Valmet will deliver automation technology to Nepa Limited in India for its two refurbished paper machines and new deinking plant. The solutions enable the paper mill to increase productivity and improve product quality. The startup of the new system is scheduled for the end of February 2017.

The order was included in Valmet's third quarter 2016 orders received. Typically the order value of this kind of automation system deliveries is below EUR one million.

"Cooperation with Valmet will significantly improve the performance of our mill and the equipment, also enabling us to optimize our resources and boost sustainability. With Valmet's advanced technologies, we will be able to improve quality and increase productivity," says Mr. R. Alagesan, General Manager, Projects & Works, Nepa Limited.

"The customer's decision to have only one platform for the process and quality controls provides us with an excellent opportunity to show our expertise in paper industry automation. This decision enables a good start for the mill's development plans and will take our cooperation forward," says Pravin Tripathi, Head of Sales & Service, India, Automation business line, Valmet.

Technical details of the delivery

Valmet's delivery to Nepa Limited includes a mill-wide Valmet DNA automation system to control the two paper machines, PM 1 and PM 2, as well as the deinking plant.

The delivery also includes a complete Valmet IQ quality control system with scanning measurements and state-of-the-art multipredictive cross direction and machine direction controls. The scanning system includes new scanners with basis weight, moisture, caliper and ash measurements. Valmet IQ X-Ray Ash Measurement represents a new generation in ash measurement and is the first one to be delivered to India.

Information about Nepa Limited

Nepa Limited is one of the leading newsprint producers in India and operates two paper machines with a total annual capacity of approximately 88,000 tons. Nepa Limited, Nepanagar is a public sector undertaking under the administrative jurisdiction of Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises in India. The company will expand its product offerings to writing and printing paper grades after installing a new deinking system as well as refurbishing its paper machines and power plant under its renovation, maintenance development plan.

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 mills, 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.

As part of the previously announced long-term goal of changing the capital structure through increased borrowing, the Rottneros Group has signed agreements on debt financing within the framework of the investment program Agenda 500.

The increased funding amounts to a total of SEK 120 million and will be used for investments in the Group's two mills. The loans will be repaid within five years and have a variable interest rate.

Loan terms include customary covenants for example in the form of net debt in relation to EBITDA, the equity ratio and certain restrictions on dividend opportunities.

Rottneros is an independent producer of market pulp. The Group comprises the parent company Rottneros AB, listed on NASDAQ Stockholm, and its subsidiaries Rottneros Bruk AB and Vallviks Bruk AB with operations involving the production and sale of market pulp. The Group also includes the wood procurement company Rottneros Baltic SIA in Latvia. The Group has just over 260 employees and had a turnover of approximately SEK 1.8 billion in the 2015 financial year.

Harvestia has chosen Tieto to modernize its wood supply system and related service environment. The renewal will enable more advanced and efficient steering of wood supply operations and enhance the usability and user experience of applications. Tieto is using this solution to connect different actors in the wood and fibre supply field together to create an ecosystem.

The renewal of the Harvestia wood supply system consists of modernizing the existing tools and adding a new Tieto Intelligent Fibre Flow (TIFF) Planning module for fibre demand and logistics planning. Tieto will also integrate the system with Trimble’s LogForce service to enable operational- and vehicle-level planning, as well as steering of wood transportation operations.

“We are modernizing the wood supply system with the aim of improving the steering of wood and fibre deliveries to our customers and increasing the effectiveness of hauling operations with our transportation partners,” says Pekka Kauranen, CEO of Harvestia.

As part of the renewal process, Tieto will provide a concept for connecting Harvestia’s wood supply system with the forthcoming Finnish digital wood marketplace. As a result, Harvestia will be able to increase the effectiveness of its wood procurement operations by having real-time access to the wood market.

“We are very excited to support Harvestia with their business renewal. Our Wood and Fibre Solutions are based on ecosystem thinking, and in this project, we are connecting different actors in the wood and fibre supply field together,” says Jaakko Kuusisaari, Director of Wood and Fibre Solutions, Tieto.

Tieto aims to capture the significant opportunities of the data-driven world and turn them into lifelong value for people, business and society. We aim to be customers’ first choice for business renewal by combining our software and services capabilities with a strong drive for co-innovation and ecosystems.www.tieto.com

The New Award for the Fiberpack® Project

The project solves the waste disposal problem of beverage cartons and it has been awarded to the LUISS University in Rome

The Fiberpack® Lucart Group project has won the “No Waste” Award in the "Business" section, created and produced by journalist and writer Antonio Galdo, The Director of the “nonsprecare.it “ website.

Currently in its seventh edition, the prize promotes projects and good economic and social practices which challenge the contemporary paradigm of “waste” and for this reason the organizers decided to award the Fiberpack® project, whose main objective is to produce paper and other objects without cutting down trees, however only through the recycling of containers of used beverage cartons Tetra Pak®.
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In line with the spirit of the event, the winners were awarded with a quantity of biological products, offered by the Alce Nero Group, equal to their body weight at the LUISS University of Rome.

Lucart produces tissue paper products for sanitary use with the cellulose containers, while the aluminum and polyethylene (plastic material) is used by third parties to produce other objects, such as pallets, other manufactured articles for building and mooring poles used in the Venetian lagoon.

In the last three years from 2013 to 2015, the Fiberpack® paper produced by The Lucart Group has recovered almost 2 billion * beverage cartons, saving approximately 900,000 trees **, which would have been necessary for the production of the equivalent amount of virgin fiber paper; avoided over 52,000 tonnes of CO2e of emissions *** thanks to the non occurance of beverage carton waste, a quantity of CO2 equivalent to the emissions of 400,000 trips from Rome to Milan by car.

"We are very pleased with this new Award” - says Guido Pasquini, The Group's Commercial Director – “this is further confirmation that we are heading in the right direction by adopting development models which minimize waste and demonstrate the principles of circular economy, applicable in all sectors”.
"The revolution in the name of No Waste is now underway in the country “- says Antonio Galdo - and results in new lifestyles, new consumption and new economic growth, also through the incentive of projects and products combining research, innovation, reduction of waste and total respect for the environment. This is where our future lies, this is where there is space to get back to being competitive and above all it creates jobs for many young people who can't find work "

* Considering 1 Litre Beverage Cartons.
** United Nations Environment Programme, Report 2011: Towards a Green Economy
*** European Union Life Cycle Database (ELCD)  

The “No Waste” Award, held in collaboration with the University LUISS "Guido Carli" of Rome, is in partnership with relevant Italian entities: the Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, WWF, the National Council of Research (CNR), the Banzai Publishing group, RAI Radio1, the University "La Sapienza" of Rome and the Catalan Foundation.

Toscotec has been awarded a contract to rebuild PM1 at Correll Tissue, in Durban, South Africa. The start-up of the rebuilt machine is scheduled for the second half of 2017.

Correll Tissue is the primary tissue paper manufacturing plant of Novus Holdings, one of the most technologically advanced print manufacturing operations in Africa. The plant, located in Phoenix Industrial Park, harnesses the potential of waste paper, produced by the extensive printing operations of the Group, to make domestic tissue paper. With the plant’s sufficient converting capacity, investment in recycling processes has been made which sees a large quantity of the plant’s water requirements being reprocessed.

The scope of supply will include a major rebuild of the existing fourdrinier tissue machine into a MODULO crescent former with a new TT Headbox-SLT. The delivery also includes a rebuilding of the existing approach flow system and the felt run, as well as the YD doctoring system.

Electrification and control system for the new parts, erection supervision, start-up assistance and training will complete the Toscotec’s package. The new machine parts will be designed for a future speed of 1000 mpm with a reel width of 2460 mm.

“Partnering with a credible supplier on this project is of key importance and we are confident in the service Toscotec provides. We look forward to achieving great results on the rebuild,” says Conrad Rademeyer, Group Executive: Coldset and Tissue at Novus Holdings.

Toscotec has previously supplied Correll Tissue with another key component: the TT SYD in 2006.

This new project consolidates Toscotec's capabilities to provide, not only a wide range of new machinery but also complex rebuild projects based on turn-key concept.

About Toscotec

Toscotec is a turnkey projects supplier to the global paper industry. Since 1948, Toscotec offers complete production lines, plant retrofits, turnkey projects and individual machineries. The Group serves all the leading paper producers with customized solutions, leveraging on the experience gained in more than 60 years of activities.

For more info: www.toscotec.com   

AMETEK Land, a leading industrial combustion efficiency and environmental pollution emissions monitoring specialist, has made its Lancom 4 Portable Gas Analyser even more affordable with a Euro price reduction following Britain’s vote to exit the European Union.

Lancom 4 is renowned as the world’s most versatile and accurate portable flue gas analyser whether for testing a boiler system or checking a process for a pollutant. The analyser is able to monitor up to nine different gases and a total of 17 measurement parameters using a single instrument. And, it has the ability to data log up to 250,000 records.

“We are delighted to make this popular product even more affordable by passing on savings post Brexit for customers purchasing in Euros through our offices in Germany, France, Spain and Italy.  We are continually innovating within our ranges to ensure that we deliver the most advanced features and software to remain at the forefront of the market, whilst keeping prices competitive.  Our aim is to provide even greater access to the most accurate information to make gas analysis as comprehensive as possible,” notes Derek Stuart, Global CE Product Manager for AMETEK Land.

Widely used across industries, including gas CHP (combined heat and power) plants, utilities, cement kilns, glass, paper mills, pipelines and refineries, the Lancom 4 analyser is renowned for its convenience and ease of use. A user simply switches on the analyser, allowing it to complete an automatic zero calibration, and it is ready for use.

Lancom 4 offers built-in data capture and storage of measurement data, plus a USB connection to download the data to a laptop or a PC. In addition, the product recently was updated with free Insight data acquisition software, a powerful tool that allows users to interface their analyser with a PC for remote control and data logging. Insight offers graphing and analysis tools for data visualisation and reporting purposes, providing even easier access to data. 

The Lancom 4 features Wake and Sleep functions, which allow measurements and data logs to be recorded over an extended period. It also is supplied with a rugged carry case as standard, ensuring that the instrument is protected at all times when in use.

In addition, upgrading to Lancom 4 has been made much easier. Hardware items, such as external printers or analogue output modules, can simply be plugged in, with no firmware configuration needed. This means that these items can be fitted in the field, avoiding the need to return the instrument to the factory.

Extremely compact and portable, the Lancom 4 weighs only 6 kg / 13 lb and can easily be carried around a plant, even allowing trouble-free access to remote locations via ladders or gantry work. It is also highly robust and ideal for daily use in harsh industrial environments.

For further information on the Lancom 4 and the Insight software package, visit https://www.landinst.com/products/lancom-4-portable-gas-analyser.

AMETEK Land (www.landinst.com) is a business unit of AMETEK, Inc. a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices.  AMETEK Land designs and manufactures a wide range of instruments for industrial non-contact temperature measurement, combustion efficiency and environmental monitoring.

For additional information, contact AMETEK Land, Stubley Lane, Dronfield, UK, S18 1DJ, tel +44 (0)1246 417691, fax +44 (0)1246 410585, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , website: www.landinst.com.

Lenzing - The Lenzing Group was rated number one globally with respect to the procurement of wood, the key raw material in cellulose fiber production. This was the conclusion of the latest global ranking compiled by the Canadian non-profit environmental organization Canopy Planet Society, who cooperates with 68 leading retail brands in the textile industry worldwide and is a driver in evaluating sustainable sourcing processes. Achieving the leading position in this ranking is another major recognition of Lenzing’s sustainability leadership that is documented by numerous prizes, labels and certifications.1  In its report2, Canopy assessed the performance on forest conservation and wood sourcing practices of the major players of the cellulose fiber industry. It also commended Lenzing for its new TENCEL® fiber, which uses cotton fabric waste as an alternative source of raw material.

“We are proud of this ranking, and see it as further evidence of the leadership role played by the Lenzing Group in the field of sustainability. The origin of the wood, the most important material, is the decisive factor for us at the beginning of the production process“, says Robert van de Kerkhof, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of the Lenzing Group, in commenting on the ranking. “Lenzing is continually striving to improve all its processes as well as its procurement guidelines. Lenzing will also continue to intensively provide support to the roadmap specified by Canopy as a means of preserving and protecting global forests. This is because sustainability is a core element of our business model”, he adds.

Responsible sourcing combined with environmentally compatible technologies

Lenzing has been focusing on optimizing the sourcing of the renewable raw material wood for more than 20 years in accordance with the principle of sustainability. The company mainly relies on the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certification system whenever possible. In Europe with its strict forest regulations, Lenzing also makes use of the PEFC™ program as a means of demonstrating its sustainable procurement activities. Close to 100 percent of the wood and pulp used by the Lenzing Group is already certified by FSC® or PEFC™ or is controlled in line with these standards.3

The combination of high wood and pulp procurement standards with best practice process technologies reflects the sustainability leadership of the Lenzing Group.  Both the production of Lenzing Viscose® fibers and the wide range of specialties, such as the TENCEL® fiber and Lenzing Modal®, are produced using high environmental standards and highly resource-efficient closed loop processes.

Lenzing has been working steadily on the further improvement and environmental responsibility of its production processes. In this regard, Lenzing relies on the principle of closed loop production as well as the complete use of the raw material wood in its “biorefinery”. R&D expenditures of the Lenzing Group, which are already significantly higher than the industry average, were further increased in the current 2016 financial year to enable the company to press ahead with the development of new, ecologically-driven technologies.

Lenzing also a leader in alternative raw materials thanks to the new TENCEL® fiber from recycled cotton waste

Another criterion serving as the basis for Lenzing’s number one global ranking was its performance in the field of alternative raw material sources. Lenzing once again demonstrated its leadership in sustainable fiber industry innovations by developing the new TENCEL® fiber on the basis of cotton fabric waste. This groundbreaking  innovation links pioneering  work  in textile recycling  with the environmental award-winning closed loop fiber technology of TENCEL®.

With this innovation Lenzing underpins its core value sustainabilty as a key business driver. It paves the way to solutions for the textile industry’s pressing issue of more than 150 bn garments produced and partly disposed of every year.

1 http://www.lenzing.com/en/responsibility/awards.html
2 http://canopyplanet.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The-Hot-Button-Issue-The-CanopyStyle-Report-2016.pdf
3 Lenzing reserves itself the right to use and investigate small amounts of raw material that is submitted to a due diligence procedure largely following FSC® guidelines but may not yet be fully certified.

Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, has achieved Leadership status in the materials sector of CDP’s 2016 Forest Programme for the second year in a row. This follows swiftly on the news that CDP recently recognised Metsä Board’s management of water security and climate change with A-List positions in both programmes.

For Metsä Board, a key part of sustainable forestry is forest renewal. “Here in Finland, four new seedlings are planted for each harvested tree. Metsä Group delivers seedlings to forest-owners for planting, and during the past couple of years this has amounted annually to 30 million seedlings, which is an impressive number,” says Mika Joukio, Metsä Board’s CEO.

Metsä Board promotes forest certification in all operating regions to conserve biodiversity and to ensure multiple use of forests. Metsä Board actively participates in development of certification via its parent company Metsä Group. All the wood the company uses is traceable and comes from certified or controlled forests.

Metsä Board is a leading European producer of folding boxboards and white linerboards made from fresh fibres. Its lightweight paperboards are developed as the perfect fit for consumer goods, retail-ready and food service packaging. The pure fresh 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.

International Paper (NYSE: IP) has just announced that it has completed its acquisition of Weyerhaeuser's pulp business for approximately $2.2 billion in cash, subject to post-closing adjustments.  Because the transaction is a purchase of assets, International Paper expects to realize a tax benefit with an estimated net present value of approximately $300 million.   International Paper expects annual synergies of approximately $175 million by the end of 2018, which will require the need for one-time costs of approximately $85 million.

Newly Combined Business to be Called Global Cellulose Fibers

• Deal Strengthens IP's Position in Global Fluff Pulp Market
• Offers Significant Synergies, Superior R&D Capabilities and Valuable Patent Portfolio

"This transaction positions International Paper as the premier global supplier of fluff pulp and enhances our ability to generate additional cash flow," said International Paper Chairman and CEO Mark Sutton.  "I want to personally welcome the talented employees of Weyerhaeuser to the International Paper family as we look forward to serving our customers around the world."

In this transaction, International Paper acquired five pulp mills and two converting facilities that produce fluff pulp, softwood pulp, and specialty pulp products for a number of consumer applications including diapers, other hygiene products, tissue, and textiles.  The acquired business has approximately 1,900 employees around the world, with manufacturing operations based in Canada, Poland and the U.S. (located in Mississippi, Georgia and North Carolina).

The combined businesses will be called Global Cellulose Fibers, led by senior vice president Jean-Michel Ribieras, and reported as a separate business segment beginning with the Company's release of earnings for the fourth quarter of 2016. 

About International Paper
International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a leading global producer of renewable fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper products with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, Europe, North Africa, Asia and Russia.  We produce packaging products that enable world-wide commerce; pulp for diapers, tissue and other personal hygiene products; papers that drive communication; paper bags that carry groceries; and paper cups and food containers. We are headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., and employ roughly 55,000 colleagues located in more than 24 countries.  Net sales for 2015 were $22 billion.  For more information about International Paper, our products and global citizenship efforts, please visit internationalpaper.com

Certain statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current views and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Factors which could cause actual results to differ include but are not limited to: (i) the failure to realize the expected synergies, cost-savings and other benefits from the acquisition of Weyerhaeuser's pulp business or delay in realization thereof in light of integration difficulties or other challenges; (ii) the level of our indebtedness and changes in interest rates; (iii) industry conditions, including but not limited to changes in the cost or availability of raw materials, energy and transportation costs, competition we face, cyclicality and changes in consumer preferences, demand and pricing for our products; (iv) global economic conditions and political changes, including but not limited to the impairment of financial institutions, changes in currency exchange rates, credit ratings issued by recognized credit rating organizations, the amount of our future pension funding obligation, changes in tax laws and pension and health care costs; (v) unanticipated expenditures related to the cost of compliance with existing and new environmental and other governmental regulations and to actual or potential litigation; and (vi) whether we experience a material disruption at one of our manufacturing facilities.  These and other factors that could cause or contribute to actual results differing materially from such forward-looking statements are discussed in greater detail in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Kemira, a global chemicals company serving customers in water intensive industries, announces price increase for its polymer product line across all European countries. The adjustment will be effective January 1, 2017 or as customer contracts allow.

The increase will be an average of 5%, depending on the specific customer segment and applications, and can differ for specific product types in selected geographies. This adjustment is necessary due to overall increased production and supply costs.