Kruger Inc. will cease coated and supercalendered paper production at the Trois-Rivières Mill and extend the interruption of directory paper production at the Wayagamack Mill for an indefinite period of time.

The company cites persistently unfavourable market conditions and the strong Canadian dollar as reasons for these decisions.

At the Trois-Rivières mill, the No. 1 (coated paper) and No. 6 (supercalendered paper) paper machines, and the No. 8 coating machine will be shut down indefinitely, effective June 11, 2010.

This measure will affect approximately 320 employees in production, maintenance and administration. The mill, however, will continue to produce newsprint, employing almost 300 people.

The No. 3 machine at the Kruger Wayagamack mill, which had stopped making directory paper on December 31 and was to resume operations in June, will be idled indefinitely. The extended shutdown will affect approximately 120 employees. However, the mill will maintain coated paper production, which means continued employment for more than 350 employees.

Kruger Inc. is a major producer of publication papers, tissue, lumber and other wood products, corrugated cartons from recycled fibres, green and renewable energy, and wines and spirits.

The Canada-based company Cascades has broken ground on a project that will produce recycled pulp from old corrugated containers (OCC). In an announcement May 31, Alain Lemaire, president and CEO of Cascades, Mario Plourde, president and COO of Cascades Specialty Products Group, and Robert Roy, mayor of East Angus, broke ground on the $10 million dollar investment at the company’s East Angus, Quebec, mill. The investment will be used to build a recycled pulp unit that will enable the company to produce kraft type recycled pulp.

A new building will be added to the premises to house a pulper, loading platforms and a warehouse for recovered fiber. When operational, the facility is expected to be able to convert more than 200 metric tons of OCC into recycled pulp a day. This integration will allow the company to increase the recycled content of its kraft papers from 43 percent to 70 percent.

"The East Angus plant initiated a shift a few years ago towards products that were more respectful of the environment. The integration of recycled content and obtaining FSC certification were some of the actions that were implemented, but also the reduction of water and energy consumption,” says Plourde. “Whether it is for the production of envelopes, bags, packaging or construction products, Cascades kraft papers will better serve its diversified customers by offering eco-friendly advantages.”

The OCC used at the facility will come from the company's sorting centers. “This investment integrates perfectly with our desire to include maximum recycled fiber content in our products, says Lemaire. “It is an effective way of reusing local materials that would have probably ended up in a landfill site, while ensuring the longevity of the plant.”

Metso announced on October 27, 2009 the decision to invest in special valves production in Finland. Today, the foundation stone on the new Metso industrial valves factory will be laid in Vantaa.
 
              

The Finnish production of Metso’s industrial valves and personnel in automation and power generation in the Helsinki region, all together 800 people, will move to new factory and to adjoined office building at the beginning of 2011. Metso’s industrial valves factory has operated in Roihupelto, Helsinki nearly 50 years.

Pasi Laine, President, Energy and Environmental Technology, Metso says that in Finland Metso has strong know-how in product development and manufacturing in special valves intended for demanding applications, for example in oil and gas industries and in power generation. ’’The new facility will enable us to bring more efficiency to the production process for these technologically advanced industrial products and will improve the prerequisites for further developing quality and delivery capability.’’

’’In Metso’s power generation solutions, for example in biomass power plants, our automation know-how and valves are in key role. So it is natural that these professionals work under same roof in the future,’’ he continues.

The new facility is continuation in the line of investment decisions to develop Metso’s services globally. Just previous week Metso’s new technology center was inaugurated in Shanghai. ‘’These are positive messages to our personnel and to our customers: We are constantly improving our service level to our partners in oil, gas, process and pulp and paper industries,’’ Pasi Laine comments.
The builder of the new Vantaa factory is Sponda Plc, real estate investment company. Metso will lease about 23,000 m2 of production facilities under a long-term agreement with Sponda which is also leasing to Metso some 12,000 square metres of office and warehouse premises in the office building next to the new building. The relocation is estimated to result in one-time costs of about EUR 4 million.

Metso’s Energy and Environmental Technology segment employs about 2,300 in Finland. In total Metso has more than 8,000 employees in Finland.

Further information for the press, please contact:
Pasi Laine, President, Energy and Environmental Technology, Metso, tel. +358 40 562 4339. 4-5 PM (+2 GMT)
Markku Simula, President, Flow Control, Automation business line, Metso, tel. +358 40 579 8128, 4-5 PM (+2 GMT)

Emerson Process Management has extended its Fisher^® Vee-Ball^® family to include the V150E expanded outlet version. The valve features a transitional flow contour that increases in flow area from inlet to outlet. The V150E is designed for installation directly to a medium consistency pump discharge flange, and the expanded outlet will accommodate larger diameter transfer lines. The single piece body design has no gasket joints which therefore eliminates potential leak paths.

A critical part of the design utilises the segmented V-notch ball as the control element. This has a natural shearing action perfect for installations involving pulp stock or slurry flows. The segmented V-notched ball also provides excellent rangeability and an unobstructed flow passage which makes it ideal for this type of service.

The valve is offered in sizes down to DN 80x100 (NPS 3x4) and up to DN 250x300 (NPS 10x12) and mates with ASME Class 150 or PN 10/16 raised-face flanges.

For additional information on the Fisher V150E Vee-Ball valve, visit www.EmersonProcess.com/Fisher

About Emerson Process Management

Emerson Process Management (www.EmersonProcess.com), an Emerson business, is a leader in helping businesses automate their production, processing and distribution in the chemical, oil and gas, refining, pulp and paper, power, water and wastewater treatment, metals and mining, food and beverage, life sciences and other industries. A division of Emerson, Fisher Controls International LLC (www.EmersonProcess.com/Fisher) is a global leader in the design, manufacture and application of final control systems. Fisher technology and innovation in process control plays a key role in the Emerson mission of combining superior products and technology with industry-specific engineering, consulting, project management and maintenance services. Emerson brands include PlantWeb^™, Syncade^™, Fisher^®, Micro Motion^®, Rosemount^®, Daniel^®, DeltaV^™, Ovation^™, and AMS Suite.

About Emerson
Emerson, based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and consumer markets through its network power, process management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and appliance and tools businesses. Sales in fiscal 2009 were $20.9 billion. For more information, visit www.Emerson.com.

Fisher and Vee-Ball are marks of Emerson Process Management. All other marks are the property of their respective owners

For more info contact:

Emerson Process Management, Blegistrasse 21, 6341 Baar, Switzerland

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

Web: www.EmersonProcess.com/Fisher

French packaging print shop LGR Emballages S.A. is investing in three Speedmaster XL 105 presses from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg). All three presses are equipped with the Prinect Inpress Control color measuring system, which controls color and register on the fly.

Headquartered in Oyonnax, LGR is one of France's largest packaging printers specializing in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical packaging (N°1 in France, N°3 in Europe) and litho printed corrugated boxes (N°2 in France). 650 employees work at 9 sites in France, Spain, and Belgium. "Our motto is to maintain technology leadership by using state-of-the-art presses that represent the ultimate in innovation. Prinect Inpress Control was one of the factors that led us to opt for Heidelberg. Pharmaceutical packaging in particular involves short runs, and the pressure on prices forces us to keep rationalizing our operations," explains LGR managing director Torben Reine.

A Speedmaster XL 105 press has been operating at the Montelimar Le Teil plant, which specializes in pharmaceutical packaging, for four years. One of the two new machines is already in operation, while the other is being installed in the summer. "It's impressive how quickly we achieve OK sheets with Prinect Inpress Control, resulting in extremely short makeready times, less waste, and very high quality," says a satisfied Philippe Ratte, member of the LGR Management Board responsible for technology. "This kind of highly industrialized and highly productive operation is particularly important for pharmaceutical packaging, with runs starting at just 2,000 sheets," he adds.

The third new Speedmaster XL 105 will work alongside two existing Heidelberg presses at the LGR-CFL St. Eusèbe plant, which focuses mainly on packaging for the pharmaceuticals and healthcare industry.

"Our strategy of using presses from a single manufacturer at each of our plants has proved very successful. That's why we see Heidelberg as one of our strategic partners", explains Reine.

LGR is a member of the PharmaPact Group, a European strategic alliance for the pharmaceutical industry comprising three leading folding carton manufacturers. The two other companies are Edelmann in Germany and Nampak in the U.K and Italy. This alliance offers large pharmaceutical companies efficient suppliers who operate globally and also serve the local needs of individual production sites. In the area of corrugated board, LGR recently entered into a cooperation agreement with A & R Carton, a Swedish company based in Malmo.

www.lgr-emballages.com/
www.pharmapact.com/

Figure: Peak Performance Class: Speedmaster XL 105.

For further information, please contact:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Hilde Weisser
Phone: +49 (0)6221 92 5066
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The complete business activities of Hendriks Techniek Flevo B.V. in Dronten, the Netherlands will be taken over by AxFlow's new subsidiary AxFlow Systems B.V. and will make AxFlow a systems supplier all over Europe.

In the past couple of years, the European process industry has shown a clear shift in demand from component supply to systems supply. In order to meet this increasing demand in the best possible way, AxFlow has established the company called AxFlow Systems. In this new Center of Excellence (COE) for systems, AxFlow concentrates engineering expertise and knowledge in system design, construction, and sales. The COE will provide its services to all AxFlow markets, enabling the smaller sales organisations in particular to offer pump packages, skids and process systems, as well as improved customer service.

With the introduction of AxFlow systems B.V. AxFlow will be able to meet the demand for quick deliveries of assembled pump units and complete installations for the European process industry, covering all main segments – chemical & petrochemical, food & beverage, pharmaceutical, and waste water.

In close cooperation with the local AxFlow companies, AxFlow Systems will create increased value for customers in the more than 20 countries in Europe where AxFlow is active.

For more information please contact:
Ole Weiner, President and CEO
AxFlow Holding AB
Stockholm, Sweden
Telephone +46 8 545 476 70

Fraser Papers Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, “Fraser Papers” or the “Company”) announced that its subsidiary Fraser N.H. LLC, has reached an agreement to sell substantially all of its assets to an investment fund managed by MerchantBanc, LLC, of Manchester, NH. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The paper mill in Gorham, New Hampshire currently operates three paper machines and produced 80,000 tons of uncoated freesheet papers and 37,000 tons of towel products in 2009. The transaction is expected to close in late July and is subject to approval of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

Fraser Papers remains under creditor protection pursuant to the provisions of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (“CCAA”), with its stay of proceedings having been extended by the court to July 9, 2010.

* * * * * * * *

For more information, please visit www.fraserpapers.com or contact:

Pregis Corp.'s Hexacomb® business unit is announcing a 6% price increase on all grades and sizes of its product line shipped to customers in the U.K., Germany, France, Belgium  and The Netherlands.  The price increase is effective on or after June 1, 2010.

The latest price increase has become necessary due to additional upward pricing pressure from paper, fuel and adhesives.  Testliner has risen approximately EUR 30 per ton over April, which puts the increase at more than 25% since October 2009.

"World demand for pulp, which is the primary component of our linerboard, is continuing its two year climb.  This, coupled with the other escalating raw material prices, is forcing us to increase our prices so that we can maintain our quality supply. Superior raw material is a critical component in helping us deliver the high level of engineered performance required by our customers," said Jeff Kellar, president, Hexacomb.

"As the leader in quality and performance-driven honeycomb protective packaging, we are increasing our prices to ensure that we can maintain our quality supply and continue to deliver performance products in what is an increasingly tight raw material paper market. Quality raw material is a critical component in delivering the high level of engineered performance required by our customers," said Jeff Kellar, president, Hexacomb.

Hexacomb is made with 100% paper (all natural, renewable virgin and post consumer recycled fibers) and engineered into a proprietary honeycomb configuration. The product offers excellent strength, superior cushioning and blocking/bracing functions for a wide range of protective packaging and other applications.  Hexacomb® products include sheets, runners, edge and corner protectors.

About Hexacomb:

Pregis Hexacomb is a leading supplier of paper-based protective packaging and serves key industries which value product protection coupled with environmental sustainability. This includes furniture, consumer, automotive, textile, food, building products, energy, glass and industrial. Hexacomb has three manufacturing plants in Europe and nine in North America. For more information about Hexacomb visit www.hexacomb.com.

About Pregis:

Pregis Corporation is a leading global provider of innovative protective, flexible, and foodservice packaging and hospital supply products. The company offers packaging and product solutions for a wide variety of consumer and industrial market segments including food and foodservice, healthcare, agriculture, automotive, furniture, electronics, construction, fulfillment, catalog and military/aerospace. The specialty-packaging leader currently operates 47 facilities in 18 countries around the world. For more information about Pregis, visit www.pregis.com.

SOURCE Pregis Corporation; Pregis Hexacomb

John C. Husband, Ph.D., has been designated as one of nine TAPPI Fellows for 2010. He currently serves as Lead Scientist for IMERYS Minerals Ltd., Cornwall, UK. Fellow is an honorary title bestowed upon less than one percent of TAPPI’s membership. It is given to individuals who have made extraordinary technical or service contributions to the industry and/or the Association.

“Dr. Husband has been a prolific presenter at conferences in the United States and Europe, specializing in coatings,” said Larry N. Montague, President and CEO of TAPPI. “His knowledge has been instrumental in supporting the work of other scientists in the pulp and paper industry, both in North America and Europe.”
A native of Cornwall, he studied chemistry at Cornwall Technical College and later, Plymouth Polytechnic. He earned both his master of science and his Ph.D. in Paper Science from University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, now known as the University of Manchester.

His professional career began in 1969 when he joined the Chemistry Research Department of English China Clays. Initially focused on projects involving clay chemistry and rheology, he then worked on the development of paper fillers. In 1983, he began working on paper coating and in 2000, he transferred to the IMERYS Worldwide Paper Group. He now holds the title of Lead Scientist for the company’s Paper Research Group.

He has been granted eight patents and is extensively published in professional journals. On the basis of his research experience, he is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry. He and colleague Janet Preston, Ph.D., have also been awarded the Silver Medal from the Institute of Printing for an article written about their work.

Dr. Husband is an active member of TAPPI, serving as a member of the Coating Fundamentals Common Interest Group (CIG) and the Technical Program Committee (TPC) for the Coating & Graphic Arts (C&GA) Division Coating Conference. He is also a member of PITA, the UK paper technical association. He lives in St. Austell, Cornwall, UK.

Dr. Husband and the other new TAPPI Fellows were honored at the TAPPI Fellows Luncheon, Sunday, May 2, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency, Atlanta, Ga., USA, in conjunction with the 2010 PaperCon meeting