Archives

The PM40 closed Friday, 25 February 2022, at 4290.

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 25 February 2022 up 6.2% from the 25 February 2021 level.

In this issue of Disconnected Comparisons, we evaluate Quad and Veritiv.

Reported insider trading since the last issue of PaperMoney.

Well, it wasn't really all that sudden if you are a student of history or have lived long enough.

Start-up is scheduled for 2022.

All the electrical, automation and ICT installation contracts for the Kemi bioproduct mill project of Metsä Fibre, part of Metsä Group, have now been agreed.

Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, will increase prices across all product lines in North America and Latin America by 10 to 25 percent, effective April 1, 2022, or as customer contracts allow.

Valmet will deliver two second-generation EVO Defibrator systems to the new insulation materials plant at Steico Sp. z o.o's Gromadka site in Poland. The EVO Defibrators are known for the reliable performance and low operating cost.

Tapflo has been a trusted partner on the industrial pump market for over 40 years, offering diaphragm pumps, centrifugal pumps, and other industrial process equipment. The global pump supplier and manufacturer are now broadening its offer with the launch of a new series of submersible pumps designed for an extensive range of applications.

As part of its continuous renewal and development, Valmet has renewed its Sustainability360º Agenda, which has been the backbone for building the company's acknowledged sustainability work over the years.

Valmet will supply a new headbox to Naini Paper Limited's Kashipur mill in India. The investment is targeted to strengthen Naini Paper's capability in delivering high-quality paper to its customers and secure its market position with growing productivity.

For optimized cleaning, Voith introduces the new InduraClean (IDC) product family as part of its BlueLine stock preparation portfolio.

Bonterra™, an innovative and sustainably focused line of household paper products, officially launched today in Canada, giving consumers the opportunity to make a difference for a better planet. As sustainability continues to become a greater priority for Canadians, Bonterra is offering them our new, more environmentally conscious option to meet their needs while doing something small, but impactful at the same time.

Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, has been recognised by CDP for their work to engage with suppliers to jointly tackle climate change. Only the top 8% of companies who disclosed information for the full climate questionnaire achieved a place on the CDP Supplier Engagement Leaderboard.

The combined Annual and Sustainability Report includes the Report of the Board of Directors, the Company's Financial statements and the Corporate governance statement for the financial period 1 January-31 December 2021.

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, has created a fully recyclable packaging solution for Warmhaus, a Turkish producer of radiators and boilers for home heating.

Smurfit Kappa has been recognised as a top ESG performer by leading research and analytics company Sustainalytics. Following analysis of more than 4,000 European-based companies, Smurfit Kappa was named a Regional Top Rated company and is ranked in the top 5 of the Paper Packaging category globally.

Sonoco, one of the most sustainable, diversified packaging companies, has again been selected as one of Barron's 100 Most Sustainable Companies in the United States. The Company's ranking jumped significantly this year, from 91st to 56th.

The construction of Wisdome Stockholm, a scientific experience arena, is now under way. The building at Sweden's National Museum of Science and Technology in Stockholm has a pioneering design and will be a landmark object for sustainable and climate-smart construction in wood. Stora Enso is the main partner and delivers wood construction materials to Wisdome Stockholm.

Clearwater Paper is examining opportunities in a potential consolidation of the private label tissue industry after losing $28 million in 2021.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö, Ellepot, and OrganoClick have partnered to provide 100% biobased and biodegradable solutions to the horticulture market. Organic 2.0 paper pot is an entirely organic-based solution to grow crops on an industrial scale. The new product has allowed the companies to enter the organic crop segment, which is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years.

Cascades Sonoco, a joint venture between Cascades and Sonoco Product Company, announced that its FlexSHIELD® coatings have received third party certification for compostability from TÜV Austria. Additionally, the coatings have achieved recyclability and repulpability certifications from the Fiber Box Association.

Huhtamaki, a key global provider of sustainable packaging solutions, has signed a 12-year Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) with a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC.

Repeated water quality violations at the North Pacific Paper Company LLC (NORPAC) mill in Longview led to a $68,000 penalty from the Washington Department of Ecology. Pollution above permitted levels can negatively impact human health and the environment.

The Weyerhaeuser Company is being fined $40,000 for repeated water quality violations at its Longview mill. The Washington Department of Ecology is issuing the penalty to Weyerhaeuser for water pollution and failing to adequately monitor its stormwater and wastewater. Pollution above permitted levels can negatively impact human health and the environment.

Georgia-Pacific has completed a $7 million upgrade at Diboll Lumber Mill in Texas that will modernize the mill and help increase its overall production. The capital project focused on the mill's boiler reliability and maintenance and the rebuild of two drying kilns.

Neenah, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of specialty materials focused on filtration media, specialty coatings, engineered materials, and imaging & packaging, announced a 25 million euro investment in new meltblown capacity in our German filtration facility.

SCA says it will invest SEK 90 million ($9.7 million) in the pulp mill in Östrand, Sweden. The investment will lead to cost savings but also increase the mill's production capacity. The investment will also improve the local environment by reducing the risk of odor disturbances.

In just four months, Tetra Pak has co-invested over Euro 11.5 million with recyclers and industry players, to help set up four completely new recycling solutions for carton packages in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and Australia.

The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of 2022, subject to regulatory approvals.

Bast Fibre Technologies Inc. (BFT), a manufacturer of premium natural fibres, has completed its purchase of Georgia-Pacific's Lumberton Cellulose LLC. The Lumberton, NC site is a highly automated state-of-the-art manufacturing facility with approximately 25 employees that will now operate under the new name of BFT Lumberton.

Canfor Corp. said it plans to sell its forestry and mill assets in Mackenzie for $70 million.

Interfor announced that it has completed the previously announced transaction to acquire 100% of the equity interests of EACOM Timber Corporation from an affiliate of Kelso & Company, effective February 22, 2022.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation, the pioneer of menstrual hygiene products, announced that it has completed its acquisition of a majority stake in Thinx, Inc., an industry disruptor and the leader in reusable period and incontinence underwear category. The company made an initial minority investment in Thinx in 2019.

Menasha Packaging Company, LLC, a subsidiary of Menasha Corporation, announces it has signed an agreement to acquire the assets of Color-Box, a business unit of Georgia-Pacific, LLC. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition is expected to close in early summer 2022.

Mondi PLC said that it will sell its personal-care components business to Nitto Denko Corp. for 615 million euros ($699.5 million) as it focuses on expanding its business in packaging.

Boralex Inc. announces an agreement for the sale of the 34.5 MW Senneterre power plant in Quebec, Canada. The power plant has been purchased by Resolute Forest Products Canada Inc.

Upon completion of the transaction, RRD's shares will no longer trade on the New York Stock Exchange, and RRD will become a private company.

Stora Enso announced that it has signed a letter of intent to divest the Kvarnsveden site in Sweden to Northvolt. Due to structural decline in demand for graphical paper, in April 2021 Stora Enso announced a plan to close its Kvarnsveden paper production site. Founded in 1900, Kvarnsveden produced pulp and paper for over 120 years until production ended in September 2021.

Canfor Pulp Products Inc. is announcing a minimum six-week curtailment of BCTMP production at Taylor Pulp in response to significant transportation shortages that have resulted in inventories at the pulp mill reaching capacity.

Cascades Inc., a leader in sustainable recycling, hygiene and packaging solutions, unveiled its 2022-2024 strategic update that commits to leveraging the Company's strong asset base and product portfolio to accelerate value creation and improve profitability. The strategy also introduces new financial targets focusing on free cash flow generation and a plan to improve profitability of its Tissue Group.

Cascades announced an expansion plan in the isothermal distribution market with the commissioning of a new production site in the western United States, in Tacoma (WA), and with the launch of new products under its northbox® brand of insulated boxes for fresh foods.

The majority of operations at Columbia Pulp LLC will shut down for an undetermined length of time starting Friday, Feb. 18, while the young company works on developing a market for its unique product.

The conversion is scheduled for completion by the end of 2023.

Stora Enso is starting a feasibility study for the possible conversion of an idle paper machine at its Oulu site in Finland for a high-volume consumer board line. On a successful completion of the feasibility study, an investment decision could be made by the end of 2022 with start-up in 2025.

Today (Feb. 24) the union announced a three weeks' extension to the strike at most UPM's Finnish mills, until 2 April 2022, unless new collective labour agreements are reached before that.

Ahead of schedule, Domtar's Kingsport plant manager said roughly 170 employees are currently in training to be able to safely produce the brown paper cardboard.

In 2019 when the company announced its new facility in Kalamazoo, representatives at the time described a new machine that would be housed at the new location would be used to replace other production facilities like the one in Battle Creek.

Congratulations to Green Bay Packaging

The company says its Green Bay mill achieved Net-Zero-Water in its production of 100% recycled containerboard paper, the first-ever UL with validation of this environmental claim.

In line with its commitment to optimize energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

The report details the Company's accomplishments, progress and commitments with respect to its careful stewardship of tremendous assets and valuable resources.

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. announced a commitment to set science-based targets to achieve near-term greenhouse gas ("GHG") reductions across all its operations located in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Europe.

Having paused reopening efforts last fall in part because of concerns about street crime in Seattle's downtown core, Weyerhaeuser will be returning to its Pioneer Square headquarters in April.

Canfor Corporation has announced the permanent reduction of 150 million board feet of production capacity at its Plateau Sawmill to resize the facility and align it with the available, sustainable timber supply in the region following the devastating impacts of the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation and other constraints on the timber harvesting land base.

No injuries were reported in the fire.

Mondi has temporarily shut its industrial bags plant that employs about 100 people in Lviv in the west of Ukraine due to Russia's invasion of the country, according to a spokesperson.

The County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service was on the scene at the Weyerhaeuser sawmill after a structure fire at the facility at approximately 6 a.m. Monday, Feb. 21.

Fire crews responded to a machinery fire inside the Dunn Paper mill in Port Huron Thursday afternoon, Feb. 17.

Meadow Lake Mechanical Pulp Inc., which employs 190 people and infuses over $1 million daily into Canada's economy, is dependent on CN Rail, which has failed to transport Meadow Lake's pulp production to ports for months. The mill has exhausted local storage facilities.

Rengo Co., Ltd. will open the Yashio Second Logistics Center, a logistics center for containerboard in the Kanto region, Japan. Start of operations of 30,563 m² warehouse scheduled on April 2022.

Sonoco, one of the largest global sustainable packaging companies, announced that two members of the Company's Board of Directors will be leaving.