Voith has signed an agreement with Spectris plc to acquire BTG for a total gross cash consideration of €319 million. With BTG, a multinational provider of integrated, highly specialized process solutions for the global pulp and paper industry, Voith strengthens its position as full-line supplier.

The transaction is expected to close late in the fourth quarter of 2019. The closing is subject to the company obtaining all regulatory approvals as well as other customary closing conditions.

“BTG and Voith together have 250 years of technological experience in the global paper industry. This strategic step will bring many advantages for the entire industry. With BTG, we found an ideal match to complement our portfolio and get the chance to add a high-performing company with widely recognized expertise in the pulp and paper market. This helps us to expand our competitive position as a full-line supplier for the paper industry in the areas of consumables, instruments, services and software,” states Toralf Haag, President & CEO of the Voith Group.

BTG offers a high-value portfolio of optimized and customized solutions for a range of applications, mainly in the areas of packaging, graphic papers and tissue. Among these are beds and rods for film-metering size presses, high-performance ceramic and cermet coating blades, and pulp and paper process control sensors and laboratory instruments. All of these technologies are supported with expert services and application support. Furthermore, BTG is a decisive partner in the digital transformation of the pulp and paper industry with its offerings in the areas of data analytics, automation and software. It will therefore add value to Voith’s Papermaking 4.0 portfolio. More information can be found at www.btg.com.

“We are excited about this opportunity. Voith is a well respected player in the paper industry and our offering is highly complementary to theirs. As part of the Voith Group, we will be able to offer our employees and our customers more opportunities, supporting BTG growth and allowing us to realise our full potential”, says Rob Crossman, BTG CEO.

BTG, founded in 1921 in Sweden, is today headquartered in Éclépens, Switzerland, and employs around 600 professionals across the world. It operates four manufacturing sites, three research centers and several regional application centers. BTG has developed strong market positions, particularly in the pulp and paper industry, through a strong passion and commitment to delivering sustainable value to customers.

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 & au-tomotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has more than 19,000 em-ployees, sales of € 4.2 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.

Cartiera Confalone is the protagonist of an important investment that will see the construction of a new advanced production base in Montoro, Avellino, with leading-edge tissue technology. The plant includes an automated warehouse and one AHEAD 2.2 tissue line supplied by Toscotec on a turnkey basis. Cartiera Confalone’s Montoro mill represents the biggest tissue investment in the south of Italy in the last twenty years and it will give new impetus to the local job market. 

The start-up is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2020. The new tissue line consists of one AHEAD 2.2 tissue machine, equipped with TT NextPress, a second generation TT SYD and gas-fired hoods designed with numerous stages of energy recovery. The sheet trim is 2,850 mm, the design speed is 2,200 m/min and the production capacity is over 35,000 tpy. The tissue line is dedicated to the production of toilet tissue, napkins and towels and it will process 100% pre-dried virgin pulp and converting broke. 

The turnkey supply also includes the complete stock preparation, Toscotec’s patented TT SAF (Short Approach Flow) ensuring a higher operation efficiency, the complete electrical and control system, including the DCS and the QCS and the dust and mist removal systems for the tissue machine. The vacuum plant, an automatic vibration monitoring system for the tissue machine and the hall ventilation system complete the supply. 

The turnkey scope includes two newly designed OPTIMA 2200 slitter rewinders, which feature tension and nip control systems, and are equipped with a dedicated dust removal system. The core-assist drive system installed on the pope reel and the optimized nip control of the OPTIMA 2200 rewinders will ensure premium tissue quality, preserving the bulk and hand-feel of the finished product. 

Toscotec will also provide the detailed mill engineering, the plant and the machine erection, commissioning and start-up supervision and training programs. 

The relationship between Toscotec and Cartiera Confalone S.p.A. dates back to 1999 when Cartiera Confalone installed a MODULO-PLUS tissue machine at its mill in Maiori in the province of Salerno and then replaced its cast-iron Yankee with a TT SYD in 2013. 

Gaetano Confalone, Sole Director of Cartiera Confalone, says, "This Toscotec line represents a key technological investment for our mill. We have been working with Toscotec for over 20 years, since the project of our first tissue line. We are pleased with the deep expertise of the Toscotec team, not only for developing a new custom made solution based on our requirements, but also for its proven capability in managing turnkey projects of this magnitude. This line will be key to the future growth of our brand."

Alessandro Mennucci, CEO of Toscotec, says, "We are honoured to have been selected for this turnkey operation by Cartiera Confalone. The contract includes our most advanced technology such as TT NextPress, and a very wide scope, from the stock preparation down to two slitter rewinder lines. This is where Toscotec is able to showcase its abilities as a true specialist for turnkey solutions.” 

The award of this turnkey contract is a testament to Toscotec’s status as the leading supplier of turnkey solutions in the tissue market.

About Cartiera Confalone

With origins dating back to 1800, when a paper mill was opened in Maiori for the production of handmade paper, Cartiera Confalone produced flattened and creped paper until its conversion into tissue paper in the 1970s. It is a family-run business focusing on the production of toilet paper, kitchen roll, napkins and jumbo rolls of various width. Cartiera Confalone’s products are distributed throughout Italy, in particular in the centre and in the south of Italy, with a turnover that in recent years has seen a significant increase both in Northern Italy, in the U.E. and extra U.E..

www.confalone.it

For further information, please contact:

Riccardo Gennai, Sales Manager, Toscotec Tissue division, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Paper Machinery Producer (PMP) recently signed a contract for the delivery of two rebuilds for the Press and Dryer Section for Asia Pulp & Paper Sinar Mas’ (APP) Pindo Deli Mill in Indonesia. The agreement is the result of an earlier successful cooperation between PMP and APP, signed off in August 2018.

The scope includes the supply of press section rebuild with new Intelli-Nip^® Press and Intelli-Nip^® Module 1500. This state-of-the-art technology will ensure higher dryness following the press section and will improve the paper quality in the mill.

The scope of supply for both projects also includes design, on site transportation and services.

As part of the contract, PMP will also be delivering new core items for the dryer section rebuild.

About PMP:

PMP is a global provider of tissue, paper & board technology and has been supporting the pulp and paper industry for over 160 years, executing projects on 6 continents, in 34 countries. The Company has its headquarters in Jelenia Góra, Poland and has 6 facilities in 4 countries (Poland, USA, China, Italy). PMP is a recognized international player in both the paper & tissue industry. Learn more: www.pmpgroup.com

Metsä Board’s Kyro mill is to begin using artificial intelligence for quality management on its folding boxboard machine. Supplied by Voith, the software uses measurement results related to the quality properties of and the mill’s process data. By combining various process parameters and using statistical models the system can automatically predict quality values and adjust process parameters in real time. This improves the production efficiency of the folding boxboard machine and improves quality consistency.

 “Artificial intelligence will contribute to high efficiency and accuracy of production process control. Production waste will decrease, product quality consistency will further improve and grade changes will be quicker,” says Ari Kiviranta, SVP Development at Metsä Board. “The operators at the mill can now focus on comprehensive management and operational development.” 

Metsä Board is also investigating different possibilities to take artificial intelligence into use at other Metsä Board mills.

Metsä Board

www.metsaboard.com

Metsä Board is a leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards including folding boxboards, food service boards and white kraftliners. Our lightweight paperboards are developed to provide better, safer and more sustainable solutions for consumer goods 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.

The global sales network of Metsä Board supports customers worldwide, including brand owners, retailers, converters and merchants. In 2018, 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.

The issue of which materials should be used for packaging is becoming increasingly important. Consumers are also paying more and more attention to how environmentally friendly the packaging used for paper hygiene products is. Amotek offers packaging technology for a wide variety of materials including PE film, biofilm and paper, and is providing information on the new, environmentally friendly options at MIAC. The AMOTEK PB192 means that the company is also able to present a highly flexible packaging machine for rolls of paper tissue that significantly reduces the consumption of both electricity and compressed air. For this trade show, Amotek's slogan is "Smart Packaging gets Green".

The AMOTEK PB192 is the new flagship model for packaging rolls of paper tissue in film. Two versions are available: With the AMOTEK PB192 FLEX, the focus is on a particularly large range of formats and rapid changes in format. The AMOTEK PB192 DUAL offers the highest output while taking up less space, with up to 150 packs per minute. As well as the new PB range, there are several tools that are currently helping Amotek's customers manage their production more effectively in the age of industry 4.0. Improvements have also been made in monitoring and consumption, and can now be used successfully on all Amotek baggers.

The AMOTEK PB192 records all process data and machine functions and displays them on a big new high-resolution monitor.

Reduced consumption of electricity and compressed air

The system features innovations that significantly reduce the consumption of electricity and compressed air. Servomotors that can recover or save energy during braking and stop phases make a key contribution here. At the same time, a new pneumatic system has been developed that reduces compressed air consumption by around 16 percent, compared to conventional machines. The consumption of energy and compressed air is continuously measured and displayed in real time. If there is any loss of compressed air, this is quickly detected and displayed on the HMI.

Rapid troubleshooting

The AMOTEK PB192 records all process data and machine functions and displays them on a big new high-resolution monitor. This allows any malfunctions to be pinpointed more quickly. The data can also be used to set up a maintenance system that can alert the operator to upcoming maintenance work early on and allow it to be planned more efficiently.

Amotek at MIAC, Lucca, Italy: October 9 to 11, 2019, Stand 121

Gulf Paper Manufacturing selected Toscotec for the rebuild of the dryer section of its PM1 at Mina Abdullah paper mill, Kuwait. The paper machine has a reel trim of 2,550 mm and produces fluting, test liner and white top grades from 100 to 200 gsm using 100% recycled fibres. Start-up is planned for the last quarter of 2019.

Toscotec will supply 24 TT SteelDryers, with a maximum operating steam pressure of 10 bar and a design speed of 800 mpm. The dryer section’s driving system with obsolete gears will be replaced by a silent drive system. The scope also includes the lubrication unit for the new dryer section and it will be especially designed for the high-temperature working environment of the mill. The supply is on a turnkey basis, including the erection, commissioning and start-up.

The target of the rebuild is to boost the drying capacity, thanks to the TT SteelDryers. The dryer section’s length will remain unchanged.

Enrico Fazio, Toscotec’s P&B Head of Sales, comments, “This new project consolidates our presence in the Middle East region, where we have delivered over 100 TT SteelDryers since the mid-1990s. We are very happy to start this cooperation with Gulf Paper Manufacturing, who is a very well established producer and renowned company in the Middle East. I am confident that the rebuild will meet their production targets, thanks to TT SteelDryer’s advanced technology.”

Mr Ghaleb Al-Hadhrami, Gulf Paper Manufacturing Projects & Development Manager, says, “We had known each other for many years, but didn’t get the chance to cooperate. This is the first project that we do together, and we hope i twill be the first of many in the years to come. We were impressed by the remarkable reference list of TT SteelDryers and other equipment. We got to know the people and the company, including its ability to manage complex turnkey projects. This is why we decided to select Toscotec for this important rebuild, where we expect to exceed our targets.”

For further information, please contact:

Enrico Fazio, Head of Sales, Toscotec Paper & Board division, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In terms of revenue, the global pulp market is estimated to expand at a CAGR of ~ 4% during the forecast period, owing to numerous factors, about which, Study offers thorough insights and forecast in this report.

Pulp Market: An Overview

Pulp is basically made from the fibrous part of plants, mostly trees, and is the prime ingredient in the process of papermaking. Pulp is usually sourced from wood, non-wood, and recycled pulp. Recovered paper made by removing inks and other contaminants is the medium through which recycled/de-inked pulp is extracted. The global push for the use of sustainable materials is expected to aid the growth in the demand for recycled pulp. Among the end uses, the increasing use of paper-based packaging formats is expected to be the prominent driver for the growth of the global pulp market.

East Asian Economies hold Lucrative Opportunities for Pulp Manufacturers

Asia Pacific, in terms of pulp production, holds ~ 45% of the global market share, and is expected to uphold its lead over the forecast period. China tops the charts for both, the production as well as consumption of pulp. The market for pulp in Japan is projected to continue its prominence, owing to its sharp shift towards greener packaging solutions, in which, corrugated and Kraft paper companies have a better development prospect. Also, the average operating income of pulp manufacturers based in the Asia Pacific region presents an upward trend. However, this region houses many unorganized and small-scale manufacturers, which might not compete with tier-1 pulp producers directly, but can impact the local pricing to some extent. Thus, the Asian pulp market can be considered as a highly competitive market, and promises to offer lucrative opportunities.

While North America is still the largest wood pulp producer, followed by Europe, new pulp milling facilities are being created in South America (especially Brazil), Russia, Asia (Indonesia), and Northern Europe. The United States represents ~ 85% of the pulp market in North America, while Canada is expected to expand at a high CAGR during the forecast period. Moreover, a large number of tier-1 & tier-2 pulp companies are based in North America.

Despite being a matured market, Europe represents an incremental opportunity of ~ US$ 15 Bn by 2027. Europe holds ~ one-fourth of the global pulp market share; however, it is expected to lose some of its market to Asia Pacific over the forecast period.

Pulp Market: Competition Landscape

In the global market report for pulp, the competition landscape is discussed. Key players profiled in the pulp market are Westrock Company, International Paper, Stora Enso Pulp AB, Georgia-Pacific Corp., Kimberly-Clark Corp., Oji Holdings Corporation., Nippon Paper Group, Asia Pulp and Paper Group, UPM, Nordic Paper Holding AB, Mercer International Group, Metsä Board Corporation, BillerudKorsnäs AB, Nine Dragons Paper Limited, Sappi Group, Rama Pulp and Papers Limited, Gulf Paper Manufacturing Company, Nisseysangyo Co., Ltd., Canny Tissue Paper Industry (L.L.C), and Metropolic Paper Industries Inc.

These insights are based on a report on Pulp Market by Transparency Market Research.

Leading papermaker SCA Graphic Paper has created a brand-new paper category for graphical printers: Fine Wood-Containing Paper (FWP) narrows the gap between woodfree and wood-containing offset papers as never before.

Leading the way in this innovative new segment is Frontier, a high bulk, high opacity offset paper with a premium feel ideal for magazines, supplements, direct mail, puzzle books and notebooks.

Frontier is being launched in the UK in partnership with Vision Paper and Board in 70, 75 and 80gsm weights and is available as part of their Your Size Bespoke sheeting service.

Peter Featherstone, Sales Office Manager for Vision Paper and Board, says: “SCA Frontier is an exciting new type of paper, the brightest wood-containing offset paper in the world.  And with the lower substance range, combined with high bulk and opacity, printers can reduce their costs through improved yield without sacrificing the quality of their product.”

Neil Coleman, Sales Manager for SCA Graphic Paper UK, agrees. “Our new FWP paper category is an ambitious one,” he states, “It’s a category that challenges accepted industry norms when it comes to what a wood-containing paper can be and can achieve. Printers or publishers want their magazines, supplements and catalogues to be just a bit more special and SCA Frontier is the ideal choice for this.”

With an ISO brightness of 86% and a CIE whiteness of 105%, the difference between a wood-containing and a woodfree offset has never been so slight, and the high bulk and opacity associated with this type of pulp contributes to the premium quality of the grade.

SCA Frontier is available for mill direct sales in reels, or from Vision Paper and Board in both sheets and reels.  Neil Coleman explains the partnership decision: “We chose to work with Vision Paper because of their ability to produce sheets in a wide range of sizes to tight deadlines.  With 3 versatile sheeters at their disposal, as well as reel rewinding capability, we are confident of their ability to help us develop this exciting new grade in the UK market.”

Peter Featherstone confirms: “SCA are a leading paper producer, and Europe’s largest private forestry owner, but, despite their size, they are still ready to innovate and are not afraid to shake up existing perceptions of how paper should be. We are delighted to be associated with this project and relish the opportunity to develop sales of the world’s brightest wood-containing offset paper.”

To accompany the launch of SCA Frontier, a full colour brochure has been produced on the paper to highlight the outstanding results that can be achieved.  Copies are available on request from Vision Paper and Board.

The Snowy Owl

The unique Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus, sometimes Nyctea scandiaca) has more bulk and is whiter than most birds – and all other owls. Its natural habitat is in the northern Arctic tundra regions of North America, Russia and Northern Europe.

About SCA Graphic Paper

1. SCA is Europe’s largest private forestry owner with over 2 million hectares of forest
2. SCA Ortviken paper mill in Sweden produces around 775,000 tpa and employs in excess of 600 people
3. Ortviken mill has FSC and PEFC chain of custody certification as well EU Ecolabel
4. The mill uses biofuel instead of oil and self generates around 50% of the electricity is uses.

About Vision Paper and Board

1. Vision Paper and board is the UK’s leading merchant-converter, established for 10 years with annual sales in excess of 85,000 tonnes and part of the £80M turnover Middleton Group employing over 300 people. 
2. Converting equipment includes 4 sheet cutters; a mill winder and guillotining facilities to enable a 24-48 hour express conversion service incorporating bespoke size availability to provide significant cost and waste savings.
3. Vision Paper and Board have made significant investment in their conversion and storage facility in the Midlands and can offer product availability from 20,000 tonnes of UK held graphical paper, board and packaging board comprising flat sheets, cutter reels, HSWO and cut-star reels. A varied customer base includes; commercial print, publishing, print management and the graphical and packaging board sectors, as well as business papers to stationers, wholesalers and education authorities.
4. Vision Paper and Board recognises its responsibility towards protecting the environment and has achieved the internationally recognised FSC^® and PEFC^TM chain of custody certification.

About Tangent Paper Services

Tangent Paper Services offers technical and PR solutions to the paper industry, with customers including paper merchants and mill sales offices.  We also offer freelance copywriting services to paper and printing trade magazines and will accept commissions for articles and features.

For further information, please contact Tony Hardy on +44 07764 879976 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To demonstrate how paperboard can boost brand appeal, Metsä Board has launched a new set of packaging samples. The samples demonstrate the various finishing effects and how the paperboard surface can enhance them and create impressive visual and tactile effects. The samples have been designed to inspire end-users in sectors such as food, beautycare, pharmaceuticals, luxury packaging and graphic applications. The samples are produced using the enhanced Metsä Board folding boxboard portfolio.

Excellent printability, whiteness and smoothness. on background, CMYK printing on top, micro-embossing and multilayer embossing. Printing grey drop shadow requires high smoothness. Unprinted inner box and two colour printed tray (black/copper)The organic cosmetics sample has an uncoated surface with a multilayer embossing that give a special touch and feel. White and gold hot foil stamping adds a luxurious finish to the packaging. The chocolate sample also uses a multilayer embossing with a metallic appearance added to the CMYK printing on silver PE laminate in the text area.

The most demanding sample is the headset packaging that combines various effects requiring many features from the paperboard. The cover of the box is first hot-foiled, then printed with white and CMYK, and finally a multilayer embossing were added to give touch and feel. On the front of the packaging there are tone changes made with grey drop shadows which require a high level of smoothness from the board. On the side of the box there is a silver hot-foil in the background with CMYK printing combining micro-embossing, a multilayer embossing and a debossing. Keeping a rich black colour and small white text on the back of the packaging requires excellent printing properties from the board.

The samples display the desire for natural and organic packaging in the market and show how luxury finishing such as multilayer embossing, micro embossing, glossy varnishes, hot foil stamping, spot pantones and even holographic can really add the WOW factor to everyday items. “The samples have been designed taking into consideration what the market is looking for such as the increased use of uncoated boards, especially in cosmetics, with a surface that is highly receptive to special effects and finishing. Sustainability remains an important issue and our boards are lightweighted to give bulk and stiffness with the use of less raw materials,” says Ilkka Harju, Packaging Services Director, Metsä Board.

At the beginning of June 2019, the green light was given for the construction of the new Papierfabrik Palm paper mill for the production of testliner and corrugated baseboard. Voith will be supplying the stock preparation line for the project and has to this end designed one of the largest and most advanced BlueLine systems worldwide. As well as the entire stock preparation unit from feed-in of the recovered paper to the finished stock, the scope of supply also includes the complete design of the line and its measuring, control and instrumentation systems. Voith had already provided Papierfabrik Palm with support during the conceptual and approval phase for the new build project.

The stock preparation unit will produce 2,200 metric tons of stock per day. A precondition for the high quality of the product is an extremely clean furnish. At the same time, the company laid particular emphasis on achieving a sustainable, environmentally compatible paper production process. With its BlueLine concepts, Voith has already realized systems all around the world that achieve a maximum yield of high quality stock with low energy consumption and therefore meet the requirements imposed by Palm. The latest examples of these are the stock preparation lines for packaging papers at Leipa in Schwedt, at Hamburger Rieger Containerboard in Spremberg or at Propapier in Sandersdorf-Brehna. The expansion of the stock preparation line at the Aalen-Neukochen plant in 2018 has also been designed and installed by Voith.

Voith BlueLine stock preparation

Voith BlueLine EcoProcess
The design of the stock preparation line is based on the EcoProcess developed by Voith. The comprehensively tried and tested solution allows for an energy-optimized machine configuration. EcoProcess combines a strict counterflow principle with smart water cycle separation. In conjunction with water management across all systems, this results in a controlled discharge of dissolved and colloidal impurities with low water consumption. A cutting-edge, flexible long fiber screening concept, minimal solids content in the inlet to the waste water treatment facility and a special additional preparation line for largely clean recovered paper will result in high fiber yield and minimal waste volume. At the same time, the EcoProcess concept provides the basis for a stable paper manufacturing process and thus a consistently high product quality.

IntensaPulper and IntegraScreen components for efficiency and sustainability
For Palm and Voith, sustainability and efficiency were the key factors when choosing the individual components. For example, thanks to its optimized machine housing, the IntegraScreen ensures consistent flow and pressure conditions around the screen, which results in high contaminant separation efficiencies. An additional reject dilution step and the integration of an external reject recirculation to the machine reduces thickening of the reject and increases fiber yield.

The IntensaPulper ensures efficient yet energy-saving pulping. Thanks to the combination of a special vat geometry and the asymmetric arrangement of the rotor, the internal flow pattern of the IntensaPulper converts the flow energy into pulping performance. As a result, energy savings of up to 20 percent can be achieved. String-free disposal of contaminants from the pulper is ensured thanks to the IntensaMaXX, which was specially developed for this application.

The HiClean HCL5-I cleaner is another addition to the range of energy-efficient components in the stock preparation line. Smooth interior surfaces and a flow-optimized head piece enable maximum separation efficiencies in this technology developed by Voith. The patented EcoMizer reject dilution allows high reject concentrations at low overflow rates. As a result, the HiClean HCL5-I cleaner can work reliably and efficiently with high stock densities of up to three percent. The effect of this high intake stock consistency is a low energy consumption.

About Palm
Palm is one of the leading companies in the European paper industry. The Palm Group is divided into Papierfabrik Palm with its 5 paper mills for the manufacture of paper and Palm Packaging Group with 26 plants for the manufacture of corrugated board. The third pillar of our operations, which encompasses the purchasing of raw materials for all our papers and corru-gated boards made from 100% recycled paper are joined under the umbrel-la of Palm Recycling consisting of two recycling companies. www.palm.de

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.