Week of 10 August 2020: Where do we get these people?

Well, we finally got relocated to the new location. Much safer here than it was in that crazy city. The Great Mother called us to order. "Okay, rats, what do we have on the docket for today?"

Fraud Prevention

In a recent article, Fraud Magazine, discusses an overlooked component of fraud - twisted rationalizations.

Patent Applications and Patents

Appvion Announces Antimicrobial Technology

SafeShield technology prevents the replication of DNA and new cell formation! Independent lab tests demonstrate up to 99.99% reduction in non-pathogenic bacteria on the paper's surface even after printing and post processing.

Essity Leans on Digital Tools to Fortify Their Manufacturing Supply Chain While Improving Machine Health and Productivity

Augury, a leading AI-based Machine Health solution provider, announced that Essity, an innovative global leader in professional hygiene, consumer tissue and personal care products, has chosen Augury's machine health solutions to help drive the digital transformation of its supply chain.

[Adv.] Verity IA Software, Inc.

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

Coronavirus and papermaking woes bring tough times to Maine's logging industry

'This is probably the lowest point that I've ever seen,' says one logging industry veteran and association president.

Domino's teams with WestRock to encourage more recycling of pizza boxes

In an effort to encourage more recycling, Domino's and its primary box supplier, WestRock, have launched recycling.dominos.com to encourage and educate pizza lovers about their recyclables. Domino's worked with WestRock earlier this year to increase the recycled content in its pizza boxes from 40 percent to 72 percent and says they are designed for at least seven recycling cycles.

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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Domtar Corp. to close Port Huron, Mich. paper mill, eliminating about 200 jobs; also shutting down Ashdown, Ark. machine

As part of the cost savings program, overall the company will permanently close the uncoated freesheet manufacturing at the Kingsport, Tennessee and Port Huron, Michigan mills, the remaining paper machine at the Ashdown, Arkansas mill and the converting center in Ridgefields, Tennessee. These actions will reduce the Company's annual uncoated freesheet paper capacity by approximately 721,000 short tons, and will result in a workforce reduction of approximately 780 employees. The Kingsport and Ashdown paper machines, which have been idled since April 2020, will not recommence operations. The Port Huron and Ridgefields mills are expected to shut down by the end of the first quarter of 2021.

Following layoffs, Domtar Kingsport Mill closing, to be converted and reopen in 2023

Domtar announced in a quarterly report that it is shutting down uncoated freesheet manufacturing at the Kingsport Mill. The mill has been idle since April 2020 and will not recommence operations. The layoff has impacted more than 300 people.

PCA considers expansion project costing up to $170 million

Packaging Corporation of America may spend up to $170 million to move from South 21st Street in Newark, Ohio to build a new, larger facility on a Thornwood Drive site once considered for an ethanol plant.

Resolute Forests Products may reopen idled El Dorado facility

Resolute Forest Products is continuing plans to reopen its sawmill in El Dorado, Ark., that has been closed since last summer.

Future uncertain for employees after closure of Verso Mill

Many people in Wisconsin Rapids are without a job Monday night after the Verso Paper Mill shut down production. Other Verso workers know their job there has an expiration date.

Have you tried the Paperitalo Supplier Directory lately?

If you are looking for goods and services in the pulp and paper industry, you need to check out the Paperitalo Directory!

Settlement With DuPont Likely on PFAS Liability, Chemours Says

The Chemours Co. and DuPont likely will reach a settlement in a lawsuit where Chemours claims its former parent saddled it with millions of dollars to clean up per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in the environment, the company's chief executive officer said Friday.

Electrical Fire At Graphic Packaging Facility Extinguished

A small fire in the roof of Battle Creek's Graphic Packaging facility is believed to have been started by an electrical issue.

Sonoco Acquires Sustainable Paper Can Solutions Producer

Sonoco announced it has acquired Can Packaging, a privately owned designer and manufacturer of sustainable paper packaging and related manufacturing equipment, based in Habsheim, France, for total consideration of €41.7 million, or approximately $49 million.

O-I Glass Completes the Sale of ANZ Business Unit to Visy

Gross proceeds approximated AUD $947 million including a related sale-leaseback agreement which approximated AUD $214 million.

Work continues to secure future of Verso mill in Wisconsin Rapids as layoffs loom

The Verso mill is in the process of idling this week in Wisconsin Rapids, but task force leaders say they have to continue to endeavor to find solutions for the future of the site.

UPM begins construction of new nursery in Central Uruguay

UPM has begun the construction of its third nursery in Uruguay, located in Central Uruguay, about 10 kilometers from Sarandí del Yí, Durazno. The investment is approximately $25 million.

Saica Group Announces first US location in Southwest Ohio

Saica Group is establishing its first North American facility near Cincinnati, Ohio.

Skowhegan, Maine firefighters respond to call at Sappi's Somerset Mill

Overheating machinery is thought to be the cause of a minor fire at Sappi's Somerset Mill.

CNG's Kelly/Spicers Continues Packaging Expansion, Acquires Northern California's American Packaging

Central National Gottesman Inc. (CNG), which owns sales and distribution businesses in the global pulp, paper, tissue, packaging, wood products and metals industries, announced that its Kelly/Spicers division has acquired Northern California-based American Packaging, further expanding its packaging business throughout the Western U.S.

Kruger to supply pulp for the manufacture of ecofriendly disposable masks

Kruger Inc. has entered into a partnership with Pulp Moulded Products Inc. (PMP) for the supply of low-carbon footprint fibres that will enable PMP to produce a prototype of a low-cost, single-use biodegradable mask. Developed by PMP for non-frontline workers and civilians, this ecofriendly alternative will be made from KruPulp, Kruger's FDA-compliant and FSC®-certified pulp.

Menasha Corporation Publishes 10th Annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report; Includes COVID-19 Response And Actions

Menasha Corporation, parent company of Menasha Packaging, announces the publication of its tenth annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report, highlighting the company's environmental, social and governance performance during calendar year 2019 and the first half of 2020.

Monadnock Presents The Sustainable Menu

Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc. says, "We are very pleased to announce our Sustainable Menu of printing papers to meet the quickly changing menu needs of bars, restaurants, and hospitality businesses operating under stringent COVID-19 regulations."

Smurfit Kappa to participate in world's first project on hydrogen energy storage

Smurfit Kappa has announced it has been chosen to participate in an innovative energy research project on renewable energy storage. The HYFLEXPOWER project will see Smurfit Kappa's Saillat Paper Mill in France become the first plant in the world to introduce an integrated hydrogen gas turbine demonstrator.

Sonoco Thermosafe to develop vendor-neutral blockchain platform

Sonoco ThermoSafe, a subsidiary of Sonoco, is developing a vendor-neutral blockchain platform to deliver improved transparency and traceability across the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Enviva Completes Acquisition of Georgia Biomass and its Waycross Production Plant

Enviva Partners, LP announced the completion of its previously announced acquisition of a world-class, industrial scale wood pellet production plant in Waycross, Georgia, and associated contracted terminal capacity in Savannah, Georgia.

DS Smith Offers Environmentally Friendly Alternative to Plastic Foam Coolers

DS Smith, a leading packaging, paper and recycling company that puts sustainability at the core of everything it does, announced today that it has produced a 100% recyclable cooler, using its proprietary Greencoat corrugated material that's moisture-resistant and food-contact safe.

Avery Dennison First to Certify BOPP Films for HDPE Recycling Under APR Guidance

Avery Dennison Label and Packaging Materials announced that its Clear Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) film portfolio has been certified to comply with the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) Critical Guidance Protocol for HDPE recycling.

Ilim Group's new evaporation plant construction nearly complete

As part of a large-scale investment program, Ilim Group is finalizing its environmental project worth $91 million that involves construction of a new Evaporation Plant (EVAP 8) with the highest capacity in Russia at Ilim's Mill in Bratsk, Russia.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö to invest in its facility in Binzhou, China

Ahlstrom-Munksjö announces a further investment in its Binzhou plant to be able to produce abrasive backing papers locally in China.

Student Spotlight: Geordin Craun of Western Michigan

Paperitalo Publications was able to catch up with Geordin Craun, a senior in the program. We asked her a few questions about her experiences at Western Michigan.

NC State Names New Dean of College of Natural Resources

Myron Floyd has been named dean of the College of Natural Resources at North Carolina State University after a nationwide search. His appointment becomes effective April 1.

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.

The Light Green Machine Institute

Ideas you can use now.

Saving energy

Saving energy was a topic Jim Thompson discussed a few weeks back. With fuel prices at record lows, it seems a weird time to discuss saving energy. But back in the day, when Union Camp was an entity in the 70s and 80s, the company leadership were geniuses at forecasting the paper industry fortunes six months to a year in advance. It seemed when everyone else was doing one thing we were doing another. And some time later, our approach was usually proven the best.

Capital Arguments for July 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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March 2020

Download Audio File of the March 2020 Nip Impressions columns.

February 2020

Download Audio File of the February 2020 Nip Impressions columns.