line B9 with an extended scope of supply project implementation for Amcor Packaging (Australia) Pty Ltd successfully came on stream on October 16, 2012 at the company’s Botany mill in Sydney, Australia.  The production line was officially opened in an inauguration ceremony held on February 1, 2013.

The new 6.25-m-wide B9 machine, the ninth paper machine to operate at the Botany site, has an annual production capacity of approximately 400,000 tonnes of high-quality 100% recycled testliner and fluting grades in the basis weight range of 80 to 200 g/m², from wastepaper collected throughout the Sydney region. The design speed of the machine is 1,600 m/min. The B9 production line produces savings in energy, solid waste and water use per unit of paper production and improves the environmental performance of the mill.

Metso’s delivery included an OCC (old corrugated containers) pulping line and a complete OptiConcept boardmaking line from headboxes to reel with a stock preparation system, air systems, chemical systems and a high-capacity winder and a roll handling system. A comprehensive Metso DNA automation package comprised process, machine and quality controls and machine condition monitoring.

In addition, Metso’s extended scope of supply included complete mill engineering and electrification, and installation and supervision services related to commissioning, testing and start-up. Metso also provided training services for the project.

The partnership between Metso and Amcor includes an agreement for the supply of mill maintenance services for the B9 boardmaking line. With the multi-year mill maintenance agreement Metso assumes full responsibility for the establishment of maintenance operations, mill maintenance services and the management of improvement projects for the stock and paper production facilities and for the mill utilities at the Botany mill.

Amcor Packaging (Australia) Pty Ltd is part of Amcor Limited. Amcor Limited is a global packaging manufacturer offering a broad range of plastic, fibre, metal and glass packaging products, along with packaging-related services. It has annual sales of approximately EUR 9 billion and it employs over 30,000 co-workers at more than 300 manufacturing sites located in 40 countries. 

Paolo Roberto is set to launch his first food products on the Swedish market, under the PAOLOS brand. A range of pasta and sauce products will be presented. BillerudKorsnäs’ collected knowledge helped to identify the ultimate packaging solution – made by FibreForm®. Designed as a boxing belt, the packaging pays tribute to the title holder who now wants to help everyone become champion of the kitchen.

Boxer, programme host, actor, cookbook author and more. Paolo Roberto can list many roles on his CV. He recently set up a new company to market high-quality Italian food under the Paolo brand.

“To begin with, it will be fresh pasta and sauces. The pasta is made with durum wheat and will be the best sold in Sweden”, says Paolo Roberto, with his customary boxer’s modesty.

He describes his range as products made from real ingredients and inspired by his own family recipes. In addition to the durum wheat, the finest mozzarella from Italy and parmesan from Parma will guarantee high quality.

“But for people to taste these wonderful products they will have to be able to locate them in the shop. That’s where the packaging comes in”, says Paolo Roberto.

The packaging for Paolos mat was produced in partnership with NINE, the design and innovation agency owned by BillerudKorsnäs. The result is functional packaging with a background shaded in durum wheat yellow. Down-to-earth colours and details suggestive of a craft product signal naturalness and authenticity. The packaging is made by Chesapeake UK, which uses a special process to convert the FibreForm material that is marketed under the brand Impressions™.

“The most important thing is that they are different, they are not supposed to look like other packages on the pasta shelf. They are supposed to be a little more stylish and much better. BillerudKorsnäs and NINE represent knowledge. They were responsive to our ideas, but at the same time were strong enough to tell us about what didn’t work on the shelf or in production. We’re delighted and see this cooperation continuing long term. Now, I just can’t wait until Week 6 when my products will reach most shops”, says Paolo Roberto.

Resolute Forest Products (NYSE: RFP) (TSX: RFP) today announced the construction of a new sawmill in the area of Atikokan, Ontario. This investment reflects Resolute's ongoing commitment to the solid wood business and will provide significant economic opportunities for First Nations in the region.

The Atikokan project will involve the construction of a single line random length (16 ft) sawmill with an annual capacity of 150 million board feet. Approximately 90 people will be directly employed by the operation, and additional indirect positions will be created for hauling finished lumber and residual chips. Final site selection in the Atikokan area will be completed in the next few weeks, and construction is anticipated to begin in the spring, with completion targeted for early 2014. The capital cost of the project is estimated at C$50 million.

"We believe in our solid wood business and we're taking action to grow and improve it. The new random length sawmill will complement our existing lumber product mix in Ontario and will allow Resolute to improve its product offering to customers in central Canada and key markets in the United States," stated Richard Garneau, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are particularly excited about the active involvement of First Nations in the project and the opportunity for shared economic benefit that this represents."

When the Atikokan project is complete and the Company's upgraded Ignace facility re-opens, Resolute will have three modern sawmills in Northwestern Ontario, with a combined production capacity approaching approximately 600 million board feet. In addition to producing lumber, the sawmills will also contribute to the long-term competitiveness of the Company's pulp and paper operations in Thunder Bay through the supply of residual chips, as well as support efforts to reposition the currently indefinitely idled pulp mill in Fort Frances.

Today's announcement was welcomed by Ontario Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle. "This is extremely good news for the economy in Northwestern Ontario, and specifically the Atikokan area. I am particularly pleased to see Resolute's proactive effort to involve First Nations in a manner that creates opportunities and shared benefit. Our Ministry has worked hard with First Nations and municipalities to increase opportunities for direct involvement in the rebounding forestry sector, and today's announcement is a real indicator of the progress we have made," said Minister Gravelle. "We welcome the additional investment by Resolute in Ontario. Over the past 18 months, the Company has announced over C$175 million of investments in the province, and I am certainly encouraged that a new sawmill in Atikokan could potentially make a positive contribution as Resolute continues to look at viable options for its Fort Frances pulp mill."

In commenting on today's announcement, Gary Allen, Chief of Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation, stated: "We are encouraged by Resolute's investment plans in our traditional area and look forward to working with the company to achieve our economic goals and establish business opportunities associated with this project."

Seine River First Nation Chief Earl Klyne agreed, stating: "We are pleased to see this announcement being made today by Resolute. It was most positive that the Company involved First Nation communities in the early stages of this project to identify areas of economic opportunity that we can pursue together."

Bill Mauro, MPP of Thunder Bay-Atikokan, also joined other public officials in welcoming this announcement: "As the MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan, I want to thank Resolute for this positive announcement. This capital investment will create a good number of construction jobs and significant long-term employment in the Atikokan area. This investment is also another important signal that the forestry sector continues to improve, and that Resolute will be a major employer in our region for years to come."

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty expressed his gratitude towards this investment: "This is certainly good news for forestry workers and communities in the Northwest, particularly Atikokan. We should all be pleased with Resolute's commitment to sustainable forestry practices and their belief in strong communities and family-sustaining jobs."

"This is great news for our community and the surrounding area. These jobs will be critically important in providing economic stability for our region," added Atikokan Mayor Dennis Brown. 

SOURCE: Resolute Forest Products Inc.