Ian Melin-Jones
New issue of Heidelberg News
Lean manufacturing - getting fit to combat the recession 
While some branches of industry are already seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, the consequences of the financial crisis are still very much in evidence in the printing industry. This being the case, it is more important than ever to optimize and ensure the sustainability of cost-effective print shop operation. The key is to streamline core production equipment to achieve maximum benefits and to avoid waste wherever possible.
In the latest issue of its customer magazine, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG highlights why effective lean manufacturing is a good way of combating the recession. For instance, Heidelberg News No. 269 takes the example of the French print shop Baudat to demonstrate how a Speedmaster SM 74 can be used for efficient and eco-friendly production of high-quality print media. In addition, the magazine reports how, thanks to a visit from the Pope and its highly productive Speedmaster XL 105, Slovakian print shop i + i print is leading the way on a fiercely competitive market. Readers will also discover how Norwegian print shop Moltzau Plasttrykk has practically reinvented itself, emerging from its worst ever crisis as one of the country's leading packaging printers.
Another article describes the efficiency improvements that packaging printers can achieve with the new Dymatrix 106 Pro CSB. Heidelberg News also investigates how Heidelberg Systemservice provides an effective response to the totally unexpected breakdown of such a highly reliable die cutter at Faltschachtelwerk Hammer-Lübeck. Last but not least, it takes a look at the successful web-to-print business of German company printoo GmbH and asks the sprightly typography legend Kurt Weidemann about the purpose of this art form in modern times.
The current issue also includes a 20-page supplement with information about the innovations that Heidelberg will be showcasing at IPEX 2010 (May 18 - 25 in Birmingham, U.K.).
Issue 269 of Heidelberg News is available now. Copies for your own use can be ordered under www.heidelberg-news.com or requested by e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or faxing +49 (0)6221 92 50 42.
For further information, please contact:
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Corporate Public Relations
Dirk Henrich
Phone: +49 (0)6221 92 59 10
Fax: +49 (0)6221 92 50 96
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Norske Skog - General meeting available by telephone conference
Due to the current air traffic restrictions, Norske Skog will broadcast its general meeting in its entirety via telephone conference.
This will provide shareholders and others with the opportunity to listen in on the general meeting, even if they are unable to attend in person.
Norske Skog will hold its general meeting at Vika kino (cinema) in Oslo at 11:00 hours on Thursday, 22 April. In order to be eligible to vote, or to speak at the meeting, participants must have registered for the meeting by the deadline, which expired at 17:00 hours on Monday, 19 April. The telephone conference is only an opportunity to listen in on the meeting.
The general meeting will be held in Norwegian.
Telephone
+44 (0)20 7806 1950
International number
800 19640
Norway (toll-free)
0800 028 1243
UK (toll-free)
1888 935 4575
USA (toll-free)
Oxenøen, 21 April 2010
Norske Skog
Corporate communication
Norske Skog's accounts for the first quarter of 2010
The announcement of Norske Skog's accounts for the first quarter of 2010 will take place on Thursday 6 May at 7.30 AM CET.
From this quarter onwards, a presentation and webcast will no longer be held at the company's head office at 1 PM. Instead, a press conference and presentation will be held in Oslo city centre at 8.30 AM, and an international telephone conference will be held at 1 PM. The President and CEO, Sven Ombudstvedt, and other members of the corporate management will participate in both of these events.
More information regarding this will be published on Norske Skog's website www.norskeskog.com.
The "Silent period" preceding the announcement will start on Friday 23 April. Further information regarding special items in the income statement is enclosed.
Oxenøen, 21 April 2010
Norske Skog
Investor relations
For further information:
Media: Vice president corporate affairs
Tom Bratlie
Mobile: +47 905 21 904
Financial market: Vice president investor relations
Jarle Langfjæran
Mobile: +47 909 78 434
UPM Kymi pulp mill hit by strike
Paper workers at the UPM Kymi paper and pulp mill in Finland started a strike today at 6 am. The reason for the strike is a dispute concerning the amount of lay offs announced at the mill last Friday. The strike has been announced to last until 3 May 2010 but the parties will continue negotiations. Estimated daily production and sales loss for paper is approximately 2,400 tonnes and for pulp approximately 1,600 tonnes.
The UPM Kymi pulp and paper mills annually manufacture 850,000 tonnes of coated and uncoated fine papers and 540,000 tonnes of chemical pulp. The Kymi mill integrate employs about 700 people.
For more information, please contact:
Mr Timo Suutarla, General Manager, UPM, Kymi, tel. +358 40 186 5995
SKF First-quarter report 2010
Tom Johnstone, President and CEO:
"SKF delivered a very strong result in the quarter with better volume and higher manufacturing levels resulting in an operating margin of 11.8%. Demand developed positively during the quarter particularly within the automotive business which adversely affected our price/mix. We saw a very positive development of our business in Asia and Latin America and some improvement in North America. However, Europe still remains weak if we exclude our automotive business.
Going forward into the second quarter we expect demand to be significantly higher than the same quarter last year and slightly higher sequentially. As a result of this demand picture we increased our manufacturing as the first quarter progressed which gave a good effect on our cost absorption, particularly in March. We will keep this manufacturing level during the second quarter.”
Verder launches New Verderair VA25 diaphragm pump series
Verder has designed a complete new series of Verderair diaphragm pumps, based upon the existing reliable trustful Verderair VA concept.
Key words for this new pump series are:
• Lower pulsation
• Less air consumption
• Higher fluid output
• Easy to repair design
The new Verderair VA series prove to have the lowest cost of ownership any AODD pump
The new pump offers a 30% higher air efficiency than the competition. Designed with additional features that optimize performance, the Verderair 25 includes a stall-free modular air valve for low pulsation and a smooth changeover. In the standard execution, the diaphragms of the new Verderair are overmolded. Also the diaphragms last 5 times longer and have a 20% flow increase thanks to the new design.
Features and benefits:
• Stall-free, low pulsation modular air valve
• More efficient operation, one-piece center section: stronger pump, eliminates air leaks
• Less maintenance; less downtime
• Leak free operation; even sealing pressure by bolted design
• Maximum installation flexibility; up to 8 ports now
• Increased material strength; new structural frame
• Longer diaphragm life; up to 5 times longer diaphragm life (especially abrasive applications that require PTFE)
Many material options can be combined. Therefore the Verderair VA25 diaphragm pump can be used for many applications; drum fluid transfer, unloading fluids, chemical evacuation, ceramic glaze supply, dewatering and sump evacuation and repackaging of fluids from original container to smaller receptacles.
About the Verder Group
The distribution activities of the Liquids Division of the Verder Group are organized with a high level of local content. The pump trading companies are trusted suppliers for the chemical, water treatment, food and process industries. They boast broad product portfolios with a focus that varies depending on their well-segmented customer groups.
Verder has a range of house brands and 3rd party brands to offer the right solutions to our customers. In combination with our partners who are manufacturers of first-class branded products, we are an industrial supplier that covers almost all areas of industry.
Anhui Bilun Tissue Paper (Smile) and PMP achieved next step in cooperation
Anhui Bilun Tissue Paper (Smile) and PMP has achieved the next step in common cooperation. With a significant support of tissue mill directors: Mr. He Sheng Lin, General Manager, Mr. Xu Ming Yan, Chief Engineer and Mr. Wang Junyi, Assistant to GM, Smile and PMP intensified activities to extended the goals defined in contract for machine parameters. As tests has confirmed, the machine is capable to produce tissue with a capacity from 5 to 10% more than it was planned. Stabilization of the machine allows paper mill to achieve additional profits.
The signed Performance Protocol is a confirmation that the way of activity and development was chosen correctly. In addition optimum combination between costs and quality was achieved. The quality of the tissue is premium and the final product is impressive that brings Smile a good position among tissue producers.
PMP Group supplied a 2.82 m reel trim crescent former Intelli-Tissue™ 900 machine with a maximum operating speed of 1150 m/min and capacity of 51 tpd. PMP’s scope of supply covered stock preparation, approach flow system, entire machine including auxiliary systems like lubrication system, steam & condensate and vacuum system and steam box. The TM produces virgin fiber-based tissue in a basis weight range of 13-18 gsm.
Mondi Group signed an agreement with Smurfit Kappa
Mondi Group confirms that it has signed an agreement with the Smurfit Kappa Group for the acquisition of its western European industrial and consumer bag operations, which consist of 4 plants in France, 3 in Spain, and 1 in Italy as well as certain sales offices.
The acquisition is in line with Mondi’s strategy to strengthen its leading market position in industrial and consumer bags in Europe and further increase the forward integration of kraft paper into bags.
Mondi confirms further that it has also signed an agreement with the Smurfit Kappa Group for the sale of all three of Mondi’s corrugated box plants in the UK. The shares in the business will be sold for a consideration of EUR 43m on a cash and debt free basis. The consideration will be satisfied in cash at completion. Proceeds will be utilised to reduce Mondi’s net debt. The business being disposed of had gross assets of EUR 60m as of 31 December, 2009 and profits before tax of EUR 2.0m in the year ended 31 December 2009.
The divestiture concludes a programme of restructuring the Group’s western European corrugated packaging and recycled containerboard portfolio and will enable Mondi to refine its geographical footprint around its core corrugated positions in central Europe and Turkey.
Both deals are conditional on customary completion conditions.
Sonoco to Host First Quarter 2010 Investor Conference Call
Sonoco (NYSE: SON), one of the largest diversified global packaging companies, will host its regular quarterly investor conference call on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 2 p.m. Eastern time, to review its financial results for the first quarter of 2010. Participants from Sonoco will include Harris E. DeLoach, Jr., chairman, president and chief executive officer, Charles J. Hupfer, senior vice president and chief financial officer, and Roger P. Schrum, vice president, investor relations and corporate affairs. Sonoco intends to issue a news release reporting its first quarter 2010 financial results at 7:30 a.m. Eastern time on April 22, 2010.
The live investor conference call webcast can be accessed via the Internet at http://www.sonoco.com, under the "Latest News" section. Those planning to participate should plan to connect to the live webcast at least 10 minutes prior to the start. Those interested in participating in the live interactive call should contact Sonoco Corporate Communications at +843-383-7794 to register. A telephonic replay of the call will be available starting at 2 p.m. Eastern time to U.S. callers at 888-286-8010 and international callers at +617-801-6888. The replay passcode for both U.S. and international calls is 46903446. The archived call will be available through April 29, 2010.
Live Audiovisual Webcast of Annual Shareholders' Meeting
Sonoco will conduct a live audiovisual webcast of its Annual Shareholders' Meeting on Wednesday, April 21, 2010, which will include a "state of the company" slide presentation by Mr. DeLoach. The live webcast will be available in a listen-only mode on the Internet beginning at 10:55 a.m. Eastern time, with the meeting beginning at 11 a.m. The live webcast of the annual meeting can be accessed at http://www.sonoco.com. The webcast will be archived on the Investor Information section of Sonoco's Web site for 12 months.
About Sonoco
Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a $3.6 billion global manufacturer of industrial and consumer products and provider of packaging services, with more than 300 operations in 35 countries, serving customers in some 85 nations. For more information on the Company, visit our Web site at http://www.sonoco.com.
SOURCE: Sonoco
Sonoco
Roger Schrum, 843-339-6018
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Recovery after a year of crisis
Södra's interim report for the January-March 2010 period
|
Jan-March |
Jan-March |
|
| Net sales, SEKm |
4,575 |
3,773 |
| Profit before depreciation and amortisation, SEKm |
669 |
141 |
| Write-offs and write-downs, SEKm |
-298 |
-193 |
| Operating profit |
371 |
-52 |
| Net financial items |
11 |
-7 |
| Profit after net financial items |
382 |
-59 |
| Return on capital employed |
15 |
neg |
| Return on equity |
11 |
neg |
| Free cash flow after investments |
353 |
-156 |
| Equity ratio |
58 |
58 |
- The group reported an operating profit of SEK 371 (-52) million for the first three months of the year.
- Profit after net financial items amounted to SEK 382 (-59) million .
- Net sales increased to SEK 4,575 (3,773) million.
- Return on capital employed was 15 percent (neg).
- Profits in all business areas increased compared with the same period last year.
- Increases in the price of pulp and sawn timber products boosted figures.
- The drastic increase in sales of interior products stemmed from the effects of last year's acquisitions.
- Growth in the biofuel business boosted the profits of the forestry business.
- Real productivity grew by 2.1 percent.
The Group Chief Executive's comments
"2010 began with a continued recovery after a year suffering the adverse effects of the recession. Profits were boosted by increased deliveries and higher prices in the pulp and sawn timber products areas."
"In the course of a single year we have gone from the shadow of the recession and the dramatic events it entailed to a position where all our business areas comply with or almost comply with return requirements."
"Although we are not exactly in a boom, we have moved from recession to prosperity."
"Thus together we have navigated from extreme market conditions, which were at their most critical stage this time last year, to the situation today, one of recovery. Inhouse, we continue to focus on those things we can influence: customer care and productivity. It is a matter of some satisfaction to see that real productivity during the period increased by 2.1 percent year on year."
"Staff continue to be deeply involved in the development of new ideas. During the period, we implemented 743 improvement suggestions from Södra employees, which overall corresponded to a SEK 31.1 million improvement in annual profit."
Business areas
Pulp -Södra Cell
Net sales improved by 19 percent compared with the same period last year to SEK 2,615 (2,199) million. Operating profit amounted to SEK 322 (-24) million. Return on operating capital was 18 percent (neg).
The period was characterised by relatively low stock levels and high deliveries. Production increased compared with the same period last year, which was influenced by market-related stoppages at the Norwegian pulp mills. The market also strengthened as a result of the earthquakes in Chile, which reduced pulp supplies.
Sawn timber products - Södra Timber
Net sales improved by 40 percent compared with the same period last year to SEK 956 (684) million. Operating profit amounted to SEK 61 (3) million. Return on operating capital was 10 percent (1).
The long cold winter restrained demand for and also the production of sawn timber products. Price levels have recovered compared with the rock bottom levels prevailing during the recession at this stage last year. There is good demand in Sweden, North Africa and the Middle East. The US market has now stabilised at a low level. Price levels in China have almost doubled in a single year, and are starting to attract the interest of European producers.
Interior products - Södra Interiör
Net sales improved by 46 percent compared with the same period last year to SEK 301 (206) million. Operating profit amounted to SEK 3 (2) million. Return on operating capital was 3 percent (2).
The impact of acquisitions boosted sales and strengthened the position of all Södra Interiör's markets. The Swedish building and construction trade has been thriving despite a long and cold winter. The repairs and extension tax allowance (ROT-avdrag) has had a positive impact on sales. While sales in Sweden and Norway have thrived, sales in Denmark, where the building sector and the building trade are in a period of stagnation, have been considerably poorer.
Södra Skog
Net sales improved by 1 percent compared with the same period last year to SEK 2,325 (2,302) million. Operating profit amounted to SEK 19 (5) million. Return on operating capital was 7 percent (1).
The pulp wood market in Södra's district has been relatively calm, but with a decrease in the availability of deciduous pulp wood. The supply of standing forest timber and timber for delivery has decreased at the beginning of 2010, and there is still intense competition for clear cutting sites. Improved price levels and volumes are boosting Södra Skogsenergi profits.
For further information please do not hesitate to get in touch with:
Leif Brodén, CEO and Group Chief Executive
+46 470 894 35
Mikael Staffas, CFO
+46 470 892 20
Per Braconier, Director of Communications
+46 70 534 5166