“Performance within packaging logistics is all about doing the right things, doing things right, and positioning your products and services in relation to your competitors’ products and services,” says Innventia’s Chris Dominic, who will be defending his thesis on the subject this week. His work highlights the demands and requirements placed on packaging by various players, and offers tools for developing more efficient systems.

“The aim of my thesis is to reinforce knowledge about packaging and its integral role with actors throughout the supply and demand chain,” he continues. “The aim is to be able to improve packaging logistics performance from a holistic perspective, thereby avoiding the risk of suboptimisation at any stage. It’s not just you who needs to be satisfied – so does your customer, and your customer’s customer.”

Chris has created a model for improving knowledge about packaging logistics. This model includes the Packaging Scorecard tool, which measures the performance of packaging logistics and shows which deficiencies exist at various levels within the supply chain. The tool has been further developed, and is already available online under the name of Packaperforma.

“I started working with packaging because it’s an interesting area for demonstrating in a concrete manner how logistics works,” explains Chris, who trained as a logistician. “But to my surprise, I discovered that there weren’t any tools for measuring performance in this field!”

The tool that Chris has now developed structures the requirements placed on packaging by various actors. The user inputs data about his own packages. By comparing this with data for the “best in class” packaging, the tool suggests effective packaging development where deficiencies are identified. It therefore answers questions such as “Where do I stand in comparison with my competitors, and what should I do to improve my packaging?”

In order to be able to say something about packaging logistics performance, it is important to understand the supply chains within packaging logistics. In his research, Chris interviewed almost a hundred companies within various value chains and conducted case studies.

“We talk rather carelessly about value chains. It’s actually a case of companies, or more accurately people within companies, who should have these contacts and knowledge about packaging. For the manufacturer, the question of how to design packaging is a central aspect, whereas the distributor sees things differently. At some point here the packaging makes the transition from hardware to become a service.”

Is the tool fully developed now? No – Chris already has his next goal in sight.
“I want to investigate how aspects such as sustainability can be applied to the packaging logistics models. Then we come to questions such as fossil fuels, water consumption and energy efficiency, but these go hand in hand with existing ways of thinking. The aim is therefore to investigate how effective logistics can contribute towards a more sustainable world.”
An impressive aim, and one that is worthy of a newly qualified Doctor in Packaging Logistics.

Chris Dominic will defend his thesis on 13 April at 13:15 in the STFI room.

Verso Paper Corp. has announced that it will report its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011, in a news release before the market opens on Monday, May 9, 2011. Management will host a conference call at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday, May 9, 2011, to discuss the first quarter results.

This release and the first quarter results will be made available on Verso's website at www.versopaper.com/investorrelations by navigating to the Financial Information page.

Analysts and investors may participate in the live conference call by dialing 001-719-325-2365 or, within the U.S. and Canada only, 877-440-5785, access code 8033903. To register, please dial in 10 minutes before the conference call begins. The conference call and presentation materials can be accessed on Verso's website at www.versopaper.com/investorrelations by navigating to the Events page, or at http://investor.versopaper.com/eventdetail.cfm?eventid=95561.

A telephonic replay of the call can be accessed at 719-457-0820 or, within the U.S. and Canada only, 888-203-1112, access code 8033903. This replay will be available starting at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, May 9, 2011, and will remain available for 14 days.

ÅF has signed a major consultancy contract with Iggesund Paperboard (Workington) Ltd.

Iggesund Paperboard is part of the Swedish forest industry group Holmen.

Iggesund Paperboard will build a new biomass-fuelled CHP (Combined Heat and Power) plant at its Workington paperboard mill in Cumbria, UK. The power output of the CHP plant will be approximately 50 MWe and 80 t/h steam, which will be delivered to the adjacent paperboard mill. After completion of the project, all power and steam generated for the mill will be based on renewable biofuels. The fuels will be fresh wood in chips or logs, bark and sawdust.

The ÅF assignment includes project management, engineering, procurement, as well as site construction and commissioning management services. The project starts immediately, and commercial operation is scheduled to start in March 2013.

Adforum, the world leading organiser of trade fairs for the pulp and paper industry, is introducing a brand new event for the Finnish pulp and paper industry: Paptech 2012. The first edition of Paptech will be arranged in Helsinki, March 21-22, 2012.The event is based on a totally new meeting concept, enabling easy and cost effective meetings between suppliers and buyers within the pulp and paper industry. Key words for Paptech are intimate, targeted and business-oriented.

The new concept makes Paptech a versatile event. This is a two-day forum where suppliers and buyers meet and do business in a relaxed atmosphere. Participants will be inspired by product presentations, catch up with colleagues over a cup of coffee, meet new and existing suppliers, listen to talks in the Speaker’s Corner, enjoy themselves at the Gala Dinner and mingle in the hotel’s special Paptech bar until late at night. There will be informative seminars, cafés and match-making areas. The entire industry will be gathered in one place. “The design of the venue is all about creating a social scene which stimulates business”, says Marcus Bergström, Vice President at Adforum.

All-inclusive turn key stand packages will ensure that the exhibitor can focus on one thing: doing business. “The new concept entails many advantages”, says Bergström. “Exhibitors are offered a time-saving and cost effective way of participating. They just need to show up and be ready to do business, as all the practical details are taken care of. For the amount of a traditional advertisement in magazine, the companies will meet targeted companies from the industry.”

Another important feature of the new concept is to attract the right visitors. Adforum will together with important trade partners make sure that all the key players of the industry attend Paptech 2012.  The aim is for this event to be a stimulating and high quality meeting place for the Finnish paper industry.

Paptech will play a significant role for the Finnish pulp and paper industry. As the next international PulPaper will be arranged in 2014, Paptech will act as a regional meeting place for the Finnish market between the large, international exhibitions. “Companies have shown a lot of interest in Paptech, which clearly indicates that there is a need for this type of event”, says Bergström.

The Swiss manufacturer of fine and specialty papers based in Grellingen (BL) increased net production in 2010 by 5% (from 62,200 tonnes to 65,000 tonnes). In spite of the weaker EUR, USD and GBP, sales revenue also grew by 2% (from CHF 103 million to CHF 105 million). Notwithstanding the difficult market environment with steeply rising raw materials prices, operational cash flow was maintained at a satisfactory level. Investments of CHF 4.1 million reflected the volume of the previous year. Ziegler Paper Mill remains free from debt and employs a workforce of 180 (165.6 FTE). In addition, the company is training ten apprentices.

Even in the demanding 2010 business year, the mill continued to pursue its proven strategy: concentration on niche markets and specialities, further expansion of its geographic orientation, high quality and intensive customer service and support.

Distribution of Ziegler’s sales markets continued virtually unchanged during the year under review: 45% of production was sold within Switzerland, while 55% was exported. The lion’s share of exports went to Germany (20%), followed by the UK, Italy, the USA, France, Austria, Benelux and Spain. Business in the dollar and sterling areas continued to be restrained as a result of prevailing exchange rates, whereas efforts were stepped up on the domestic market. Eastern Europe, China and now Australia are interesting for the further development of specialties business and offer a wealth of opportunities.

Ziegler Paper Mill is the world’s leading manufacturer of inkjet papers for transactional documents. The latest product in this line, Z-Evolution, is unique and enjoyed a successful market breakthrough last year. The company’s share of the market for laminating base papers also grew steadily during the year under review. Premium-grade papers for graphics applications, which are being continually improved for the demanding Swiss market in particular, continue to be successful products for the Ziegler Paper mill.

The outlook for 2011 can be cautiously assessed as positive despite the continuing climb in the cost of pulp. As an independent family-run Swiss company, Ziegler Paper Mill is endeavouring to continue meeting the demands of its customers in today’s very volatile market environment both at home and abroad as a reliable and stabile provider of top-quality products and services. The mill attaches great importance to the management of its net working capital, to strict cost discipline and particularly to maintaining high liquidity.

In order to better meet the demands of a sharply changing market and the increased requirements of our customers, our sales department has been strengthened. Since 1 April 2011, Mr Peter Schreiner, who holds a Master Degree in Engineering of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, has occupied the position of international sales manager and is thus also a member of the extended executive committee. Mr Schreiner has many years of both national and international sales experience in the process industry. His most recent job was several years as member of the executive board and business unit manager at Kabel Brugg. Our former sales manager, Mrs Mirjam Hunziker, remains with the company as his deputy.

The general meeting of 25 March 2011 confirmed Philipp Kuttler-Frey in his role as managing director and also elected him as the chairman of the board of directors, thus succeeding Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. René L. Frey in this function. Prof. Frey remains a director of the mill.

Nalco providing essential expertise for water, energy and air, announced today it will release its first-quarter 2011 financial results after market close on April 26.

At 10 a.m. ET on April 27, the Company will hold a conference call and live audio-only Webcast led by Nalco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer J. Erik Fyrwald and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Kathryn Mikells to discuss these results.

Date: 4/27/2011

Start Time: 10 a.m. ET / 9 a.m. CT / 8 a.m. MT / 7 a.m. PT

Length: 60 minutes

Dial-in Telephone Number: 1-913-312-0687

Confirmation Code: 6035766

To help ensure the conference call begins in a timely manner, please dial in five to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time on April 27.

The audio-only Webcast will be available through the Investor Relations section of Nalco's Web site, www.nalco.com/investors. Following the live event, an archived version of the Webcast will also be available on the Nalco Web site under Investor Relations, Events/Presentations.

Dr. James Olson, Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, is the new director for UBC's Pulp and Paper Centre.

"He will be taking on the leadership of the center at a very critical time when the industry is at a crossroads," says Applied Science Dean Tyseer Aboulnasr. "Dr. Olson is committed to ensuring the necessary transformation of the center and building on its current excellence. He is dedicated to working across faculties at UBC and expanding the reach of the Pulp and Paper Centre with external institutions and with industry to ensure that B.C. is best positioned to lead this transformation."

An expert in the application of physics and fluid mechanics to problems associated with the pulp and paper industry, Olson's current research includes reduction of energy used in mechanical pulping, modelling turbulent fibre suspensions, and high-performance energy-efficient equipment design.

He currently leads a $2.4-million, five-year university-industry NSERC collaborative research program with BC Hydro, FP Innovations, B.C. mechanical pulp producers, and suppliers focused on reducing energy  consumption in that sector. This research recently demonstrated a technical potential of 20% energy savings through the development of several innovative technologies. The savings potential is equivalent to 1000 GWh/yr or approximately 91,000 homes in B.C.

Olson has helped develop three high-efficiency pulp screen rotors that produce high-quality product while nearly cutting energy consumption in half. More than 100 new rotors were installed in 30 mills across Canada and a series of BC Hydro-funded demonstration projects showed that the rotors reduced electricity consumption by approximately 50%, representing potential annual energy savings of more than $8 million in B.C .alone. This partnership and innovation was recognized with the 2007 NSERC Synergy Award and the 2008 B.C. Innovation Council Lieutenant Governors Award for Innovation.

Olson will serve as director of the Pulp and Paper Centre until December 31, 2015.

Comprehensive automation and collaborative production management systems will increase product quality and overall efficiency at Arjowiggins Creative Papers Stoneywood Mill

Arjowiggins is a leading manufacturer of creative and technical paper, the company’s Stoneywood mill produces papers for corporate communication and promotion, luxury packaging, industrial release papers and other creative papers and specialty applications. The mill’s two manufacturing sites collectively produce 200 metric tons of paper per day.

The delivery includes ABB’s award-winning System 800xA Extended Automation to control the central boiler house and integrate with other mill systems. System 800xA will protect Stoneywood Mill’s paper machines’ steam and electrical supplies by replacing older, less reliable equipment, while helping to optimize energy efficiency.  Its unique operator interface will give workers clear visibility into mill status information at all times.

The new Quality Control System integrated with the 800xA control system for PM10 will maximize product quality and help sustain the Arjowiggins Creative Papers’ high-quality brands. ABB’s integrated control system significantly improves mill productivity by increasing operator effectiveness and reducing transition times during shade and grade changes.

ABB’s delivery also includes several collaborative production management solutions. cpmPlus, Smart Client information management software will provide users with easy access to real time and historical process data. With Smart Client, Arjowiggins Creative Papers supervisors can make better decisions and improve mill management. cpmPlus Loop Performance Manager has tuning and auditing tools that will keep the mill running at peak levels with minimal engineering staff effort.

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 124,000 people.