Displaying items by tag: sappi
Sappi approves construction of demonstration plant for Xylitol & Furfural production in line with strategic biorefinery plans
Sappi has just announced further progress in the development of its biorefinery capacity with the confirmation that it will construct a demonstration plant to further scale up its novel Xylex® technology for the production of Xylitol and Furfural. The plant will be located adjacent to the existing sugars and lignin extraction plant at Ngodwana Mill. It should be operational early in 2019. Pending successful results and further approvals it is anticipated that Sappi may construct commercial Xylitol and Furfural plants adjacent to our mills in the USA and South Africa.
Commenting on the decision Sappi CEO Steve Binnie said: "We are very happy with the progress being made by our biorefinery team, as well as with the value we are deriving from the acquisition and integration last year of the key biorefinery technologies and expert staff from Plaxica. Biomaterials and biochemicals are integral to Sappi’s strategy of extracting maximum value from wood fibre, our natural and renewable resource. We have taken a significant step towards generating meaningful revenue from this new business segment."
Louis Kruyshaar, EVP for Sappi Biotech, explained: "Sappi’s biorefinery plans are focused on building a sustainable, profitable business from the manufacture and sale of food ingredients, materials and chemical intermediates derived from the C5 sugars produced as a co-product of our dissolving wood pulp production, and from the lignin produced in our global pulp production."
The combination of Sappi’s operational excellence, the proposed co-location of the commercial plants at existing mill sites delivers strong integration synergies, and the cost advantages offered by Sappi’s scale and the Xylex® technology mean that Sappi will have a globally competitive cost base for sugars and xylitol and furfural production.
Turning to the products which the demonstration plant will provide a platform for, Kruyshaar said: "Xylitol is a high value sweetener with exciting growth prospects - it is a low-calorie sweetener which has positive dental properties and produces no insulin response, so is suitable for diabetics. Furfual is a versatile green industrial chemical derived from C5 sugars with a diverse range of derivatives".
A quick overview of the development of Sappi’s sugars extraction capacity:
In 2016 Sappi announced it would invest in demonstration capacity at its Ngodwana Mill in South Africa to extract hemicellulose sugars and lignin from its dissolving wood pulp (DWP) line for eventual beneficiation to higher value products
- In 2017 this plant, built in partnership with Valmet, was commissioned. After operating for 12 months to demonstrate the extraction of C5 sugars from DWP production, the plant has exceeded all efficiency targets for cost, cycle time and yield.
- Later in 2017 Sappi acquired the patented Xylex® technology for the hydrolysis and clean-up of these C5 sugars, as well as to produce a valuable lignin stream.
- In April 2018, Sappi sanctioned a scale-up demonstration plant for the Xylex® technology to be located alongside the existing sugars plant at Ngodwana Mill. The plant will be commissioned in the first calendar quarter of 2019.
- This plant will enable the demonstration of technologies for the production of Xylitol and Furfural.
- Following successful commissioning of the Xylitol process, Sappi’s strategic intent is to enter the Xylitol value chain with a world-scale production plant.
- As regards Furfural, sugars extraction from our DWP assets combined with our Xylex® and Furfural capabilities will allow Sappi to pursue various partnerships in the furan chemical value chain. The furan markets are showing strong market pull for new investments due to growth as well as replacing older and smaller unsustainable assets
Sappi to fund research on Artificial Intelligence and bringing carbon emissions to net zero in the paper and pulp industry
As one of the founding partners of The Prince of Wales Global Sustainability Fellowship Programme
Sappi Limited, a leading global producer of dissolving wood pulp, speciality and packaging papers, graphic (printing and writing) paper and biomaterials, is pleased to announce its support as one of the founding partners of The Prince of Wales Global Sustainability Fellowship Programme .
The 3-5 year fellowships, announced last week by the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), will attract academics from around the world to identify breakthrough solutions to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At launch eight Fellowships have been funded.
The Sappi supported Fellowship will focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goal “Reshaping the future of industry” (SDG9). It aims to build on Sappi’s current engagement with the CISL by investigating how trends of innovation and sustainability will come together to reshape the future of industry – looking at the paper and pulp industry as an initial example and examining drivers including the rise of artificial intelligence and the need to bring carbon emissions to net zero.
Commenting on Sappi’s decision to become a Founding Partner of the Fellowship Steve Binnie, Chief Executive Officer of Sappi Limited, said:
“We have been engaging at a group and European level with Dame Polly Courtice and the CISL team since 2013. They have helped and supported our European industry efforts related to the Green Growth Platform, the development of a new low carbon pulp technology (DES), exploring financing options to support industry’s transformation and investigating block-chain technology for timber certification.” He continued “The challenge for the pulp and paper industry is how to be much more effective than today, both in our journey towards durable sustainability and to the need for economic vitality and employment for future generations. This Fellowship programme and the research it will deliver will help take this work forward. We live in an age of hyper-innovation and we take responsibility for making it work positively. That is why we have chosen a subject which joins the desire and need for sustainable materials with the most revolutionary technology to appear for over a generation – that of Artificial Intelligence. We anticipate that the Fellowship programme will deliver students with a profound knowledge and understanding of these issues which will help drive new solutions for us and others, creating exciting opportunities far into the future.”
CISL, a 30-year old Institute with 80 staff and a network of 8,000 alumni and 250 companies, will host the Fellowship Programme alongside its existing industry collaborations and executive education programmes to foster an exchange of knowledge and ideas.
Speaking at the launch of the Fellowship, Dame Polly Courtice, Director of the CISL said: “The Prince of Wales Global Sustainability Fellowship Programme will create a rich intellectual space for collaboration between researchers and industry as we seek breakthrough ideas and leadership actions to towards meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals”.
Over and above Sappi’s topic of Industrial Transformation, the other confirmed research topics include Social and Environmental Accounting; Investing in Sustainable Communities; Sustainable Health; Radical Innovation and Disruption; The Role of Responsible Business in the Community; Inclusive Growth; Pathways to a Circular Economy.
Sappi to invest in Gratkorn Mill’s future paper production with a further modernization project
Sappi, a leading global producer of dissolving wood pulp, speciality and packaging papers, graphic (printing and writing) paper and biomaterials is investing in its mill in Gratkorn.
After finishing the upgrade of paper machine 11 in November 2014, PM 9 will be upgraded in 2019 to the current state of the art. The aim of the project is, in addition to the exchange of technical components, to operate the papermaking process with a reduced energy demand and thus to sustainably reduce the environmental impact. Another effect of the upgrade is the optimisation of raw materials to reduce production costs. The project has a total investment of approximately € 30 million and is scheduled to be realised in the first half of 2019. The project will be carried out in cooperation with Valmet, who also carried out the upgrade of PM 11.
Max Oberhumer, Mill Director of Sappi Gratkorn is pleased about the approval of this project: “In addition to the renewal of important components on the paper machine, the significant improvement in energy efficiency is another milestone in our efforts to achieve sustainable business.”
Steffen Wurdinger, VP Manufacturing, R&D and Technology of Sappi Europe points out the importance of the project: “The approved investment consolidates Sappi Europe's position in this product segment. The reliability of the product quality as well as the machine’s competitiveness will be strengthened through this project.”
About Sappi’s Gratkorn Mill
Sappi Gratkorn mill is part of Sappi Europe. Annually it produces 990,000 tons of high quality double and triple coated papers which are used for premium quality publications all over the world. Gratkorn mill also produces 250,000 tons of totally chlorine free (TCF) chemical pulp. The mill employs 1240 paper industry professionals from production to R&D. About 95 % of the mill’s production is exported.
The mill operates under management systems consisting of certified Environmental Management System (ISO 14001), Energy Management System (ISO 50001), Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSAS 18001), Quality Management System (ISO 9001) and Chain Of Custody Verification from the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC™) scheme and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®).
About Sappi
Sappi Europe SA is the leading European producer of coated fine paper used in premium magazines, catalogues, books and high-end print advertising. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, Sappi Europe is recognised for innovation and quality. Its graphic paper brands include Magno™, Quatro™, Vantage™, Royal, Galerie™ and GalerieArt™ ranges. Algro®, Leine®, Parade®, Fusion® and atelier™ are the brands for innovative solutions of speciality papers and boards.
Sappi papers are produced in mills accredited with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certification and EMAS registration for all our mills in the EU. Sappi European mills hold chain-of-custody certification under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) and/or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC™) schemes.
Sappi Europe SA is a division of Sappi Limited (JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with 12,800 employees and manufacturing operations on three continents in seven countries, sales offices in 50 countries, and customers in over 100 countries around the world. Learn more about Sappi at www.sappi.com.
Sappi confirms expansion plans for dissolving wood pulp (DWP) capacity
Sappi Limited, the South African based leading global supplier of dissolving wood pulp (DWP), speciality and packaging papers, printing (graphic) papers and biomaterials has confirmed plans and ongoing projects to significantly increase DWP capacity by 2020. In particular, Sappi has started preparatory work for the potential expansion of its Saiccor DWP Mill to ensure that the company would be in a position to increase the mill’s capacity by up to 250,000tpa to meet strong projected demand growth.
Building on the previously announced debottlenecking investments which will increase the Saiccor Mill capacity by 10,000tpa by the end of 2018, work has also started at increasing the chipping capacity and modernising the Saiccor Mill wood yard. The new equipment for the wood yard is scheduled to be delivered and installed at the end of 2018, with start-up planned for January 2019. The wood yard investments will result in cost, quality, environmental and efficiency benefits to the Saiccor Mill and is also a major step towards preparing the Saiccor Mill to expand by a further 250,000tpa.
Sappi is also busy with the preparatory work to enable it to initiate the pre-requisite EIA (environmental impact assessment) process to study potential impacts, gather community input and model new technology benefits of the proposed 250,000tpa expansion, which would increase the Saiccor Mill’s total capacity to over 1 million tpa.
The project has the potential to bring additional investments and jobs into the KwaZulu Natal region of South Africa, increase foreign revenues for the country and further entrench South Africa as a global leader in forest products.
Sappi is also, as previously announced, in the process of expanding its dissolving wood pulp capacity at its Ngodwana Mill by 50,000tpa through debottlenecking projects. This work is scheduled for completion by August 2018.
At our Cloquet Mill, we are completing a study regarding the expansion of pulping capacity within our existing permit limits, maintaining our ability to make either DWP or Kraft pulp. It is envisaged that such an expansion would have the capacity to increase DWP production by around 30,000tpa and could be brought on line by mid-2019.
Collectively these current and planned investments demonstrate Sappi’s commitment to respond to strong customer demand for additional dissolving wood pulp volumes.
Further updates on Sappi’s expansion plans will follow during 2018.
About Sappi Limited
A global leader in dissolving wood pulp and paper-based solutions, Sappi Limited (listed and in the Top 40 on the JSE - SAP), is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa; has over 12,000 employees; manufacturing facilities on three continents, in seven countries (eight operations in Europe, three operations in America and five operations in South Africa) and customers in over 150 countries worldwide
Sappi works closely with customers to provide relevant and sustainable dissolving wood pulp, paper (speciality, packaging and graphic), paper pulp, and biomaterial products and related services and innovations. Our market-leading range of paper products includes: flexible packaging, label, release liner, containerboard and fluting, coated fine papers, casting release papers and in our Southern African region newsprint, uncoated graphic and business papers. These products serve the fashion, FMCG and industrial sectors. Our dissolving wood pulp products are used worldwide by converters to produce viscose fibre, pharmaceutical products as well as a wide range of household and consumer products.
We continue to grow into a profitable and cash-generative diversified business with an exciting future in woodfibre, a renewable resource.
WTO Panel Upholds the Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing Duties on Imports of Certain Coated Paper from Indonesia
Verso Corporation (NYSE: VRS) and Sappi North America today praised the decision of a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel, which upheld the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on imports from Indonesia. The decision, released yesterday, confirms that the U.S. acted consistently with its WTO obligations when it imposed countervailing duties of 17.93 percent and antidumping duties of 20.13 percent.
Yesterday's decision means that countervailing duties that were imposed in November 2010 on certain types of coated paper from Indonesia will remain in effect. The Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission determined in 2016 that the market situation warranted the continuation of the duties for an additional 5-year period. The paper products covered by the petitions include certain types of coated paper that use sheet-fed presses with a GE brightness rating of 80 or higher and weighing up to 340 grams per square meter. The papers are used in commercial printing to create magazines, books, direct mailing, and corporate collateral.
Michael Weinhold, President of Graphic Papers at Verso Corporation said, "Verso is very pleased with the WTO Panel's decision in DS491, which will help ensure that duties remain in place to counter the dumping and subsidization of Indonesian coated paper. We also want to thank the U.S. Trade Representative's Office, and officials from the International Trade Commission and Department of Commerce, who worked diligently to defend these decisions and ensure strong enforcement of our trade laws."
Mark Gardner, President and CEO of Sappi North America added, "We are very happy with the outcome of this dispute. Subsidized imports injure U.S. producers, and it is important to keep the offsetting duties in place."
Parties have 60 days to appeal the ruling to the WTO Appellate Body.
About Verso Corporation
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 www.versoco.com.
About Sappi North America
Sappi North America, headquartered in Boston, is a market leader in converting wood fiber into superior products that customers demand worldwide. The success of our four diversified businesses – high quality Coated Printing Papers, Specialised Cellulose, Release Papers and Specialty Packaging – is driven by strong customer relationships, best-in-class people and advantaged assets, products and services. Our high quality Coated Printing Papers, including McCoy, Opus, Somerset and Flo, are the key platform for premium magazines, catalogs, books and high-end print advertising. We are a leading manufacturer of Specialised Cellulose used in a wide range of products, including textile fibers and household goods, and one of the world's leading suppliers of Release Papers with our Ultracast, PolyEX, Classics and Neoterix lines for the automotive, fashion and engineered films industries. Our Specialty Packaging products, such as LusterPrint and LusterCote, represent an important asset in the food packaging and labeling industries. Customers rely on Sappi for high technical, operational and market expertise; products and services delivered with consistently high quality and reliability; and, state-of-the-art and cost-competitive assets and innovative spirit.
Sappi North America is a subsidiary of Sappi Limited (JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with more than 12,000 employees and manufacturing operations on three continents in seven countries and customers in over 150 countries around the world. Learn more about Sappi at: www.sappi.com.
SOURCE Verso Corporation
Sappi expands its speciality and packaging paper capacity; will acquire the speciality paper business of Cham Paper Group Holding AG (CPG)
Sappi Limited, a leading global producer of dissolving wood pulp, speciality and packaging papers, graphic (printing and writing) paper and biomaterials, today announced that it had signed an agreement to acquire the speciality paper business of Cham Paper Group Holding AG (CPG) for CHF146.5 million (approximately $149 million).
The transaction includes the acquisition of CPG’s Carmignano and Condino Mills in Italy, its digital imaging business located in Cham, Switzerland as well as all brands and know-how. It will be funded through internal cash resources. The transaction is conditional on the approval from certain competition authorities. We expect the acquisition to be completed during the first calendar quarter of 2018.
The main benefits of the acquisition include:
- Supports Sappi’s diversification strategy and 2020vision to grow in higher margin growth segments
- Strengthens Sappi Europe’s speciality and packaging papers footprint and skills; adds 160,000 tons of speciality paper to our capacity
- Increases Sappi’s relevance in speciality papers, opening up new customers and markets to Sappi’s existing products and generating economies of scale and synergies
- Gaining greater share-of-wallet with valued brand owners; accelerating innovation and new product development
- Improved near-term profitability and serve as platform for organic growth and further acquisitions. Will add €183 million of sales and approximately €20 million of EBITDA before taking into account synergies
- Builds on the investments currently underway to increase speciality paper capacity at our Somerset, Maastricht and Alfeld Mills
- Unlocks the growth potential of the CPG speciality paper business
Commenting on the transaction Steve Binnie, Chief Executive Officer of Sappi Limited, said:
“This acquisition further strengthens Sappi’s speciality paper business both in Europe and globally by combining Cham’s strong brands and assets with Sappi’s global reach. This transaction will increase profitability and unlock the significant growth and innovation potential inherent within the speciality paper market. I am very pleased that we have taken another signification step towards realizing our Vision2020 goal.”
Berry Wiersum, CEO Sappi Europe stated:
“We are very excited about the possibilities this transaction opens up for Sappi as well as for Cham’s highly respected business. The products and brands which have been acquired are an excellent complement to our market offering, enabling us to offer our existing, as well as new customers in Europe, North America and globally, a broader range of products coupled with excellent customer service.”
The speciality paper business of CPG will continue to operate separately and independently from Sappi until clearances from the authorities are obtained.
About Sappi Limited
A global leader in dissolving wood pulp and paper-based solutions, Sappi Limited (listed and in the Top 40 on the JSE - SAP), is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa; has over 12,000 employees; manufacturing facilities on three continents, in seven countries (eight operations in Europe, three operations in America and five operations in South Africa) and customers in over 150 countries worldwide
Sappi works closely with customers to provide relevant and sustainable dissolving wood pulp, paper (speciality, packaging and graphic), paper pulp, and biomaterial products and related services and innovations. Our market-leading range of paper products includes: flexible packaging, label, release liner, containerboard and fluting, coated fine papers, casting release papers and in our Southern African region newsprint, uncoated graphic and business papers. These products serve the fashion, FMCG and industrial sectors. Our dissolving wood pulp products are used worldwide by converters to produce viscose fibre, pharmaceutical products as well as a wide range of household and consumer products.
We continue to grow into a profitable and cash-generative diversified business with an exciting future in woodfibre, a renewable resource.
About Cham Paper Group Holding AG (CPG): CPGN (SWX) The Cham Paper Group Holding AG is a leading manufacturer of coated speciality papers. The company was founded in 1657. Following the divestment of the paper business, the company will focus on its real estate business and will operate under the name «Cham Group».
Carmignano Mill (Carmignano di Brenta, Padua, Italy): This is a non-integrated paper mill with two paper machines. The plant can produce 100 000 tons of paper and employs 210 people. Paper grades include C1S FlexPack, C1S Label Papers, Wet Glue and Self-Adhesive applications, base paper for metallisation
Condino Mill (Borgo Chiese, Trento, Italy): This is a non-integrated paper mill, with one paper machine. The mill employs 120 employees and can produce 60 000 tons of paper per year. Paper grades include glassine (silicone base paper) and super calendared, uncoated flexible packaging papers.
Digital Imaging Business (Cham, Canton Zug, Switzerland): A finishing plant is located in Cham Switzerland, in a 4000sqm industrial warehouse where the base paper from Condino or Carmignano mills are converted to produce 12 000 tons of digital imaging paper. The business employs 50 people.
Cham Paper Group sells its speciality paper business to Sappi Group
Cham Paper Group sells its speciality paper business to the South African Sappi Limited, one of the world's leading pulp and paper companies. The integration of the speciality paper business into the Sappi Group will open up new perspectives for the two high-performance plants of Cham Paper Group in Carmignano and Condino as well as for their employees and for the Digital Imaging team in Cham. The transaction is subject to the approval of anti-trust authorities. Following the divestment of the paper business, Cham Paper Group will focus on its real estate business. The group is pushing ahead the transformation of the «Papieri» area in Cham into a new, attractive urban quarter.
The Sappi Group, which is domiciled in Johannesburg and listed on the Johannesburg stock exchange, develops, produces and sells dissolving wood pulp, speciality, packaging and graphic paper, as well as biomaterials. It employs around 12,000 people with production facilities across 7 countries on 3 continents and customers in over 150 countries. It has focused its development in various areas of the speciality paper market. The integration of Cham Paper Group's speciality paper business into a strong, globally positioned Group will open up new opportunities for this business as regards procurement, market development, product innovation, expansion opportunities and staff development.
In recent months, the Cham Paper Group's Board of Directors has examined all strategic options for the company's future success following the relocation of the speciality paper production from Switzerland to Italy and the comprehensive modernisation of the plants in Carmignano and Condino. Although Cham Paper Group's profitable speciality paper business is well positioned today, it is still too small to develop its market position on its own in the long term. Accordingly, selling it to the Sappi Group is an optimal solution.
The sale of the speciality paper business requires a change in the corporate purpose of Cham Paper Group Holding AG. The shareholders may vote on the proposal at an Extraordinary General Meeting. The alteration of the company's purpose requires the approval of at least two-thirds of the votes represented at the General Meeting. In addition, the transaction is subject to the approval of anti-trust authorities. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2018.
Following the divestment of the speciality paper business, the company will focus on its real estate business and will operate under the name «Cham Group». The sale at an enterprise value of CHF 146.5 million will result (after deduction of bank debt, liabilities and cost) in an inflow of approximately CHF 125 million in cash to the Group. These financial resources increase the flexibility for the development of the «Papieri» project. For example, the resulting higher equity ratio means that a higher proportion of investment properties could be considered at the expense of the condominium ownership ratio. Real estate investments beyond the «Papieri» site are also possible.
The Board of Directors intends to make the Cham Group share an attractive dividend-bearing security for the long-term. A base dividend of at least CHF 6.00 per share will be proposed to the General Meeting of Shareholders as of the financial year 2017. The distribution is tax-free from capital reserves. As soon as the «Papieri» site yields regular income, which is likely to be the case from 2022 onwards, the dividend will be based on the actual profit generated.
Cham Paper Group
The Cham Paper Group is a leading manufacturer of coated speciality papers. Surface finishing lends papers properties that generate value added for its customers. The company, which was founded in 1657, has three sites, one in Switzerland (Cham) and two in Italy (Carmignano and Condino), and a global sales network.
The decision to focus on development and sales and discontinue paper manufacturing in Switzerland has made way for a new project on the factory site in the centre of Cham. The Cham Paper Group is developing an eleven-hectare quarter there called the Papieri site.
The Cham Paper Group (stock exchange symbol: CPGN) is listed on Switzerland's SIX Swiss Exchange.
Sappi Biotech partners with CellMark to increase global sales reach of Sappi’s Hansa lignin products
Sappi Limited is pleased to announce that its Biotech division has entered into an agreement with CellMark appointing CellMark as the non-exclusive sales agent for Sappi Biotech’s Hansa lignin products, produced in liquid and powder formats in South Africa at Sappi Tugela Mill.
Sappi is the world’s largest producer of Lignosulphonates from operations in South Africa and Europe. The material is both used internally for bio-energy generation or beneficiated and processed to technical lignins for sale to global lignin markets.
CellMark operates a global sales, marketing, financing and logistics business aimed at consistently surpassing customer expectations.
Louis Kruyshaar who leads the Sappi Biotech business commented, “We are really pleased to partner with CellMark which brings an excellent fit to our Biotech business at a stage when accelerated market penetration is key to attain our growth targets.”
He continued, “The partnership, which is built on common core values, will include a joint social investment initiative to benefit rural communities in South Africa.”
“We are delighted to represent the Sappi Biotech Hansa quality lignin and offer enhanced lignin solutions to customers ’’ indicates Jean-Luc Carrière, Vice President and General Manager Lignin for CellMark Basic Chemicals. He adds, ‘’This partnership will enable both companies to advance towards their common goal to expand markets and applications for this versatile biopolymer.’’
Lignins are commonly used as surfactants, binders, dispersers and emulsifying agents leading to the use of this renewable material produced from trees used in a large number of applications globally.
About Sappi Limited
A global leader in paper, paper pulp and dissolving wood pulp solutions, Sappi Limited (listed and in the Top 40 on the JSE), is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa; has over 12,000 employees; manufacturing operations on three continents, in seven countries (seven mills in Europe, three mills in America and four mills in South Africa) and customers in over 150 countries worldwide
Sappi works closely with customers to provide relevant and sustainable paper, paper pulp, dissolving wood pulp and biomaterial products and related services and innovations. Our market-leading range of paper products includes: coated fine papers used by printers, publishers and corporate end-users; casting release papers used by suppliers to the fashion, textiles, automobile and household industries; and in our Southern African region newsprint, uncoated graphic and business papers, premium quality packaging papers and paper grade pulp. Our dissolving wood pulp products are used worldwide by converters to produce viscose fibre, pharmaceutical products as well as a wide range of household and consumer products.
In FY2016 we produced approximately: 5.4 million tons per year of graphic and printing paper and packaging and speciality paper; 2.3 million tons per year of market paper pulp, and 1.3 million tons per year of dissolving wood pulp.
We continue to grow into a profitable and cash-generative diversified business with an exciting future in woodfibre, a renewable resource.
For further information visit www.sappi.com or www.sappi.com/biomaterials
About CellMark
CellMark serves as a global meeting place for entrepreneurial companies seeking business opportunities and relationships for collaborative innovation. Together with our business partners we deliver products, services and solutions to the world market. With a network of 70 offices in 30 countries we specialize in a variety of supply-chain services including sales & marketing, logistics and financial services.
Our platform supports and helps entrepreneurs exchange products and services more efficiently, improves business, mitigates risk and the impact on natural resources. We connect entrepreneurs in the areas of Chemicals, Metals, Pulp, Paper, Packaging, Recycling, Energy and Medical around the world. The company is employee-owned, has an annual sales of USD 3 Billion with a trade volume of 6 million tons.
For further information visit www.cellmark.com
Brussels Employee-led Tree Planting Initiative enters its 7th year
Dressed in wellington boots and rain jackets, the dedicated Tree Planting Team from Sappi Europe, including Berry Wiersum CEO, once again braved the Brussels weather to plant a further 1,250 saplings in the Forêt des Soignes. They were rewarded with rays of sunshine, and the feeling of satisfaction after a hard day’s work. The initiative has resulted in 16,250 trees planted since it started 7 years ago.
Jens Kriete is the Environmental Manager at Sappi Europe; “What better way to reconnect with our roots than to plant trees together; and what better way to teach future generations about our renewable industry than to also involve them in tree planting. Along with our CEO and colleagues, we had the pleasure of having some employees’ children to help us during the afternoon.” The team planted a mixture of hornbeams and oaks and celebrated their teamwork by each signing a panel erected on the site which says “These trees were planted with the support of Sappi Europe – 17th March 2017.”
Sappi’s employee-led tree planting initiative started in Spring 2010 in association with ANB (Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos), the equivalent of the Department of Forestry. This organisation is responsible for the planting of approximately 30,000 trees in the Forêt de Soignes every year as part of the National Forest Management Plan (Belgium).
Further Information
La Forêt de Soignes is a forest located in the south-eastern part of Brussels covering an area of over 4,400 hectares - http://www.zonienwoud.be
Our approach to sustainability is based on a holistic view of Planet, People and Prosperity (the 3P’s). These values and commitments underpin everything we do, from our business decisions and processes to our dealings with stakeholders and customers.
Through Eco-Effectiveness, we as Sappi Europe make sustainability very real, moving it from a corporate topic to a topic relevant to each and everyone of us, every single day.
About Sappi
Sappi Europe SA is the leading European producer of coated fine paper used in premium magazines, catalogues, books and high-end print advertising. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, Sappi Europe is recognised for innovation and quality. Its graphic paper brands include Magno™, Quatro™, Vantage™, Royal, Galerie™ and GalerieArt™ ranges. Algro®, Leine®, Parade®, Fusion® and atelier™ are the brands for innovative solutions of speciality papers and boards.
Sappi papers are produced in mills accredited with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certification and EMAS registration for all our mills in the EU. Sappi European mills hold chain-of-custody certification under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) and/or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC™) schemes.
Sappi Europe SA is a division of Sappi Limited (JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with 12,000 employees and manufacturing operations on three continents in seven countries, sales offices in 50 countries, and customers in over 100 countries around the world.
Learn more about Sappi at www.sappi.com
Maik Willig appointed Ehingen Mill Director
Sappi Europe is delighted to announce the appointment of Maik Willig as Ehingen Mill Director. He joined the company in 2012 as Production Manager and became Paper Mill Manager of Ehingen at the beginning of 2015. His new position reflects his leadership abilities and his knowledge of the industry.
Previous to Sappi, Maik worked for Rondo Ganahl, Austria where he held the position of Plant Manager Paper Mill, and for Stora Enso Reisholz, Germany where he started his career. Maik holds a master’s degree from the University of Munich in Pulp and Paper Engineering.
Steffen Wurdinger, VP Manufacturing, R&D and Technology (and the mill’s previous director) is very positive about the appointment. “Ehingen Mill is in line to support Sappi’s enhanced specialities offering over the next few years. In order to drive this programme of investments at the mill, we need to have the right person in place. Maik is that person. He understands the company’s objectives and is on board to ensure that Sappi fully meets its full potential.”
The appointment will be effective as of 01-03-2017. Maik Willig will report to Steffen Wurdinger, VP Manufacturing, R&D and Technology.
Ehingen Mill is situated on the Danube River in Ehingen, southern Germany. It is an integrated plant and produces chlorine-free sulphite pulp from beech and spruce wood. This is mainly used for its own paper production, with only a portion sold to external customers. Ehingen produces a range of coated paper in sheet and roll format in matt or silk-matt finish and Fusion Topliner®. The mill has over 500 employees.
For more information on the mill please visit https://www.sappi.com/ehingen-mill