Ian Melin-Jones
Sappi Lanaken PM8 successful start-up after rebuild
Sappi’s Lanaken mill in Belgium has recently undergone a two month long rebuild on its PM8. As of June, 12th 2019 the PM now has the ability to produce woodfree coated paper in addition to light weight coated paper.
After a scheduled ramp-up and optimization this widened product capacity will provide excellent flexibility. Sappi will use this flexibility to meet the market demands.
About Sappi
Sappi is a leading global provider of sustainable woodfibre products and solutions, in the fields of Dissolving wood pulp, Printing papers, Packaging and speciality papers, Casting and release papers, Biomaterials and Bio-energy. As a company that relies on renewable natural resources, sustainability is at our core. Sappi European mills hold chain of custody certifications under the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) and/or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification™ (PEFC™) systems. Our papers are produced in mills accredited with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 50 001 and OHSAS 18001 certification. We have EMAS registration at 8 of our 10 mills in Europe.
Sappi Europe SA is a division of Sappi Limited (JSE), headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with 12,500 employees and 18 production facilities on three continents in nine countries, 37 sales offices globally, and customers in over 150 countries around the world.
Learn more about Sappi at www.sappi.com
Verso Corporation Explores Strategic Alternatives And Approves Adoption Of Stockholder Rights Plan
Verso Corporation has just announced that its Board of Directors had in late March of 2019, reengaged Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc. as the company's financial advisor to assist Verso in identifying and evaluating a range of potential strategic alternatives, including a possible merger, joint venture, partnership, business combination, stock repurchase, recapitalization, sale, distribution, transfer or other disposition or acquisition of assets or equity interests, while the Company conducts its search to identify and retain a permanent chief executive officer.
Alan Carr, Co-Chairman of the Board, stated, "In light of recent headwinds faced by Verso and many of our competitors, we have taken several steps to address our challenges, including the announcement of the closure of the Luke Mill and the announcement of a change in leadership."
Gene Davis, Co-Chairman of the Board added, "We are very pleased with the efforts of our interim Chief Executive Officer, Leslie Lederer, former chairman and interim president and CEO of Catalyst Paper, who, within a very short period of time, has provided invaluable direction, experience and expertise to the role. However, we have yet to select a permanent chief executive officer and, given industry wide challenges, we believe it is imperative for us to explore all of our options."
The Company also announced that the Board has approved the adoption of a limited duration stockholder rights plan (the "Rights Plan") and authorized a dividend distribution of one right ("Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, subject to the Board's approval of final documentation.
The Rights Plan is intended to enable all Verso stockholders to realize the full potential value of their investment in the Company and to protect their interests by reducing the likelihood that any person or group gains control of Verso through open market accumulation or other tactics without paying an appropriate control premium. In addition, the Rights Plan provides the Board with time to make informed decisions that maximize the value of Verso for the benefit its stockholders and does not deter the Board or stockholders from considering any offer that is fair and otherwise in the best interest of Verso's stockholders. The Board determined to approve the adoption of the Rights Plan in order to encourage all potential participants to participate in the strategic process, rather than through unsolicited offers designed to discourage a full and fair process.
The Rights Plan is similar to other plans adopted by publicly-traded companies and has the following specific terms:
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The rights generally would become exercisable only if a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 15% or more of Verso's common stock in a transaction not approved by the Board; |
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The Rights Plan does not include so-called "wolfpack" language, but does apply to groups acting in concert with respect to the acquisition or disposition of the Company's equity or assets; |
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The Rights Plan would expire on the earlier of (a) one year, (b) the Board's determination to not pursue any strategic alternatives and (c) upon the approval by the Company's stockholders of any strategic transaction recommended by the Board; |
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The Rights Plan will be "chewable." In other words, the rights will not be issued if an offer meets the following criteria: (a) the offer is a fully financed, all-cash tender offer or an exchange offer offering shares of the offeror traded on a national securities exchange (or a combination thereof); (b) for any and all of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company; (c) with a minimum condition of at least 80% of the outstanding shares of the Company and (d) at the same per-share consideration for all such shares. |
Each holder of a right (other than the acquiring person or group, whose rights will become void and will not be exercisable) will have the right to receive for 50% of the then current market value a certain number of shares of Verso's common stock, calculated in accordance with terms of Rights Plan. In addition, if Verso is acquired in a merger or other business combination after an acquiring person acquires 15% or more of Verso' common stock, each holder of the right would thereafter have the right to receive for a purchase price equal to 50% of the then current market value a certain number of shares of common equity interest of the acquiring person that is a party to such transaction. The acquiring person or group would not be entitled to exercise these Rights. In the Rights Plan, the definition of "beneficial ownership" includes derivative securities.
Further details of the Rights Plan will be contained in a Current Report on Form 8-K that Verso will be filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These filings will be available on the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP is serving as legal advisor to Verso.
About Verso
Verso Corporation is the turn-to company for those looking to successfully navigate the complexities of paper sourcing and performance. The leading North American producer of printing and specialty papers and pulp, Verso provides insightful solutions that help drive improved customer efficiency, productivity, brand awareness and business results. Verso's long-standing reputation for quality and reliability is directly tied to our vision to be a company with passion that is respected and trusted by all. Verso's passion is rooted in ethical business practices that demand safe workplaces for our employees and sustainable wood sourcing for our products. This passion, combined with our flexible manufacturing capabilities and an unmatched commitment to product performance, delivery and service, make Verso a preferred choice among commercial printers, paper merchants and brokers, converters, publishers and other end users. For more information, visit us online at versoco.com.
PMP to deliver Key Technological equipment’s to Zhejiang Jingxing Paper Joint Stock Co., Ltd in China
PMP (Paper Machinery Producer) has signed a contract for a delivery of Intelli-Jet V® Hydraulic Headbox, Intelli-Nip® Shoe Press and Intelli-Sizer® Metering Size Press for Zhejiang Jingxing Paper Joint Stock Co., Ltd. The agreement has been established in April 2019. The items will be implemented on PM10 in Pinghu, Zhejiang, China.
The main goal of the rebuild is by adding the metering size press to increase the strength and paper surface quality, as well as the efficiency to lower the cost. The machine with new PMP key sections will produce kraftliner board with basis weight of 200-320 gsm, design speed of 550 mpm and sheet width on reel 4950 mm.
The New Intelli-Sizer® Metering Size Press with carbon fiber metering heads will ensure the uniform of starch application and dramatically increase the sheet strength and quality, reduce the sheet breaks for better runnability. The change of configuration for press section by adding new Intelli-Nip® Shoe Press with Intelli-DCR® as second press will maximize the amount of water removed from the sheet and optimize machine efficiency. The Intelli-Jet V® Hydraulic Headbox will replace the current local cushion headbox which helps for better basis weight profile, sheet formation and fiber orientation.
The scope of supply includes design, supply and onsite services. The delivery and start-up is planned in the first quarter of 2020.
A.Celli and SINAMICS upgrade: stepping into the future!
Domtar Corporation Names Marie Cyr New Dryden Mill Manager
Domtar Corporation have just announced Marie Cyr as manager of the company’s mill in Dryden, Ontario, effective August 1, 2019. Cyr succeeds Jim Blight, who will retire in August.
Since December 2013, Marie has served as the Windsor Mill's pulp mill manager and superintendent, responsible for developing the pulp mill's strategy and leading its manufacturing operations. Marie is an inspirational leader with experience working with large teams in operations, maintenance and engineering. She joined the Windsor Mill in 1995 as a maintenance engineer and project manager, and has held roles of increasing responsibility in maintenance and planning in the Windsor Mill's pulp and converting operations.
Marie is a strong advocate for using the continuous improvement tools to foster a culture of learning and growth. She also has a unique ability to quickly bring teams together and unify them toward accomplishing an objective. We are confident her leadership will help the Dryden Mill continue to be successful.
About Domtar
Domtar is a leading provider of a wide variety of fiber-based products including communication, specialty and packaging papers, market pulp and absorbent hygiene products. With approximately 10,000 employees serving more than 50 countries around the world, Domtar is driven by a commitment to turn sustainable wood fiber into useful products that people rely on every day. Domtar’s annual sales are approximately $5.5 billion, and its common stock is traded on the New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges. Domtar’s principal executive office is in Fort Mill, South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.domtar.com.
Sustainable Sake-packaging winner of PIDA UK 2019
For the first time, the British edition of PIDA – Packaging Impact Design Award – got its own event, held on 5 June in Leeds. This year, sustainability and recycling were in focus. The contesting design students presented creative and fun ideas on how to package flowers, drinks and accessories in a more environmentally friendly way. And the design that had the best concept according to the jury, was Ekitai Sake, created by students from Sheffield Hallam University.
“We are surprised, chocked an honored. We made a recyclable, sustainable bottle and we’ve completely removed the glass. It’s the most sustainable product we could think of and we really tried to push it and make it look luxurious” says Will Sutton who together with teammates Chao-Lun Cheng and Jiaming Gong won the Gold Award of PIDA UK 2019. Their design Ekitai Sake is now qualified for the European final in Monaco this fall, at Luxe Pack - the world's largest luxury packaging fair.
High quality all around
This year’s brief was "Bring the future" and the students’ challenge was to develop a sustainable packaging concept for the year 2030. The jury looked at the innovation, sustainability, user-friendliness, concept and communication of the contributions. Ekitai Sake received high marks on all points and the students were praised for their attention to detail, the branding and the functionality of the packaging.
The motivation of the jury:
“A unanimous decision by the judges to give the PIDA Gold Award to this excellent innovative pack design, very strong in all categories. The combination of structure, branding and functionality proved a winning concept. The judges appreciated the attention to detail, the ergonomics of the bottle and use of the lid to drink with as a workable concept. Additional environmental impact reductions by replacing glass and reducing energy required to provide a stunning design that further enhanced the excellent packaging & product combined concept.”
A glimpse into the future of packaging
In addition to the PIDA Gold Award, winners were elected in three more categories. The prize for the Highest Level of Innovation went to the design Believers, dreamers and you for its unique playful design and great shelf impact. Winner of Highest Level of Sustainability and Highest Level of User Friendliness award was the design Lit Life for the economical use of the material and for the functionality of the packaging.
“The projects catapulted us into the future of packaging innovation and design and previewed ideas and concepts that we will one day see on our shelves and have in our homes. All of the projects were great and it was a very proud day for all involved as it had been a dream for three years to hold this event in the UK”, says Gareth Fisher, project leader of PIDA UK at BillerudKorsnäs.
Young talents become tomorrow’s packaging designers
The international competition PIDA is arranged by BillerudKorsnäs and is carried out in collaboration with leading universities and colleges in Sweden, the UK, France and Germany. Each year, over 200 design students participate. In this year’s edition of PIDA UK, students from Sheffield Hallam University competed. The jury consists of a mix of industry professionals – designers, converters, brand owners and other specialists.
“With PIDA we achieve several different purposes at the same time,” says Anders Gathu, Marketing Manager at BillerudKorsnäs. “We aim the spotlight on the importance of packaging for brands, consumer benefits and the environment. We want to shine light on the young talents who will become tomorrow’s packaging designers and bring them together with industry professionals. By offering a meeting place for ideas, innovation and inspiration, we help push industry development forward.”
BillerudKorsnäs provides packaging materials and solutions that challenge conventional packaging for a sustainable future. We are a world-leading provider of primary fibre based packaging materials and have customers in over 100 countries. The company has 8 production sites in Sweden, Finland and the UK and about 4300 employees in over 13 countries. BillerudKorsnäs has an annual turnover of about SEK 22 billion and is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. www.billerudkorsnas.com
Voith PaperSchool: Customized training courses for the paper industry
The new website of the Voith PaperSchool is now online. The school offers comprehensive training courses covering all aspects of the paper manufacturing process. In addition to a wide range of existing training courses, participants can also access personalized training content – using the latest methods like computer-assisted training or virtual reality and with hands-on training on the actual machines and equipment. This allows them to achieve a sustained improvement in their skills and know-how.
Whether employees from machine operation, maintenance or management, paper producers are constantly faced with the challenge of instructing and training new personnel and further developing existing employees. This is necessary to ensure safe and efficient plant operation across the entire paper manufacturing process. However, the resources and expertise needed to provide this kind of training are often lacking. As a full-line supplier with a broad range of services, Voith offers targeted training programs underpinned by the latest best practice experience through its well-established PaperSchool under the Servolution concept. In doing so, Voith can draw on its long-standing experience and expertise in this area; the long-established company conducted its first training for customers as far back as 1910.
The Voith PaperSchool employs effective training methods and offers a tailored transfer of knowledge and skills for different needs.
Customer-specific and standardized training modules
The training courses are available at the Voith Training Centers around the world, on site at customer’s paper mill, as well as online. Participants can develop specialized knowledge under the guidance of Voith experts. The training is tailored to all needs and imparts basic, intermediate and advanced knowledge. The exact training plan can be put together according to specific personal requirements – a common definition and prioritization of training content and methods take place.
The training courses cover various areas of paper production and stock preparation, maintenance such as example auxiliary systems, maintenance strategies and methodologies like communication, analysis and structured problem-solving.
Effective training methods
Different methods are used to impart knowledge and skills: classroom, hands-on, e-learning and virtual reality training. In classroom training, an expert provides the trainees with general knowledge about paper production and answers questions. In the case of hands-on training, trainees learn certain tasks in a controlled classroom setting under instruction. The training can be extended to include exposure to real-life conditions on the machines. The e-learning method, on the other hand, allows participants to learn according to their own timetable, regardless of location – and therefore is available 24/7. Learning outcomes is ensured by means of continuous testing and repetitions, and a support team is available 24/7 to answer any questions the trainee may have.
Innovative virtual reality training
One new kind of method is virtual reality training, an interactive training in a computer-generated environment. For training purposes, this cutting-edge technology makes it possible to simulate a virtual exploration of an entire paper machine or the behavior in a hazardous situation without actually endangering the people taking part. In addition, virtual reality training can be used to allow trainees to learn and practice various assembly operations, so they can subsequently perform proper maintenance on the actual machine.
Further information and booking for available training courses can be found on the new website of the Voith PaperSchool: www.voith.com/paperschool. In the future, the trainings can also be easily booked via the Voith Paper Webshop.
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 & automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has more than 19,000 employees, sales of € 4.2 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the large 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 one 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.
Valmet delivers a new recovery boiler to ITC in India
Valmet will deliver a new recovery boiler and ash leaching plant to ITC's Bhadrachalam pulp mill in India. The new boiler will replace three existing boilers. The start-up of the new recovery boiler is scheduled for late 2021.
The order was included in Valmet's orders received of the first quarter 2019. The value of the order of this scope is typically around EUR 50-60 million.
"The new recovery boiler investment is an essential part of increasing the mill's pulp production. Our main drivers for choosing a modern state-of-the-art recovery boiler were reliability, energy efficiency and environmental performance. With their offering Valmet was able to meet our goals," tells Sanjay Singh, Divisional Chief Executive of ITC.
"This recovery boiler represents a new era in Indian recovery boilers. It is significantly larger than the boilers previously delivered to India and has high power features which enable the mill to increase its energy production. With this project we are able to utilize our technology leadership and strong local presence in India. We are happy to continue our very good cooperation with ITC in upgrading their production fleet," says Jussi Mäntyniemi, Vice President, Recovery Business Unit, Pulp and Energy, Valmet.
Contract signing at ITC in Secunderabad. From left NK Jain and Jussi Mäntyniemi from Valmet, Sanjay K Singh, Vadiraj Kulkarni and Nagahari K from ITC.
Technical details about Valmet's delivery
The Valmet RECOX+ recovery boiler will have a capacity of 2,700 tDS/day. The boiler includes several high-power features for example high steam parameters, flue gas heat recovery, combustion air preheating, feed water preheating and vent gas heat recovery. This enables 20% higher steam production compared to conventional recovery boilers. The medium size and high steam parameters set specific requirements for material design.
The delivery also includes electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) which remove dust particles from recovery boiler flue gases.
Potassium and chloride levels in the ESP ash are controlled with two stage ash leaching system. Valmet AshLeach Duo is a well-proven, uniquely simple and effective system.
Illustration of the Valmet RECOX+ recovery boiler to be delivered to ITC Bhadrachalam pulp mill in India.
Information about the customer ITC
ITC Paperboards and Specialty Papers Division is among the leaders in the paper and paperboard business with solutions to meet a diverse cross-section of packaging and communication needs. With emphasis on harnessing state-of-the-art technology, the company has emerged as the largest manufacturer of packaging and graphic boards in South Asia. ITC's Paper Board And Specialty Paper's Division has eleven machines at three locations with production capacity of 800,000 TPA.
Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers.
Valmet's strong technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bioenergy production. Our advanced services and automation solutions improve the reliability and performance of our customers' processes and enhance the effective utilization of raw materials and energy.
Valmet's net sales in 2018 were approximately EUR 3.3 billion. Our more than 13,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward - every day. Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland and its shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.
Read more www.valmet.com
ANDRITZ launches new StrataPressTM felt technology for enhanced press performance
International technology Group ANDRITZ has officially launched its new StrataPress™ felt technology enabling unmatched performance on today’s most demanding press positions.
Innovative StrataPress™ press felts provide a comprehensive new portfolio of high-performance technology specially developed to help maximize machine press performance. StrataPress™ is designed with a game-changing combination of materials, base fabric structures and unique batt concepts, which ensure highest sheet quality, faster machine speeds, and reduced energy consumption. The StrataPress™ portfolio offers both endless and seamed technology to enable any machine to run more efficiently with products specifically engineered for each application, with any grade and in every press configuration.
The StrataPress™ press felt portfolio offers both endless and seamed technology to enable the press section to run more efficiently with products specifically engineered for each application with any grade and in every machine configuration. Photo: ANDRITZ
“Our innovative StrataPress™ portfolio of endless and seamed felts provides customers a comprehensive new platform specifically engineered to deliver unprecedented machine performance for improved sheet quality and reduced operating costs. It is available worldwide for machines producing all grades of containerboard, graphical papers, tissue, and pulp,” says Bill Butterfield, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at ANDRITZ Fabrics and Rolls.
With the new StrataPress™ technology, ANDRITZ once again confirms its position as one of the global market leaders for the supply of innovative fabrics, press felts, and roll technology solutions.
For more information, please visit andritz.com/fabrics-and-rolls.
ANDRITZ Pulp & Paper is a leading global supplier of complete plants, systems, equipment, and comprehensive services for the production and processing of all types of pulp, paper, board, and tissue. The technologies cover processing of logs, annual fibers, and waste paper; production of chemical pulp, mechanical pulp, and recycled fibers; recovery and reuse of chemicals; preparation of paper machine furnish; production of paper, board, and tissue; sizing, calendering and coating of paper; as well as treatment of reject materials and sludge. The service offering includes system and machine modernization, rebuilds, spare and wear parts, on-site and workshop services, optimization of process performance, maintenance and automation solutions, as well as machine relocation and second-hand equipment. Biomass, steam and recovery boilers for power production, gasification and flue gas cleaning plants, systems and plants for the production of nonwovens and absorbent hygiene products, dissolving pulp, and panelboard (MDF), as well as recycling and shredding solutions for various waste materials also form a part of this business area.
T.CON earns SAP award for excellent mill expertise in Germany
For the first time, SAP SE honors T.CON's excellent expertise for the mill process industry. As a demonstration of the outstanding expert know-how of T.CON in the industry, T.CON can now display the “SAP Recognized Expertise in the mill products industry in Germany” certificate.
SAP awards the “SAP Recognized Expertise” certificate to partners with impressive industry-specific or solution-specific expertise. There are currently over 15,000 SAP partners specialized in various industries across the globe, each with its own special features and characteristics. The mill products sector includes not just weaving mills but also businesses in the foil, paper, board, felt, textile and metal industries. The outstanding expertise T.CON has developed in the German mill products industry has now been recognized in the award.
There are only four SAP partners in the world who have been certified with “SAP Recognized Expertise” for this sector. “We have a unique process knowledge and solution expertise in this industry, even when taken right across the globe”, explains Andreas Laschinger, T.CON’s Strategic Business Field Head for mill products.
This expertise has led, among other things, to the development of the ERP solution package T.CON SMART FOR MILL. Its individual components cover the business and economic processes for producers of rolls and sheets: From development to procurement, through planning, production, quality management, maintenance, sales and shipping, and all the way to integrated accounting. All the functions in the T.CON solution packages are adapted to meet the needs of the mill industry.
Industry expertise guarantees ROI
“Our solution package is based on processes optimized for SAP S/4HANA and comprises applications for all aspects of reel and sheet based production. They can be seamlessly integrated into operative workflows”, explains Sasa Mihajlovic, Business Lead Production Mill Industries at T.CON. “They give our customers a real added value and make a huge contribution to making the business more competitive. What’s more, our industry expertise guarantees that the associated investments pay for themselves rapidly and sustainably.”
The “SAP Recognized Expertise” award is issued as part of the SAP PartnerEdge program. SAP partners must meet high standards in order to receive the award. These include proof of industry expertise. The partner must also have successfully carried out a specified number of customer projects in the sector in that country.
T.CON company profile
T.CON is a successful German SAP consulting and systems company. Its team of 300 SAP experts across our five sites performs complete installations, carve-outs and optimization projects in German-speaking countries and throughout the world. T.CON links up processes, systems and people, rethinks business processes and exploits the opportunities and possibilities in digitalization to benefit its customers. T.CON’s customers can achieve their corporate goals more easily and reliably, work more profitably and establish themselves even more successfully in the competitive environment. As an owner-operated business and SAP Gold Partner, T.CON has an emphasis on sustainable growth and pursuing long-term goals.
Links:
The trim webinar recording:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72s_9Fx3GLk&feature=youtu.be
TRIM explanatory video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHlTwGaKxpc&feature=youtu.be