Metso will supply installation and commissioning services to Amcor Packaging (Australia) Pty Ltd as part of its new machine project for a containerboard line at its Botany Mill in Sydney, Australia. The value of the order will not be disclosed. The order is included in Paper and Fiber Technology’s Q1 orders received.

The main order for the containerboard line was received from Amcor and published in 2008 and an add-on order for this line was received from Amcor and published in 2010.

The new order announced today will comprise the installation of the containerboard machine equipment for the line and supervision services related to commissioning, testing and start-up as well as training services. The installation and services package will complement Metso’s extended scope of supply to Amcor and strengthen the project implementation.

The Botany Paper Mill will generate high-quality recycled paper from waste collected throughout the Sydney area. It will produce paper-based products across a wider range of weights and create packaging that is lighter, more efficient and more environmentally friendly.

Amcor Packaging (Australia) Pty Ltd is part of Amcor Limited. Amcor Limited is a global packaging manufacturer offering a broad range of plastic, fibre, metal and glass packaging products, along with packaging-related services. It has annual sales of about EUR 9 billion and 35,000 employees worldwide, through more than 300 manufacturing sites it operates in 43 countries.

A second paper industry publication's global readership survey has selected Nalco (NYSE: NLC) as a preferred supplier of chemical programs for the industry. In the 2010 Brand Awareness and Preference Study of readers by Pulp Paper (PPI) International magazine, more readers also anticipated buying from Nalco in the next twelve months than any other supplier in four categories of chemical programs.

Survey respondents from pulp, paper and paperboard manufacturers around the world identified Nalco as their most preferred supplier of programs to treat mill boiler and steam systems by more than two to one over the next supplier. In preferences for programs to treat cooling systems Nalco's score was nearly double the next best supplier. Nalco was also the most preferred supplier of retention and drainage aids used in the wet end of the papermaking process.

"We are gratified to receive this recognition within the pulp and papermaking industry," said Brent Carpenter, Nalco Strategic Business Leader for Paper Services. "The survey also showed strong industry support for the kind of sustainability services Nalco provides to help customers reduce water and energy consumption, use less virgin fiber and improve end-product quality."

There were more than 600 responses to the annual survey conducted by PPI publisher RISI. Nearly four out of five said sustainability was Important or Very Important to their job. Respondents gave their feedback on more than two dozen areas affecting production including various types of equipment, chemicals and services.

RISI is an information provider for the global forest products industry including the pulp and paper, wood products, timber, biomass, tissue, nonwovens, printing and publishing industries.

A similar survey by Paper 360 Degrees magazine also named Nalco a preferred chemical supplier to papermakers.

UPM expands its nursery in Joroinen, Finland and builds a second nursery in Uruguay. These expansions secure the availability of high quality seedlings and seed material, which is the basis for successful tree cultivation both for the boreal forests as the plantations in the southern hemisphere.

The expansion of the Joroinen nursery includes a new greenhouse to be taken into use during summer 2011. The first seedlings from the new greenhouse will be planted in the UPM-owned forests and in the forests of the forest service customers during the 2012 planting season. Joroinen nursery was founded in 1980 and it employs about 30 persons during the peak time.

Forestal Oriental, UPM’s plantation company in Uruguay, builds a new nursery in Guichón, in the department of Paysandu. The new nursery is estimated to be ready in March 2012 and it will employ about 100 people.

Forestal Oriental produces seedlings of two different eucalyptus species – Eucalyptus grandis from cuttings and Eucalyptus dunnii mainly from seeds. The new nursery enables the production of Eucalyptus dunnii from rooted cuttings. Forestal Oriental’s San Francisco nursery in Paysandu continues its operation.

Clearwater Paper Corporation (NYSE:CLW) announced today that Gordon Jones, chair, president and CEO, and Linda Massman, vice president and CFO, will be presenting at the Goldman Sachs 2011 Montreal Paper Conference on Wednesday, March 16, 2011, at 9:00 AM EST.

A live audio webcast of the presentation and slide materials to be used in connection with the presentation will be accessible via Clearwater Paper's investor relations section of the company's website at http://ir.clearwaterpaper.com/events.cfm.

An audio replay of the webcast will be available at the site for 90 days.

The Environmental Court has granted SCA Östrand new conditions under the Environmental Code for the mill’s activities. This will allow the mill to ultimately increase production up to 660,000 tonnes of pulp.

The new maximum permissible production level of 660,000 tonnes of pulp, of which 550,000 tonnes of kraft pulp and 110,000 tonnes of CTMP (chemi-thermomechanical pulp), provides scope for continued efficiency enhancements and a long-term gradual increase in production.

The conditions have been approved by the Environmental Court following the negotiation process with supervisory bodies conducted in accordance with the Environmental Code.

“We will now examine more closely the implications of the new conditions. At first glance, they seem challenging, but balanced,” says Ingela Ekebro.

As a result of earlier investments, SCA has been able to steadily increase production and reduce the mill’s environmental footprint. The most recent in a line of investments is the ongoing construction of a new lime kiln, which is expected to be operational by the end of the year. This investment of SEK 500m enables a production increase and reduces CO2 emissions from fossil fuels by 80%.

Pursuant to earlier environmental conditions, SCA Östrand was licensed to produce 420,000 tonnes of kraft pulp and 90,000 tonnes of CTMP.

Dresden Papier, subsidiary of Fortress Paper Ltd. and producer of non-woven wallpaper base, commissioned Voith Paper to install a new vacuum system for the wire and press sections of its PM 4 in Heidenau, Germany.

The new system will be environmentally friendly and was decided upon after extensive testing to determine both its economic and energy saving potential.

Testing included the per-engineering of the existing vacuum system and a balancing of the entire PM and building ventilation technology.

A vacuum blower system ensures high thermodynamic efficiency, allowing at the same time power input depending on the air requirements at the paper machine. The hot exhaust air produced can be used for hood supply-air heating through heat exchangers to reduce steam consumption there.

Another important aspect in terms of environmental protection is the fact that this technology does not consume any fresh water as conventional systems do.

As such, operating costs are also decreased and maintenance is optimized due to the reduced number of vacuum generators.

At present, the PM 4 in Heidenau produces 45,000 tons per year of coated and uncoated wallpaper base and the mill is thus the world’s largest producer in this product segment.

Tembec announced today the permanent closure of its Taschereau sawmill. The facility has been idle since October 2009. The closure is necessitated by the reality that there is insufficient sustainable timber supply to operate all of Tembec’s sawmills in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region.

“The closure we are announcing today is necessary to insure the long term viability of the Bearn and La Sarre sawmills,” stated Dennis Rounsville, Executive Vice President and President of the Tembec Forest Products Group. “Sawmills must have the necessary fibre supply to facilitate cost effective operations and justify the capital investments required to survive in an increasingly competitive market,” he said.

Tembec has presented a plan to the Province of Quebec for a new approach to the distribution of timber volumes that will enable the Company to strengthen its operations in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region and provide more stable and continuous employment.

Tembec will work with the affected employees to minimize the impact of the closure, including potential transfers to other Tembec operations. A community adjustment fund will be established with the Municipality of Taschereau.

As a result of the Taschereau closure, Tembec will record a non-recurring charge of $2 million in the March 2011 quarter.

Tembec is a large, diversified and integrated forest products company which stands as the global leader in sustainable forest management practices. The Company’s principal operations are located in Canada and France. Tembec’s common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol TMB and warrants under TMB.WT. Additional information on Tembec is available on its website at www.tembec.com.

UPM Raflatac, one of the world’s leading suppliers of self-adhesive labelstock, will acquire Gumtac, the Brazilian labelstock coating and slitting business of BIC Group. Gumtac is located in Rio de Janeiro and employs approximately 35 people.

“UPM Raflatac has in recent years developed a widely recognized brand in Brazil. Through our distribution terminal in Jaguariúna, São Paulo, we have served key customers in this rapidly growing market. Gumtac’s well-managed operation will give us an excellent platform to extend our product offering and further support our customers’ growth in the region,” says Jouko Lähepelto, Senior Vice President, Americas & Asia Pacific.

The closing of the acquisition is subject to obtaining appropriate licences from local authorities.

International technology Group ANDRITZ has been awarded orders for the supply of fiberlines and chemical recovery systems for renowned customers in India and Laos:

Muang Phin mill, Laos
ANDRITZ PULP & PAPER received an order from Sun Paper Holding Lao Co. Ltd. to deliver major equipment for a new kraft pulp mill with a production capacity of 300,000 t/a in Muang Phin, Laos. The scope of supply includes equipment for chip and bark handling, a complete fiberline (continuous cooking, washing, oxygen delignification, screening, and bleaching), the pulp drying line (wet end, dryer, cutter/layboy, and baling line), and the white liquor plant including kiln and recausticizing equipment. The kiln will be equipped with LimeFlash™ technology. Start-up is scheduled for late 2012.

Sun Paper Holding Lao is member of the Sun Paper Group, China’s largest privately owned and managed paper business, and the largest producer of premium coated packaging board in China.

Rayagada mill, India
ANDRITZ PULP & PAPER together with ENMAS ANDRITZ PVT LTD, a joint venture of ANDRITZ and Enmas Engineering, will supply a fiberline and recovery island for the pulp mill (design capacity: 635 bdt/d) of JK Paper Ltd. in Rayagada, Orissa. The delivery encompasses the latest technology in woodyard equipment, a complete continuous cooking line and fiberline with an ECF bleaching plant, recovery boiler and evaporation plant, as well as the white liquor plant (kiln, recausticizing, including dregs washing/ dewatering). Start-up is scheduled in October 2012.

This delivery will be the largest mill-wide scope of equipment from ANDRITZ in India. JK Paper is India’s largest manufacturer of branded and premium multi-purpose cut sized office paper, and one of the most reputed manufacturers of premium packaging board, and coated paper.