Two Toscotec-supplied AHEAD 2.0L tissue machines came online at Sofidel America’s mill in Inola, Oklahoma. Shortly after start-up, the two lines met Sofidel’s quality standards, and have been running at a high operation efficiency, producing premium quality tissue.

In spite of the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenges it posed, Toscotec and Sofidel went the extra mile and managed to successfully complete the project in record time.

Toscotec delivered a turnkey plant including two AHEAD 2.0L machines of 5500 mm sheet trim width, 2000 m/min operating speed, each producing 60,000 tons/year. These machines are equipped with TT SYD Steel Yankee Dryer and high-efficiency TT Hoods, designed for a high level of energy recovery.

The supply also included the stock preparation system, Toscotec’s patented TT SAF (Short Approach Flow), the DCS and QCS, as well as the dust and mist removal systems. Toscotec also supplied the boiler plant, the compressed air station, the bridge crane, the shaft puller, the roll handling and wrapping systems, the chemical preparation system, the hall ventilation system, and the water treatment plants.

The supply also included the stock preparation system, Toscotec’s patented TT SAF (Short Approach Flow), the DCS and QCS, as well as the dust and mist removal systems. Toscotec also supplied the boiler plant, the compressed air station, the bridge crane, the shaft puller, the roll handling and wrapping systems, the chemical preparation system, the hall ventilation system, and the water treatment plants.

Luigi Lazzareschi, CEO of Sofidel, says, "Today’s achievement steps up Sofidel’s strategic coverage in the U.S. market. Technological innovation is key to our Group. It allows us to deliver the product quality and safety that build consumer trust, and it makes us honor our long-term commitment to sustainability. I applaud the hard work and strong cooperation of Sofidel and Toscotec that made today’s success possible."

Alessandro Mennucci, CEO of Toscotec, says, "It is a great satisfaction to see that two top-of-the-line Toscotec machines achieved great performances at Sofidel America. This excellent result rewards us for all the efforts that our teams made together over the past three years. We look forward to continuing this important partnership with Sofidel in the coming years."

The Sofidel Group

The Sofidel Group is one of the leading manufacturers of paper for hygienic and domestic use worldwide. Established in 1966, the Group has subsidiaries in 12 countries – Italy, Spain, the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Romania and the USA – with more than 6,000 employees, net sales of 1,919 million Euros (2019) and a production capacity of over one million tonnes per year (1,308,000 tonnes in 2019). “Regina”, its most well-known brand, is present on almost all the reference markets. Other brands include: Softis, Le Trèfle, Sopalin, Thirst Pockets, KittenSoft, Nalys, Cosynel, Lycke, Nicky, Papernet. A member of the UN Global Compact and the international WWF Climate Savers program, the Sofidel Group considers sustainability a strategic factor with regards to growth and is committed to reducing its impact on natural capital and maximising social benefits, setting as objective the creation of shared added value for all stakeholders. Sofidel’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets to 2030 have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as consistent with reductions required to keep warming to well-below 2°C, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Borregaard has received a commitment of NOK 15.9 million in funding from the Research Council of Norway (NFR) for an innovation project that will maximise the value of raw materials and reduce waste streams in industrial processes.

In Project XyloBond, Borregaard will develop green binding additives that will ensure better utilisation of raw material and waste streams in a wide variety of industries, including metallurgy, batteries and animal feed production. XyloBond will deliver new sustainable technology to maximise the value of raw materials and increase performance and efficiency in advanced industrial processes.

- The new binding additives developed in XyloBond will be based on biopolymers from Norwegian wood and represent a sustainable alternative to oil-based products used in industry today. The funding represents a major risk relief for Borregaard and contributes to more sustainable innovation and development in different industries, says CEO Per A. Sørlie.

Borregaard has one of the world's most advanced biorefineries. Using natural, sustainable raw materials, Borregaard produces advanced and environmentally friendly biochemicals and biomaterials that can replace oil-based products. Borregaard has 1100 employees in 16 countries and is a global market leader in lignin-based products.

In early 2017, Voith received an order for six BlueLine OCC stock preparation lines from Nine Dragons, the largest manufacturer of packaging paper in Asia. With the recently commissioned PM 41 at the customer’s Hebei site, five Voith BlueLine OCC lines, each with a production capacity of 2,000 tons per day, have now been successfully launched. The handover of the sixth line is planned for 2022.

• The new capacity with Voith machines strengthens Nine Dragons’ leading position as Asia’s biggest recycled paper manufacturer
• Voith BlueLine OCC portfolio supports Nine Dragons’ sustainable and low-carbon development philosophy

Nine Dragons is leading the industry in sustainable paper manufacturing based on the management philosophy "no environmental management, no papermaking." The continuous expansion of new production capacity benefits Nine Dragons in strengthening its leading position in the packaging industry.

The five OCC stock preparation lines are the sole expansion that Nine Dragons has carried out over the past three years. Voith received the contract as the full-line supplier to deliver the entire approach flow systems together with the complete stock preparation portfolio.

While China is implementing restrictions on recovered fiber imports and stringent environmental regulations, papermakers are partnering up with suppliers who are offering leading sustainable solutions and technology in plant operations and stock preparation. Voith’s complete OCC solution creates sustainable and eco-friendly competitive production lines with 15 to 20 percent reduction in energy consumption and at least 0.5 percent fiber savings.

The Nine Dragons project demonstrates Voith’s ability to collaborate and manage the installation and commissioning of multiple orders on time, even under a tight project schedule and with the impact of COVID-19. When the pandemic strongly affected the project due to traffic and logistics interruption, Voith used all means of communication to collaborate with its customer. With a proactive and problem-solving attitude, the Voith team successfully completed the projects.

About the Voith Group
The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transport and automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has more than 19,000 employees, sales of € 4.3 billion and locations in more than 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.

The Group Division Voith Paper is part of the Voith Group. As the full-line supplier to the paper industry, it provides the largest range of technologies, services, components and products on the market, and offers paper manufacturers solutions from a single source. The company’s continuous stream of innovations takes papermaking to the next level and facilitates resource-conserving production. With its Servolution concept, Voith offers its customers tailored service solutions for all sections of the production process. Voith Papermaking 4.0 ensures that equipment is optimally connected, while the secure use of generated data enables paper manufacturers to improve plant availability and efficiency.

Metsä Board, a leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards and part of Metsä Group, has recently won a prestigious Ozzie Award for its stakeholder communications magazine spring 2020 issue. The award was given for design excellence in the category of cover design 2020, B2B, under 25,000 circulation. Metsä Board’s customer magazine is produced by Hube Helsinki Oy.  

Marjo Halonen, VP Communications from Metsä Board said: “Our goal is to inspire and inform our customers globally about the potential and innovations in fibre-based packaging. Visual and captivating design is important to catch attention and we are therefore delighted that our Board magazine has been recognised for outstanding design from a pool of thousands of entries.” 

For more than 25 years, the Eddie & Ozzie Awards have recognised excellence in engaging content and design across all sectors of the publishing industry.  

Link to photo

Link to magazine

Metsä Board 
www.metsaboard.com 

Metsä Board is a leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards and forerunner in sustainability. We produce premium lightweight folding boxboards, food service boards and white kraftliners for consumer goods packaging as well as retail-ready and food service applications. We work together with our customers on a global scale to innovate solutions for better consumer experiences with less environmental impact. The pure fresh fibres Metsä Board uses are a renewable resource, traceable to origin in sustainably managed northern forests. We aim for completely fossil free mills and raw materials by 2030. 

The global sales network of Metsä Board supports customers worldwide, including brand owners, retailers, converters and merchants. In 2019, the company’s sales totalled EUR 1.9 billion, and it has approximately 2,400 employees. Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki. 

Metsä Group

www.metsagroup.com

Metsä Group is a forerunner in sustainable bioeconomy utilising renewable wood from sustainably managed northern forests. Metsä Group focuses on wood supply and forest services, wood products, pulp, fresh fibre paperboards and tissue and greaseproof papers.

In 2019, Metsä Group’s sales totalled EUR 5.5 billion, and it employs approximately 9,300 people. Metsäliitto Cooperative is the parent company of Metsä Group and is owned by approximately 100,000 Finnish forest owners.

Stora Enso will be the presenting sponsor for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2023 in Planica, Slovenia and in Trondheim, Norway in 2025.

This marks the fifth and sixth time that Stora Enso will be sponsoring the Nordic World Ski Championships. The company will be presenting sponsor for the upcoming event in Oberstdorf, Germany in 2021 and previously served as presenting sponsor for the 2019 event in Seefeld, Austria, and the 2017 event in Lahti, Finland, as well as being the main sponsor in Falun, Sweden in 2015.

“We are excited to prolong our sponsoring of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships until 2025. Our renewable products made of wood give us the opportunity to contribute to making these world-class sustainable events,” says Annica Bresky, President and CEO, Stora Enso.

Stora Enso’s products made of wood are more climate-friendly and have a lower carbon footprint compared to many products made from fossil-based materials. Throughout the events, Stora Enso will showcase its sustainable products and solutions in numerous applications such as wooden buildings, juice cartons, paper cups, paper bags, medal boxes, prize podiums and awards. Stora Enso will also contribute to the circularity of the championships by providing expertise within these areas.

“Stora Enso is a role model sponsor for FIS with their proactive support of the local organising committees' sustainability initiatives with practical measures. We are extremely pleased that Stora Enso has extended its engagement for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships through to 2025. The company’s strong eco-friendly philosophy and actions will have a chance to truly shine with the engaged hosts of Planica and Trondheim, both of whom have highlighted sustainability at the core of the Championships' DNA. It is truly a perfect fit for all parties,” says Sarah Lewis, Secretary General of the International Ski Federation (FIS).

“The Nordic World Ski Championships provide an excellent platform to increase brand awareness while promoting the benefits of using fossil free and recyclable products to combat global warming. Together with the International Ski Federation and the local organising committees, we are committed to contributing to a more eco-friendly future,” says Annica Bresky.

Part of the bioeconomy, Stora Enso is a leading global provider of renewable solutions in packaging, biomaterials, wooden constructions and paper. We believe that everything that is made from fossil-based materials today can be made from a tree tomorrow. Stora Enso has some 25 000 employees in over 30 countries. Our sales in 2019 were EUR 10.1 billion. Stora Enso shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki (STEAV, STERV) and Nasdaq Stockholm (STE A, STE R). In addition, the shares are traded in the USA as ADRs (SEOAY). storaenso.com

This autumn, Semcon will be conducting a new feasibility study for Yilport to investigate how transport flows in the Port of Gävle can be made more efficient. Autonomous vehicles enable logistics processes to be automated, which reduces costs while also improving safety and quality. 

Gävle is one of Sweden’s largest ports. Huge quantities of goods are transported to and from the port every day, and Yilport is in charge of operations. Because ports, like mines and production facilities, are enclosed areas, they are ideal environments for automated solutions. 

“We have been commissioned to map and analyse the benefits and values autonomous solutions could provide to Yilport for a specific logistics process. The feasibility study will focus on a single process, but the vision is to build a fully autonomous logistics production solution for Yilport, which is very exciting. Autonomous solutions not only optimise operational costs – they also contribute to improved safety, quality and traceability,” says David Darwall, Global Business Manager Applied Autonomy at Semcon. 

Port of Gävle Yilport

Cutting-edge expertise as turnkey supplier
The logistics process that will initially be investigated is the transport of containers by truck from container warehouses to the docks, where they are then lifted by crane onto ships. In the project, Semcon will map all parts of the process, costs, needs and challenges in order to understand the process in depth. A requirements specification, concept solution and business case will then be delivered to Yilport. 

“Semcon has unique cutting-edge expertise as a full-service provider of autonomous solutions. We cover everything from design and development to implementation in a wide range of applications and in many different industries, whatever the vehicle type or manufacturer,” says David Darwall.

Platform for autonomous operations
To assist in the project, Semcon is calling on its close partnership with Yeti Move, which is providing a platform for controlling and monitoring autonomous operations. Yeti Move is a software provider and is jointly owned by Semcon, Øveraasen and Husqvarna. 

Yilport is responsible for the operation of 22 ports across the globe that use the same process for moving containers, which means that there are substantial financial benefits to be gained by finding a solution that can be applied to all their production worldwide. 

“For Yilport, it’s important to always be at the forefront of technological advances so that we can offer our customers effective solutions and in Semcon, we have found a partner we truly believe in. Automation in ports is common, but no one has really come up with a solution to get it to work in conjunction with other traffic, and in this Semcon is at the cutting edge,” says Håkan Bergström, Sales Director Yilport Nordic, “

Find out more about Semcon’s offering in autonomous solutions.

Semcon is an international technology company that develops products based on human needs and behaviours. We strengthen our customers’ competitiveness by always starting from the end user, because the person who knows most about the user’s needs creates the best products and the clearest benefits to humans. Semcon collaborates mainly with companies in the automotive, industry, energy and life science sectors. With more than 2,000 specialised employees, Semcon has the ability to take care of the entire product development cycle, from strategy and technology development to design and product information. Semcon was founded in Sweden in 1980 and has offices in over 30 locations in eight different countries. In 2019, the Group reported annual sales of SEK 1.9 billion. Read more on www.semcon.com

Marco Dell’Osso has stepped down from his position as Chairman of Tissue Italy, the organization behind the iT’s Tissue events.

Having been instrumental in the creation and development of the unique iT’s Tissue brand since its inception in 2013, Dell’Osso said: “Today more than ever, iT’s Tissue offers the most effective meeting point for the global tissue industry. I leave the organisation in very good hands and remain a strong supporter of all that iT’s Tissue represents. I would like to thank all the network members and sponsors for their commitment to the project over the years and into the future.”

The Tissue Italy network and iT’s Tissue events will now become the responsibility of the current Network Manager Stefano Bortoletto with Maddalena Marcone as PR and event manager.

All the network members of Tissue Italy thanked Dell’Osso for his contribution to the success of the iT’s Tissue events, along with his commitment and leadership, and wished him well in his future projects.

The next iT’s Tissue event is scheduled for June 6-10, 2022.

We are pleased to learn that in the 2020-2021 edition of the "Directory of Tissue Paper & Disposable Products" published by China Paper Association, A.Celli Paper SpA is among the top three suppliers of Tissue Machines with Crescent Former for the Chinese market in the 1988-2019 period.

The introduction of this type of technologically advanced production lines has considerably increased production capacity in the Chinese tissue paper industry.

According to the China Paper Association study, by the end of 2019, 175 new Tissue Machines equipped with the Crescent Former technology were imported and started up in China for a total capacity of 7.006 million tons per year.

A.Celli Tissue Machines have always based the formation of the tissue sheet on this technology, which involves the bonding of wire and felt immediately downstream of the headbox. This technique favors the separation of water from the fiber, ensuring a high quality product characterized by its softness and favoring substantial savings in terms of energy and materials.

A.Celli Paper currently has several projects underway in China for double format Tissue Machines, some of which are requested with Shoe Press, as well as several Tissue Rewinders.

The Shoe Press is also a device, placed immediately before the Yankee Dryer, able to greatly increase the removal of moisture, with the double advantage of reducing energy consumption, necessary during the drying phase, and the possibility of obtaining papers of excellent quality with greater thickness, and therefore softer.

A.Celli Paper is pleased to support its customers in choosing the products that best suit their needs, in an atmosphere of professionalism and a deep spirit of partnership.

Contact us for further information: our sales department will be happy to give you all the detailed information!

Mondi, a leading global packaging and paper manufacturer, has been recognised in this year’s Austrian Green Star Packaging Awards for two recent sustainable packaging innovations developed using its customer-centric approach, EcoSolutions:

• Two products developed using Mondi’s EcoSolutions approach have been recognised:
  • PerFORMing, a paper-based packaging with patented barrier for cheese slices, developed for Austrian retailer REWE
  • A fully recyclable, mono-material thermoforming film for Austrian meat producer Hütthaler’s meat and sausage products
• Mondi’s EcoSolutions approach focuses on developing products for customers using paper where possible and plastic when useful

PerFORMing - paper-based packaging with special barrier coating to protect cheese slices

Austria’s biggest retailer REWE worked together with Mondi to launch a more sustainable cheese tray for their organic brand Ja! Natürlich. Mondi developed a special kraft paper, Advantage Formable Brown, to replace rigid plastic trays. Its unique stretch characteristics mean it can be formed into a shallow tray enhanced with a special barrier coating.

This PerFORMing technology combines 80% paper, a renewable and recyclable raw material, with a 20% barrier coating. “The adoption of this package allowed REWE to reduce the amount of plastic used by 70% and the carbon footprint by two-thirds,” said Marko Schuster, COO of Mondi Functional Paper & Films.

Fully recyclable thermoforming plastic film for meat

Mondi was able to reinvent packaging for Austrian meat producer Hütthaler. The packaging was designed for recycling while maintaining optimum barrier properties and replacing a previous, less sustainable, packaging.

“Together with Hütthaler, we developed a mono-material film solution for thermoforming applications that can be fully recycled, and still provides a barrier to protect food. The new film meets high food standards, preserves shelf life and also helps Hütthaler to save on disposal fees due to its recyclability,” said Andreas Koppitz, COO of Mondi's Consumer Flexibles business.

Schuster and Koppitz, on behalf of their teams, expressed how proud they are to win these awards. Both products underscore Mondi’s commitment to developing sustainable solutions that contribute to a better world.

Read more about PerFORMing here: “Mondi’s sustainable paper-based packaging solution for food trays”

Read more about the fully recyclable thermoforming plastic film here: “Mondi partners with meat producer Hütthaler to create new fully recyclable plastic packaging”

Technical details about PerFORMing:

• Formable paper packaging with a patented barrier
• Made from natural brown paper (Advantage Formable Brown)
• Ideally suited for shallow food trays (e.g. for cheese, meat or fish)
• High symmetrical stretch for uniform formability
• Suitable for existing filling lines
• Results in 70% less plastic used compared to rigid plastic trays
• 70% CO₂ reduction compared to plastic alternative

Technical data for the recyclable thermoforming film:

• Newly developed plastic film for thermoforming applications, which fulfills all functionalities of previous multi-material structures
• Completely recyclable through the use of a mono-material
• Significant improvement of the CO₂ balance compared to existing packaging is possible up to 50%
• Suitable for packaging products with excellent sealability requirements, as top and bottom film are made of the same material
• Gives food a longer shelf life due to a unique gas barrier

About Mondi

Mondi is a global leader in packaging and paper, contributing to a better world by making innovative, packaging and paper solutions that are sustainable by design. Our business is fully integrated across the value chain – from managing forests and producing pulp, paper and plastic films, to developing and manufacturing effective industrial and consumer packaging solutions. Sustainability is at the centre of our strategy and intrinsic in the way we do business. We lead the industry with our customer- centric approach, EcoSolutions, where we ask the right questions to find the most sustainable solution. In 2019, Mondi had revenues of €7.27 billion and underlying EBITDA of €1.66 billion.

Mondi has a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange (MNDI), and a secondary listing on the JSE Limited (MNP). Mondi is a FTSE 100 constituent, and has been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series since 2008 and the FTSE/JSE Responsible Investment Index Series since 2007.

www.mondigroup.com

About The Green Star Packaging Award

The annual Green Star Packaging Awards recognize environmentally friendly packaging and recycling as well as packaging relevant improvements of operational processes in production, logistics and distribution. The award is given by the magazine Kompack as well as the Austrian Research Institute for Chemistry and Technology (ofi). All winners of a Green Star Packaging Award may also be nominated for the international WorldStar Packaging Award, which has been presented by the World Packaging Organization (WPO).

VPK’s corrugated packaging division will operate under a single brand name: VPK Packaging. The new name replaces the Rigid, Ondulys and Peterson brands in the UK, Ireland, France and the Nordic countries respectively. A new unified logo and visual identity reflect the overarching vision of the future that continues to foster environmental responsibility and local customer relationships.

New growth strategy targets international and local customer segments

In the last seven years, VPK’s international growth has been especially strong. Recent acquisitions, including Peterson in Scandinavia (a joint venture with Klingele Paper and Packaging Group), an increased shareholding in CorrBoard the UK corrugated sheet manufacturer, tube producer Corenso and expansions in both Western and Eastern Europe, have led to a doubling of consolidated turnover.

This international expansion will now be reflected in a single VPK brand for the whole corrugated packaging division. From 1^st October, VPK Packaging will replace the Rigid brand name alongside Ondulys and Peterson in France, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The unified corrugated packaging brand will increase the focus on the growing international customer base.

CEO Pierre Macharis said: “Our aim is to take sustainable growth to the next level, both ecologically and economically. We will think and act globally, but without losing the connection with our local customers and their products. Bringing sustainable, fully recyclable packaging to the market within a circular economic model will remain our core business. Staying true to our unique DNA, but with a clearer focus on international growth.”

The introduction of the new branding strategy comes with a new logo and visual identity, inspired by VPK’s environmental responsibility in sustaining the circular economy as well as four common company values: ownership, trust, care and beyond.

Wim Messiaen, COO of the Corrugated Packaging Division, said: “The central brand highlights our vision of sustainable business and growth, supported by international relationship management and a bigger emphasis on innovation in the network of our businesses. Our new brand enables employees and customers to identify more easily with the organisation and our values.

With this new branding strategy, we as a company are signalling our aims, vision and values to a constantly changing world, and honing our products and services to meet the evolving needs of our customers. We want to offer more transparency by communicating from a single brand and letting our structures grow organically in line with the network of our customers.”

In addition to VPK Packaging, VPK Group’s overall brand portfolio includes Corex for core and tube production, Smart Packaging Solutions for the production of solid board packaging and VPK Paper for the production of recycled paper.

About VPK Group

VPK produces recycled paper, corrugated cardboard packaging, solid board packaging, cores and tubes. The international packaging group operates according to a circular economic business model. Employing over 6200 people across 65 locations in 20 countries, the group records a turnover of €1.5 billion. For more information about our activities please visit: www.vpkgroup.com.