In 2011, UPM will publish the following financial reports:

Financial Review for the year 2010 will be published on 2 February 2011;
Interim Report for January–March 2011 will be published on 28 April 2011;
Interim Report for January–June 2011 will be published on 3 August 2011;
Interim Report for January–September 2011 will be published on 26 October 2011.

UPM will hold its Annual General Meeting on 7 April 2011.

M-real Consumer Packaging has carried out box compression tests that uniquely study the performance of cartonboard packaging in real life situations such as stacking and palletising.

The tests have confirmed that lighter weight boards can be used without compromising the quality or performance of finished cartons, resulting in both cost savings and sustainability benefits as less raw material is required in their manufacture.

The studies, undertaken by an external research institute, performed box compression tests on dummy cartons.  Results showed that the bending stiffness of a board shows the best correlation with the box compression strength.  Higher bending stiffness improves the board’s resistance to bulging and cracking creating cartons with higher rigidity.

Good rigidity and high stacking strength are particularly needed when cartons are loaded onto pallets on top of each other, and secondary packaging, such as a corrugated case, is not being used.  In such end uses it is vital to choose the right raw material for cartons.

M-real’s grades with high bulk and optimisedlayer structures demonstrate very good stiffness for a given grammage.  In a market where substance equals weight, and heavier weight equals higher cost, it becomes apparent that desirable carton rigidity can be achieved in tandem with cost savings.  A better quality carton can decrease the amount of wasted products and even eliminate the need for slip sheets during stacking, saving the additional cost of using these altogether.

Further box compression tests evaluated how different design elements, specifically carton dimension or board fibre direction; and surrounding climate conditions, can affect carton strength. The results found that changing carton size - height and width of the side panels – had no notable effect on the BCT value, as it is the corners that bear most of the load.

Rotating fibre direction can, however, make a dramatic difference.  Most cartons use horizontal fibre direction, to improve runnability on the packaging lines and give more rigid feel when handled.  But when fibre direction was changed to run parallel to compression, stacking strength was increased as much as 20%.  This benefit has, however, to be weighed against the more usually accepted advantages of horizontal fibre direction mentioned above.

Finally, tests found that increasing the relative humidity of air lowers the strength of a board because it is made from a natural raw material – wood fibres.  Both board and carton strength decreased when relative humidity rose from 50 to 80%.  Box compression strength decreased 15-25%, depending on board grade.  This is important to consider when cartons are exposed to humid conditions during transport or storage.

Matthew Terry, Technical Service Manager M-real Consumer Packaging, says: “Today, cartons are required to meet the standards of the retail chain in both quality and functionality.  They not only need to protect and promote the product, but also to be cost efficient and enable efficient handling in the areas where the highest costs are incurred.  Our studies have highlighted the critical points encountered in the packaging value chain, and established what demands they make on a board’s raw materials as well as on the finished carton.”

For further information please contact M-real Consumer Packaging:

Matthew Terry, Technical Service Manager

Mobile  +44 7740027386

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

EcoSynthetix Inc. announces the appointment of Philip Greenall as Sales Director – Europe.

Prior to joining EcoSynthetix, he had been with BASF for 28 years in sales and service of paper coating latex. He is a member of TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry) and PITA (Paper Industry Technical Association) and has served as PITA Deputy Chairman.

He will be based in Osthofen, Germany.

Ahlstrom Group, a leading developer and manufacturer of nonwovens and specialty papers, today celebrates the inauguration of its new medical nonwovens production facility in Mundra, Gujarat state, northwest coast of India. The plant produces medical nonwoven fabrics for the healthcare industry in India and Asia and employs initially 70 people. The Mundra plant is Ahlstrom's first manufacturing facility in India and among its biggest in Asia.

The new plant belongs to Ahlstrom's Advanced Nonwovens business area. The investment including the plant facility, production line and required infrastructure amounts to approximately EUR 42 million. Ahlstrom's President & CEO Jan Lång stresses the importance of the plant in Ahlstrom's growth strategy in Asia.

"Ahlstrom has a strong footprint in Europe and the Americas and is starting to establish a solid manufacturing platform in Asia. This plant, with its state-of-the-art technology, competent personnel and an optimal location in the Special Economic Zone and in the vicinity of one of Asia's biggest ports, will have a key role in our growth strategy in India and Asia. As India is among the world's fastest growing economies today and the healthcare industry is growing at an annual rate of over 20%, the market for disposable hygiene products is expected to grow significantly in the coming years", Jan Lång says.

The plant produces a broad range of single-use protective fabrics specifically developed for the medical market. These materials are used in hospitals, e.g. in surgical drapes and gowns to protect patients and staff from infections. Being singe-use products, they are also more hygienic and more sustainable than washable garments, as laundering is a greater burden to the environment.

In addition to India, Ahlstrom has two other manufacturing sites in Asia: one in Wuxi, China, and one in Hyun Poong, South Korea, where the company manufactures filtration materials. In addition to the manufacturing plants, Ahlstrom has sales offices in nine major cities in Asia. Altogether, Asia currently brings in about 10% of the Group's net sales.

Mundra investment milestones
Investment decision         December 2007
Laying the cornerstone    May 2008
Machinery installation      December 2009
Operation started             April 2010
Inauguration                     May 2010

Mundra region in brief

• The town of Mundra is located about 60 km from Gandhidham which is one of the major towns in the district of Kutch in Gujarat.
• The population of Mundra town is around 85,000.
• The Mundra Port is the largest private port in India, located on the north-west coast of India, en-route major maritime routes and with connectivity through rail, road, air and pipeline. This makes it one of the country's most convenient gateways for international trade towards Europe, Africa, Americas and the Middle East.
• The Mundra Port benefits from proactive policies and governance in Gujarat, one of India's most industrialized, investor friendly and commercially successful states.

Further information:
Ahlstrom Group
Jan Lång, President & CEO, tel. +358 10 888 4700
William Casey, Executive Vice President, Advanced Nonwovens, tel. +1 860 654 8370
Rahul Dharmadhikary, Managing Director, Ahlstrom Fibercomposites India Pvt Ltd, tel. +91 11 2375 3680

M-real’s Carta Solida paperboard has been chosen for a box of exclusive filled chocolates, produced by Sweden’s oldest and largest confectionery company, Cloetta, to commemorate the wedding of HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Mr. Daniel Westling on 19^th June 2010.  Cloetta is one of 16 Swedish companies approved by the Royal Court to develop products for ‘The Official Wedding Series’ and has launched six new chocolate products including chocolate boxes and chocolate bars.

The excellent sensory properties and printability of Carta Solida make it an ideal choice for the chocolate box, which holds unwrapped chocolates and opens to reveal a full colour photograph inside the lid of the Princess and Mr. Westling.  The outside of the box features the Official Wedding Series seal, a picture of the happy couple, and a luxurious gold foiled design based on a pattern from the Drottningholm Palace.

Cloetta, in consultation with the converter, approved Carta Solida for the chocolate box as the board fulfils all their criteria regarding, for example, the elimination of odour and taint.

Part of the revenue is donated to the Crown Princess Couple’s Wedding Foundation, which aims to prevent social isolation and promote good health among children and youth in Sweden.

Founded in 1862, Cloetta is the oldest and only major Swedish confectionery company in the Nordic region.  It has a long tradition as a Purveyor to the Royal Swedish Court since 1922.

Carta Solida is a fully coated bleached paperboard (BCTMP) with a white back, recommended for the most

demanding and direct contact confectionery packaging.  It is available in 185-320 gsm.

For further information please contact M-real Consumer Packaging:

Claus Kjaersgaard, Sales Director

Mobile  +45 40 518781

E-mail: claus.kjaersgaard(at)m-real.com

The Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE announced the following changes in its management team.

Jacques Delmoitiez (57), currently President of BASF’s Polyurethanes division located in Brussels, Belgium, will become President of BASF’s regional division Europe, located in Ludwigshafen, Germany effective October 1, 2010. The current President, Dr. Walter Seufert (59) is retiring as of September 30, 2010.

Wayne T. Smith (50), currently President of BASF’s Catalysts division located in Iselin, New Jersey, will take over responsibilities for the Polyurethanes division as of September 1, 2010. Frank A. Bozich (49) will become head of the Catalysts division. He is currently responsible for the area of precious and basic metals in the Catalysts division.

Michael Grabicki
Phone: +49 621 60-99938
Fax: +49 621 60-92693
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Stafsjö develops, manufactures and globally markets knife gate valves that meet customer needs for shut-off and flow control in the process industry. We strive to be the most accessible, reliable and cost-effective supplier of valves. Stafsjö was founded in 1666 and is today one of Sweden’s oldest works still operating.

Since 2005 Stafsjö is part of the German family owned Bröer Group that also consist of Ebro Armaturen, which is a leading supplier of butterfly valves, pneumatic and electric actuators.

PRODUCT RANGE DEVELOPED FOR PROCESS INDUSTRIES WORLDWIDE Stafsjö’s knife gate valves are used within various process industries and there are several reasons to this. Proven operational reliability, excellent quality and the easiness to adapt our valves to required media, application and need are some reasons.

Traditionally pulp & paper and water & sewage have dominated, but we are expanding our business in biogas, mining and other industries. Solutions and products for the global pulp and paper industry have always been a cornerstone in our business and large proportion of our resources, both production capacity and research and development, are devoted to serve this industry.

Our engineering department is continuously, in cooperation with the industry, developing new products and solutions for general use or specific applications.

Our latest contribution, the HL valve, is primarily developed for pulp (concentration > 5%), caustic liquor, reject and waste. It is designed for similar applications as our well known HG and our high pressure valve HP, but in lower pressure classes. Our product range consists of 14 different models in sizes DN 50 up to DN 1600 and several are specifically developed for pulp and paper applications.

All valves are modular designed making them easy to be customised with gate, seats and box packings according to media and requirements, as well for actuators and accessories. The retainer ring concept making maintenance smooth and simple.

GLOBALLY ACTIVE AND LOCALLY COMMITTED The vast majority of our production is exported to markets in Europe, China, South East Asia, South Africa, South America, Canada and USA. We are working very closely with our sister company Ebro Armaturen and external sales partners in other countries in order to provide fast deliveries and high quality service and support to local markets worldwide.

For more info contact:
Johan Magnusson
+46 11 393 100
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Metso will supply the main technology for Ilim Group’s new kraft pulp mill, to be built in Bratsk, Irkutsk Oblast, Russia. The value of the order is approximately EUR 180 million.

Metso’s delivery to Ilim Group represents state-of-the-art pulping technology. The scope of supply will cover a complete fiber line comprising a CompactCooking G2 digester, a screen room with DeltaScreen screens, an OxyTrac oxygen delignification system, brown stock washing and bleaching plants with TwinRoll Evolution wash presses and a DryWay drying line with a Fourdrinier wet end and two Robobaling lines. Integral to the Bratsk reconstruction program are a new Metso recovery boiler and an upgrade of the evaporation plant. Furthermore, Metso will deliver a metsoDNA CR automation system for all process areas, and necessary analyzers and special equipment for quality and runnability management. The order received emphasizes Metso's strong capabilities as a full-scope supplier for the pulp industry. The new pulp mill is scheduled to start up during 2012.

The new pulp mill will produce 720,000 tonnes of bleached softwood market pulp a year, bringing the overall annual pulp production at Bratsk to over 1 million tonnes. When in operation, the Bratsk mill will be one of the world’s largest and most modern softwood pulp production facilities. Ilim Group’s overall investments in the project are about EUR 570 million (nearly USD 700 million).

Ilim Group is a leading Russian pulp and paper producer, headquartered in St. Petersburg. The strategic partner of Ilim Group is International Paper, a global leader in the paper and packaging industry. The total annual pulp and paper production volume of Ilim Group is more than 2.3 million tonnes. Ilim Group employs over 20,000 people.

Metso is a global supplier of sustainable technology and services for mining, construction, power generation, automation, recycling and the pulp and paper industries. We have about 27,000 employees in more than 50 countries. www.metso.com

For further information, please contact:

Mikael T. Sundqvist, Senior Vice President, Sales, Fiber business line, Metso,
tel. +46 70 533 50 77
Hannu Tähkänen, Senior Vice President, Wood and Pulp Handling, Fiber business line, Metso,
tel. + 358 40 551 7947
Kari Remes, General Manager, Sales, Power business line, Metso,
tel. +358 40 709 2015

Net Impact today announced the finalist universities for a case competition with International Paper, a global leader in the paper and packaging industry, andStaples, Inc. , the world's largest office products company. The innovative collaboration between International Paper, Staples and Net Impact, teamed up MBA students from the Net Impact network to identify recycling solutions to help improve each company's environmental performance and bottom line.

"Our partnership with International Paper and Staples is a win-win," said Liz Maw, executive director, Net Impact. "While Net Impact student members are helping IP and Staples come together to uncover environmental opportunities, we are helping build environmentally responsible future business leaders."

From a pool of 10 teams, the three finalist universities selected to participate in a semester-long process are:

• Blekinge Institute of Technology (Karlskrona, Sweden)
• Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (New York City, N.Y.)
• University of Michigan, Stephen M. Ross School of Business / School of Natural Resources & Environment (Ann Arbor, Mich.)

"Working with Net Impact and International Paper on this case competition is a way for Staples to leverage some of the world's top students to apply their business and process expertise to address an issue with significant environmental implications," said Mark Buckley, vice president, environmental affairs, Staples. "Through the environmentally preferable products and recycling services that we offer customers and our commitment to renewable energy and green construction, Staples is focused on positive change that truly makes a difference in the world."

The three finalist teams have been working since February with key leaders at International Paper and Staples, discussing questions and reviewing the progress of their strategic plans. The teams are in the process of submitting their final plans, which will be evaluated by a panel of judges.

"The collaborative partnership with a valued customer like Staples and the Net Impact organization is just another step in our sustainability commitments," said David Kiser, IP's vice president, environment, health, safety and sustainability. "Exploring creative business solutions will help recover more renewable paper products and put them back to use. It will also support improving environmental footprints, sustaining socially responsible business practices and increasing economic returns."

For the past 20 years, recovery rates for paper and paperboard packaging have delivered a year-over-year increase. The paper industry has worked hard to exceed a 60 percent recovery rate, and even more creative efforts could further this positive trend.

The winning team will be announced in late June 2010 and will receive a $5,000 cash prize, one-year passes to the national parks, and free registration with a travel stipend for the Net Impact Conference at the University of Michigan in November 2010 - where the team will present its winning proposal. The other two finalist teams will receive $1,000 each.

About Net Impact

Net Impact is a global organization of students and professionals using business to improve the world. We offer a portfolio of programs and initiatives to educate, equip and inspire more than 15,000 members to make a tangible difference through business. Spanning six continents, our membership is one of the most influential networks of students and professionals in existence today and includes current and emerging leaders in corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, nonprofit management, international development and environmental sustainability. For more information, please visit netimpact.org.

About International Paper

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global paper and packaging company with manufacturing operations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Russia, Asia and North Africa. Its businesses include uncoated papers, industrial and consumer packaging and distribution. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., the company employs about 56,000 people in more than 20 countries and serves customers worldwide. 2009 net sales were more than $23 billion. For more information about International Paper, its products and stewardship efforts, visit internationalpaper.com.

About Staples

Staples, the world's largest office products company is committed to making it easy for customers to buy a wide range of office products and services. Our broad selection of office supplies, electronics, technology and office furniture as well as business services, including computer repair and copying and printing, helps our customers run their offices efficiently. With 2009 sales of $24 billion and 91,000 associates worldwide, Staples operates in 25 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia serving businesses of all sizes and consumers. Staples invented the office superstore concept in 1986 and today ranks second worldwide in e-commerce sales. The company is headquartered outside Boston. More information about Staples is available at staples.com/media.

SOURCE International Paper