Independent tests carried out recently on behalf of M-real Consumer Packaging have confirmed that lighter weight primary fibre based kraftliners provide better corrugated box compression strength than heavier weight white lined chipboard (WLC) or testliners containing recycled fibres.  Both cost savings and sustainability benefits can be gained by using stronger and lighter weight kraftliners in corrugated packaging

The tests, by an external research institute, compared corrugated trays in which only the white top liner varied.  The trays using M-real’s Kemiart’s coated white top kraftliner were tested in comparison with trays using WLC or coated white top testliner.  The basis weights of the boards varied from 160 to 210 g/m².

The results found that corrugated trays made of primary fibre based kraftliners showed higher box compression strength than trays made of recycled fibre based liners but within the same basis weight.  Trays using a 11-12 % lighter weight kraftliner provided 18-32 % higher box compression strength values compared with those made of recycled materials.

Further box compression tests compared the stacking strength of primary folding cartons with that of folding cartons with a corrugated tray and of folding cartons with both a corrugated tray and lid.  Results showed that use of a tray increased the strength of the stack by 10 %, and use of both tray and lid gave an additional 10% higher box compression strength.  This means savings can be realised if a lower weight material is specified for primary cartons.  Corrugated trays can also improve the stability of the load during transportation and handling.

Risto Auero, M-real’s VP Sales, Linerboards & Speciality papers, says: “Improved compression resistance ensures better protection for the saleable product, and minimises product spoilage and cleaning costs in the retail chain.  The use of trays or other shelf ready transportation packages made of corrugated materials also provides substantial cost savings due to more efficient logistic handling and shelving of the product.  Better brand recognition during transportation, warehousing and on shop shelves is a further benefit.”

For further information please contact M-real Consumer Packaging:

Tiina-Liisa Salomaa, Marketing Communications Manager

Mobile  +358 (0)50 598 9177

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

M-real in brief:
M-real is Europe’s leading primary fibre paperboard producer and a major paper supplier. The company’s customers include brand owners, carton printers, converters, publishers, printing houses, merchants and office suppliers. 
M-real supports its customers’ businesses by providing high-performance paperboards and quality papers for consumer packaging, communications and advertising end-uses. Together with its customers and partners, M-real develops products and services for demanding end uses. The company’s paperboard is mainly used for the packaging of beautycare and healthcare products, foods, cigarettes, and consumer durables as well as graphics. Paper is mainly used for office papers as well as wallcoverings and other speciality end uses. 
M-real’s business areas are Consumer Packaging, Office Papers, Speciality Papers and Market Pulp and Energy. 
M-real is headquartered in Finland. In 2009, the company’s sales totalled EUR 2.4 billion, and it has approximately 4,900 employees. M-real, part of Metsäliitto Group, is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd.
www.m-real.com

Marco Mensink, CEPI Energy and Environment Director, explains Climate Change in the European paper industry as well as water balance.

Domtar Corporation has announced the on-schedule start up of its new fluff pulp machine in Plymouth, North Carolina. The mill will have an annual production capacity of approximately 444,000 metric tons.

"This is another successful step in our strategic roadmap of pursuing growth opportunities that capitalize on our existing strengths and core competencies," said John D. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer of Domtar. "The reconfiguration of the Plymouth mill to 100% fluff pulp production provides Domtar with a stronger presence in a growing global market and positions us as a leading fluff pulp manufacturer."

Mr. Williams also added, "The Plymouth mill is a competitive, world-class asset and I am confident that this will bring a renewed sense of purpose to its workforce and stability to the community. I would like to congratulate my colleagues at the mill for delivering this project on schedule and with an excellent safety record."

The Domtar-Plymouth mill's conversion to 100% fluff pulp production was previously announced in October 2009. Once running at full capacity, the mill will exclusively produce fluff pulp and operate two fiber lines and one fluff pulp machine.

Fluff pulp is bleached softwood cellulose fiber used worldwide in absorbent applications such as baby diapers, feminine hygiene and adult incontinence products.

The Domtar-Plymouth mill has a Chain-of-Custody (CoC) certificate from the Forest Stewardship Council^TM (FSC^®). Adhering to this standard ensures that the fiber procured by the Plymouth mill meets the strict criteria set by this certification system, as well as avoids using fiber from unacceptable sources. The Plymouth mill also has a Chain-of-Custody certificate from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative^® (SFI) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification^TM (PEFC). Domtar has been recognized globally by leading environmental groups for its commitment to responsible fiber sourcing.

About Domtar
Domtar Corporation (NYSE/TSX:UFS) is the largest integrated manufacturer and marketer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America and the second largest in the world based on production capacity, and is also a manufacturer of papergrade, fluff and specialty pulp. The Company designs, manufactures, markets and distributes a wide range of business, commercial printing and publishing as well as converting and specialty papers including recognized brands such as Cougar^®, Lynx^® Opaque Ultra, Husky^® Opaque Offset, First Choice^® and Domtar EarthChoice^® Office Paper, part of a family of environmentally and socially responsible papers. Domtar owns and operates Domtar Distribution Group, an extensive network of strategically located paper distribution facilities. The Company employs approximately 8,500 people. To learn more, visit www.domtar.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
All statements in this press release that are not based on historical fact are "forward-looking statements." While management has based any forward-looking statements contained herein on its current expectations, the information on which such expectations were based may change. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of our control that could cause actual results to materially differ from such statements. Such risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, but are not necessarily limited to, those set forth under the captions "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" of the latest Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC as updated by the Company's latest Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Unless specifically required by law, we assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances.

FSC^® C001844

For more information, please click here.

SOURCE DOMTAR CORPORATION

The 18th edition of the China Paper show, this year held at Intex SHANGHAI, China, turned out to be a great success. The international exhibition and conference, reaching all of Asia’s paper related industries, featured 300 Chinese and international exhibitors from 21 countries in a 12,000 square meter large exhibition. The exhibition attracted 6,879 highly qualified attendees and buyers from across China and 63 other countries.

  - China Paper is the largest and most prestigious pulp, paper and forestry technologies exhibition for China, says Björn Delin, CEO Adforum AB. - The event was attended by a number of high level officials from the government, head of Chinese and overseas Pulp & Paper Associations as well as senior executives from leading paper corporations, Mr Delin adds.

The 2010 China Paper Technical Conference, held on September 14, 2010, attracted some 200 delegates and Chinese as well as overseas conference speakers giving interesting perspectives on the China Paper Industry. The conference was sponsored by the Paper Engineers’ Association (Finland) and the China Technical Association for Paper Industry.

China Paper is an annual event alternating between Shanghai and Beijing. Next year’s China Paper will be held on September 19-21, 2011, at the China International Exhibition Center (CIEC) in Beijing.

  - Sales for next years event is already in full swing, says Björn Delin. - We had excellent re-booking figures at the Shanghai event and are therefore looking forward to a record breaking China Paper event next year in Beijing, he continues.

The China Paper event is organised by Adforum AB together with E.J. Krause & Associates, Inc.
 
Visit www.chinapaperexpo.cn for more information about the event or contact:

Mr Patrik Löwstedt, Adforum AB Stockholm, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mrs Grace Mak, EJK Beijing, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Play Duplex and the Lugo di Vicenza paper mill will be the protagonists in 2011 of an episode of the How do they do it? programme - broadcast by Discovery Channel network - devoted to disclose the tricks behind the manufacturing of playing cards.

Last October a crew shot the whole production cycle of the black-glue laminated cardboard: from the raw materials, through the production line, up to the lab tests, lingering specially on the core of our product, the carbon black glue lamination phase.

Play Duplex is a coated woodfree light board whose main end use are playing cards, but it is also the ideal support for phone and calling cards, as well as collection cards.
It features excellent brightness, stiffness and opacity, besides a rich range of finishes (gloss, satin, linen embossed).

And today it is even telegenic!

BC Hydro is pleased to announce that it is now purchasing clean electricity from the Zellstoff Celgar's Green Energy Project as a result of a series of upgrades that allow the pulp mill to direct more steam to energy production. A new 48-megawatt condensing turbine is now generating electricity for use in the BC Hydro power grid. Once the turbine is fully optimized, the pulp mill will produce enough surplus electricity to power the equivalent of 20,000 homes in B.C.

The Zellstoff Celgar mill's cogeneration facility will produce 238 gigawatt hours of electricity annually for sale to BC Hydro under the terms of a 10-year electricity purchase agreement that was completed as part of BC Hydro's Phase 1 Bioenergy Call. The new clean energy generating capacity at the Zellstoff Celgar mill was made possible through a series of upgrades funded by $40 million from Natural Resources Canada’s Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program and $17 million from Mercer International, Zellstoff Celgar's parent company.

"Because of Zellstoff Celgar's creative thinking and programs like this offered by BC Hydro, workers in the West Kootenay will continue to have jobs and a mill that will support the local economy," said Minister of Energy Bill Bennett. "I believe that renewable energy like this, its generation and the technology and knowledge around it, is a key to a prosperous future for British Columbia."

The investments at the mill include upgrading the wood waste boiler and installing a new condensing turbine and other steam-saving equipment to allow the mill to generate energy surplus to its own needs that it can sell to BC Hydro. The mill generates the steam it uses for its operations by burning wood waste and black liquor, a byproduct of the pulp-making process.

"At BC Hydro, we are committed to powering B.C. with clean, reliable electricity and projects like Zellstoff Celgar's will help us deliver on our goals for generations," said BC Hydro President and CEO Dave Cobb. "Clean energy projects also support economic development opportunities throughout B.C. and we commend Zellstoff Celgar on their upgrades which support both business viability and the local community."

Bioenergy is energy that can be generated using wood waste, forest-based biomass and organic material in regions all across the province, helping to diversify rural economies. In total, BC Hydro's Phase 1 Bioenergy Call will enable BC Hydro to purchase approximately 579 gigawatt hours annually – enough to power more than 52,000 homes – from four projects. In addition to the electricity purchase agreement with Zellstoff Celgar, BC Hydro has agreements with Canfor Pulp Ltd. Partnership in Prince George; PG Interior to Waste to Energy Ltd. in Prince George; and Domtar Pulp and Paper Product Inc. in Kamloops.

For more information, please contact:

Jennifer Young
Media Relations
Phone: 001 604 623 4376
Cell: 001 604 240 0553

AbitibiBowater announces that, as part of its restructuring process, it had entered into agreements with the Government of Ontario related to funding relief in respect of the material aggregate solvency deficits in the registered pension plans the Company sponsors in Ontario and Quebec. The agreements will enable the Company to seek the waiver of the conditions, as detailed in its restructuring plans, regarding the adoption of funding relief regulations. On September 14, the Government of Quebec announced an agreement between the Company and the Régie des rentes du Québec for similar relief measures. The agreements finalized with the provinces of Ontario and Quebec provide, among other things, that the Company will meet its future pension obligations in full to the beneficiaries.  

"The best way to ensure pension benefits continue to be paid out is to ensure a company stays in business. We are pleased that AbitibiBowater will continue to operate, that thousands of Ontarians will continue to be employed, and that existing pensioners will continue to receive their benefits," stated Dwight Duncan, Ontario Minister of Finance.

In addition, an agreement for the next five years has been entered into by the Government of Ontario and what will become one of AbitibiBowater's Canadian subsidiaries post emergence, AbiBow Canada, regarding its pulp and paper operations in the province. AbiBow Canada has agreed to apply specific measures regarding its governance and investment levels as well as the sustainability of its operations in Ontario.

"The agreement affects thousands of workers, retirees and families in Ontario and allows the Company to move towards the finalization of its emergence from creditor protection. We are all very pleased to see AbitibiBowater get back on its feet, and I am especially appreciative of the support of my colleague at the Ministry of Finance, Minister Dwight Duncan, for making this happen," said Michael Gravelle, Ontario Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry.

This agreement will become effective as of the time of AbitibiBowater's emergence from creditor protection. Moreover, the parties have agreed to re-evaluate the covenants of the agreement at the end of the initial five-year term in light of the Company's situation, the conditions affecting the pulp and paper industry as a whole and the solvency of its pension plans.

"We have signed today an agreement that is a significant step toward our emergence. We are convinced we have obtained the best deal possible for all our employees and retirees in Canada, and we would like to thank the Government of Ontario for its ongoing support," stated David J. Paterson, President and Chief Executive Officer of AbitibiBowater.

The Company directly employs approximately 8,500 workers and has in the order of 20,000 pensioners in Ontario and Quebec. These agreements are subject to AbitibiBowater's and its subsidiaries' emergence from creditor protection, which is expected to occur this fall, and is subject to confirmation of its U.S. plan of reorganization.

AbitibiBowater produces a wide range of newsprint, commercial printing and packaging papers, market pulp and wood products. It is the eighth largest publicly traded pulp and paper manufacturer in the world. AbitibiBowater owns or operates 19 pulp and paper facilities and 24 wood products facilities located in the United States, Canada and South Korea. Marketing its products in more than 70 countries, the Company is also among the world's largest recyclers of old newspapers and magazines, and has third-party certified 100% of its managed woodlands to sustainable forest management standards. AbitibiBowater's shares trade over-the-counter on the Pink Sheets and on the OTC Bulletin Board under the stock symbol ABWTQ.

SOURCE: ABITIBIBOWATER INC.

St. Marys Paper Corp. has signed a 10-year, 30-megawatt power-purchase agreement with the Ontario Power Authority for the electricity produced by a biomass-fueled co-generation plant to be built adjacent to the St. Marys Paper mill in Sault Ste. Marie. The plant will be operated by St. Marys Renewable Energy Corporation.

The co-generation plant will replace St. Marys' aging boilers and allow wood waste, in this case, forest industry residuals, to be used as fuel in the new a bubbling fluidized bed boiler.

The construction phase is expected to begin in 2011 and generate 400 jobs. About 30 people will work at the co-gen plant once it is operational, and another 125 will be employed providing biomass fuel and logistics.

St. Marys has negotiated a commitment of up to 400,000 tonnes of biomass annually from the Algoma and Northshore Crown Forests for the life of the project. "We plan to finalize the funding and begin construction in 2011. The co generation plant capital budget is $135 million plus additional capital for integration and soft costs of an additional $40 million. We expect to be producing electricity by early 2014," said St. Marys Paper Corp. chairman and CEO Dennis Bunnell.

"The provincial government's support for a power purchase agreement is extremely important to the long-term viability of St. Mary's Paper as it allows the mill to build a biomass co-generation plant that will provide a self-sustaining supply of energy that helps protect local jobs," Bunnell commented.

Local MPP David Orazietti notes that the power purchase is in addition to a recent funding announcement for an $8.8 million re-payable loan from the province's Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry (MNDMF), which will enable St. Mary's Paper to re-open and resume printing production in December, 2010. In 2007, the Ontario government provided St. Mary's with a loan of more than $17 million for working capital to restructure and re-open, which brings total provincial support for the paper mill to $25.8 million.

Announcing the power purchase agreement on Nov. 9, Orazietti said that the goal was to balance support for the mill and jobs, with a rate that would be acceptable to the government and the taxpayer, according to a report in the online edition of Sault Ste. Marie This Week. He described the process as new in the province, and the lengthy negotiations between the company and OPA leading up to the agreement had focused around revisions to the size and the cost of the project, the engineering, and the rate that would be paid for any surplus power generated.

Sault This Week reports that Orazietti would not specify at this time what rate per kilowatt-hour was negotiated in the contract with St. Marys, other than to say it was lower than the 42 cents per kw/hour agreed to for large scale solar projects in the province.

A press release from the Ontario Power Authority explains that heat from the co-gen plant will be used in the mill's industrial processes, and surplus electricity not used by the mill will be sold to the provincial electricity grid.

St. Marys' groundwood pulp supercalendered paper mill has a capacity of 220,000 tonnes per year. The mill has been closed since March.