Week of 2 March 2020: Maintenance Again

“Maintenance Again” is pronounced in many mills with a slight groan and downward inflection in the voice. In many CFO offices, the words “Maintenance Again” are recognized about as easily as any phrase in Klingon. By the way, you can translate “Maintenance Again” to Klingon—it is “leH jatlhqa” so don’t let the person holding the checkbook in your mill get by with feigning ignorance of the necessity of maintenance, no matter what language you use. I have been writing this column for over eighteen years and I have railed against the cheap maintenance managers for nearly fifty years. It is absolutely criminal to not do prescribed maintenance.

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Electric charging stations - the future of transportation and an opportunity for paper mills

Paper manufacturers should be paying close attention to this subject.

Patent Applications and Patents

Moisture Measurements to Suit Many Applications

MoistTech uses its 40 years of expertise to enhance clients' manufacturing processes and protect their products.

Airmaster Aerator L.L.C. receives new patent

The United States Patent Office awarded Airmaster Aerator L.L.C. patent number 10,301,202 B2 on May 28, 2019. The title of the patent is "System and Method for Aeration by Air Infusion." The inventor is listed as Dean A. Caldwell, DeRidder, LA. Caldwell is the CEO of Airmaster Aerator.

[Adv.] Fulton Systems

(Adv.) SAP offers you an easy direct link to their breaking developments

Domtar Joins American Forest Foundation's Family Forest Carbon Program

As an extension of our sustainable forestry principles, Domtar has joined the American Forest Foundation (AFF) as a partner in its Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP). This new initiative, designed to enhance carbon sequestration in family-owned forestland across the United States, includes other business partners and charitable foundations, as well as the Nature Conservancy.

'Not fair, not equitable': Softwood lumber producers continue to press for free trade after U.S. duty cuts

'Canada should stay strong and continue to pursue this, because anything less than free trade is not fair'

Where is Jim this week?

As I travel, I am always looking for someone to go to dinner with, share a barbeque sandwich lunch and so forth.

Pratt Industries and Talo Analytic International celebrate 25 year relationship

Gary Byrd of Pratt Industries and Jim Thompson of Talo Analytic International recently celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the two companies' relationship. The relationship started in November of 1993.

For the occasion, Talo Analytic International commissioned a "tombstone" reminiscent of those typically prepared to celebrate a deal closing and presented it to Mr. Byrd.

Talo Analytic International began working with Pratt Industries when Pratt's Conyers, Georgia Mill was first financed. Talo Analytic International has been the principal technical adviser on the financing of every Pratt mill in the United States. Talo Analytic International was also a key adviser on the Visy Tumut Mill in Australia in the late 1990's.

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Graphic Packaging Holding Company Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire the Consumer Packaging Group Business from Greif, Inc.

Graphic Packaging Holding Company, through its primary U.S. operating company, Graphic Packaging International, LLC., announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Consumer Packaging Group business from Greif, Inc. for approximately $85 million.

Paper Excellence Canada IT Incident Update

While pulp manufacturing continued unabated throughout the period, paper operations were curtailed as orders could not be planned and manufactured because of the systems interruption.

Essity acquires 75% of the medical solutions company ABIGO Medical AB

ABIGO Medical AB develops, manufactures and markets products including the Sorbact® technology, which is a clinically established innovation for advanced wound care.

Hindustan Paper Corporation liquidator assures revival of Assam mills

Cachar Paper Mill in Hailakandi and Nagaon Paper Mill in Morigaon are non-functional.

Borregaard ASA: Lignin production at LignoTech Ibérica stopped

Reference is made to the stock exchange notice on 14 February 2020 where it was informed that the board of Sniace, Borregaard's partner in Spain, intended to apply for liquidation of the company.

Recent Sonoco Acquisition, TEQ Thermoform Engineered Quality, Rebrands as TEQ

Recently acquired by Sonoco, TEQ Thermoform Engineered Quality, a global manufacturer of thermoformed packaging, serving healthcare, medical device and consumer markets, will rename and brand all its manufacturing locations strictly as TEQ.

Sonoco Announces Industrial and Consumer Packaging Organizational Updates

Sonoco has announced organizational updates to its Global Industrial and Consumer Products divisions, led by Executive Vice President Rodger Fuller.

Georgia-Pacific and Bast Fibre Technologies Inc. Enter into Global Licensing Deal for Nonwoven Sustainable Fibre Applications

Within the terms of the agreement, under licence from Georgia-Pacific, BFTi will develop, process and market the next generation of sustainable nonwoven fibres aiming to lead the industry in the transition away from synthetic materials toward all-natural, better performing solutions.

Damage minimal following fire at Neenah Paper in Whiting, Wisconsin

Plover Fire Chief Mark Deaver said a fire at Neenah Paper in Whiting started in a compactor.

Welch Packaging acquires PAX Corrugated Products from GP

Welch Packaging acquires PAX Corrugated Products, based in Lebanon, Ohio from Georgia-Pacific.

Boise Cascade to cease production at Roxboro, North Carolina facility

The shutdown will affect approximately 29 employees.

Norrskog and Norra Skogsägarna to merge and form new joint association Norra Skog

The forest owners' associations Norrskog and Norra Skogsägarna agreed to merge and form a new joint association under the group name Norra Skog. Norra Timber runs the manufacturing and marketing businesses within the group.

LSC Communications Receives Director Nominations from Sententia Group

LSC Communications, Inc. announced that Sententia Group, LP has nominated 6 individuals to stand for election as directors at LSC's 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

New Brunswick manufacturers anxious for end of rail blockades

Industry groups in New Brunswick are adding their voices to the chorus of those calling on the federal government to bring an end to the blockades that have paralyzed much of Canada's rail system.

Kimberly-Clark CEO Joins Texas Instruments Board

Michael Hsu, CEO of Kimberly-Clark Corp., parent company of Kimberly-Clark Professional, has been elected to the board of directors for international technology firm Texas Instruments Inc. (TI).

Ilim Group becomes first Russian company to receive European Legal Source certificate

It will allow Ilim to make sales on the European market in accordance with the EU regulations on wood without additional confirmation of the legality of the raw materials from which the products are made.

DS Smith hires plastics replacement lead

DS Smith, the leading provider of sustainable packaging solutions, has announced the appointment of Dr Susana Aucejo as senior R&D Director to lead the company's work on plastics replacement and the development of innovative barrier solutions.

Australian Paper's Orora acquisition not opposed by Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission won't oppose the proposed acquisition of Orora Fibre by Australian Paper.

Kimberly-Clark, United Renewable Energy LLC and NextEra Energy Resources Team Up to Construct Solar Project in LaGrange, Georgia

A 3MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project has been completed and commercialized by United Renewable Energy at Kimberly-Clark's facility in LaGrange, Georgia.

International Paper Named One Of The 2020 World's Most Ethical Companies® By Ethisphere For The Fourteenth Consecutive Year

International Paper has been recognized by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of the 2020 World's Most Ethical Companies.

Kimberly-Clark Recognized as One of the 2020 World's Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere

Kimberly-Clark Corporation announced it has been recognized by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of the 2020 World's Most Ethical Companies.

Graphic Packaging International Launches PaperSeal Innovation To Increase Food Tray Recyclability

Paul Tye, business development director, Graphic Packaging Europe said, "The transition to fiber-based packaging is a priority for many of our customers, and it's clear that sustainable paperboard packaging solutions must meet the functionality and performance of existing tray designs."

CEPI: European paper and board production decreases by 3% in 2019

The European paper and board production has decreased by 3% in 2019 (European Paper Industry countries covered by the data: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom), compared to the previous year, according to the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI).

Canadian police clear indigenous rail blockade, make arrests

Police on Monday made multiple arrests and cleared a rail blockade by an indigenous group in eastern Canada that had been stopping freight and passenger traffic for 19 days on one of the country's busiest lines.

American Forest Foundation Welcomes International Paper as a Family Forest Carbon Program Partner

The American Forest Foundation (AFF) announced that International Paper, one of the world's leading producers of fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper, has joined AFF and its partner, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), in supporting the newly-created Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) to enhance carbon sequestration in family owned forest land across the U.S.

As Paper Days approaches, we catch up with University of Maine Senior Eliza Hosford

Paperitalo Publications was able to catch up with Eliza Hosford, a senior in the program. Miss Hosford is from Bucksport, Maine and graduated in 2016 from Bucksport High School as valedictorian. We asked her a few questions about her experiences at UMaine.

With N.C. State foundation's annual meeting and banquet nearing, we interview junior Claire Hammontree

The foundation's annual Spring Advisory Board Meeting and Pulp and Paper Celebration Banquet is coming up on Thursday, March 26. Paperitalo Publications was able to catch up with Claire Hammontree, a junior in the program and we asked her a few questions about her experiences at N.C. State.

The Light Green Machine Institute

Ideas you can use now.

Testing...

I’ve been working with kids preparing for the ACT/SAT for over 10 years. Through this time, I’ve come to some conclusions. I hope you find them of interest.

Capital Arguments for February 2020

Check out TALOtech groups on LinkedIn

The purpose of the TALOtech groups on LinkedIn is to provide a convenient forum for people working within the manufacturing part of this industry to share technical and operating related dialog to promote safe and competitive operations.

Energy & the Environment News

Your contributions are welcome in this department, regardless of point of view. A few criteria--if you send us a copyrighted piece, also provide a permission to publish statement from the owner. We will not publish overtly political pieces or anonymous pieces.

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