Archives

The PM40 closed Friday, 14 June 2019, at 3294.

Get the latest PM40 updates by listening to the weekly Nips show and the PM40 Daily Show on Pulp & Paper Radio International.

The PM40 closed 14 June 2019 down 21% from the 15 June 2018 level.

Ladies and gentlemen, the first class of inductees to the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame in Appleton, Wisconsin was inducted more than two decades ago in 1995, and today, more than 139 papermaking innovators and legends have been enshrined. This month, we profile Dr. Liisa Viikari, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.

In this issue of Disconnected Comparisons, we evaluate Amcor and Kimberly-Clark.

Reported insider trading since the last issue of PaperMoney.

Sun Chemical has received a Jury Commendation for the UK Excellence Award for "Managing with Agility" from the British Quality Foundation, after it received a five star EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management) rating.

Tieto and Valmet have begun a cooperation to support energy producers in utilizing new digitalisation technologies to enhance fuel supply chain management and transparency.

As part of its "Love the Change" campaign, Pampers is proud to announce they're providing 5,000 changing tables for public restrooms across North America by 2021, so more dads and babies can #LoveTheChange together when they're out-and-about.

Approximately 160 employees will be impacted by this curtailment.

Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) has announced three new expanded partnerships across Mexico and the launch of a new label paper.

Specifically, Neenah will no longer offer its Fine Paper & Packaging portfolio of brands through the Veritiv Corporation, effective as of the close of business today, June 12, 2019.

Canada has filed an appeal concerning the WTO panel report in the case brought by Canada in "United States -- Anti-dumping measures applying differential pricing methodology to softwood lumber from Canada." Canada requests the Appellate Body to review the Panel's findings and conclusions and to reverse it.

A judge for the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Louisiana has granted multiple plaintiffs' requests to include their personal injury lawsuits against the International Paper Company (IPC) in a class action lawsuit.

A judge has denied the DuPont Co.'s request to approve an appeal to Delaware's Supreme Court of an order directing the unsealing of a complaint filed against the company by chemical manufacturer Chemours.

Victims of a Legionella epidemic (Legionnaires' disease) that broke out near Ghent will jointly file a complaint against the company responsible, according to reports.

A Packaging Corporation of America employee is suing the company and United Steelworkers Local 231, claiming union fees were collected from his paycheck against his will.

Amcor announces the successful completion of its acquisition of Bemis Company Inc., effective 11 June 2019.

Smurfit Kappa Group said it had upped its interest in Carton de Colombia to 97.7% after making a tender offer for minority shares in the business.

The curtailments are scheduled to run from June 17 through July 26.

Louisiana Pacific will indefinitely shut down operations at the Peace Valley OSB mill in Fort St. John.

The decision on the investment of 65,000 cubic metre Kerto LVL line was made in December 2017.

Earlier this year (March 1, 2019), we shared with you the news that Ken Winterhalter had been named the new Chief Executive Officer of Twin Rivers, and that I (Bob Snyder) would be moving into a full-time role as Chairman of the Twin Rivers Board of Managers.

Norske Skog AS, one of the leading global publication paper producers, announces today that it has initiated a process to consider an initial public offering ("IPO") and listing of its shares on Oslo Børs (Oslo Stock Exchange). Norske Skog AS is currently owned by funds managed by Oceanwood Capital Management Limited.

Verso Corporation announced that its Board of Directors, had in late March of 2019, reengaged Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc. as the company's financial advisor to assist Verso in identifying and evaluating a range of potential strategic alternatives, including a possible merger, joint venture, partnership, business combination, stock repurchase, recapitalization, sale, distribution, transfer or other disposition or acquisition of assets or equity interests, while the Company conducts its search to identify and retain a permanent chief executive officer.

Closures and cutbacks

EcoVadis is one of the leading systems for evaluating suppliers' environmental aspects, working conditions, social responsibility, and procurement practices.

Less than 10 percent of plastic used in Canada gets recycled.

One of the new targets states that 85% percent of the company's packaging is to be manufactured from renewable or recycled material by 2025.

International Paper in Ticonderoga has received $2.8 million and recognition from the state for its work to reduce its carbon footprint.

With two years left to hit its 2020 sustainability goals, International Paper has already exceed half of its target numbers.

McKinley Paper Co. has received preliminary approval from two state air-quality agencies to install new equipment to manufacture heavyweight liner and bag-grade paper, increasing production and spiking air pollution -- but not exceeding regulatory emissions limits, state officials say.

The Port Townsend Paper Corporation has agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that will cost more than $300,000 for a violation of the Clean Air Act.

Trade union representatives have welcomed talks with a management team to acquire Arjowiggins Fine Papers' Stoneywood and Chartham mills after negotiations with a preferred bidder broke down earlier this month.

McKinley Paper Co. has reached agreement with the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers Local 155 on a new labor deal that will be in effect once McKinley opens its Ediz Hook paper mill, company and union officials said earlier this month.

Canfor Pulp Products Inc. announced it will be temporarily curtailing operations at its BCTMP mill in Taylor, British Columbia (BC) from June 29 through August 5, 2019, due to a combination of weaker market conditions and short-term fibre constraints resulting from industry-wide sawmill curtailments in the BC Interior.

Officials say they can't determine what caused a massive blaze that destroyed a landmark paper mill in northern New Jersey and toppled its iconic sign earlier this year.

Packaging products maker DS Smith Plc said on Thursday that it had made plans for contingency stocking of spare parts as it readies for Britain's planned exit from the European Union, but expected disruption to its operations to be "relatively contained".

Madisonville Fire Department crews were called out 2:24 p.m. May 31 to Ahlstrom-Munksjo.

Firefighters responded to a two-alarm fire at Monadnock Paper Mills in Bennington Thursday morning (June 6) around 9:45 a.m.

A fire that started in the blower room at Verso Corp. on Monday didn't affect the company's operations, according to the fire chief.

It is the first all-in-one digital customer platform available in the paper sack industry worldwide.

In a statement on Monday, the court-appointed receiver, Madison bankruptcy lawyer Rebecca DeMarb, blamed a paper customer for the closure.

The Waco Fire Department said a fire broke out at the Sonoco Flexible Packaging building Monday morning, June 3.