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The PM40 closed Saturday, 12 September 2020, at 2992.

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 12 September 2020 up 1.7% from the 13 September 2019 level.

In this issue of Disconnected Comparisons, we evaluate Kimberly-Clark and 3M.

Reported insider trading since the last issue of PaperMoney.

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 140 papermaking innovators and legends have been enshrined. This month, we profile Lothar Göttsching, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.

ABB has supplied and commissioned a full electrical solution for major packaging paper producer Grupo Gondi at its greenfield site in Monterrey, Mexico.

With the construction of a 80-meter-long CPS+, Dieffenbacher will set a world record for the longest continuous press used to produce wood-based panels. The press is the core component of an MDF plant ordered from Dieffenbacher by Chinese wood-based panels manufacturer Guangxi Lelin Forestry Development Co, Ltd.

The Finnish government's investment firm Solidium backs Valmet's decision to not sell its holding in newly-formed valves maker Neles to Swedish engineer Alfa Laval, Solidium's chief executive said.

Valmet and Viridor have signed a three-year service agreement for six waste-to-energy plants in the United Kingdom.

As more and more people think twice about touching shared surfaces, from books to menus, Nippon Paper Industries has launched a new antimicrobial printing paper for use in restaurants and hospitals.

The Arctic Blue Gin package, featuring images of Northern Lights, has won a ScanStar 2020 award. The Nordic competition was organised by the Finnish Packaging Association.

This next generation inflator creates the patented square pattern hybrid cushioning (HC) packaging material on-demand, saving companies valuable floor space while providing superior product protection to ensure products arrive to customers undamaged.

The Vitop® tap forms an integral part of the Smurfit Kappa Bag-in-Box range, a collection of sustainable packaging solutions for liquid and semi-liquid products.

The replacement of polyethylene packs for all sizes of Regina Blitz household paper towel in the UK and Ireland is now complete, and the Sopalin L'Expert kitchen towel wrapped in kraft paper has launched in France.

UPM supports Finnish universities and makes a contribution of 40,000 face masks as part of the company's Biofore Share and Care programme.

Södra Cell is increasing the price of its northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) pulp in Europe by $40/tonne to $880, effective 1 October.

SCA increases the price on bleached softwood kraft pulp (NBSK) by $40 per tonne. The new price, $880 per tonne, is valid from October 1, 2020.

Sonoco ThermoSafe, a unit of Sonoco, and ACL Airshop announced a global agreement for the handling and repair of Sonoco ThermoSafe's Pegasus ULD bulk temperature controlled containers.

A major national packaging company is accused of failing to control noxious odors and dust around one of its Michigan paper mills in a new class action lawsuit.

Port Hawkesbury Paper, located in Point Tupper, is charged with three violations of the regulations that were alleged to have occurred between January and March 2019.

Paper Excellence is offering a $6.2 million loan to its subsidiary, which is designated to cover its obligations to laid off unionized, non-unionized and retired employees.

With a $180 million investment, Graphic Packaging has consolidated two facilities and three offsite warehouses into one of the most productive and largest folding carton operations in the world.

Stora Enso has decided to invest approximately EUR 79 million in a new production line for cross laminated timber (CLT) at its Ždírec sawmill in the Czech Republic. The investment will further enhance Stora Enso's position as a global provider of high-quality engineered wooden elements and as a market leader in CLT.

Brazilian state development bank BNDES has hired JPMorgan Chase & Co to manage a share offering to sell its 11% stake in pulpmaker Suzano SA, two sources familiar with the matter said.

Further to Canfor Corporation's announcement on June 17, 2020, its 70%- owned subsidiary, Vida Group, has completed the purchase of three sawmills located in Sweden from Bergs Timber.

CJK Group, Inc. announced that it has acquired content services business Cenveo Publisher Services and Cenveo Learning from Cenveo Worldwide Limited, and will be merging them with its own content business Sheridan Journal Services and hosting platform Sheridan PubFactory to form KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd. (KGL).

Kimberly-Clark Corporation announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Softex Indonesia, a leader in the fast-growing Indonesian personal care market, in an all-cash transaction for approximately $1.2 billion from a group of shareholders including CVC Capital Partners Asia Pacific IV.

The company is purchasing approximately 85,000 acres of timberlands in mid-coastal Oregon in one transaction, and selling 149,000 acres of timberlands in southern Oregon in a second transaction. The net cost of these two separate transactions is approximately $40 million in cash.

International Paper Co. says it will invest $175 million during the next 10 years in its Eastover mill.

LSC Communications, formerly known as Courier Kendallville, was adding multi-million-dollar expansions to the city as soon as three years ago. Now, the plant is expected to permanently close, with employee terminations starting on Oct. 1 and expected to be completed just before Christmas.

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, has successfully completed the installation of major new equipment at its corrugated box production plant in Szczecin, Poland to meet growing e-commerce demand.

A comprehensive examination of the framework conditions has shown that it is not possible to continue production on the board machine in Hirschwang an der Rax, Lower Austria, economically.

The companies responsible for the pollution, NCR Corporation, Georgia-Pacific and Glatfelter, are paying for the cost of the project and will continue to pay into follow-up costs as the river continues to recover from the pollution. Cleanup costs are estimated to have reached $1 billion.

As part of its continued focus on global sustainability leadership and from Plastic to Purpose' campaign, Ahlstrom-Munksjö has released its innovative process aid for Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and Copper Clad Laminates (CCL) laminating systems.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö is one of the founding members of the #GreenSource initiative to promote the role of forest-fiber industries in the effort to achieve the EU's climate neutrality target by 2050. #GreenSource brings together members of the European Pulp Industry Sector Association (EPIS) and the Confederation of European Paper Industries (Cepi).

Amcor announces its membership of the Digital Watermarks Initiative "HolyGrail 2.0", which brings together over 85 companies and organisations across the packaging value chain, including key customers and industry peers.

In both the Pulp & Paper and Personal Care divisions, we have made progress on the sustainability goals outlined in 2019.

The rating of 'A' or above is only given to 25% of the companies in the packaging sector.

The report serves as a foundation for demonstrating how the Company's ESG approach, strategies and commitments are embedded within the business, highlights ESG achievements for fiscal 2019, and sets the stage for ESG goals and continued disclosures.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality says a 'nuisance condition' was confirmed during its investigation into an 'ash-like substance' near the WestRock facility in Evadale.

Growing consumption and demand for more sustainable packaging is boosting the need for new innovations. To develop solutions for packaging today and into the future, Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, has started up operations in its new Excellence Centre at the unique bioeconomy site in Äänekoski, Finland.

The annual maintenance shutdown of Metsä Fiber's Kemi mill in Finland integrate will take place during week 38 (14-20 September).

Metsä Spring has appointed Annariikka Roselli, Doctor of Science (Tech.), as Development Manager. She will be responsible for the area of wood-based textile fibres at Metsä Spring, focusing especially on R&D-related matters.

Saica Pack has established a new maintenance facility for its Fresh Pack customers.