Shanghai/Kunshan. With a ceremonial first cut of the spade, Voith cele-brated the official construction start of its new Voith Training Center in Kunshan in the South-Chinese province of Jiangsu today. The company is investing about Euro 7.3 million in the new Training Center, which will be opened in 2014. The ceremony was attended by Dr. Hubert Lienhard, President & CEO of the Corporate Management Board of Voith GmbH, as well as leading representatives from local government and administration.

The new building is the largest training facility of Voith outside Germany. With the new Training Center, Voith intends to meet its growing demand for qualified personnel in China. Against the background of the current Five-Year-Plan of the Chinese government, in which subjects such as re-newable energies, protection of resources and mobility are high on the agenda, the Voith Group sees great opportunities for its core markets en-ergy, raw materials, as well as transport & automotive and paper. Voith has more than 20 subsidiaries and employs approximately 3,000 people in China. In the course of planned further expansions, the number of Voith employees in China will have increased to about 5,000 by 2016.

"Voith is a company that has always set standards in vocational education and training. We are pleased that we can now bring our experience gained in this field to Kunshan, in order to train Chinese Voithians here. Wherever possible, we would like to introduce our Dual Education principle in all countries, in which we are actively represented as a company. We already do that today, for example in Brazil, where Voith has been taking an active part in the market for almost 50 years. With our new Training Center in Kunshan we underline the importance of the Chinese market," said Dr. Hubert Lienhard in his speech.

Training and education have, by tradition, always had high priority at Voith. The company has been one of the key pacemakers in vocational training and education for more than 100 years. Only a few weeks ago, Voith also started with the construction of a new Training Center at the company's headquarters in Heidenheim. This project represents an investment of Euro 16 million. The fact that Voith is establishing two dedicated training centers in two key markets not only proves the local commitment of Voith in these markets, but also demonstrates the sustainability and long-term orientation of the company.

Södra Cell Mörrum enhances process management in kraft pulping with new Metso Kappa Q analyzers.

Metso has delivered a second order for a large Kappa Q analyzer unit to Södra’s Mörrum plant. The delivered analyzer replaces Mörrum’s retiring Metso Kappa analyzers after a long service of over fifteen years. The new analyzer includes the online Kappa and Brightness measurements and, as a new feature to the previous ones, online Fiber and Shives measurements. The fiber properties measurements open a new door to even tighter pulp quality and process control through the whole fiber line from cooking to baling.

“The start up was successful and now the production has got an additional strong tool to improve both quality and capacity. Metso’s way of managing and running things for the installation and start up is very professional,“ says Project Manager Sigurd Björkman, Södra Cell Mörrum.

A first order for a new Metso Kappa Q analyzer was placed in May 2011 to replace the existing analyzer installations. The analyzer had two cabinets both with separate washing and measuring chambers. One of the cabinets was equipped with brightness and the other with kappa and brightness measurements. Additionally, there was online fiber and shive measurement for all process sampling locations. 

Södra Cell Mörrum mill is a Nordic pioneer in using Metso Kappa and Brightness analyzers as the key online measurements to manage kraft pulping in producing high quality pulp for global markets. The Mörrum mill purchased their first Kappa analyzer from Metso over fifteen years ago, and Mörrum’s impact on solutions development of the online brightness analyzer, in cooperation with Metso in the mid-nineteen-nineties, was substantial. During their lifecycle, the analyzers carried out altogether 4.5 million measurements. After well over a decade’s usage of two Kappa analyzers and a Brightness analyzer the mill decided to gradually replace the old analyzers with recently released modern Metso Kappa Q technology. 

The Södra Cell Mörrum mill has several other Metso analyzers and sensor installations, such as Metso Alkali analyzers in the caustification plant and Polarox inline-measurements of residual chemicals.

Södra Cell is a leading paper pulp producer in the world.

Metso will supply PT Cikarang Listrindo in Babelan outside Jakarta in Indonesia with two power boilers with a total capacity of 270 MWe. The delivery will also include a  Metso DNA control system. The investment will increase the company’s electricity production by approximately 30 %. The plant will be commissioned in 2016. The value of the order is approximately EUR 100 million.

The order is a major breakthrough for Metso to the power generation industry in Indonesia. PT Cikarang Listrindo selected Metso due to their expertise and ability to supply quality solutions fit for local needs.

"I am very glad that we have concluded the tender evaluation process by appointing Metso as contractor. We are very pleased with the discussions we have had with the well-experienced Metso team on how to meet our local needs. We can now all focus and work on the project and to have it completed in a timely manner and to all our satisfaction,” says EC P'ng, PT Cikarang Listrindo’s Technical Director.

Cikarang and surrounding estates form an industrial area with many factories that require stable power supply. In the last 20 years, PT Cikarang Listrindo’s customer base has increased on a steady basis. As a result, the company decided to increase their power production capacity.

The main part of the order is included in Metso’s Pulp, Paper and Power fourth quarter 2012 orders received and the control system in Automation fourth quarter 2012 orders received.

PT Cikarang Listrindo, a power company, engages in electricity generation and distribution to industrial estates in Indonesia. The company started their operations in 1992 with a capacity of 76 MWe and has since grown to its current capacity of 755 MWe. PT Cikarang Listrindo supplies to industrial customers as well as the National Power Grid.

Key environmental issues for the paper and printing industry were highlighted at the 2^nd annual Mondi Green Event   

Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper UK invited key sustainability managers to the Green Event, which covered a variety of topics including how companies stay green, current climate issues, and active environmental projects. Here, the company also launched its latest environmental knowledge-sharing initiatives:  the new Green Video and the Green Range Trivia Game.

Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper UK held the 2^nd annual Green Event at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust’s (WWT) London Wetlands Centre in Barnes, UK, on the 24^th October. Speakers at the event included Mondi sustainability experts and environmental managers from leaders in the printing industry and NGOs.

“Environmental initiatives like the Green Event or our Green Range Trivia Game engage stakeholders and communicate Mondi’s contributions to sustainable paper making. The Green Event encourages knowledge sharing amongst environmental organisations and paper industry experts, which is an important factor driving green innovation to become, as our Green Range slogan states,  As green as it gets,” said Johannes Klumpp, Marketing and Sales Director, Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper Europe and International.

Green Event presentations covered a broad range of topics:

• Peter Gardiner, Mondi’s natural resources manager presented on Mondi’s international environmental projects.
• Damian Fleming, senior programme manager for WWF highlighted issues affecting the Amazon and WWF initiatives in this region.
• Alun Watkins, from PEFC™ UK, demystified the industry terminology with regards to PEFC™ accreditation.
• Bruno Zago, environmental manager at HP, presented HP’s successful strategy as one of the world’s greenest companies (Newsweek Green Rankings® 2012).
• Rob Shore, WWT head of wetland conservation presented the organisation’s conservation projects in the UK and abroad, which protect wetlands for wildlife and people.
• Susan Brunner, marketing manager for sustainable brands at Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper, gave an overview of the Green Range: Mondi’s eco-conscious product range, the new campaign that was launched this year and the new Green Range Trivia Game (www.mondigroup.com/gogreentrivia). 

Held at the WWT’s London Wetlands Centre, the event shed light on the work being done by the WWT. The Green Event closed with the premiere of the Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper UK Green Video (on YouTube), which was filmed at the WWT site in Arundel. Along with the natural landscape of the WWT site, the video starred pupils from the local primary school in West Sussex.

Announced at the event, the new Mondi Green Range Trivia Game (www.mondigroup.com/gogreentrivia)  is now online until March, with monthly prize draws for a Sony Xperia P Smartphone (the European Green Smartphone 2012/13), two sets of MP3 loud speakers made of pulp and three sets of the Green Range collector’s mugs as third prize.  For each participant who plays the Green Range Trivia Game Mondi will donate one euro to OroVerde’s reforestation program; one euro equals one tree planted.

A further testament to Mondi’s efforts in the area of sustainable paper production, the company is the recent recipient of two WWF Environmental Paper Awards in the categories "Transparency" as well as "Best Environmental Performance Paper Brands" for  100% recycled NAUTILUS® SuperWhite; winner of the Pulp and Paper International (PPI) Awards for Managing Risk and Safety (company category, Mondi SCP, Slovakia), Efficiency Improvements of the Year (mill category, Mondi SCP, Slovakia) and Environmental Strategy of the Year (company category, Mondi Group, http://sd-report.mondigroup.com/2011/).

More information about the Mondi Green Range can be found at www.mondigroup.com/gogreen.

Please Scroll down for the Mondi Green Video

Gardner Denver, Inc. (NYSE: GDI) has announced that its board of directors has unanimously appointed Michael M. Larsen as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Larsen had served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Gardner Denver since 2010 and as Interim Chief Executive Officer since July 2012.

Mr. Larsen was also appointed to the Gardner Denver board of directors, effective immediately. Mr. Larsen was appointed to the class of directors whose term of office expires at the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. With the addition of Mr. Larsen, Gardner Denver's board now consists of nine directors, eight of whom are independent.

"After a thorough search, we are pleased to announce Michael's appointment as President and CEO on a permanent basis," said Diane Schumacher, independent Chairperson of the Board. "This appointment reflects the unanimous recognition by our board of the importance of Michael's numerous contributions, including serving as Interim CEO since July and as CFO since 2010. Michael has been intimately involved in developing and executing Gardner Denver's strategy for profitable growth and has led Gardner Denver's strong performance in a challenging environment. Under his leadership, Gardner Denver has improved productivity and reduced structural costs and remains focused on these efforts as evidenced by the recently announced restructuring of the Company's European operations. Michael's knowledge of our company and industry will be a valuable asset as we continue to execute on our strategy and work to enhance value for all Gardner Denver shareholders."

Ms. Schumacher continued, "The Gardner Denver board, together with its management team and the Company's financial advisor, continue to explore strategic alternatives for the Company, including enhancing the Company's existing strategic plan or a possible sale or merger of the Company. The board remains committed to this process, and we intend to thoughtfully and carefully evaluate options available to the Company in order to enhance shareholder value."

The Company stated that no decision has been made and that there can be no assurance that the board's exploration of strategic alternatives will result in any transaction being entered into or consummated. Gardner Denver does not intend to discuss or disclose developments with respect to this process until the board has approved a definitive course of action.

Mr. Larsen will continue to fulfill the role of Chief Financial Officer while a search is conducted and until a successor is named.

Global AC drive manufacturer Vacon rang the NASDAQ Stock Market Opening Bell in New York on Thursday, 15 November 2012.

The visit to the NASDAQ Stock Market in New York and the Opening Bell Ceremony were part of Vacon's upcoming 20th anniversary in the global AC drives business in 2013. Representing Vacon in the Opening Bell ceremony were, among others, Vesa Laisi, Vacon's President and CEO, and Tom Doring, President, Vacon Inc., Vacon's subsidiary in the United States.

"Vacon has become a truly global company in 20 years. The company has sales offices in 27 countries and production units on three continents, for instance here in the United States. AC drives are one of the best products to improve energy efficiency in industry and in civil engineering. It had been estimated that with energy efficient electric motors which are equipped with AC drives approximately 10% of the world's energy consumption can be cut. I think that Vacon has excellent prerequisites to grow in the future, especially when competing or substitute technical solutions do not exist for AC drives and are not within sight," says Vesa Laisi, Vacon's President and CEO.

The opening and closing bells of the NASDAQ Stock Market in New York mark the beginning and end of the trading day. The ceremony featuring the bell ringer is broadcast live on international news channels, and the event can also be seen on the NASDAQ Tower screen in Times Square.

Last week, several pulp and paper mills in Russia published quarterly financial reports announcing falling sales in January-September 2012 year-on-year.

Kondopoga mill (Karelia) sales declined 4.25% down to 10.07 billion Rubles (€249.7 million). This large newsprint mill managed, however, to curtail net loss threefold to 361.4 million Rubles (€9 million).

Sales of another newsprint mill, Solikamskbumprom (Perm region), decreased by 1% down to 6.53 billion Rubles (€161.9 million). Net loss of the mill boosted five times year-on-year to reach 79.1 million Rubles (€2 million).

Selenga pulp and board mill declined its sales by 7.5% down to 1.6 billion Rubles (€39.7 million); net profit also decreased 3.23 times down to 44.32 million Rubles (€1.1 million).

Kondopoga mill produces newsprint and paperboard. Company’s share on the newsprint market in Russia is estimated at 39%. Solikamskbumprom is located in Perm region and produces newsprint. Selenga pulp and board mill deals in production of market pulp and a variety of cardboard and grocery bag paper brands.

Outotec has agreed with Eren Holding on the turnkey delivery of a 90 MW biomass power plant to Çorlu, located close to Istanbul in Turkey. The order value is approximately EUR 55 million and it will be booked in Outotec's order intake in the first quarter of 2013, subject to environmental permit. Outotec has earlier this year received a 10-million-euro order for the engineering of the same plant.

Modern Karton, a subsidiary of Eren Holding, is one of the major European manufacturers of packaging paper and corrugated cardboard materials from waste paper. The new power plant designed by Outotec will use by-products, such as paper sludge, biological sludge and rejects from Modern Karton to produce electricity for the network and steam to be used as energy in the paper production. The project is financed under the German export credit coverage.

Outotec's turnkey delivery includes proprietary fluidized bed and gas cleaning technology and equipment, basic and detail engineering, construction and installation as well as operator training and commissioning services. The plant is scheduled to be commissioned in 2014.

"This project is a concrete example of our expansion from minerals and metals to the adjacent industries, such as energy and industrial water treatment, with high horizontal technological synergies. We use the fluidized bed technology of our newly acquired company, formerly known as Energy Products of Idaho, and combine our strong expertise in engineering and turnkey deliveries as well as our global supply network to deliver a sustainable waste-to-energy solution for Modern Karton," stated Outotec's CEO Pertti Korhonen. "The new biomass power plant will comply with the strict environmental standards set by the European Union and demonstrates the rising economy in Turkey."