The Italian tissue producer Lucart has successfully started-up its PM4 tissue machine in Porcari (Lucca) after the rebuild committed to Toscotec S.p.A..

The upgrade includes a modification of the forming section and the complete replacement of the old hood with a new Toscotec MONO Yankee Hood fed by natural gas and complete with relevant Air System and Heat Recovery System.

The upgrade of the Wire section consists of the replacement of the forming roll and of the main white water saveall, as well as relocation of the headbox and breast roll.

PM4 is a Twin wire former with double press configuration for 2,7 m sheet width, dedicated for the white and coloured tissue paper jumbo reels.

The aim of the investment is to increase the production capacity up to 90 tpd and the operating speed of 20% improving the formation quality and reducing the energetic consumptions.

All along concerned with the environment issues, Lucart has recognized in Toscotec the right partner for this new project.

The hood heating circuit is a mono system cascade type designed considering the future installation of an additional heat exchanger to produce low pressure steam to feed the existing steam box located behind the suction press roll.

Thanks to the good cooperation between Toscotec and Lucart, the project has been managed in a very short time both for the engineering phase and for the installation at mill site.

Today Lucart Group is Europe’s largest producer of MG paper for flexible packaging and is one of the top 10 European manufacturers of paper and tissue products. Furthermore, Lucart is one of the European leading producers of Airlaid products.

More than 60 years of experience have allowed Lucart to develop the necessary know-how and technology to create quality products that can satisfy customers' requirements.

The production capacity of Lucart Group is 300,000 tons/year with 10 paper machines and 52 converting lines. The consolidated turnover is around 400 million euro and the number of employees is around 1,200. 

www.lucartgroup.com                                  

About Toscotec S.p.A. Toscotec is a turnkey technology supplier to the global paper industry, offering a complete suite of solutions for the tissue, paper and board manufacture, as well as maintenance services for rolls and cylinders. Based in Lucca, Italy, and with subsidiaries in China and the USA, Toscotec’s tradition of innovation, energy saving and partnership with customers dates back to its foundation in 1948. Since 2013 Toscotec has been the market leader in tissue machines sales. www.toscotec.com

• IMPACTPapeRec is a European project to further increase the separate collection of paper for recycling and promote appropriate schemes to avoid landfilling and incineration.
• A best practice handbook will be developed to support the different EU regions in the implementation of best collection procedures.

IMPACTPapeRec started on 1 February 2016 for a period of two years and is financed by the European Union Horizon 2020 programme. It has evolved from a commitment on separate paper collection in the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials.

36 experts from eight countries representing research institutes, municipalities, obliged producers, paper industry and NGOs gathered in Valencia, Spain, to kick off the project and plan the activities for the next few months.

The project focuses on countries with below average paper recycling rates such as Bulgaria, Poland and Romania as well as countries where paper from households, small shops and offices is often collected in a commingled stream with other recyclables like in France and the UK. The participants started discussing the existing schemes as well as indicators to define best practice separate collection schemes.

Antonio Dobon from the project coordinator ITENE said: “We are very excited about the start of the project. It comes at a time when the European Commission presented its proposal for a Circular Economy stressing the importance of separate collection. With this project we will work to reach the recycling targets in those territories that are below the average. We will also seek for Paper for Recycling collection practices that allow reach both environmental and economic benefits. For doing so, we will define these best practices and spread them widely in Europe so that other municipalities can adopt them”.

IMPACTPapeRec is a consortium of 19 partners from 8 countries, i.e. Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria France, Germany, Poland, Romania and Spain. IMPACTPapeRec aims to put Europe at the forefront of paper for recycling (PfR) collection by providing an innovative and common knowledge platform. The innovative approach of the defined participatory strategy is based on the real engagement of the whole paper value chain including research, industry, policies, standards, municipalities and citizens.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 690182

Partners

For more information:
Ulrich Leberle, CEPI Raw Materials Director, Tel: +32 2 627 4923, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CEO Per Lindberg comments on the development during Q4 2015:

“In spite of a strong full-year performance, the isolated result for the fourth quarter is a disappointment. We have had a tough quarter with lost volumes and extra costs, but several of our production units have set new production records, and we have grown in accordance with our targets in business area Consumer board. The overall business situation is satisfactory with stable demand and pricing, and the drop in the Q4 results are due to internal factors only.”

THE RESULT

The operating profit for the quarter was SEK 320 million, burdened with approximately SEK 245 million in unplanned extra costs. The extra costs have occurred during rebuilds and cost overruns in maintenance in our mills. We have run into technical problems that have taken longer than planned to fix and caused major cost overruns and loss of volumes, and on top of that a flooding in Beetham. Total extra cost for rebuilds and rebuild related production volume losses is approximately SEK 150 million, and cost increases for maintenance an additional SEK 95 million. We are not at all happy with our fourth quarter performance and we have to learn from this. Hence, we have decided to postpone the final phase of the build-out of the board machine in Frövi that was planned for 2016. Capacity is already built to run 525 ktonnes in 2018. This will make the investment level in 2016 approximately SEK 1 300 million excluding future restructuring projects in Gruvön and Skärblacka.

MARKET OUTLOOK

The overall market has been stable and we expect this to continue with normal demand patterns and small variations in local pricing.

For business area Packaging Paper the markets remained stable with seasonal variance during the fourth quarter. As anticipated we saw a lower than normal brown sack paper market. Prices in local currency were stable compared to previous quarter with slight deterioration in brown sack paper. We have not run our production at full capacity during the quarter and we have chosen to produce pulp instead of paper in some units.

In spite of the production problems during the quarter and the associated tight delivery situation in Consumer Board the business area has managed to deliver a 6% volume growth year over year.

Business area Containerboard shows a solid strong performance. Fluting demand continued to be strong with improved prices. The liner segment also showed a stable demand and pricing.

STRATEGY

A key part of our strategy is innovation. Since 2013, we have five-folded the number of development projects, we have increased our investments in R&D with 180% and doubled the R&D headcount. We will continue this expansion of innovation capability in 2016. We believe that these efforts and projects will be crucial elements to strengthen our product portfolio even further and thereby contribute substantially to our profitable growth.

Our innovation efforts are not only directed towards better and unique materials but also towards expanding new service and business models. One example is the complete incorporation of the “Managed Packaging” business model from Paccess into Containerboard during 2016. This means that we can fully utilize the business model of managed packaging and grow the solution based side of our business, and as a consequence we rename Containerboard to Corrugated Solutions. Other examples of new business models taking off are the two complete packaging systems from FibreForm Packaging and the three Axello Zap systems sold during last year.

For further information, please contact:

Per Lindberg, President and CEO +46 (0)8 553 335 00
Susanne Lithander, CFO, +46 (0)8 553 335 00

BillerudKorsnäs provides packaging materials and solutions that challenge conventional packaging for a sustainable future. We are a world-leading provider of primary fibre based packaging materials and have customers in over 100 countries. The company has 8 production sites in Sweden, Finland and the UK and about 4 300 employees in over 13 countries. BillerudKorsnäs has an annual turnover of about SEK 21 billion and is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. www.billerudkorsnas.com

Valmet supplied coated board production line for Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, has started up at the company's Husum mill in Sweden. The new machine produces high-quality folding boxboard with an annual capacity of 400,000 tons with a basis weight range of 185 - 350 g/m2.

"During the project Valmet has operated professionally and we are satisfied with their ability to deliver. We also trust that the new production line will come up to our expectations," says Ari Kiviranta, SVP, Production and Technology in Metsä Board.

Valmet supplied coated board production line for Metsä Board has successfully started up at the company's Husum mill in Sweden. The design of the machine is based on Valmet's modular OptiConcept M production lines.

"Metsä Board is well known for its high-quality, lightweight folding boxboards, used widely in packaging globally. Thanks to the new production line and our recent product development, we are now able to respond to demand better than ever before," comments Mika Joukio, CEO of Metsä Board.

About Valmet's delivery

This new machine with an off-coater process underlines that Valmet has vast know-how and masters the technique of coated board. Valmet's delivery included a board machine featuring the latest modular design of headboxes, forming section and press section, as well as a rebuild of the off-machine coater, winder and the roll wrapping line. The wet end area of the machine is based on innovative OptiConcept M frame construction without the need for cantilever beams for fabric changes.

"We are very happy about the start-up of this new production line and the overall fluent cooperation with Metsä Board. With this project we have expanded Valmet's OptiConcept M family to cover also coated board production. Technologies and know-how related to coated board are one of our strategic focus areas in Valmet", says Sami Anttilainen, Vice President, Technology of Paper Mills, Valmet.

Information about the customer Metsä Board

Metsä Board is a leading European producer of folding boxboards and white linerboards made from fresh forest fibres. Its lightweight paperboards are developed as the perfect fit for consumer goods, retail-ready and food service packaging. The pure fresh forest fibres Metsä Board uses are a renewable resource, traceable to origin in northern forests. The global sales network of Metsä Board supports customers worldwide, including brand owners, converters and merchants. In 2015, the company's sales totalled EUR 2.0 billion, and it has approximately 2,600 employees. Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki.

Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. Valmet's vision is to become the global champion in serving its customers.

Valmet's services cover everything from maintenance outsourcing to mill and plant improvements and spare parts. The strong technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bio-energy production. Valmet's advanced automation solutions range from single measurements to mill wide turnkey automation projects.

Valmet's net sales in 2014 were approximately EUR 2.5 billion. Our 12,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward - every day. Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland and its shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.

Fibria, a Brazilian forestry company and the world’s leading eucalyptus pulp producer, reported net revenue of R$10.1 billion in 2015, which advanced 42% on 2014 to set a new record for a 12-month period. In the fourth quarter of 2015, net revenue came to R$3 billion, advancing 7% on the prior quarter.

• Net revenue advances 42% in the year to R$10.1 billion, setting a new record for a 12-month period
• EBITDA comes to R$5.3 billion in the year, up 91%, with EBITDA margin of 53%, also the company's highest ever for a 12-month period
• Free cash flow in the year sets a new record at R$2.9 billion
• Net income amounts to R$357 million, the majority of which will be distributed as dividends
• Leverage measured by the ratio of net debt to EBITDA in U.S. dollar ends the year at 1.78 times, below the limit set by the company’s financial policy

Another record for a 12-month period, adjusted EBITDA (earnings before, interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) amounted to R$5.3 billion, increasing 91% from 2014. In the fourth quarter, adjusted EBITDA was R$1.6 billion, increasing 5% on the prior quarter. EBITDA margin in 2015 stood at 53%, also setting a new record for the company’s economic performance.

Another highlight in the company’s results was the robust growth of 351% in free cash generation in 2015 to a record R$2.9 billion, with this figure excluding the dividend distributions, the investment (capital expenditure) in the Horizonte 2 Project to expand capacity at the Três Lagoas Unit in Mato Grosso do Sul and the land acquisitions made at the end of the year. Of this amount, R$866 million was generated in the last quarter of the year.

“The year 2015 represents a new phase in our history, with important strategic decisions taken that will take us to a new level of competitiveness and boost our operating capacity. With the Horizonte 2 Project, which is advancing on schedule, we will further expand our global leadership in the pulp industry,” said Fibria CEO Marcelo Castelli.

In 2015, Fibria reported net income of R$357 million, mainly owing to its strong operating performance and despite this figure being partially offset by the noncash impact from exchange variation on its financial result, which was not a factor in periods of stability in the local currency. Fibria's management proposed the distribution of 87% of net income in 2015 as dividends to shareholders, which amounts to R$300 million, with the proposal to be submitted to the next Shareholders’ Meeting that will be held in April.

The proposed distribution of R$300 million in dividends, which includes R$218.7 million in additional dividends over the mandatory minimum of R$81.3 million, is based on the dividend policy launched in 2015, which calls for the possible payment of additional remuneration to shareholders throughout the year if cash generation exceeds the projected scenarios, always observing the Debt and Liquidity policies and its commitment to maintaining an investment grade credit rating.

Fibria ended 2015 with net debt in U.S. dollar of US$2.8 billion. Leverage measured by the ratio of net debt to EBITDA in U.S. dollar ended the period at 1.78 times, which is below the limit set by the company’s Financial Policy   

Highlights of the Year
In May 2015, Fibria announced the Horizonte 2 Project, which will expand production capacity at its Três Lagoas Unit located in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Total investment in the project is R$8.7 billion, which corresponds to US$2.2 billion, with the financing structure already resolved. Fibria's new pulp production line at the Três Lagoas Unit, whose cornerstone was laid on Oct. 30 last year, will expand its production capacity to more than 7 million tons and boost its competitiveness in the global market.
Also in May, Fibria signed a commercial agreement with Klabin for the sale of all production of hardwood pulp from its unit under construction in Ortigueira, Paraná (Puma Project), which will be exported to countries outside of South America.
"With last year's consistent free cash flow, we were able to launch the Horizonte 2 Project and to pay R$2 billion in interim dividends in December without compromising our credit quality, which was recently confirmed by our investment grade ratings and stable outlooks at the three main rating agencies in the middle of an adverse scenario in Brazil's economy," said Guilherme Cavalcanti, Fibria's chief financial and investor relations officer.

For the seventh straight year, Fibria was selected as a component of the Corporate Sustainability Index (ISE) of the São Paulo Stock Exchange (BM&FBovespa) and once again was included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Emerging Markets Index (DJSI Emerging Markets) of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In2015, Fibria was a recipient of the Sustainable Standard-Setter Award from the non-governmental organization Rainforest Alliance.

About Fibria
The world leader in eucalyptus pulp production, Fibria strives to meet the growing global demand for forestry products in a sustainable manner. With production capacity of 5.3 million tons of pulp per year, it has industrial units in Aracruz (Espírito Santo), Jacareí (São Paulo) and Três Lagoas (Mato Grosso do Sul), as well as in Eunápolis (Bahia), where it operates Veracel in a joint operation with Stora Enso. Fibria has 969,000 hectares of forests, with 568,000 hectares of planted forests, 338,000 hectares of environmental preservation and conservation areas and 63,000 hectares destined for other uses. The pulp manufactured by Fibria is exported to more than 40 countries. In May 2015, Fibria announced the expansion of its Três Lagoas unit, which will receive a new line with annual pulp production capacity of 1.75 million tons and is slated for startup in the fourth quarter of 2017.
With stock listed on the Novo Mercado listing segment of the São Paulo Stock Exchange (BM&FBovespa) and Level 1 ADRs listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Fibria has 29.42% of its capital held by Votorantim Industrial S.A., 29.08% held by BNDESPAR and 41.50% represent by its free-float.

Mohawk, North America’s largest privately-owned manufacturer of fine papers, envelopes and specialty substrates for commercial and digital printing, has expanded the company’s envelope offerings and is now an official converter and distributor of Domtar Cougar®, Lynx® Opaque Ultra and EarthChoice® Colors envelopes.

“In an ongoing effort to provide the highest level of service and supply chain options for our merchant partners, Domtar is pleased to announce that Mohawk is now a full line converter servicing all Domtar branded envelopes,” said Vanecia Carr, Director of Marketing, Printing and Publishing, Domtar.

“With the addition of these well-known Domtar branded envelope lines, we now proudly offer the broadest collection of envelopes available in the market. Mohawk provides one-stop shopping convenience, fast delivery and superior envelope converting quality,” said Bob Scammell, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Business Operations, Mohawk. 

Cougar, Lynx Opaque Ultra and EarthChoice Colors envelopes are engineered and converted by Mohawk to stringent specifications, ensuring trouble free printing and inserting on a wide range of equipment. 

Mohawk will convert and provide a wide range of items including multiple color options in various basis weights, finishes and envelope types:

• Cougar envelopes are offered by Mohawk in a broad selection of styles and sizes including #9 commercial, #10 commercial, #10 commercial windows, A2 through A10 announcements plus a selection of booklets, catalogs, monarchs, square flaps, baronials, panel cards and panel folders. Envelopes are available in two finishes and two shades (white and natural), that match the Cougar paper lines for ease in coordinating printed communications.

• Lynx Opaque Ultra envelopes are now offered by Mohawk in six standard sizes including #10 commercial and A-2 through A-10 announcements that match the Domtar Lynx Opaque Ultra line.  Featuring exceptional opacity for minimal show-through and a smooth finish for excellent print performance, Lynx envelopes are acid free for archival quality and FSC® certified.

• EarthChoice Colors envelopes are now offered by Mohawk in seven standard sizes including #6.75 commercial, #9 commercial, #10 commercial, #10 commercial windows and A-2 through A-7 announcements. Available in 12 pastel colors with a vellum finish, EarthChoice envelopes are acid free for archival quality and FSC® certified.

Converted with Mohawk quality

Mohawk’s envelope quality stands above the rest.  Every envelope converted by Mohawk features a discreet die-cut “M” on the inside seam, which is revealed by holding the envelope up to a light source.  The “M-notch” is a symbol of Mohawk quality and assurance, backed with world class service and support.

One-stop shopping

Mohawk envelope customers enjoy ease of ordering and the convenience of one-stop shopping for fast delivery. With advanced envelope converting services, exceptional warehousing capability, and available stock in regional distribution centers throughout the country, Mohawk provides next-day or two-day delivery to 98% of the country.

ABOUT MOHAWK

Mohawk is North America’s largest privately-owned manufacturer of fine papers and envelopes which are preferred for commercial and digital printing, photo specialties and high-end direct mail.  Mohawk fine papers and envelopes include the signature brands Mohawk Superfine® and Strathmore®, as well as proprietary treatments Inxwell® and i-Tone®. With a culture of innovation, Mohawk’s business model now extends beyond paper manufacturing into new areas of growth, including digital substrates, which connect designers and printers to new markets. 

As a leader in environmentally and socially responsible business practices, Mohawk was the first U.S. manufacturer of commercial printing papers to match 100% of its electricity with wind power renewable energy credits and the first U.S. premium paper mill to shift toward carbon neutral production. Mohawk’s portfolio of recycled papers is certified by Green Seal and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Mohawk is a fourth-generation, family-owned and operated business based in Cohoes, New York, with global sales and operations located throughout North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.mohawkconnects.com.

Klabin, Brazil’s largest packaging paper producer and exporter, and leading manufacturer of corrugated board packaging and industrial sacks, posted adjusted EBITDA (earnings before, interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) of R$2.0 billion in 2015, for growth of 15% compared to 2014. In the fourth quarter, adjusted EBITDA stood at R$603 million, increasing 25% from the same period in 2014, for the 18^th consecutive quarter of growth.

• Adjusted EBITDA of R$2.0 billion in 2015, up 15% from 2014.
• Net revenue of R$5.7 billion in 2015, for growth of 16% on 2014.
• Fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA of R$603 million, up 25% from the year-ago period.
• Fourth-quarter export volume up 52% from the year-ago period.
• At December 2015, construction of the new pulp plant in Ortigueira, Paraná (Puma Project) registered 95% completion. Construction is on schedule and startup is planned for March 2016.

Net revenue in 2015 rose 16% from the prior year to reach R$5,688 million. In the fourth quarter of 2015, net revenue was R$1,596 million, increasing 27% compared to the same period in 2014.

Over the course of the year, Klabin increased its export volume to reach 627,000 tons in 2015, growing 15% from 2014. In the fourth quarter, export volume came to 190,000 tons, up 52% on the year-ago period.

Export growth, coupled with recent increases in production capacity at Klabin’s paper plants, resulted in total sales volume – excluding wood – of 1.8 million tons in 2015, or 3% more than in 2014.

Capital Expenditure

In 2015, Klabin invested a total of R$4,627 million, of which R$4,053 million in the Puma Project, the new pulp plant under construction in Ortigueira, Paraná. In December, construction at the Puma Project reached 95% completion, with 77% of financial disbursements already concluded. The new plant, scheduled to start up in March 2016, will have production capacity of 1.5 million tons of hardwood, softwood and fluff pulp.

Of the total investment of R$1,364 million made during the fourth quarter of 2015, R$1,195 million was allocated to the new pulp plant, R$114 million to the maintenance of operations at existing plants, R$27 million to forest operations and R$28 million to special projects and capacity expansion.

About Klabin
 
Klabin, Brazil's largest paper producer and exporter, is the leading manufacturer of paper and board for packaging, corrugated board packaging, industrial sacks and timber in logs. Founded in 1899, it has 14 industrial units in Brazil and one in Argentina. Klabin is organized into three business units: Forestry, Paper (paperboard, kraft paper and recycled) and Conversion (corrugated board and industrial sacks).
 
Klabin's management is entirely oriented towards sustainable development, and pursues integrated and responsible growth that combines profitability, social development and a commitment to the environment. Klabin is also a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact and the Brazilian Pact to Eradicate Slave Labor, and seeks suppliers and business partners that adopt the same values of ethics, transparency and respect for the principles of sustainability.
 
Learn more at www.klabin.com.br

The professionalism of A.Celli Paper’s Customer Service department has allowed the two rewinders at Interstate Paper Industries in Egypt (Indevco Group) to attain high performance levels.

The relationship between A.Celli Paper and the Paper Making Division of the international Indevco Group consolidates one success story after another. The upgrade interventions on their North African tissue plants have been completed. Thanks to the technical competence and the logistic-organizational skills of the A.Celli Paper staff, not only was the rewinder in Lebanon, at Unipak Tissue Mill, brought to new performance heights in October of last year, but also the two rewinders in Egypt, at Interstate Paper Industries, upgraded in November, attained new production levels.

A team from A.Celli Paper’s Customer Service department, in collaboration with the mill’s specialized personnel, replaced the two cutting units, updated the drive, the PLC system and mechanical transmission of the two rewinders, completing the intervention in just six days of machine downtime per plant. And so even the last two of the three machine interventions for the Indevco Group were accomplished with excellent results: once again with a minimum amount of production stoppage, zero complications and no delays! The customer was very pleased with the quality of the cut, the safety of the process, the ease of setting and precision of the new slitting system.
 
“The detailed attention to procedures shown by the A.Celli team at the paper mill and the company’s prompt availability to meet our needs and demands has made it possible to reduce the impact of machine downtime to a minimum during this intervention, and guaranteed the necessary increment in performance on these two rewinders. This confirms the optimal choice of a partner renowned and respected worldwide with whom, at every step, we consolidate an important relationship begun several years ago. These excellent results are of paramount importance to us because we are planning other initiatives aimed at enhancing the performance of our production systems, and knowing that we are not alone is reassuring”, stated Interstate’s Project Manager, expressing all his satisfaction and confirming his company’s trust in the supplier chosen. The experience was even more enriching thanks to the great spirit of collaboration that the A.Celli team and the customer’s maintenance team shared.

This is just the latest success story that confirms to what extent A.Celli Paper’s Customer Service department represents a strong and strategic part of the company that takes an active part in the objective of meeting every customer’s needs with a constant view towards technological excellence, even in the case of optimizing existing production lines.

After reaching a record high in 2014, log trade in the Baltic Sea fell by 10% in 2015. Most of the decline was that of softwood pulplogs, while trade of sawlogs actually increased to reach its highest level since 2007, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly. Russia has been surpassed by the Baltic States as the major softwood log supply region.

The forest industry in the Baltic Sea region has for many decades imported large volumes of wood raw-material from their neighboring countries as a complement to their typically less costly local wood sources. For example, pulp mills in Finland and Sweden imported approximately 18% and 15%, respectively, of their wood fiber needs in 2014.

The log market in the Baltic Sea is one of the most active markets in the world with softwood log trade accounting for over 20% of global trade, and shipments of hardwood logs reaching almost 29% of world trade of temperate hardwoods in 2015. Finland and Sweden are the major importing countries, but forest companies in Germany and Poland have also been importing substantial log volumes over the past five years.

In 2014, total log trade to the Nordic countries reached a six-year high of 14.3 million m3 after five years of consecutive increases. In 2015, total shipments fell over 10% mainly because of lower demand for softwood pulplogs, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ). Trade of softwood sawlogs on the other hand, reached its highest level since 2007 last year when 1.6 million m3 was imported primarily to sawmills in Sweden.

The major log trade flows in Northern Europe the past few years have been:

•   Norway to Sweden (softwood)
•   Latvia to Sweden (softwood and hardwood)
•   Russia to Finland (softwood and hardwood)
•   Estonia to Sweden (hardwood)

Ten years ago, Russia exported about 7.5 million m3 of softwood logs to the Nordic countries but after the introduction of the country’s log export duties, shipments plunged, and over the past three years, volumes have been just over one million m3 annually. With the fall of Russian log exports, log exporters in the Baltic States stepped in and the region became the major log supplier of logs to sawmills and pulp mills in the Nordic countries and Germany. However, over the past four years, shipments of softwood logs have been in steady decline from 3.1 million m3 in 2011 to only approximately 1.3 million m3 in 2015, as reported in the WRQ.

It is interesting to note that during the same period, exports of hardwood logs from the Baltic States have fallen almost 30%, while Russia has become a more aggressive player as the weak Ruble has made Russian logs more competitive.

Global lumber, sawlog and pulpwood market reporting is included in the 52-page quarterly publication Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ). The report, which was established in 1988 and has subscribers in over 30 countries, tracks sawlog, pulpwood, lumber and pellet prices, trade and market developments in most key regions around the world. To subscribe to the WRQ, please go to www.woodprices.com
 
Contact Information
Wood Resources International LLC Hakan Ekstrom
Seattle, USA
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.woodprices.com

The demand for Metso's in-depth shutdown knowledge and professional services has steadily grown over the past few years. In 2015, Metso was involved in over 100 shutdowns and turnarounds around the world at refineries, petrochemical, natural gas and biofuel plants as well as pulp mills. Customers increasingly count on Metso's service expertise, capability and scope of offering that includes tailored solutions related to shutdowns.

"A shutdown can be considered a strategic project for the plant, a way to manage its resources. Professional planning, efficient execution and on-time startup ensure safety as well as high plant availability and reliability until the next planned shutdown. We are constantly developing our valve service capabilities and service center network to increase our customers' productivity," points out Timo Hänninen, Vice President, Flow Control Services, Metso.

One of the recent major turnarounds in the oil and gas industry in which Metso participated during 2015 took place at Neste's Porvoo refinery in Finland. Metso's service solution for the turnaround consisted of valve maintenance planning, replacement equipment, maintenance and spare parts, as well as real-time project follow-up. In all, about 270 Metso valves were maintained during the shutdown, providing the customer with significant improvements for valve availability.

Good planning is key to success

Efficient shutdown execution and a smooth startup call for a well-planned shutdown scope, actions, materials and resources, and all these are determined through Metso's shutdown solutions. Valve maintenance planning for a turnaround project is always preceded by close cooperation between the customer and Metso. "It is the level of planning that determines the success of shutdown execution," Timo Hänninen says. "Having Metso as a partner for shutdown planning ensures the availability of the correct materials and resources, when needed. It minimizes risks, too."

For example, Metso's preparatory work for the turnaround activities at one of the largest oil refineries in Poland, the GRUPA LOTOS refinery in Gdansk, has been underway for years, although the shutdown will only take place in 2017.

To ensure the plant's safe operation until the next planned shutdown, Metso's experts carefully identify the equipment in need of upgrading, maintenance or replacement. This not only defines the shutdown scope and activities, but also determines the shutdown schedule and the needed resources and materials.

Equipment maintenance is carried out using Metso's original spare parts, maintenance procedures and recommendations to guarantee the same quality, warranty and certification that Metso offers for new products.

Global presence and long experience in valves

In 2015, Metso opened five new valve service centers and today offers flow control services through more than 40 service centers worldwide. The service centers strengthen Metso's position to stage, test and service large numbers of valves to meet customers' high-volume, fast-turnaround repair and service needs during scheduled plant shutdowns. Services are provided for Metso and third-party field devices, including valves, actuators, smart devices and pumps.

Metso has solid experience in delivering engineered performance and reliability to oil and gas, pulp and paper, and process industry customers through its leading product brands Neles^® and Jamesbury^®, and has delivered millions of control valves and on-off valves globally over the last 90 years. Metso has valve technology centers and valve production facilities in Finland, the United States, Germany, China, South Korea, India and Brazil.

Metso is a world leading industrial company serving the mining, aggregates, recycling, oil, gas, pulp, paper and process industries. We help our customers improve their operational efficiency, reduce risks and increase profitability by using our unique knowledge, experienced people and innovative solutions to build new, sustainable ways of growing together.

Our products range from mining and aggregates processing equipment and systems to industrial valves and controls. Our customers are supported by a broad scope of services and a global network of over 80 service centers and about 6,400 services professionals. Metso has an uncompromising attitude towards safety.

Metso is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Finland, and had net sales of about EUR 2.9 billion in 2015. Metso employs over 12,000 persons in more than 50 countries. Expect results.