Ian Melin-Jones
Ashland Hercules Water Technologies to increase prices in North America
Ashland Hercules Water Technologies, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc., will increase prices immediately for its portfolio of polyacrylamide chemistries sold in North America by a minimum of 5 to 15 percent, or as contracts allow. In addition, other Water Technologies treatment products will realize an increase of 7 to 15 percent. This increase is in addition to the November action taken to manage increased costs.
A persistent increase in raw material prices is driving this price increase. "Steep escalation of several critical raw materials, energy and transportation costs make these increases necessary. We will continue to work in partnership with our customers to help mitigate these increases," said Guy West, vice president, commercial, for Ashland Hercules Water Technologies. "Responding to changing market conditions enables us to continue our industry-leading product support and deliver value to our customers."
Treviso obtains UNI EN 15593:2008 Certification
The Burgo Group plant in Treviso is the first Italian paper mill, and one of the first in Europe, to have achieved UNI EN 15593:2008 certification for "Management of hygiene in the production of packaging for foodstuffs".
This certification, which was achieved through the SGS certification agency, is further guarantee of the quality of the Group's management systems in the implementation of good manufacturing practices in the production of materials that come into contact with foods.
The Treviso paper mill can therefore guarantee, now thanks also to this certification, that its products comply with the legal requirements applicable for food safety, helping to protect the image of those who market food products, guaranteeing their safety even at this stage of the chain.
In the coming months, UNI EN 15593 certification will also be extended to the other Group plants that produce paper for foodstuffs.
Stora Enso and Arauco joint venture Montes del Plata invests USD 1.9 billion in building state-of-the-art 1.3 million tonnes per year pulp mill at Punta Pereira, Uruguay
Stora Enso’s and Arauco’s joint-venture company Montes del Plata will build a new state-of-the-art 1.3 million tonnes per year pulp mill at Punta Pereira, in the department of Colonia, Uruguay. The total investment is estimated to be approximately USD 1.9 billion (EUR 1.4 billion). Each of the joint-venture shareholders has a 50% stake in the mill’s equity and will be entitled to half of its output. The project will be financed about 40% through equity and about 60% through loans raised by Montes del Plata. Stora Enso is consolidating its 50% share with the equity method.
The project comprises a state-of-the-art with Best Available Techniques pulp mill, a deepwater port and a power generating unit based on renewable resources. The new mill is expected to be operational by the end of the first quarter of 2013.
The eucalyptus pulpwood will be sourced essentially from Montes del Plata’s own plantations. The company currently owns 254 000 hectares of forestland in Uruguay, of which 138 000 hectares are planted, about 100 000 hectares are protected and 16 000 hectares are suitable for planting. The project will also be of value for the economic and social development of Colonia and Conchillas, where the company is committed to an environmental performance of excellence and to working with the local authorities and the community.
“Low cost plantation-based pulp is one of the cornerstones of our strategy. Our investment is a concrete step in implementing this strategy to build the future of our Group. The Uruguayan government authorities both nationally
and locally have been a welcoming supporter to Montes del Plata. We look forward to implementing the project in close co-operation with them. We are also proud to invest together with a great partner like Arauco and have a joint vision of building something in Uruguay that will be a role model for the world,” says Jouko Karvinen, CEO of Stora Enso.
“We are extremely happy to see this investment becoming a reality. It is the result of hard work by the team of Montes del Plata, strong support from the shareholders Stora Enso and Arauco, and seamless co-operation between the company and the Uruguayan and Colonia authorities. A new stage is beginning in which we will strive to build a project of excellence,” says Erwin Kaufmann, CEO of Montes del Plata.
The new pulp mill will be the largest-ever privately executed investment in Uruguay. The construction and operation of the pulp mill will have significant economic and social impacts in the country. An average of 3 200 and a peak of 6 000 workers will be employed during construction and about 500 people is expected to work at the mill once it is operational. The mill is forecast to have a positive impact on Uruguay’s GDP of 0.8% during construction and 2% when it is operating.
W+D Direct Marketing Solutions thrusts ahead
The envelope inserting specialist W+D Direct Marketing Solutions GmbH is making a dynamic start to the new year. The company from Löhne, Germany, which has belonged to the Paper Division of the Köber Group since October 2010, is registering an increasing volume of incoming orders.
"We are very pleased that our customers have responded so positively to the news that we can now offer them an extended range of products under the umbrella of Winkler+Dünnebier", says Managing Director Reinhard Glade. "With Dr. Marc Fleckenstein we have reinforced our management, which is another positive signal to the market and shows that we are again thrusting ahead", he adds.
Right at the beginning of the year, W+D Direct Marketing Solutions also launched its new website. The Internet site benefits from a logical structure and intuitive navigation. The design visualizes the affiliation to Winkler+Dünnebier and the Körber PaperLink Group.
source: Körber PaperLink GmbH
AbitibiBowater Names New Executive Team
AbitibiBowater today announced the selection of a new Executive Team, reporting directly to Richard Garneau, President and Chief Executive Officer. This leadership transition includes a number of senior management changes, supporting the Company's execution of its business strategy.
"The Executive Team we have put in place represents an excellent blend of proven experience and fresh thinking. I look forward to working with the team to further improve AbitibiBowater's operational efficiencies and financial flexibility, while offering a broad mix of quality products to our customers globally," stated Richard Garneau. "We believe that with the support of all Company employees, we can deliver on our commitment to further reduce costs and enhance our competitiveness. Working as one team, we can respond to the reality of ongoing market challenges and ensure sustained profitability moving forward."
In addition to Richard Garneau, AbitibiBowater's Executive Team will be composed of:
Alain Boivin, Senior Vice President, Pulp and Paper Operations. Mr. Boivin most recently was Vice President of Mill Operations, Central Region at Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation and will assume his new responsibilities at AbitibiBowater on March 7, 2011. This role will be managed on an interim basis by David J. Spraley, Senior Vice President, Pulp and Paper Manufacturing, Engineering and Quality. Mr. Boivin served as a Vice President at Smurfit-Stone since 2000. He previously was Senior Vice President, Containerboard Operations for St. Laurent Paperboard Inc. from 1999 to 2000. Prior to this, Mr. Boivin was Mill Manager at a number of operations for Donohue Inc. and Avenor Inc.
Alain Grandmont, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Public Affairs. Mr. Grandmont most recently served as Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Supply Chain for AbitibiBowater Inc. He was previously Senior Vice President, Commercial Printing Papers from October 2007 to July 2009. Mr. Grandmont served as Senior Vice President, Commercial Printing Papers of Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. from 2005 to October 2007 and as Senior Vice President, Value-Added Operations and Sales of Abitibi-Consolidated in 2004.
William G. Harvey, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Harvey served most recently as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for AbitibiBowater Inc. He previously was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company from October 2007 to July 2009. Mr. Harvey served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Bowater Incorporated from August 2006 to October 2007, and as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Bowater from 2005 to 2006.
John Lafave, Senior Vice President, Pulp and Paper Sales and Marketing. Mr. Lafave most recently served as Vice President Sales, National Accounts - Paper Sales for AbitibiBowater Inc. Prior to this, he was Vice President Sales, National Accounts - Newsprint for AbitibiBowater and Vice President Sales, Commercial Printers for Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. from 2004 to 2009. Mr. Lafave previously held progressive positions in sales with UPM-Kymmene and Repap Enterprises.
Yves Laflamme, Senior Vice President, Wood Products, Global Supply Chain and Information Technology.Mr. Laflamme served most recently as Senior Vice President, Wood Products for AbitibiBowater Inc. He was previously Senior Vice President, Woodlands and Sawmills of Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. from 2006 to October 2007 and Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Value-Added Wood Products of Abitibi-Consolidated from 2004 to 2005.
Jacques P. Vachon, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer. Mr. Vachon most recently served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Chief Legal Officer for AbitibiBowater Inc. He previously was Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Secretary of Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. from 1997 to October 2007.
All appointments are effective immediately, with the exception of Mr. Boivin who will join AbitibiBowater in March. Also reporting directly to Mr. Garneau is William Kerr who will serve as Vice President, Internal Audit. Mr. Kerr also reports functionally to the Company's Audit Committee of the Board.
Ahlstrom's Louveira plant in Brazil hit by thunderstorm flooding
Ahlstrom's Louveira plant in Brazil was hit by a thunderstorm and flooded. Production at the site has been stopped. There were no injuries to Ahlstrom staff or other people at the site.
The Louveira plant is located approximately 100 kilometers from Sao Paolo in southeastern Brazil and is part of Ahlstrom's Filtration Business Area. It produces transportation filtration material.
Ahlstrom is currently investigating the magnitude of the damage and has started the clean-up process. The company will make all the possible efforts to serve customers in the force majeure situation. The southeastern part of Brazil has suffered from severe floods and mudslides.
Clearwater Paper Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2010 Conference Call and Audio Webcast
Clearwater Paper Corporation has announced that it will host its fourth quarter and full year 2010 financial results conference call on Thursday, March 3, 2011, at 8 a.m. Pacific Time (11 a.m. Eastern Time). The company will issue its financial results before the market opens the same day.
Investors may access the conference call by dialing 877-303-9241 (for US/Canada investors) or 760-666-3575 (for international investors). The audio Web cast may be accessed on the company's Web site at http://ir.clearwaterpaper.com/events.cfm.
An accompanying presentation will be available for downloading from http://ir.clearwaterpaper.com/events.cfm before the market opens. The Web cast will be audio only. Investors are recommended to download the accompanying presentation prior to the call.
For those unable to participate in the call, an archived recording will be available through Clearwater Paper's Web site at www.clearwaterpaper.com under "Investor Relations" following the conference call.
Source: Clearwater Paper Corporation
Next Winter University of the Print Media Academy Will Take Place in Thailand
The Print Media Academy in Heidelberg and in Kuala Lumpur together with Heidelberg Thailand will jointly be hosting the next Winter University 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand, from March 20 to March 24, 2011. The four-day intensive seminar at the Shangri-La Hotel is geared to participants from all over the world, offering them the opportunity to broaden their knowledge of the sector and share experience and strategies for success.
"The pressure to compete and changing market dynamics are continuing to increase. Managers in the print media industry therefore always need to be up to date on current trends in the industry and comprehensive, sustainable methods of strategic management," says Martina Brand, Head of International Business Training at the Print Media Academy in Heidelberg. That's why the seminar will be focusing on the different aspects of business management in particular. Further presentations and discussions and an onsite customer visit will spark new ideas within the areas of finance, controlling, leadership as well as marketing and management. Participants will also have the chance to discuss their own experience with experts and colleagues and get valuable feedback.
The course will be led by Stan Solomidis and Martina Brand. Solomidis is the owner and director of Synthesis Australia Pty Ltd. Solomidis sits on the board of some very competitive and marketing oriented printing businesses and this experience coupled with his corporate experience makes him well equipped to assist printing managers who are looking to improve their firm's performance.
The Winter University has established itself within the print media industry as an important international forum. Executives from all over the world use the opportunity to share country-specific experience and network in an informal atmosphere. Previous venues have included Shanghai, Hongkong, Moscow, Sao Paulo, Capetown and Dubai.
The location for the event is the Print Shangri La Hotel in Bangkok. The seminar fee is EUR 1.650 plus VAT (2.182 US$), which includes lunch and drinks on each day as well as a team event and all seminar handouts. As the number of participants is limited, early registration is recommended. The seminar language is English.
Up-to-date seminar information and profiles of the speakers are available on the internet at www.print-media-academy.com
EU approves Swedish support to LignoBoost demonstration plant
European Commission has authorised a Swedish grant of SEK 90 million to development of a LignoBoost demonstration plant at a Swedish pulp mill. LignoBoost will enable the mill to replace the fossil fuel in the lime kiln with lignin, reducing oil dependence and carbon emissions. The Commission estimates that the investment would also generate important external benefits, contributing in particular to knowledge spill-overs and environmental protection.
“ It is with great pleasure that we can notice that the EU understands the importance of an industrial demonstration plant that can demonstrate a crucial piece of the vision to transform modern kraft pulp mills into biorefineries. The fact that the financial support from the Swedish Energy Agency has been approved by the EU is a good driving force for the LignoBoost process to become a reality. The Commission decision will hopefully, eventually, relieve the pulp mills of their dependence on fossil oil and give them a new product to use as a high-grade biofuel or bio-based raw material for chemicals and materials,” says Per Tomani, Innventia.
The LignoBoost process is based on a research collaboration between Innventia and Chalmers, who developed a process for extracting high quality lignin from sulphate pulp mills. Research work on the process and the use of lignin as fuel has been run for years by Innventia under predominantly the Swedish Energy Agency, Södra Cell, Stora Enso, Metso, Nordic Paper and Fortum Värme. The process provides opportunities for increased capacity at lower cost than expansion of a limited recovery boiler. Profitability improved further if the lignin can be used as a substitute for fossil fuel oil, for example, pulp mill lime kilns or as raw material for production of even more valuable products such as carbon fibre. In May 2008, Innventia sold LignoBoost to the international technology company Metso and thereby increased the potential for further commercialisation and realisation of industrial plants.
In July 2010, the Swedish Energy Agency granted support to a demonstration plant at Södra Cell pulp mill in Mörrum. The European Commission has now ruled that the project complies with EU guidelines on state aid for research, development and innovation.
Joaquín Almunia, Vice-President of the Commission in charge of competition policy, declared:
“The project will pave the way to transform a pulp mill into a real bio-refinery without unduly distorting competition. Fossil fuel will be replaced by a novel source of renewable energy, contributing to Europe's 2020 objectives concerning R&D, climate change and energy.”
For more information on LignoBoost:
Per Tomani, Innventia AB
tel. +46 8 676 7281, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
INNVENTIA AB is a world leader in research and development relating to pulp, paper, graphic media, packaging and biorefining. Our unique ability to translate research into innovative products and processes generates enhanced value for our industry partners. We call our approach boosting business with science. Innventia employs 270 people, based in Stockholm, Bäckhammar, Trondheim and London.
Non-recurring items in M-real's 4Q 2010 results
M-real Corporation, part of Metsäliitto Group, is expected to book in its 4Q 2010 operating result a total of EUR -41 million net non-recurring items. The main items are:
* EUR 28 million impairment of fixed assets in Speciality Papers business area
* EUR 15 million impairment of fixed assets in Market Pulp and Energy
* EUR 15 million impairment of fixed assets and cost provisions in Consumer Packaging related to closure of Simpele paper machine
* EUR 9 million reversal of impairment of fixed assets in Office Papers
* EUR 7 million profit on sale in Speciality Papers related to partial divestment of Reflex mill
The impairment charges will reduce M-real's annual depreciations by approximately EUR 4 million from 2011 onwards. The non-recurring items have in total a positive net cash effect of approximately EUR 5 million.
M-real will announce the full year 2010 results on 10 February 2011.
For further information, please contact:
Matti Mörsky, CFO, tel. +358 10 465 4913
Juha Laine, Vice President, Investor Relations and Communications, tel. +358 10 465 4335