Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Specialty Paper Market 2017-2021" report to their offering.

The global specialty paper market to grow at a CAGR of 4.37% during the period 2017-2021.

Global Specialty Paper Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global specialty paper market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the volume of specialty paper produced by the vendors for application in various sectors. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.

Developed countries are shifting toward plastic packaging as it is more sustainable compared with paper. As the developed countries are technologically advanced, they can invest in innovative recycling methods for plastics. This poses a challenge for paper packaging and products as recycled paper does not provide high-quality properties required by specialty paper.

According to the report, the packaging of tea bags accounted for 4% of the global market share of tea packaging, and the remaining 96% was accounted for packet tea in 2015. Despite low market share, packaging of tea bags is growing at a CAGR of 10.5%. The growth of tea bags, made of paper, is growing at a rapid rate as they are biodegradable.

Further, the report states that rapid advances in electronic data transmission and storage and online filing systems implemented by various sectors have adverse effects on the number of paper applications. Digitization of information has replaced traditional paper applications such as print publishing, storage of vital information such as medical records, traffic citations, and financial statements. The shift in storing information through digital formats has resulted in the decline of paper demand.

For instance, most medical facilities and healthcare centers that recorded medical information in specialty papers have switched to recording medical statements in digital formats.

Key Vendors:

• Domtar
• Fedrigoni
• International Paper
• Mondi
• Stora Enso

Other Prominent Vendors:

• Glatfelter
• Griff Paper and Film
• Kanzaki Specialty Papers
• NIPPON PAPER GROUP
• Robert Wilson Paper
• Sappi
• Voith
• Verso Specialty Papers

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/9bznmx/global_specialty.

WestRock Company (NYSE:WRK) and Multi Packaging Solutions International Limited (NYSE:MPSX) (“MPS”) has announced that a definitive agreement has been reached for WestRock to acquire all of the outstanding shares of MPS for $18.00 per share in cash and the assumption of an estimated $873 million in net debt, for a total enterprise value of $2.28 billion. This enterprise value represents a trailing twelve-month adjusted EBITDA multiple as of September 30, 2016, of 9.6 times, and 7.1 times including anticipated synergy and performance improvements. The acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to WestRock’s financial results, both on an earnings per share basis and cash flow basis, inclusive of purchase accounting adjustments.

Founded in 2005, and headquartered in New York, NY, MPS is a recognized leading global provider of print-based specialty packaging solutions. MPS’ differentiated product offering includes premium folding cartons, inserts, labels, and rigid packaging, and it serves a diverse, blue chip customer base, primarily in the growing consumer and healthcare sectors. The company serves its customers on a global basis through 59 locations across North America, Europe and Asia. On a trailing twelve-month basis as of September 30, 2016, MPS generated revenue of $1.6 billion and Adjusted EBITDA of $237 million.

The transaction will be financed through a combination of cash on hand and existing credit facilities. WestRock expects to refinance existing MPS debt assumed as part of the transaction upon closing.

“The acquisition of MPS is an important step forward that advances our strategy and will create significant value for our customers, employees and shareholders,” said Steve Voorhees, chief executive officer of WestRock. “Through this transaction, we will add a leader in the value-added packaging sector that strengthens our differentiated portfolio of paper and packaging solutions. Led by their talented management team, MPS shares our commitment to provide our customers with differentiated packaging solutions that help them win in the marketplace.

“The combination of WestRock and MPS creates opportunities to drive margin expansion and enhanced financial returns through a combination of increased integration and identified synergies,” Voorhees added. “Overall, this is a highly strategic transaction consistent with our balanced capital allocation strategy that we expect will generate compelling growth and returns. We have the right team in place with deep integration experience to fully realize this opportunity.”

“The MPS family is excited to join WestRock and take this logical next step in the progression of our company,” said Marc Shore, chief executive officer and founder of MPS. “Becoming part of WestRock greatly enhances the portfolio of products we can offer our customers and provides additional scale, resources and capabilities.”

Marc Shore and Dennis Kaltman, president, MPS, will join WestRock as part of the transaction.

Strategic Benefits

The transaction builds on WestRock’s industry-leading consumer packaging platform and accelerates its strategy to be the premier partner and unrivaled provider of winning solutions to its customers:

• Broadened product capabilities and expanded presence in targeted end markets.
• MPS brings strong complementary print, graphics and design capabilities that will enhance WestRock’s presence in the growing healthcare and consumer markets that includes spirits, confectionary, beauty and cosmetics. These markets collectively represented 90% of MPS revenue in fiscal 2016. The acquisition will also further broaden WestRock’s differentiated product portfolio, and significantly strengthens WestRock’s presence in attractive markets that will allow its brands to differentiate themselves with new applications and new technologies.
• Significant opportunities for operational synergies and margin expansion.
• MPS is one of the largest non-integrated consumers of bleached paperboard in the world, using approximately 225,000 tons of paperboard each year in its production facilities. The acquisition will create opportunities to integrate between 35% and 45% of this consumption. In total, these opportunities are expected to generate $85 million in run-rate synergies by the end of fiscal 2019.

The transaction is subject to a vote by MPS’ shareholders and is expected to close in WestRock’s third quarter fiscal 2017, subject to the receipt of applicable regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The two largest shareholders of MPS, representing approximately 57% of the shares outstanding, have agreed to vote all of their shares in favor of the transaction.

PJT Partners served as financial adviser to WestRock in the transaction and provided its board of directors a fairness opinion.  Lazard advised WestRock on certain matters related to the transaction. BofA Merrill Lynch acted as MPS’ exclusive financial advisor in connection with this transaction.

About WestRock
WestRock (NYSE:WRK) partners with our customers to provide differentiated paper and packaging solutions that help them win in the marketplace. WestRock's 39,000 team members support customers around the world from more than 250 operating and business locations spanning North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Learn more at www.WestRock.com

About Multi Packaging Solutions
MPS (NYSE:MPSX) is a leading global provider of value-added packaging solutions to a diverse customer base across the healthcare, consumer and multi-media markets. MPS provides its customers with an extensive array of print-based specialty packaging solutions, including premium folding cartons, inserts, labels and rigid packaging across a variety of substrates and finishes. MPS has 59 manufacturing locations across North America, Europe and Asia and employs approximately 8,800 people.

Low wood fiber costs in Brazil have continued to attract investments in pulp production capacity leading to substantial increases in market pulp exports in 2016, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly

Brazil’s pulp sector has for over two decades had some of the lowest wood fiber costs in the world, making the industry highly competitive, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly. The low production costs have resulted in major investments in pulp production capacity with a majority of the pulp being exported overseas, predominantly to China.

The export market for pulp produced in Brazil has become increasingly important for the pulp sector with the export share of domestic production having gone up from 55% in 2007 to almost 70% in 2016. Pulp export volumes have expanded in an impressive fashion over the past two decades, with increased year-over-year shipments for 19 of the past 20 years. This trend continued in 2016, with export volumes likely to reach almost 13 million tons, an increase of about 11% from 2015, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly.

Not surprisingly, China’s steady increase in demand for pulp the past decade has been the key driver to Brazil’s pulp export success story. Over one-third of Brazil’s exports were destined for China this year, up from 23% five years ago.

Brazil has become the second largest producer of wood-based pulp in the world behind the US, having surpassed Canada in 2016. The driving factors have been a combination of low wood fiber costs, a dramatically weakening Brazilian Real, and a steady increase in demand in particular for hardwood market pulp in China.

Over the past three years, wood fiber costs in Brazil have been approximately 60% of the manufacturing costs, according to Fisher International. The high cost share for wood fiber, together with being one the lowest-cost pulpwood regions of the world, has made Brazil’s pulp industry a very competitive pulp producer for many of the past 25 years.

In US dollar terms, Eucalyptus pulplog prices have fallen from a record-high in the 3Q/11 to a 12-year low in the 4Q/15. Since the end of 2015, wood fiber prices have gone up but are still substantially below their ten-year average, as reported by the WRQ (www.woodprices.com).

The past two decades have not only been mostly good news for the pulp industry in Brazil, but also for timberland owners measuring their financial results in the Brazilian Real (BRL). In 2016, eucalyptus pulplog prices reached their highest level on record since WRQ started tracking pulplog prices in Brazil over 20 years ago. Current prices are about five percent higher than one year ago in the local currency, and 23% above the average price two years ago.

Global lumber, sawlog, and pulpwood market reporting is included in the 52-page quarterly publication Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ). The report, which was established in 1988 and has subscribers in over 30 countries, tracks sawlog, pulpwood, wood chip, lumber and pellet prices, trade, and market developments in most key regions around the world. To subscribe to the WRQ, please go to www.woodprices.com

Contact Information
Wood Resources International LLC Hakan Ekstrom
Seattle, USA 
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  
www.woodprices.com 

A Specialized Line of Uncoated Inkjet Roll Papers for High-Speed Inkjet Printers

Verso Corporation (NYSE: VRS), a leading producer of digital printing papers, has just introduced Ideal^® TrueJet^®, a specialized line of uncoated inkjet roll papers for commercial printers and document centers with high-speed inkjet printers.

"Ideal^® TrueJet^® is designed to meet the growing need for a high-quality uncoated inkjet paper for high-speed, personalized print runs," said Verso's Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Product Development Mike Weinhold. "Ideal^® TrueJet^® is manufactured for roll-to-roll, roll-to-fold and roll-to-sheet applications and meets market expectations for high quality graphics, runnability and durability on the best-known, high-speed inkjet presses."

With a brightness of 92, a smooth surface and high opacity, Ideal^® TrueJet^® optically matches Verso's Ideal^® Offset uncoated freesheet web product for commercial offset printing applications. Weinhold adds, "Expanding the commercial Ideal^® Offset line to include a matching inkjet product provides our customers the flexibility to choose the right product for the right technology."

The Ideal^® TrueJet^® line includes 20/50 lb. and 24/60 lb. uncoated text for everyday transactional statements and documents, newsletters, manuals, legal documents and direct mail applications.

Ideal^® TrueJet^® joins Verso's Sterling^® Ultra TrueJet^® and TrueJet^® Book inkjet products. Verso also offers premium digital products including Futura^®, Sterling^® Premium Digital^TM, Sterling^® Premium Digital^TM for HP Indigo, Sterling^® Premium Digital^TM Tough Tear, Blazer Digital^® and Productolith Pts. Digital^® C1S and C2S. To learn more about Verso's entire product portfolio, including digital, sheetfed, web and specialty papers, visit us at versoco.com.

About Verso

Verso Corporation is the turn-to company for those looking to successfully navigate the complexities of paper sourcing and performance. The leading North American producer of printing and specialty papers and pulp, Verso provides insightful solutions that help drive improved customer efficiency, productivity, brand awareness and business results. Verso's long-standing reputation for quality and reliability is directly tied to our vision to be a company with passion that is respected and trusted by all. Verso's passion is rooted in ethical business practices that demand safe workplaces for our employees and sustainable wood sourcing for our products. This passion, combined with our flexible manufacturing capabilities and an unmatched commitment to product performance, delivery and service, make Verso a preferred choice among commercial printers, paper merchants and brokers, converters, publishers and other end users. For more information, visit us online at versoco.com.

Cind, using technology from the defence and security company Saab, has entered into an agreement with BillerudKorsnäs for the measuring of pulpwood at five facilities in Sweden. With this arrangement in place, Cind has now signed nine contracts during its first year of operations.

Cind has developed a system that massively streamlines the process of volume measurement and remuneration in the timber industry. BillerudKorsnäs has now signed a five-year rental agreement for five facilities in Sweden. 

"Our equipment creates major efficiency gains within volume measurement, which is something that the timber industry recognises," says CEO Anders Nyberg. "The technology from Saab negates problems common to other technical solutions. We are extremely happy to have signed nine contracts during our first year of operations."  

"BillerudKorsnäs works actively with suppliers at the leading edge of technology in our ambition to provide and develop a sustainable pulpwood supply. We chose CIND owing to their solution, which utilises unique stereo camera technology. In part for the compact camera equipment solution, in part because of the innovative development possibilities afforded by automatic volume calculation of pulpwood stacks on a vehicle," says Stig Jonsson, Senior Specialist Wood Logistics at BillerudKorsnäs Skog. 

The calculation equipment makes use of Saab's stereo camera technology, which can provide highly accurate precision volume calculations of, e.g. pulpwood loads and individual timber logs. The technology facilitates the rapid measurement of precise volumes of pulpwood while still on the lorry. The business model involves Cind renting out and maintaining the systems.  

Cind AB

Cind is a newly-established company which develops and supplies measuring technology and measuring equipment based on defence and security company Saab's world-leading stereo camera technology. The company is jointly owned by Saab Ventures, Almi Invest and a number of private investors within the timber and logistics industries, as well as Cind's operational management; Anders Nyberg and Leif Erlandsson. Cind has offices in Linköping and Norrköping.

Valmet has introduced a completely renewed version of its Valmet IQ Web Monitoring System, which is an integral element of the Valmet IQ Process and Quality Vision System. The web monitoring system is now more compact in size. Its enhanced features provide pulp and papermakers with higher-quality images than before for analysis purposes, enabling them to take virtually instantaneous corrective measures. These features maximize production line efficiency and product quality.

"We have made major changes to our web monitoring system when it comes to its camera, LED light and system structure. These improvements enable papermakers to focus faster on specific web problems and avoid profitability losses," saysAki Torvinen, Business Manager, Machine Vision, Automation Business Line, Valmet.

Valmet IQ Webo Monitoring System

Compact and modular camera

The web monitoring system camera is compact in size and has a modular structure. Modularity allows the use of different kinds of cameras and optics, such as a manual or motor zoom, or pinhole optics. Furthermore, a separate washer can be added if the camera is located in a challenging environment where cleanliness might present a problem.

The camera is equipped with the latest high-sensitivity Sony CMOS sensor. It is also possible to use a color camera.

New efficient LED light

Unlike the previous model, the Valmet IQ Web Monitoring System has a separate compact LED light module that is synchronized with the camera. This allows better optimization of the light pattern and its direction (patent pending). In total, 140 LEDs are included that feature the latest LED technology. A light output of 45,000 lumens is reached with only 35 watts of power.

Easy to install, use and maintain

The renewed web monitoring system is fully compatible with older generation systems. Data is transferred through standard 1 gigabyte Ethernet components. Due to the low number of components, the system is easy to install, use and maintain.

Technical description of the Valmet IQ Web Monitoring System

The Valmet IQ Web Monitoring Systemis one of the two elements of the Valmet IQ Process and Quality Vision (PQV) System, a comprehensive machine vision solution. The other element in the PQV system that Valmet launched in 2015 is the Valmet IQ Web Inspection System.

The Valmet IQ Web Monitoring Systemrecords video images of the crucial events in the process, such as web breaks, tail feeding and defects triggered by the IQ Web Inspection System. Recorded images are available for playback, enabling operators to quickly find the origin of the event and correct the problem. This shortens downtime after breaks and improves runnability. Optimized machine efficiency delivers fast payback on investment.

Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers.

Valmet's strong technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bioenergy production. Our advanced services and automation solutions improve the reliability and performance of our customers' processes and enhance the effective utilization of raw materials and energy.

Valmet's net sales in 2015 were approximately EUR 2.9 billion. Our 12,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward - every day. Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland and its shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.

Another milestone has been reached in the qualification of jetscript papers for use on commercial high-speed inkjet printers: Ricoh has approved DLS 9020, DS 1341 and the DL 84 series for use on the Pro VC60000.

With the Pro VC60000, Ricoh is aiming at high-quality digital printing for the complex and demanding publishing, direct mail, commercial print and graphic art markets. Using coated Mitsubishi inkjet papers, print productivity is significantly increased, and the available range of products is expanded further. Jetscript papers are particularly convincing due to the high print quality achievable at maximum printing speeds.

JETSCRIPT inkjet paper: The perfect solution for demanding direct mailings.

"We achieve excellent printing results with Mitsubishi's coated paper," says Dave Bell, Product Marketing Manager, Ricoh. "The fast drying characteristic of the paper on a wide range of surfaces (matt, satin, semi-glossy) is particularly impressive, as the full productivity of our Pro VC60000 can be exploited." Monika Stubbe, Head of
Sales Inkjet Papers at Mitsubishi added: “Very high optical densities and therefore a wide colour gamut for best printer results are only possible with the special ink receiving layer of our jetscript inkjet papers.”

With jetscript, Mitsubishi HiTec Paper offers a wide range of coated inkjet papers for high-speed inkjet printing. The Pro VC60000 from Ricoh, featuring intelligent ink utilization which is adapted to the parameters of the print job, can reduce the printing costs in combination with the approved jetscript papers and achieve quality comparable with offset printing:

>    jetscript DLS 9020 - 90g, coated on both sides, satin finish, offset look & feel
>    jetscript DS 1341 - 128g, both sides premium coated, semi-glossy finish
>    jetscript DL 84 series - 89 to 248 g, coated on both sides, matt surface

Mitsubishi’s jetscript papers are particularly suitable for high-quality applications in the fields of publishing (brochures, catalogues, books) and direct mail.

Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Europe GmbH is a German subsidiary of Mitsubishi Paper Mills Ltd., Japan, one of the world's leading manufacturers of specialty paper. The roughly 700 employees at Mitsubishi HiTec Paper produce high-quality direct thermal, digital imaging, carbonless, label and barrier papers at two tradition-rich locations in Bielefeld and Flensburg.

Each factory stands out for own base paper production, state-of-the-art production machinery and innovative coating technologies. Through its dense global sales network, Mitsubishi HiTec Paper supplies a full range of specialty papers featuring a modular system for every application and printing technology – and is a highly capable partner whenever customized coated paper solutions are required.

WebDetect-nx reliably protects against machine damage; Voith pre-sents dependable web break detection with innovative multi-light sensor measuring process 

• Unnecessary machine downtimes avoided
• Intelligent signal processing via microchip
• Simple operation courtesy of Papermaking 4.0

With WebDetect-nx, Voith has developed a new solution that identifies web breaks in paper production in a more reliable and fail-safe manner. It is based on an innovative measuring process in which a multi-light sensor measures different light sources in the visible and infrared light frequency range and interprets the measurements simultaneously at high speed. This prevents potential impairment of the measuring result to allow reliable detection of faults. This results in fewer false positives and therefore less production downtime as well as a lower risk of machine damage due to undetected breaks.

With WebDetect-nx, Voith has developed a new solution that identifies web breaks in paper production in a more reliable and fail-safe manner.

WebDetect-nx solves the typical problems associated with previous web break detectors based on infrared light and standard sensors. For example, if the contrast between paper web and dryer fabric or basis weight is too low or the moisture content of the paper too high, older methods tend to trigger false positives. This in turn leads to frequent production downtime or even damage to the paper machine.

The new solution from Voith prevents false positives due to a much more precise identification of web breaks. The greater accuracy is based on an innovative measuring principle, in which light beams of varying wavelengths are projected onto the web simultaneously. The spectroscopic process takes account of the special optical characteristics of the paper web and dryer fabric. The system measures the reflectivity and processes the measurement using a microchip. It also compensates for extraneous light effects, filters the signal, accurately calculates trigger thresholds and adjusts them continuously. Thanks to the chip-supported processing, the measuring signal is more accurate, which leads to fewer breaks and the downtimes associated with them.

The spectroscopic process takes account of the special optical characteristics of the paper web and dryer fabric.

"Errors in break detection often cause unnecessary interruptions in paper production and can even lead to machine damage – in either case these downtimes cost paper manufacturers time and money," says Peter Biener, Product Manager at Voith. "WebDetect-nx allows much more accurate and therefore more reliable detection. It also simplifies operation and maintenance of the system thanks to the digital interfaces. As a result, paper manufacturers can achieve higher and more efficient paper production."

Simple operation courtesy of Papermaking 4.0

WebDetect-nx features interfaces like Profibus, Modbus-TCP or Standard I/O for simple access via the process control system, on which measuring processes can be visualized and the break sensors controlled interactively. Using programmable logic controller (PLC) function modules, the WebDetect-nx from Voith can be easily integrated into the Machine Control System (MCS) and therefore operated fully automatically. The technology is one of Voith's innovations from its Papermaking 4.0 concept that allows papermakers to take a significant step towards the Smart Factory. During startup, customers can also set specific parameters conveniently via the system's user interface. A suitable interface is also available for this process. Only the sensor measuring head requires mechanical adjustment.

WebDetect-nx also features an improved purging air system, which ensures that the sensor optics stay clean longer and rarely need maintenance. Moreover, the diagnostics system automatically notifies the need for maintenance and thus ensures more efficient servicing intervals.

Voith offers WebDetect-nx as a complete package; automation experts from Voith take care of system integration, engineering and documentation of all hardware and software components, and also commission the system.

About Voith Paper
 Voith Paper is a corporate division of Voith and is one of the leading partners and pioneers in the paper industry. Through constant innovations, Voith Paper is optimizing the paper manufacturing process, focusing on developing resource-conserving products to reduce the use of energy, water and fibers. Furthermore, Voith Paper offers a broad service portfolio for all sections of the paper manufacturing process.

About the company
 For 150 years, Voith’s technologies have been inspiring customers, business partners and employees around the world. Founded in 1867, Voith today has around 19,000 employees, sales of €4.3 billion and locations in more than 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the largest family-owned companies in Europe. Being a technology leader, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive.