UPM and Telko have signed a distribution agreement for UPM's new composite product UPM ForMi. Telko will sell the natural fibre composite developed by UPM through its global distribution network to the furniture, vehicle and electronics industries and to plastic companies that manufacture consumer products.

"With this agreement we are able to offer our clients a new, interesting product. UPM ForMi is an excellent fit to Telko’s existing product range. In addition, cooperation with UPM opens new possibilities in plastics industry," says Telko’s CEO Kalle Kettunen.

The distribution agreement between UPM and Telko will make UPM ForMi available in the market faster, says Director Stefan Fors, Director, UPM's Advanced Fibre Materials. "Our aim is to develop international business and find new international development partners. Telko provides us with an efficient and extensive distribution network."
UPM ForMi is a composite that can be utilised in both industrial and consumer applications. The new composite is manufactured from pulp fibre and pure plastic polymers. UPM ForMi contains 20–60% of fibre depending on the application.

The new composite can be coloured and injection moulded in the same way as plastic. Products manufactured from UPM ForMi are consistent in quality, non-toxic and odourless. Telko will sell UPM ForMi in the form of granulates manufactured by UPM in Lahti.

Global hardwood pulp producers face higher wood fiber costs and lower pulp prices, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly

Profit margins are being squeezed for many hardwood pulp producers worldwide with higher wood fiber costs and lower product prices. The hardwood wood fiber price index (HFPI) reached a 24-year high in the 3Q/11 at the same time as hardwood pulp prices fell by 26% from June through October, reports the Wood Resource Quarterly.

Seattle, USA. The global demand for market pulp has been weakening for the past four months, particularly that of hardwood pulp (BHKP). The market report Pulpwatch reports that global shipment of BHKP pulp fell from 1.76 million tons in June to 1.41 million tons during July. Although shipments picked up to 1.57 million tons in August, the outlook for the next six months is for lower demand and reduced pulp production as compared the first half of 2011.

Hardwood pulp prices (BHKP) have fallen steadily during the fall and were down by 26 percent from June to the early November, according to FOEX. At the same time as pulp prices have fallen, the wood costs have increased, which has squeezed the profit margins for many producers of hardwood pulp. Wood cost as a percentage of the Eucalyptus pulp (EuBKP) price has gone up steadily for five consecutive quarters, from 23 percent in the 2Q/10 to 32.2 percent in the 3Q/11, as reported in the Wood Resource Quarterly. The relative wood cost is currently substantially above the twenty–year average of 23 percent.

Pulp mills in Brazil, Indonesia, Japan, China and Chile saw the biggest increases in hardwood fiber prices the past year, while the rise in wood costs in North America and Europe have been more modest. The Hardwood Wood Fiber Price Index (HFPI) rose for the fifth quarter in a row, reaching US$117.91/odmt, an increase of 14 percent since last summer and an all-time high, according to the Wood Resource Quarterly. Conversely, The Softwood Wood Fiber Price Index (SFPI) fell by less than one percent to $108.90/odmt, which was the first decline since the 2Q/10. In addition to the exchange rate adjustments, wood prices also fell in the local currencies in Russia, France and Spain.

The Softwood Wood Fiber Price Index has been higher than HFPI for 21 of the past 24 years; it is only the past three years that HFPI has been sold at a premium, and the 3Q/11 premium of US$9.01/odmt is the greatest to date. This is of note because over the past few years, some softwood pulp producers had switched to hardwood or invested in hardwood pulp capacity to take advantage of historically lower hardwood fiber costs and higher profit margins. In light of these recent price and cost developments, producers might consider returning to using more softwood pulp in their product mix, whether for market pulp or in their integrated pulp and paper facilities.

Nalco Guide to Prevent Boiler Failure Marks 20th Anniversary With New Edition

Nalco, providing essential expertise for water, energy and air, today at the 2011 International Water Conference® announced the release of the second edition of The Nalco Guide to Boiler Failure Analysis,the comprehensive sourcebook on the subject. The Guide offers practical advice on how to prevent failures within boilers and steam systems, failures that can prove catastrophic.

The new edition has been restructured into three separate sections: Waterside Corrosion and Damage, Fireside Corrosion and Damage and Material Defects. Filled with more than 200 color images, The Nalco Guide to Boiler Failure Analysis, Second Edition, categorizes distinct failure modes that typify nearly all boiler problems and walks the reader, step by step, through solutions. Each type of failure is classified according to its location, general description, critical factors, identification, elimination, cautions, and related problems. Real-world case histories are included throughout. This authoritative resource contains new chapters on:

• Phosphate corrosion
• Stress-assisted corrosion
• Steam and condensate damage
• Flow-accelerated corrosion

The authors of the second edition are Nalco researchers James Dillon (a major contributor to the first edition of the guide), Dr. Paul Desch and Dr. Tammy Lai, who have updated the original work of Robert Port and Harvey Herro with additional case histories and a deeper look into each topic area covering more than 12,000 failure analyses.

The new edition, containing more than 600 pages with numerous graphics and tables, is published by McGraw-Hill and is available through the McGraw-Hill Professional website (http://www.mhprofessional.com/product.php?isbn=0071743006) and more than 20 online booksellers including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

SOURCE Nalco

White Paper Series Addresses Ways to Optimize Spray Operations and Reduce Operating Costs

A new white paper series, published by Spraying Systems Co., focuses on ways to increase efficiency and quality while dramatically reducing costs in cooling, cleaning, coating, moisturizing and other spray operations. The series details how to make changes that provide a fast return on investment. There are five white papers in the series:

• Change the Way You Spray to Minimize Clogging provides an in-depth look at the most common causes of clogging and offers ways to minimize or eliminate it from most spray operations.

• How to Reduce Compressed Air Consumption in Drying and Blow-Off Applications explains how to reduce compressed air consumption up to 92% in many operations and how to eliminate it in other operations by using regenerative blowers and air knives.

• How to Reduce Water Consumption in Cleaning, Cooling and Moisturizing Operations describes simple changes that can slash water use by millions of gallons a year.

• How to Pre-empt a Significant Profit Drain: Nozzle Wear delves into the causes of nozzle wear, provides specific steps to help detect and minimize wear and discusses best practices for spray nozzle maintenance.

• Change the Way You Spray: Seven Changes You Can Make that Will Reduce Costs Immediately offers detailed information on ways to improve sanitation operations, minimize chemical use in cleaning application and reduce downtime and labor costs through automation.

The free white paper series is available for download at www.spray.com/whitepapers.

Spraying Systems Co. is the global leader in spray technology. It has the broadest product range in the industry, ten manufacturing facilities and sales offices in more than 85 countries. Spray nozzles, turnkey spray systems, custom fabrication and research/testing services comprise the 70-year-old company’s offering. More information is available at www.spray.com or by contacting the company directly at 1-630-665-5000.

By operating with Voith polyurethane covers, Radece papir, Slowenia, was able to increase the dryness after the first press of the PM 4 by 0.8%.

This result was possible due to the special surface designs of Voith’s polyurethane covers. A press analysis with unique Voith measurement equipment provided the necessary data. Based on the results, a water balance analysis was carried out and the optimum surface design for this application was calculated. The surface configurations of the Voith polyurethane covers are very flexible and allow an individual adjustment to the customer needs.

"The deployment of the polyurethane cover was a complete success. The dryness after the first press of our PM 4 increased by 0.8%. We are totally happy. The Voith covers are a worthwhile investment", confirmed Ales Knavs, Production Technologist Radece papir.

Voith Paper is a division of the Voith Group and the leading partner to and pioneer in the paper industry. Through constant innovations, Voith Paper is optimizing the paper manufacturing process, focusing on developing resource-saving products to reduce the use of energy, water, and fibers.

Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) has announced that its subsidiary, Hercules Incorporated, has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its aviation and refrigerant lubricants business, a polyol/ester-based synlubes business, to Monument Chemicals Inc., a Heritage Group Company. Annual revenue for Ashland's synlubes business is approximately $50 million. The purchase price was not disclosed.

The asset purchase agreement provides that Monument Chemicals will obtain a 22-acre parcel that includes the manufacturing facility in Louisiana, Mo. Monument Chemicals plans to continue operating the facility.


The transaction is expected to close within the next 60 days, subject to fulfillment of certain conditions. The parties have agreed to work together to ensure a seamless transition with no disruption in customer service. Ashland is making the transaction in order to better focus its resources on more strategic assets and product lines. 


Ashland Water Technologies is a leading global producer of papermaking chemicals and a leading specialty chemicals supplier to the pulp, paper, commercial and institutional, food and beverage, chemical processing, mining and municipal markets. Its process, utility and functional chemistries are used to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets and help ensure environmental compliance.


In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical, tissue and towel, and water treatment. Visit www.ashland.com to see the innovations we offer through our four commercial units - Ashland Specialty Ingredients, Ashland Water Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials and Ashland Consumer Markets (Valvoline).

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is pleased to welcome Resolute Forest Products (NYSE: ABH) (TSX: ABH), an organization committed to sustainability leadership as the newest member of its prestigious Climate Savers program (www.wwf.ca/about_us/business/climate_savers).

As part of their commitment to this partnership, Resolute Forest Products has pledged to reduce their absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 65 per cent by 2015 below 2000 levels.

Resolute's decision to join WWF Climate Savers commits the Company to fully confront the GHG impacts throughout the complete corporate value chain, looking at emissions both upstream and downstream of its pulp and paper and wood products operations. It also includes a commitment to work with key suppliers to assess and reduce their own contributions to carbon emissions throughout the supply chain.

"Resolute wanted to make a bold statement to our employees, our business partners and the market that we take our responsibility for preventing climate change seriously," stated Richard Garneau, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Delivering on the commitments made through this partnership will be challenging, but will also make us a cleaner and more efficient company - focused on a balanced approach to the environmental, social and economic triple bottom line."

"Climate change is the greatest threat to our planet and the commitment of Climate Savers companies like Resolute is critical to answering that threat," said Gerald Butts, President and Chief Executive Officer, WWF.  "We hope that Resolute's leadership will inspire other companies to take action in protecting the future of our living planet."

Between 2000 and 2010, Resolute has reduced its emissions by 57%. As part of its Climate Savers partnership, Resolute is committed to reducing its emissions by an additional 8% by 2015. The total impact of Resolute's GHG reductions from 2000 and throughout this agreement would be equivalent to taking 1,273,000¹ cars off the road.

As part of its agreement to join the program, Resolute has committed to:

• Achieve a 65% absolute reduction in identified GHG emissions by 2015 compared to 2000;
• Increase Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) forest certification of managed forests from 18% in 2010 to 80% by 2015;
• Obtain third-party chain of custody certification by 2012 at all North American pulp and paper mills and wood products facilities under Company management;
• Develop and offer products with lower GHG footprints to help Resolute's customers reduce their own GHG emissions;
• Work with key suppliers to evaluate and address their own GHG emissions and complete work with our ten most significant suppliers by 2015;
• Comply with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol's third-party accounting and reporting standard for scope 3 emissions reporting by 2015;
• Develop tools to track GHG emissions from the transportation of Company products;
• Implement tracking systems for forest biomass used for energy purposes; and
• Find ways to improve the Company understanding of the impact of its forest management activities on carbon emissions and sequestration in the forest.

WWF's Climate Savers program was founded in 1999 to engage businesses in establishing ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets and voluntarily and creatively working to reduce emissions. By increasing efficiency, Climate Savers companies are saving hundreds of millions of dollars, proving that protecting the environment is sound business practice.

WWF
WWF is creating solutions to the most serious conservation challenges facing our planet, helping people and nature thrive. www.wwf.ca

SCA has delivered a binding offer to acquire Georgia-Pacific´s European tissue operations, with sales in 2010 amounting to EUR 1.25bn (SEK 11.9bn). The offered price is EUR 1.32bn (SEK 12.6bn). Georgia-Pacific´s acceptance of this offer is subject to consultations with works councils where appropriate.

“The deal is a strategic fit and will strengthen our product offering and geographic reach in Europe. It also leads to substantial synergies”, says Jan Johansson, President and CEO of SCA.

Georgia-Pacific’s European tissue operations have EBIT margins that are on a similar level as for SCA´s tissue business. The annual synergies are estimated at EUR 125m, with full effect in three years after closing. Related costs are estimated at EUR 130m. Already in year one the transaction is estimated to contribute to an increase of earnings per share and cash flow. With fully realized synergies earnings per share are expected to increase with approximately SEK 1.70.

SCA has received long-term committed credit facilities. The financing is within the Group´s target for debt/equity ratio.

Georgia-Pacific has a well-established presence in Europe in both away-from-home and consumer tissue products. Their products in both segments are in particular marketed with the well-known Lotus brand.

Consumer tissue accounts for some 60% of total sales and away-from-home tissue accounts for approximately 30% of sales. Personal care products such as cotton pads and facial cleansing wipes account for some 5%. In the consumer tissue business, close to 70% of sales are branded products and the remainder are private label products.

Georgia-Pacific’s European tissue operations have approximately 5,000 employees and 15 production sites in seven countries.
The transaction will be subject to customary consultation with employee representatives and will also be subject to approval by relevant competition authorities.