Stora Enso's consumer board machine at Beihai Mill in China successfully started production on 26 May. The first consumer board on reel was produced 18 months after the start-up of Stora Enso's large-scale mill construction project in Beihai, Guangxi region.

The project started from a greenfield site. In addition to the board machine, it includes a full site with infrastructure, power plant, water and effluent treatment capacities. Highest levels of work safety standards have been followed. With a peak of 5 500 workers on site, over 16 million working hours have been accomplished with only one Lost Time Accident.

“Today I feel very proud and happy for the whole team that has been able to achieve such a great milestone in the history of Stora Enso,” says Stora Enso’s CEO Karl-Henrik Sundström. “Our aim now is to benefit from the growing demand in China and Asia Pacific for high-quality consumer board.”

The total investment in the project is EUR 800 million, including a bleached chemi-thermomechanical (BCTMP) pulp mill with an annual capacity of 220 000 tonnes, operational in the fourth quarter of 2016. The board machine is expected to reach full production within 18‒24 months. In full operation, the mill will have an annual capacity of 450 000 tonnes of liquid packaging board and other high-grade paperboard products.

The official inauguration will be held on 16 June 2016, at the Beihai Mill.

Stora Enso is a leading provider of renewable solutions in packaging, biomaterials, wooden constructions and paper on global markets. Our aim is to replace fossil based materials by innovating and developing new products and services based on wood and other renewable materials. We employ some 26 000 people in more than 35 countries, and our sales in 2015 were EUR 10.0 billion. Stora Enso shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki (STEAV, STERV) and Nasdaq Stockholm (STE A, STE R). In addition, the shares are traded in the USA as ADRs (SEOAY) on the International OTCQX over-the-counter market. storaenso.com

Lightweight specialty paper and dimensional lumber manufacturer, Twin Rivers Paper Company, announces the appointment of John Reichert to the position of Chief Operating Officer.  

Effective immediately Reichert assumes responsibility for Manufacturing, Maintenance & Engineering, Environment, Human Resources and Procurement & Logistics for all three Twin Rivers’ operations including the Madawaska Paper Mill, Edmundston Pulp Mill and Plaster Rock Lumber Mill.

“John is known for his vast operational expertise and delivering results,” said Tim Lowe, Chief Executive Officer. “I am confident his leadership combined with our strong balance sheet, differentiated technical capability and dedicated workforce will create an even stronger organization while accelerating future growth.”

 “I am excited about taking on this new role at Twin Rivers,” added Reichert. “The business has come a long way since the ownership change in 2013 and continues to make the investments needed to ensure future success as a nimble, high quality, integrated forest products company.”

Reichert brings more than 30 years of operational experience to Twin Rivers in the areas of specialty paper production, supply chain, commercial and brand management, P&L responsibility, grade development, change management, strategic planning and labor union relations.  He has held leadership positions for several large forest products companies, including Stora Enso and mostly recently NewPage (now Verso) where he served as the Mill Manager of Stevens Point. Reichert holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Paper Science & Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Twin Rivers Paper Company is an integrated forest products company that manufactures packaging, label and publishing paper products and dimensional lumber for targeted markets and applications. Lumber and pulp operations are located in New Brunswick and the paper operation is based in Maine. For more information, visit the website at www.twinriverspaper.com.

Verso is Ready to Accept and Fulfill Specialty Paper Orders for Customers

Verso Corporation has just announced that the bankruptcy court presiding over Verso's Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding yesterday authorized Verso to reject a specialty paper supply contract with Expera Specialty Solutions. The contract with Expera, which was an element of the sale by International Paper Company of its industrial papers business to Thilmany, LLC in 2005, had a 12-year term expiring in 2017. The contract required Verso, as the assignee of International Paper, to manufacture specialty paper on the A5 paper machine at its Androscoggin mill in Jay, Maine, for sale to Expera, as the successor to Thilmany, at a price essentially equivalent to Verso's cost of producing the paper. By virtue of the bankruptcy court's order, the Expera contract now is rejected, which is essentially a termination of the contract that is authorized by federal bankruptcy law.

Moving forward from the rejection of the Expera contract, Verso intends to continue producing for its own account a portfolio of proven lightweight machine glazed papers for release liner, oil and grease resistant and flexible packaging applications. Verso intends to begin accepting and fulfilling customers' orders for these products starting today. Verso's goal is to ensure that customers continue to receive uninterrupted access to the specialty paper produced on the A5 paper machine.

"The capabilities of the A5 paper machine make it a natural fit in Verso's manufacturing network and existing specialty papers portfolio," stated Mike Weinhold, Verso's Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Product Development. "Although, for the past 11 years, Verso's name has not been directly associated with the products made on the A5 paper machine, Verso has operated the machine and has ensured that the paper produced on it maintains a reputation for high quality and consistent performance. Verso's expertise in and commitment to the specialty papers market will allow us to seamlessly return the A5 paper machine to our flexible manufacturing network and to derive considerable benefits for Verso, the Androscoggin mill, our specialty papers customers, and other stakeholders."

About Verso

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 versoco.com.

AkzoNobel has just inaugurated its new €6.5 million technology center in Songjiang, Shanghai. The company's largest research facility in China, it will support product innovation and the development of next-generation paints, coatings and specialty chemicals.

Equipped with a full array of state-of-the-art material analysis and performance testing facilities, the center currently employs 150 scientists, which is expected to rise to 200 by 2020. The majority of the products supported by the new facility will be waterborne and powder-based, in line with the company's ambitions to develop more eco-premium solutions.

"Innovation and locally developed products and solutions are critical to ensuring that we continue to create everyday essentials that make people's lives more liveable and inspiring," said Klaas Kruithof, RD&I Director of AkzoNobel's Performance Coatings business. "The opening of this new technology center marks another milestone in the company's organic growth strategy, as we continue to drive our innovation agenda and build a resilient portfolio of more sustainable products."

AkzoNobel invested a total of €347 million in research and development during 2015, with a strong focus on sustainability. The company is also looking to increase its revenue from downstream eco-premium solutions to 20 percent of revenue by 2020. In China, it has already reached 30 percent.

"A key strength of our new technology center is that it is focused on all the company's paints and coatings activities," added Roger Jakeman, RD&I Director of AkzoNobel Decorative Paints. "This offers major advantages in terms of synergies, efficiency benefits and creating additional value for customers."

Commenting on the inauguration of the new facility – an expansion of an existing AkzoNobel research center in Songjiang – Dr. Lin Liangqi, President of AkzoNobel China and Managing Director of the company's Decorative Paints business in China and North Asia, added: "China accounts for between ten and 15 percent of global RD&I investment annually. With Asia, and especially China, upgrading its manufacturing industry protocols, innovative solutions with strong sustainability features will be key to future success. The new center will therefore play a vital role in supporting manufacturing, as well as future markets, such as solar and wind power."

Deputy Executive of Songjiang District, Wanli Long, also welcomed the opening of the new facility: "We are glad that AkzoNobel is locating such an important research facility in Songjiang," she said. "The new center is an enhancement of our innovation capability."

AkzoNobel employs over 7,500 people in China (including 500 in RD&I), while revenue in China totaled €1.8 billion in 2015. The company operates more than 30 production sites across the country, with RD&I resources allocated to 26 of them to support local customers.

UPM-Kymmene Corporation is proceeding with the plan to change its corporate structure in Finland to better match its current business structure. UPM announced the plan on 10 December 2015.

Three new subsidiaries have been established in Finland: UPM Energy Oy, UPM Paper Asia Oy and UPM Paper ENA Oy. The personnel and assets of UPM Energy, UPM Paper Asia and UPM Paper ENA (Europe and North America) in Finland are planned to be transferred to the new companies on 1 July 2016.

UPM Raflatac and UPM Plywood operate already in their own subsidiaries in Finland. UPM Biorefining will remain in UPM-Kymmene Corporation.

The UPM business structure and operating model of businesses will remain as today. The arrangement has minor impact on day-to-day operations. The staff will transfer to the new companies with existing terms and conditions.The corporate structure change does not include personnel reductions.

For further information, please contact:

Tapio Korpeinen, Chief Financial Officer, UPM, Tel. +358 2041 50004

UPM

Through the renewing of the bio and forest industries, UPM is building a sustainable future across six business areas: UPM Biorefining, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Paper Asia, UPM Paper ENA and UPM Plywood. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. We serve our customers worldwide. The group employs around 19,600 people and its annual sales are approximately EUR 10 billion. UPM shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. UPM - The Biofore Company - www.upm.com

International Paper (NYSE:IP) have just further solidified their ongoing commitment to improving food safety throughout the supply chain.  The Company announced the Shelbyville, Ill. facility has achieved food safety certification by exceeding the standards of the benchmarking procedures as dictated by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).  International Paper further declared the goal of meeting or exceeding the GFSI standards at all their U.S. Foodservice Facilities by the end of 2016.

GFSI is a non-profit, international benchmarking organization created to standardize food safety rules and has been rapidly recognized as the 'gold standard' for international food safety.  These global specifications promoted by GFSI address food, packaging, packaging materials, storage and distribution.  Certification is a very stringent and demanding process that requires a facility to organize its Quality Management System (QMS) to address components in the manufacturing process such as procedures, policies, work instructions, document control and record maintenance.  Supplier owned audits are a significant part of the process as well.

"Safety as a whole is an ingrained part of our everyday operations and our number one priority," stated Tracy Pearson, Vice-President and General Manager of International Paper's Foodservice Business.  "We are proactively doing our part to ensure we have the systems in place to eliminate food safety risks in the packaging arena and continue to provide a top quality product."

Requests for GFSI-benchmarked audits have been quickly growing which is no surprise given the scope of the initiative touches all aspects of the food industry.  Many large retailers and foodservice industry brands are calling for this type of certification as a pre-requisite to doing business.  Tracy Pearson commented, "International Paper continuously strives to exceed our commitment of excellence to our customers.   As the needs of our customers continue to grow, we are well positioned to meet those needs."  

About International Paper
International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global leader in packaging and paper with manufacturing operations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Russia, Asia and North Africa. Its businesses include industrial and consumer packaging along with uncoated papers and pulp. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., the Company employs approximately 55,000 people and is strategically located in more than 24 countries serving customers worldwide. International Paper net sales for 2015 were $22 billion.  For more information about International Paper, its products and stewardship efforts, visit internationalpaper.com.

About IP Foodservice
Based in Memphis, Tenn., International Paper's Foodservice business is a leading global marketer and manufacturer of single-use packaging for the foodservice industry. The company's paper cups, food containers, plates and accessories are found in leading chain restaurants around the world. The company has a solid record of bringing innovative products and  brands to market including Hold&Go®, Cold&Go™ and ecotainer®, a commercially compostable product line made from fully renewable resources along with products made from FDA-compliant, post-consumer fiber. The foodservice business has operations in Kenton, Ohio, Shelbyville, Ill., and Visalia, Calif., Shanghai and Tianjin China, Winsford, UK and Bogota, Colombia. For more information on our product, visit ipfoodservice.com.

About IP Foodservice Shelbyville, Ill.
Built in 1974, the Shelbyville facility currently has more than 900 employees in cup producing, printing and distribution facilities.  .A leader in innovation for sustainable foodservice packaging, Shelbyville provides top-quality products for customers in theater, hospitality, supermarkets, convenience stores, and fast food that include hot & cold cups, food containers and buckets, popcorn containers, paper plates, plastic lids and printed plastic cups.

Pesmel and Metsä Fibre, part of Metsä Group, have signed an agreement on the delivery of a pulp storage facility for the bioproduct mill to be constructed in Äänekoski. The storage facility will be implemented using the new TransBale distribution center concept, and it will be fully operational in the third quarter of 2017. In the concept to be delivered, the entire output of the mill, 1.3 million tonnes, will be taken to the distribution center, which will buffer, sort and distribute the pulp bale units to different transports. The delivery will be the first of its kind in the world.

The TransBale concept has been developed in cooperation with Metsä Fibre for a year and a half. The core of this automated distribution center is high-bay storage with two stacker cranes that operate like automatic robots. The system buffers and sorts pulp bale units by product type and customer orders, and controls all dispatch operations. The distribution center acts as a center stage of the logistics chain, which includes three main distribution channels. Approximately 800,000 tonnes of pulp is transported as export units by train to Vuosaari Harbour, 400,000 tonnes by train and trucks directly to customers, and the remaining 100,000 tonnes are refined in different units in the mill area.

One benefit of the chosen technology is its flexibility. Thanks to the adjustable sorting capacity, there is no need for any pre-sorting in production or allocation of storage space. This enables the optimal use of space, regardless of how much of different pulp grades are produced. The total capacity of the distribution center is 25,000 tonnes in an area of 3,000 square meters. “We were researching new solutions in the preliminary planning stage, and the handling capacity and storage efficiency of the TransBale concept convinced us,” says Timo Merikallio, a project director at Metsä Fibre.

In addition to the equipment, the delivery includes an extensive Warehouse Management System (WMS), which takes care of the distribution center's inventory management. The WMS is connected both to the production automation system and the mill's SAP system, and based on the product and dispatching information obtained from these systems, the WMS controls automated train and truck dispatch and loading operations. With automatic loading, trucks are loaded in five minutes, and a train with 22 cars carrying 1,400 tonnes in three hours. In addition to loading efficiency, automation minimizes work safety risks and damage to equipment and products.

“For a technology company like us, developing new concepts is crucial. With this project, we have a chance to extend our technology into a new business area. For this, we can thank Metsä Fibre's personnel, who took part in the project with an open-minded attitude from the start,” says Tony Leikas, president and CEO of Pesmel Oy.

For nearly four decades, Pesmel has delivered more than 400 handling and packing projects and approximately 150 storage systems. The company employs more than 150 specialists, of whom approximately 100 work in Finland.

Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, will demonstrate an innovative new ‘bag in box’ concept for the first time at Drupa 2016. The ‘Elevated drink box’ (EDB), designed and patented by Metsä Board, is an easy and convenient way for consumers to enjoy beverages. The box was produced by combining the expertise of Metsä Board, BOBST, Kodak, Marbach, Henkel, and Knauer.

Cyril Drouet, Metsä Board’s Design and Innovation Director explains: “Our aim was to completely re-think the concept and design user-friendly packaging with real benefits for the consumer and the brand. Thanks to our elevated base design, the box doesn’t have to be placed on the edge of a table anymore, which gives the consumer the freedom to use this packaging anywhere.”

The box does not take up additional shelf space in-store as the elevated base is inside the packaging, ready for assembly by the consumer before use. When empty, the plastic bag is easily removed from the box, helping with material separation for recycling.

The fresh forest fibre paperboards used in the packaging are manufactured by Metsä Board. The outer liner is Kemiart Lite+, which is a double-coated white-top kraftliner for flexo post-print and digital printing applications. The fluting and inner liner are made of Modo Northern Light, a fully bleached liner suitable for offset, flexo and inkjet digital printing.

At Drupa 2016 Metsä Board’s Koen Verplancke, Technical Development Director, will make a presentation, ‘Convenience combined with digital printing – Elevated drink box (EDB)’ on 4^th and 6^th June as part of the Touchpoint Packaging sessions in hall 12 B53. During Drupa the Elevated drink box can also be seen and tested at the following exhibitor stands:

• Metsä Board hall 12 C43
• Bobst hall 10 A60
• Henkel hall 14 B04 
• Kodak hall 05 F09
• Marbach hall 10 D50

For further information, please contact Metsä Board:

Cyril Drouet, Design & Innovation Director

Mobile +86 135 2428 2445

E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Metsä Board

www.metsaboard.com

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 Helsinki.

Metsä Group
www.metsagroup.com

Metsä Group is a forerunner in bioeconomy utilising renewable wood from sustainably managed northern forests. Metsä Group focuses on tissue and cooking papers, fresh forest fibre paperboards, pulp, wood products, and wood supply and forest services.

Metsä Group’s sales totalled EUR 5 billion in 2015, and it employs approximately 9,600 people. The Group operates in some 30 countries. Metsäliitto Cooperative is the parent company of Metsä Group and is owned by approximately 116,000 Finnish forest owners.

Holmen is investing in a pressure treatment plant and a distribution warehouse at Braviken Sawmill outside Norrköping. The investment is estimated to amount to SEK 50 million.

Opened in 2011, Braviken Sawmill now manufactures sawn and planed wood products in spruce and pine. Over the years, the mill has expanded in size and gained a new warehouse for its finished products. Having started out only sawing spruce, in summer 2015 a strategic investment began with a view to broadening production to include pine joinery timber, as well as enabling the manufacture of decking and joists for outdoor purposes.

“In autumn 2015, Braviken Sawmill began sawing both spruce and pine. We want to offer our customers a broader range and the wood treatment plant is a natural next step. The plant will be highly automated, with scope for further development in the future,” says Johan Padel, CEO of Holmen Timber.

Making up a large part of what builders’ merchants sell in Sweden, treated wood is used for projects such as terraces, jetties and fencing. Pressure treatment gives the wood a longer life and minimises the risk of attack from wood-decaying fungi and insects.

“Demand for treated wood products is growing and with Braviken’s central location in a densely populated region, we have excellent opportunities to reach out to builders’ merchants with our expanded product range. The wood treatment plant is scheduled to be up and running from winter 2016/2017, so we expect to be able to deliver decking for next summer’s construction and DIY projects,” relates Henrik Sjölund, President and CEO of Holmen.

Holmen’s bio co-location in Braviken makes full use of the whole tree. Wood chips from the sawmill serve as a raw material in pulp production and by-products such as bark and wood shavings are used as biofuel to produce energy and district heating. The circle is closed when the surplus heat from the paper mill is used in the drying process at the sawmill.

Holmen is a forest industry group that manufactures consumer board, paper and wood products and runs forestry and energy production operations. In 2015 Holmen’s net sales were SEK 16 billion and the group has approx. 3,300 employees. Holmen’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, Large Cap. For more information, visit www.holmen.com

Valmet will supply Södra Cell Mönsterås pulp and paper mill in Sweden a recovery boiler upgrade and an evaporation line upgrade. The delivery is scheduled for the fall 2016.

The order was included in Valmet's first quarter 2016 orders received. The value of the order is not disclosed. The value of an upgrade of this scope is usually valued below EUR 6 million. 

"Recovery boilers need consistent upgrades at regular intervals. This kind of upgrade needs to be done due to the erosion and corrosion of the recovery boiler tubes based on third party inspection evaluation findings. We have been a trusted services partner for this replacement work with Södra Cell Mönsterås for several years and we are happy to continue good co-operation with them," says Marcus Grundevik, Sales and Project Manager from Valmet.

Technical information of the delivery

Valmet's delivery includes replacement of several recovery boiler and evaporation line parts and additionally a new concentrated non-condensable gases (CNCG) burner system.

As part of this upgrade the evaporation line 2 will be equipped with new Valmet TUBEL heating surface area in one of the effects. In a Valmet TUBEL Concentrator liquor is evaporated on the outside of the tubes for easy on-line washing and to avoid chemical or mechanical off-line washing.

Södra Cell Mönsterås pulp mill, Photo Södra/Ola Åkeborn

About the customer Södra Cell

Södra is Sweden's largest forest-owner association, with more than 50,000 forest owners as its members. Södra is also an international forest industry Group, with operations based on processing its members' forest products.

For further information, please contact:
Marcus Grundevik, Sales and Project Manager, Energy Sales and Services Operation, EMEA, Valmet, tel. +46 73 030 74 51
Fredrik Vedin, Product Sales Manager EVAPS, Recovery Systems, Valmet, tel. +46 706 45 23 55

Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers.

Valmet's strong technology offering includes pulp mill, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bioenergy production. Our advanced services and automation solutions improve the reliability and performance of our customers' processes and enhance the effective utilization of raw materials and energy.

Valmet's net sales in 2015 were approximately EUR 2.9 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.