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Burgo distribuzione is now PEFC certified
Burgo Distribuzione attained the PEFC chain of custody forest certification (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes), for purchase of wood and pulp from PEFC certified sources.
The Company was certified for the purchase, warehousing, sheet cutting, logistics and sale of paper products. It is a multisite certification covering also the offices of Milan, Naples, Turin, Bologna and Rome.
Burgo Distribuzione, a 100% company owned by Burgo Group, is the leading graphic paper merchant on the Italian market and has branches, agencies and warehouses throughout the entire domestic territory.
The multisite certificate - with SGS-PEFC/COC-1581 number - was issues by SGS South Africa with expiry date in 10/12/2017, and can be downloaded from our web site: environment/certifications.
Voith Secures Major Orders for Hydro Power Plant Modernizations in Brazil and China
Heidenheim. Another success for Voith’s hydro power business in important growth markets: at the turn of the year, the company has received several major orders for the modernization of hydro power stations in Brazil as well as in China. The combined contract value of the projects is about €185 million.
"Our success with these orders shows that the trend towards modernization in major hydro power markets is further continuing," said Dr. Roland Münch, CEO and President of Voith Hydro Holding in Heidenheim. "As an additional important mainstay, the growing modernization business complements the existing activities regarding new constructions. Thanks to our comprehensive competency and long-term experience we are able to benefit from both developments."
For the three major projects in Brazil, Voith is modernizing the power plants Salto Santiago and Passo Fundo on behalf of Tractebel Energia S.A., as well as Chavantes hydro power station for the operator Duke Energy. In the 1,420-MW power station Salto Santiago, the four turbines and generators, the electro-mechanical equipment, as well as the automation technology are completely refurbished and renewed. At the 226-MW hydro power plant Passo Fundo, Voith modernizes the two generating units, the automation systems as well as the governors for the turbines. The Chavantes project covers the renewal of three generating units, including turbines and generators, and the associated electro-mechanical systems in the 414-MW-plant.
In Sanmenxia hydro power plant in China, Voith is modernizing two 50-MW turbines as well as other components and automation elements. In order to reduce erosion due to strong abrasion by the sands of the Yellow River, Voith had already initiated a research project in cooperation with the customer while having optimized a further turbine in the plant some time ago. This experience will be supportive for the current project and does not only ensure improved resistance to erosion but also an efficiency increase of about four percentage points, resulting in an annual plus of just under eight million kilowatt hours per unit.
China and Brazil are among the largest hydro power markets in the world. Apart from working on new infrastructure projects, both countries are increasingly focusing on the modernization and refurbishment of hydro power plants that have been running for decades now. This is development that has already started to take place in North America and Europe accordingly.
The Importance of Hydro Power
Hydro power is the largest, oldest and also most reliable form of renewable energy generation. Worldwide it makes an indispensable contribution to stable power supplies and hence to economic and social development - in industrial countries and also in rapidly growing regions. At the same time, hydro power significantly contributes to climate-protecting energy generation. Voith has been a leading supplier of this technology since the early beginning of hydro power utilization, and continuously develops and improves this technology.
CellMark is introducing a new line of business!
CellMark Basic Chemicals
The new business unit, CellMark Basic Chemicals, has commenced trading and distribution of a selected range of Basic Chemicals, such as Acetic Acid and Acetyls, Caustic Soda and other broadly used inorganic and organic commodity chemicals. The unit currently employs seven people.
Already at its inception, CellMark Basic Chemicals covers the markets of Europe, Mediterranean and Turkey with a business focused on international bulk trading and bulk distribution of both full truck and break bulk loads. The distribution business is supported by tank storage locations in Belgium (Antwerp), Spain (Tarragona) and Turkey (Istanbul).
CellMark has also recently established a legal entity in Turkey, CellMark Kimya AS, to capitalize on the vast opportunities in the fast growing chemical markets in the region.
Wood pellet exports from North America to Europe were up over 70% in the 3Q/12
Wood pellet exports from North America to Europe were up over 70% in the 3Q/12 year-over-year, reports the North American Wood Fiber Review
Rapid expansion of wood pellet production in both the US South and British Columbia has dramatically increased pellet exports from North America to Europe the past year, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review. In the 3Q/12, total shipments were up 70 percent year-over-year to 860,000 tons. The growth is expected to continue with numerous plans for adding capacity, particularly in the US South.
Seattle, USA. Pellet exports from the two primary pellet-producing regions on the North American continent, the US South and British Columbia, continued to increase in the 3Q/12 and reached a new record of 860,000 tons. Shipments in the 3Q/12 were over 70 percent higher than the same quarter in 2011, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review (www.woodprices.com), which compiles and publishes pellet trade based on customs data and surveys of pellet exporters each quarter. Pellet exports from the US South have skyrocketed the past two years with a quadrupling to 485,000 tons from the 3Q/10 to 3Q/12 to the 485,000 tons. Canadian exports have also gone up the past few years, but at a slower pace.
Beyond the trade statistics tracking the rise of pellet export volumes, another spate of export pellet plant announcements – detailed in the NAWFR – emphasized the quickly growing trade relations that are being established between European power utilities and US pellet producers. The most striking announcement came in mid-December when Drax, a United Kingdom power company, stated its intention to build two 450,000 tons pellet plants, one in the state of Louisiana and one in Mississippi. Most other export- oriented pellet plants, while invested in by European utilities, are separate US-based entities, with supply agreements and MOU’s defining the business relationship.
The three major European pellet import countries remain the UK, the Netherlands, and Belgium, while Italy, Denmark and Sweden are notably involved in pellet imports from North America, but on a much smaller scale. Denmark’s Dong Energy utility, however, announced its intentions to switch to woody biomass at three of its coal plants, an action likely to add demand from the US Southeast.
Announced US South pellet export plants increased sharply in the 2nd half of 2012. Export pellet facilities, which are under construction, conversion or redesigned will add an additional 1.7 million tons of capacity during 2013, as reported in the NAWFR. In addition to these plants that are already under construction, five additional plants have been announced, and if they are actually built on the disclosed sites, they would bring another 2.3 million tons of capacity into play by the end of 2014.
Industry key to conserving forests as demand for wood projected to triple by 2050
By 2050, rising population and demand, as well as an increase in use of wood for bioenergy, could triple the amount of wood society takes from forests and plantations per year, according to the latest instalment of WWF’s Living Forests Report[1]. The report, presented today at the international paper conference Paperworld in Frankfurt, projects paper production and consumption may double in the next three decades, and overall wood consumption may triple.
“A scenario of tripling the amount of wood society takes from forests and plantations needs to motivate good stewardship that safeguards forests – otherwise we could destroy the very places where wood grows,” says Rod Taylor, Director of WWF’s Global Forest Programme. “Wood, if sourced from well managed forests or plantations, is a renewable material with many advantages over non-renewable alternatives. The key challenge for forest-based industries is how to supply more wood products with less impact on nature. This challenge spans the whole supply chain, from where and how wood is grown and harvested to how wisely and efficiently it is processed, used and reused.”
WWF’s forest conservation target is zero net deforestation and forest degradation by 2020, which means no overall loss of forest area or forest quality. The target requires the loss of natural forests to be reduced to near zero, down from the current 13 million hectares a year, and held at that level indefinitely.
“WWF’s research suggests that it is possible to achieve zero net deforestation and forest degradation while sustaining a vibrant wood products industry that meets people’s needs,” says Emmanuelle Neyroumande, Manager of WWF International´s global pulp and paper work. “But the longer we delay our actions the more difficult and costly the solutions will be. We need wiser consumption, more efficiency, responsible forestry practices, good governance and more transparency.”
For paper in particular, the Living Forests Report outlines a variety of solutions:
More recycling in countries with low recovery rates: Even with higher global paper consumption in the future, society would need less virgin material than today if recycling rates increased. A 2020 scenario shows that an increase of paper production by 25 per cent could still require less virgin fibre input if the current global level of 53 per cent recycled fibre use is increased to 70 per cent. Paper recovery rates vary greatly between countries. Therefore, efforts to increase recycling in countries with low recovery rates and high consumption growth have particular potential to reduce pressure on natural forests.
Resource efficiency and fairer consumption patterns: More efficient processing and manufacturing can help produce more products with a given amount of wood. Also, the current consumption patterns of rich nations (10 per cent of the world’s population consuming 50 per cent of the world’s paper) cannot sustainably be followed by developing countries. Richer nations can reduce wasteful paper use, while poorer nations need more paper for education, hygiene and food safety.
Plantations to reduce pressure on natural forests: Even with more frugal use and greater recycling and efficiency, net demand for wood is likely to grow. Maintaining near zero loss of natural forests after 2020, without significant reductions in consumption, would require up to 250 million hectares of new tree plantations by 2050, which is nearly double the amount of plantations today. Therefore, well-managed plantations, particularly on currently degraded land, contributing to restore ecosystems, will play an increasingly important role.
Well-managed forests: Growing demand will also certainly push production further into natural forests. The report indicates that by 2050 up to 25 per cent more forests might be commercially harvested than today. Forest certification will continue to be an important tool to improve forest management practices via a market driven mechanism.
The energy challenge: By 2050, annual wood demand for energy could reach 6-8 billion m3, which would require more than twice the wood removed for all uses today. This clearly poses a challenge for sustainable land-use planning. WWF sees an important role for bioenergy to provide diverse alternatives to fossil fuels, plus new incomes and increased energy security for rural communities. However, for these benefits to be realized, its use must be carefully planned, implemented and monitored for environmental and social sustainability. Badly managed bioenergy production can destroy valuable ecosystems, undermine food and water security, harm rural communities and prolong wasteful energy consumption.
Humanity will likely use more wood in more ways in the coming decades. Given the massive projected increase in wood and paper demand, forest-based industries are key to conserving forests. For wood to play a positive role in a “green” economy based on renewable resources, production forestsneed to be managed to the highest ecological and social standards, and the use and recovery of wood products must become more efficient.
For further information:
Helma Brandlmaier, Senior Advisor Paper Footprint and Market Change, WWF International
Tel: +43676842728219 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
RockTenn Announces President and Chief Operating Officer
RockTenn (NYSE: RKT) announces that Steven Voorhees has been elected President and Chief Operating Officer, with oversight responsibility for the Company’s operating businesses, including Corrugated Packaging, Consumer Packaging and Recycling. Voorhees joined RockTenn as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 2000 and added the responsibilities of Chief Administrative Officer in 2008.
“Steve is an outstanding leader and has been instrumental in building RockTenn over his 12 year career as CFO. He has played key roles in structuring, financing and integrating the over $6.5 billion of acquisitions we’ve completed over that time. Steve has been the leader of the many finance and administrative initiatives that have helped support our operating businesses with low cost and high performing shared corporate services,” said Jim Rubright, RockTenn’s Chairman and CEO. “Steve has a tremendous ability to generate ideas that change the way we transact business and execute them with passion and precision. In his new role, Steve will have the opportunity to continue to create value for our shareholders.”
Source: RockTenn
Celanese Announces Acrylic Emulsions Price Increase in Americas
Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE), a global technology and specialty materials company and a global leader in emulsion polymers, announced today it will increase the price of acrylic-based emulsions sold in the Americas. Pure acrylic and styrene acrylic emulsions will increase by up to $0.08 / wet pound and vinyl acrylic emulsions will increase by up to $0.03 / wet pound effective February 18, 2013, or as contracts allow.
This price increase affects all applications including, but not limited to, adhesives, paint and coatings, building and construction, nonwovens, glass fiber, carpet, paper and textiles.
Customers should contact their Celanese sales representative for more details.
Source: Celanese Corporation
Xerium Technologies Announces Another Step In Its Restructuring
Xerium Technologies, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of clothing and roll covers used primarily in the paper production process, is announcing today the closing of 2 more of its manufacturing plants, the further reduction of headcount in Europe and the movement of polyurethane roll casting equipment to China. Within the last year, the company has initiated the closing of 4 manufacturing operations, installed new machines in low cost countries, and lowered its SG&A costs. The company is in the beginning stages of a multi-year repositioning of its cost structure and asset base to better mirror its served markets.
Xerium has commenced negotiations to close its paper machine clothing facility in Zizurkil,Spain with its employees’ representatives and is closing its spreader roll facility in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company expects permanent annualized cost savings of $3.2 million from these actions.
“These closures, while difficult on the affected people and communities, are reflective of Xerium’s need to restructure its cost profile and to better align its asset base with natural market sizes”, said Harold Bevis, Xerium’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “These actions demonstrate our management team’s resolve to take immediate and continuous steps to get Xerium back on track to deliver increased Adjusted EBITDA and shareholder value.”
The measures announced today are additive to previously announced cost restructuring actions. Those previously announced actions are expected to result in annual savings of$13.8 million, bringing the cost-takeout total to $17.0 million. These cumulative actions include:
- Reduction of selling costs in Europe via termination of sales agency agreements
- Closure of clothing production operation in Argentina
- Closure of roll covering plant in France
- Reduction of base costs in Europe via headcount reduction
- Closure of clothing plant in Spain
- Closure of roll covering plant in North Carolina
- Redeployment and expansion of capabilities and capacity in China and Mexico
“The company is just getting underway with its multi-year repositioning and expects significant additional cost restructuring actions in the future. There is a pace to these repositioning actions as they are complicated and are all being funded from the company’s natural cash flow”, said Harold Bevis.
Source: Xerium Technologies, Inc.
Minerals Technologies Inc. Starts Operation of Second Satellite PCC Facility at a Paper Mill in Thailand
The Minerals Technologies Inc. (NYSE: MTX) said that a satellite precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) plant announced in October of 2011 at a paper mill owned by Double A (1991) Public Company Ltd. in Tha Toom, Thailand, became operational in the fourth quarter of 2012.
This joint venture is Minerals Technologies' second satellite PCC plant with Double A at the Tha Toom paper mill. This PCC facility, which will be operated by Double A Specialty Minerals Company Ltd., will eventually produce approximately 80,000 metric tons of PCC a year after it ramps up production.
The Tha Toom paper mill has also signed a commercial agreement for Minerals Technologies' FulFill(TM) E-325 technology. The adoption of FulFill(TM) E-325 by Double A had been announced previously as an agreement with an unnamed Asian papermaker.
"Our relationship with this premier papermaker, which goes back to 1996, is further strengthened by the startup of this satellite PCC plant and the use of our FulFill(TM) technology," said D.J. Monagle, senior vice president and managing director, Paper PCC. "We are very pleased to further our long-time partnership with this environmentally focused brand leader."
Double A exports its 'Double A Quality' premium copy paper to more than 100 countries and is a world leader in environmentally friendly pulp and paper production based on the development of its Farmed Trees concept. Up to one million Thai farm families plant fast-growing eucalyptus trees in previously unused space between rice patties and tapioca fields to increase their income and provide a sustainable fiber source for Double A.
PCC is a specialty pigment for filling and coating high-quality paper. By substituting PCC for more expensive wood fiber, customers like Double A 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.
SCA Year-end Report Q4 2012
The packaging operations that were divested on June 30, 2012, are reported for the current and preceding year only as a separate line item in the income statement – Net profit for the period from disposal group. Comments in this report are thus entirely exclusive of the packaging operations.
The divestments commented on in the report refer to the formation of a joint venture in Australia/New Zealand through the sale of 50% of the shares and deconsolidation of the operations from the start of the year, and to the divestment of Aylesford Newsprint, which is deconsolidated as from the start of the fourth quarter. Figures for the preceding year and the first three quarters of 2012 have not been recalculated for these two divestments.
- Net sales rose 5% (11% excluding exchange rate effects and divestments) to SEK 85,408m (81,337)
- Operating profit excluding items affecting comparability rose 12% (17% excluding exchange rate effects and divestments) to SEK 8,646m (7,738)
- Items affecting comparability amounted to SEK -2,634m (-5,439)
- Earnings per share were SEK 7.06 (0.78)
- Cash flow from current operations was SEK 7,271m (5,306)
- The Board of Directors proposes an increase in the dividend by 7,1%, to SEK 4.50 per share (4.20)
(Table included in attached pdf)
CEO’S COMMENTS
SCA completed two major company deals in 2012 – the acquisition of Georgia-Pacific's European tissue operations and the divestment of our packaging operations, excluding the two kraftliner mills in Sweden. The Georgia-Pacific acquisition boosts our competitive strength in the European tissue market and complements our market positions. The acquisition will lead to annual cost synergies of EUR 125m, with full effect from 2016. The sale of SCA's packaging business reduces our cyclical exposure and gives us greater financial opportunities to grow our hygiene business. In 2012 SCA acquired Everbeauty, a leading Asian personal care company, which strengthens our position in Asia – especially in China.
In Forest Products, in 2012 SCA divested its 50% shareholding in Aylesford Newsprint in the UK. During the year, SCA also signed an agreement to sell the Austrian publication paper mill in Laakirchen. We are thereby focusing on our Swedish operations, which are well integrated with the nearby forest holdings.
In our hygiene operations, during the year we established a new organization and launched an extensive cost-cutting program that will lead to annual cost savings of EUR 300m, with full effect from 2015. We also introduced an efficiency program in our Forest Products operations, which will lead to annual savings of SEK 1,300m, with full effect from 2015.
Consolidated net sales for 2012, excluding exchange rate effects and divestments, rose 11% compared with the same period a year ago. Operating profit excluding exchange rate effects, divestments and items affecting comparability rose 17%. The corresponding profit for Personal Care and Tissue rose 28% and 50%, respectively, while profit for Forest Products fell by 46%. The Group's operating cash flow improved by slightly more than SEK 2bn, to SEK 9,644m.
Profit before tax, excluding exchange rate effects, divestments and items affecting comparability, rose 21%.