An updated, intuitive design for an improved user experience.

In line with Lecta’s commitment to continuous improvement, and in response to our customers’ feedback, Lecta has revamped several sections of our site to provide an improved experience for our stakeholders. 

With cleaner lines, streamlined navigation and a clearer, easy-to-use structure, we are excited to share our new online presence with you. 

You can also find our new corporate video on our Mission, Vision and Values page. The video offers an overview of Lecta’s full multiproduct portfolio, from manufacturing to end use, present in so many different industries and markets.

UPM is studying biofuels development opportunities by starting an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for a possible biorefinery in Mussalo, Kotka, in south-eastern Finland. The study of a possible Kotka Biorefinery is in the very early stages and the EIA process normally takes approximately one year.

EU and national policies on biofuels will also play an important role in the final assessment of the possible investment.

The EIA study states that the proposed second UPM biorefinery would use a different raw material base and technology than in the current UPM Lappeenranta Biorefinery. The Kotka Biorefinery would produce approximately 500,000 tonnes of advanced biofuels for transportation, made from several renewable and sustainable feedstocks. 

"We are looking into the use of several new feedstocks that fulfil sustainability criteria, such as wood residues and other sustainable wastes and residues. In addition to this in Uruguay we are testing a winter cropping concept with Brassica carinata for biofuels’ raw material. Oil from turnip rape-related carinata would be one of the possible raw materials for the Kotka Biorefinery," says Petri Kukkonen, Vice President of UPM Biofuels Development.

The environmental impact assessment started by UPM in February is a legal preventive environmental policy procedure. EIA studies the execution of alternatives, environmental impacts and the possibility of minimising harmful impacts - as well as the opinions of various stakeholders on all these areas.

The two KB2300 board sheeters will contribute to the British plant to continue offering a high-quality product alongside impeccable service. 

Iggesund, an important Swedish group and a benchmark in the board mills on a global scale, produces two of the highest quality paperboard products in the market. In their Workington (UK) plant they make “Incada” folding box board. The brand is used for packaging in sectors with high quality requirements, such as the food, cosmetics, electronics and the pharmaceutical. 

The factory’s finishing area is one of the fundamental areas of its production process. For 20 years, they have entrusted Pasaban with the supply and service of some of their paperboard cutting machines, this way offering them a total solution. 

In the Workington Mill, Iggesund already has a KDD-2600 board sheeter which, together with an old Jagenberg and a Pasaban board winder, they have been some of the key machines in the paperboard finishing area. However, they are currently immersed in a machinery renewal process for which they have once again trusted in Pasaban. We will substitute the old equipment for two KB-2300 sheeters with highly automated rotary unwind stands able to process 170 to 400 gsm folding box board (FBB). 

We are proud to be able to continue to satisfy our customer needs and to continue being a benchmark in the market. In this case being a part of the manufacturing process of ’Incada’ and ’Ivercote’ FBB.

With the advent of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT), connected objects are starting to make their way into the industry, and corollary of this expansion, connected maintenance. The Allimand Group is reflecting on the subject. "In the last few years, our Group has initiated a concept of preventive maintenance, aimed at defining the number of operating hours of a part and potentially the need to change it. These services are now managed by the Allimand Services department", explains Gilles Turrel, Allimand’s Automation Manager.
Automation is currently moving towards industrial computing. Maintenance and monitoring are not limited to the analysis of data ; the goal is to provide users with features to facilitate their tasks. Why not move in the medium term, to the preventive maintenance of a speciality machine via connected sensors that will trace the information such as temperature, pressure or level of wear of a part of the machine...?
"When we are able to consolidate this data which is currently capitalized by the Allimand Group’s start-up and maintenance technical teams - field data and data provided by the machine control systems - we will then be able to analyze them, define operating matrices, interact on this data remotely and make maintenance predictions" says Gilles Turrel.
Today, the Allimand Group is considering a real investment strategy in automation, in order to be able to collect data from remote machines via an advanced digital infrastructure. "It’s about moving towards Industry 5.0, production-oriented, in order to collect information to a data acquisition system on a server with careful data analysis" argues Franck Rettmeyer, Allimand Group CEO. The goal is to be able to interact on this data remotely and to be able to adapt the paper machines accordingly. In addition to digitization, Franck Rettmeyer also puts the related data security issues into perspective, in order to guard against potential cyber-attacks, given the increasing connectivity of equipment

FEFCO together with Cepi ContainerBoard (CCB) have released the second edition of the Reel Identification and Finishing Guidelines, available on their websites :

• http://www.fefco.org/technical-documents/reel-identification-and-finishing
  
• http://www.cepi-containerboard.org/
  

The document is the result of collaboration between Paper, Board and Core manufacturers with the objective to optimise the production process and reduce waste.

The standard refines a uniform bar code to provide consistency between the coding and improves the understanding about the labelling of the reels.

The recommendations cover, among others, requirements for moisture details on reel labels, the marking of paper joins on reel ends, new dimensions for standard core sizes, positioning of paper maker joins and reel tension, etc.

Angelika Christ, FEFCO Secretary General, says “This successful revision is the result of the good cooperation between the associations and the commitment of the technical experts, marking another step forward to improving performance”.

Klaus Spielmann, CCB Managing Director, says “Through this revised guidelines FEFCO and CCB are providing a document detailing best practice for the handling and mounting of reels”.

Buckman is announcing a global price adjustment on select pulp and paper product lines effective March 1, 2018, or as contracts allow. The price increase will be 10 to 25 percent, dependent on geographic location and products and services sold. In some areas increases may be higher where exchange-rate-based adjustments are necessary.

These price adjustments are being driven by the rising cost of raw materials, energy and transportation.

FPInnovations and Resolute Forest Products have announced a significant investment in the implementation of a TMP-Bio pilot project in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The pilot project will focus on developing new ways to efficiently produce and commercialize innovative bio-chemicals derived from wood, contributing to the development of a bio-economy in Northern Ontario, as well as elsewhere in Canada.

The $21 million project is part of an initiative to renew and transform the forest products industry, building on investments made in 2012 by Resolute, the Ontario Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy (CRIBE), and Natural Resources Canada. This investment covers cost of capital and R&D and has the support of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), CRIBE, FedNor, the City of Thunder Bay CEDC and Natural Resources Canada.

Resolute is contributing $3.5 million and hosting the pilot project at its Thunder Bay pulp and paper mill. TMP-Bio is a patented technology developed by FPInnovations with financial support from Natural Resources Canada’s Transformative Technologies Program.

This project comes at a very opportune time as market interest for sustainably sourced green bio-chemicals and bio-fuels continues to build. The development and availability in significant quantities of bio-sourced chemicals, such as the cellulosic sugars and high-quality H-lignin produced by the TMP-Bio process, is a key step in growing new market value for the forest products sector by connecting it to the bio-chemical supply chain.

Resolute Forest Products Inc. today announced the selection and appointment of Yves Laflamme as Resolute’s new president and chief executive officer, and a member of the Board of Directors, succeeding Richard Garneau. The announcement of Mr. Garneau’s retirement today coincides with the announcement of the company’s fourth quarter and 2017 annual results.

"The Resolute Board of Directors enthusiastically supports Yves Laflamme’s selection, recognizing his good judgment and strong business acumen. Yves has a strong reputation in the industry, a well-refined focus on costs, and built teams that consistently deliver results. There is no better person to lead Resolute into the future," stated Bradley P. Martin, chairman of the Board of Directors. "The choice of an internal candidate to succeed Richard Garneau is a credit to the internal talent developed by the company. Yves’ appointment is also a reaffirmation of our strategic direction."

Under Mr. Garneau’s leadership, Resolute established a competitive cost structure and diversified asset base, a conservative capital structure and a sustainable business strategy. His unwavering commitment to a safe workplace and environmental stewardship has earned North American and global recognition.

In expressing its appreciation to Mr. Garneau, the Board of Directors recognize his dedication, strength of purpose and personal integrity. "Resolute is a stronger, more dynamic and far more sustainable company today following Richard’s seven-year tenure as president and CEO," added Mr. Martin. "Richard personified courageous leadership, not only tackling complex issues but also challenging the status quo. Richard above all else is a man of his word, and Resolute in turn reflects this transparency and integrity. His principled leadership and insistence on truly sustainable outcomes have set the foundation for shared prosperity."

"I am honored to now lead Resolute as we take our next steps, further defining our collective future. We will build on the positive momentum, and continue to make Resolute a profitable and sustainable company," stated Yves Laflamme. "Richard led by example, exemplified principled leadership, and built upon his knowledge with a commitment to life-long learning. We are very pleased that Richard has agreed to stay on in an advisory capacity working with me on specific mandates."

Mr. Laflamme currently serves as senior vice president, Wood Products, Global Procurement and Information Technology for Resolute. He is a 37-year veteran of the industry, as well as Resolute and its predecessor companies. Mr. Laflamme began his career in Finance working at Donohue Inc.’s Saint-Félicien integrated pulp mill and wood products operations in 1981, and moved on to serve as controller for the company’s integrated newsprint and wood products facilities in the Abitibi region of Quebec. Over the past 15 years, he held a series of successive roles as vice president and senior vice president, covering the overall wood products business, including both Operations and Sales, as well as the company’s former Recycling business. Over the past several years, Mr. Laflamme expanded his scope to also include a wide range of corporate support functions, including IT and Global Procurement, among others. In addition, he led a number of important mandates for the company, including M&A activity and enterprise resource planning (ERP), and has represented Resolute in major negotiations with governments. Mr. Laflamme currently serves as chairman of Resolute-LP Engineered Wood joint ventures, a Board member of Toundra Greenhouse, an Executive team member of the Quebec Forest Industry Council, and is a past chairman of the Canadian Wood Council. He is a CPA (CMA), after pursuing his university education in administration and finance.

Eurocon and MoRe Research in cooperation offer analysis, mapping and system design for collection and destruction of pulp mills’ diluted non-condensable gases. For pulp mills this means a complete and simplified project process.

The need for a cost efficient way of collection and destruction of diluted non-condensable gases, DNCG, has increased due to tougher EU demands forcing the industry to use best available technology, BAT. According to EU directive 2010/75/EU, the requirements of the BAT conclusions must be met by 30 September 2018. All pulp mills must identify and quantify the emissions of DNCG and report how the requirements are followed or the plan how to follow them. 

“What we usually call weak odorous gases are diluted total reduced sulphur gases containing a mixture of different sulphurous substances such as hydrogen sulphide, methylmercaptan, dimethylsulphide (DMS) and dimethyldisulphide (DMDS),” says Michael Sjögren, Project Engineer, MoRe Research. “The pulp mills can reduce the emission of malodorous gases by collecting the different emissions, e.g. at the recovery boiler, for combustion. However, in order to be able to dimension a plant for this, the size and composition of the gas streams must be determined and mapped.”

“These diluted non-condensable gases, DNCG are released from for example tanks, washing filters, chip bins, lime mud filters or drying machines. Together with Eurocon we have therefore developed flow measurement methods as well as analyses of sulphur content in the pulp mills’ DNCG. Based on the analysis results Eurocon dimensions, designs and constructs a technical solution for an efficient gas collection for immediate destruction.”

“We have more than fifty years of collective experience within the non-condensable gases area, NCG,” says Lars-Eric Myrman, Manager Process, Eurocon. “This includes concentrated non-condensable gases, CNCG as well as diluted non-condensable gases, DNCG. The pipe construction for these aggressive gases differs considerably from traditional pipe construction. In the case of NCG the gases are moist, poisonous and explosive which puts demands on special competence regarding construction of pipeing for gas collecting systems.”

“It is unique that a complete concept for analysis and design of a technical solution is offered. Without a reliable set of analysis data an efficient system cannot be designed and now we can together offer a complete package. This is possible due to close cooperation between Eurocon and MoRe,” Lars-Eric Myrman concludes.

Within six days of start of insolvency proceedings by traditional German paper mill Feldmühle Uetersen, Papierfabrik Scheufelen GmbH + Co. KG, Lenningen, also initiated insolvency proceedings on January, 30th 2018 at the local court of Esslingen.
Scheufelen is a producer of coated wood free papers for premium and commodity graphical applications, a market facing dramatic overcapacities and margin pressures. In 2016 the company launched under the brand phoenolux a high white SBS board for premium and luxury packaging applications, successfully gaining market share in the fast growing and demanding packaging industry. With the recent market introduction of grasspaper, the most environmental and cost friendly fresh fiber paper product available, Scheufelen laid promising ground for a sustainable future. The development and market launch of grasspaper was accompanied by Packaging Campus Lenningen GmbH in cooperation with Stuttgart-based Hochschule für Medien.

Schleswig-Holstein paper mill, Feldmuehle Uetersen GmbH filed for insolvency at the Pinneberg district court on January 24, 2018. The court has appointed the Hamburg attorney-at-law and restructuring-expert Dr. Tjark Thies of Reimer Rechtsanwälte as the preliminary insolvency administrator.
Founded in 1904, the company has approximately 420 employees and produces around 250,000 tonnes of paper a year at its paper mill just west of Hamburg. Its products are used worldwide, mainly for the production of classic print products and in the packaging industry.
“Business operations will continue unimpeded. This goes for production as well as purchasing, sales, marketing and logistics,” says Tjark Thies. Heiner Kayser, Managing Director of Feldmuehle Uetersen GmbH says : “Our customers can count on continuing to receive on-time deliveries,” and adds that suppliers can rest assured that they will receive their money when new orders are placed.
Employees will continue to be paid for their work : through the end of March 2018, their salaries will be covered by the Federal Employment Agency’s insolvency allowance.
Tjark Thies and a team of experts from Reimer Rechtsanwälte are currently working on a stocktaking, together with the Munich-based restructuring consultancy Ruppert Fux Landmann GmbH (RFL) and Feldmuehle’s management. "Feldmuehle has first-class products, production facilities, and processes as well as a highly motivated workforce and holds a leading market position. So we are justified in seeing the current proceedings as an opportunity for the company," says Thies.
“Feldmuehle will continue the strategic reorganisation it has begun with the funds available to it under insolvency law. In particular, we will use the days and weeks ahead to review the extent to which the company could manage the economic rehabilitation just by itself,” says management consultant Ruppert. One conceivable alternative to this would be its acquisition by an investor, he adds.

UPM has been listed in the RobecoSAM’s Sustainability Yearbook 2018 with the Gold Class and Industry Mover distinctions. The company that has achieved the largest proportional improvement in its sustainability performance compared to the previous year is named the RobecoSAM Industry Mover. RobecoSAM awards companies for their excellent sustainability performance.

Aris Prepoudis, CEO, RobecoSAM : "I congratulate UPM whole heartedly for being awarded a Gold Class medal and recognized as Industry Mover in The Sustainability Yearbook 2018. The companies included in the Yearbook are the world’s most sustainable companies in their industry and are moving the ESG needle in ways that will help us realise the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030."

"This award makes us at the same time extremely proud and humble," Sami Lundgren, VP, UPM Environment and Responsibility says smiling.

"We are proud of the positive steps we have taken in each area of responsibility, and are, of course, pleased that those actions have promoted us in the Gold class and especially among the Industry Movers," Sami continues.

"Our Aiming higher culture and purpose to create value by seizing the limitless potential of bioeconomy push us to work even harder," Sami says.

The UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals are strongly guiding UPM in all of its operations. As of 2016 we have been a member of UN Global Compact LEAD, which is a unique leadership platform within the UN Global Compact that strongly promotes the integration of sustainability into business strategies.

"We have a great network of the most sustainably advanced companies across geographical regions and industry sectors to discuss and share best practices with," Sami concludes.

The Sustainability Yearbook awards companies for their excellent sustainability performance as determined by their score in RobecoSAM’s annual Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA).

 · Increase in operating speed of 50 to 80 m/min

· Improvement of dryness from 45% to over 50%

· Smooth shutdown and restart

on the BM 4 and BM 5 machines, the entire process from shutting down to restarting was carried out smoothly. The two paper machines were designed to manufacture testliner paper from 100% domestic recycled paper with a basis weight of 120 to 200 g/m2 and a wire section width of 6260 mm.

Kunshan, China : On November 25, 2017, Voith Paper installed the new NipcoFlex shoe presses on the BM 4 and BM 5 paper machines at Wanlida Paper-Products Co., Ltd. The shoe presses were later started up successfully. The upgrade was part of a contract signed on August 11, 2016, according to which Voith Paper was to provide three NipcoFlex shoe presses along with the control systems for the second presses on the BM 3, BM 4, and BM 5 at Wanlida.

In the upgrade on the BM 4 and BM 5 machines, the entire process from shutting down to restarting was carried out smoothly. The two paper machines were designed to manufacture testliner paper from 100% domestic recycled paper with a basis weight of 120 to 200 g/m2 and a wire section width of 6260 mm. When the new NipcoFlex shoe presses were put into operation on November 25, the operating speed of the two machines went up by 50 to 80 m/min and the dryness of the paper out of the press section went up from 45% to over 50%, while steam consumption and paper breaks were reduced appreciably and sheet strength improved considerably, well surpassing the expectations of the client. The shoe press upgrade on the BM 3 will take place soon.

“We are very satisfied with the overall performance of the machines following the shoe press upgrade, which has brought us tangible and notable benefits in terms of improved dryness, reduced energy consumption, lowered operating and maintenance costs, and improved operational efficiency,” said the client, greatly impressed.

The Wanlida BM 4 and BM 5 paper machines were designed to manufacture testliner paper from 100% domestic recycled paper. The new NipcoFlex shoe presses were put into operation on November 25.<br /> The Wanlida BM 4 and BM 5 paper machines were designed to manufacture testliner paper from 100% domestic recycled paper. The new NipcoFlex shoe presses were put into operation on November 25.

Voith NipcoFlex is a well-proven industry-leading technology. The successful shoe press upgrade on the BM 4 and BM 5 not only enhances the paper quality but also lowers the production costs, giving Wanlida an edge over similarly sized competitors.
Committed to innovation, Voith Paper has been endeavoring to improve its medium-sized clients’ papermaking efficiency, competitiveness, and sustainability by upgrading and optimizing their existing equipment in a joint effort to create value and stay ahead of industry trends.

Critical sustainability issues can be addressed when companies work with suppliers in new ways and adopt processes that allow supplier-enabled innovation, says Mondi’s chief procurement officer Beatrix Praeceptor. For those with a passion for end-to-end optimisation, procurement today offers exciting career paths as well.

Beatrix Praeceptor is chief procurement officer at Mondi Group. Her goal is to embed a supply chain-oriented mind-set throughout the business. Why ? Because procurement is a key lever for profitable innovation and sustainability, she says. In the following interview, she describes how.

Mondi Online Newsroom (ON) : Does procurement have a role to play in innovation and sustainability ?

Beatrix Praeceptor (BP) : There is more potential to work with the supply base to answer the questions we need to answer as businesses and society. For example, when big resin suppliers tell me their main innovation topic is to make their products more sustainable and, on the other side, we’re working to make packaging more sustainable, I see an opportunity to be partners in innovation. Supplier-enabled innovation is an opportunity to build structures and relationships that enable the exchange of innovation.

ON : What is supplier-enabled innovation ?

BP : Supplier-enabled innovation means that you build working relationships with selected suppliers, with full transparency around areas of innovation where you match, so you can enhance innovation together.

Sometimes, supplier-enabled innovation calls for different kinds of contracts. If you tender a supplier every year, and you can throw them out in a month, then why should they share their best innovation ideas with you ? You need a different mode of working, with contracts that still have competitive costs, but where the supplier has security that investing in the relationship with you will also bring them long-term benefits.

ON : That sounds like a profound partnership…

BP : Exactly. For innovation, you need relationships with long-term focus. Which, by the way, is also important for risk assessment.

Lucart welcomes 2018 with a major investment aimed at strengthening its market position in the Iberian peninsula, through the acquisition of the assets of the Spanish Group CEL Technologies & System.
In the summer of 2017, the CEL Group had to initiate an extraordinary administration process during which a tender procedure was launched for the sale of its production assets. The acquisition by Lucart was finalised on 31 January through a newly established company, Lucart Tissue & Soap S.L.U.
Lucart’s project for restarting the business includes an investment plan of more than €20 million over the next 5 years.

With this operation, Lucart has acquired three production facilities in Spain, in the Basque Country near the city of Bilbao, designated for the production and conversion of tissue paper and the production of personal care soaps and detergents in the Away from Home industry. The acquisition also includes a substantial de-inking plant, which will allow Lucart to exploit its know-how in the sector of high-quality recycled ecological tissue paper, further consolidating its position as a leader in this field.
In terms of logistics, the geographical location of the plants is ideal for Lucart for serving both the Iberian and French markets.

In order to gradually resume production, Lucart has confirmed 146 jobs in the three plants acquired, with a business plan that envisages the following :
• restarting two continuous machines at the Aranguren plant, for an overall capacity of 50,000 tonnes per year ;
• gradually restarting and implementing the converting activity in the Gunes plant ;
• the development and strengthening of soap and detergent production activities in the Artziniega plant, which has never been discontinued.

‘This acquisition will allow us to continue to strengthen our presence in the tissue paper market, in line with the company’s strategic growth plan in European markets, serving all of our Group’s Business Units,’ Massimo Pasquini, CEO of Lucart, explained.

Vinda International Group purchased four new Toscotec AHEAD-2.0M tissue machines, to be installed in its new production base in Xiaonan district, Xiaogan, Hubei. Toscotec will deliver the first two lines in mid-March and the second two in mid-May 2018. 

PM1, PM2, PM3 and PM4 will have similar configurations, including second generation large diameter TT SYD and Toscotec’s most recent technological developments in dryness efficiency, taking its widely acknowledged energy saving results to the next level.

The four AHEAD-2.0M are scheduled to come online by the end of 2018, leading to a total production increase of over 120,000 t/y for Vinda. This year the Italian supplier is also delivering two AHEAD 2.0M tissue machines to Vinda’s new Yangjiang mill in Guangdong. Overall, these six Toscotec-supplied lines will add a total of over 180,000 tons to Vinda International’s annual production output.

Toscotec Chief Executive Officer Mr. Alessandro Mennucci stated, “We know that this large project at the heart of China’s central region is of strategic importance to Vinda, and we are proud to be part of it. Toscotec will be there with today’s best available tissue technology, including our latest advancements. I am confident that Vinda will appreciate the benefits of the AHEAD-2.0M in terms of both tissue quality and consumptions.”

Located in the high-demand central China tissue market region, Vinda’s new Hubei mill will become another important strategic production base for Vinda Group.

Arjowiggins announces the planned sale of its Arjowiggins Security subsidiary producing primarily banknote paper at its Crèvecœur mill in France, to Blue Motion Technologies Holding, advised by Parter Capital Group. This transaction would finalise its exit from the banknote paper production business.

This project is subject to an information/consultation procedure with the relevant works councils.

Closing of the transaction should take place before the end of the first quarter 2018 after a recapitalisation of Arjowiggins Security by Arjowiggins.

In February 2017, Sequana announced a strategic review of the Security Division that was confronted with a continuous deterioration of the banknote paper market, with structural volume reductions and 35% overcapacities in excess of the overall market demand leading to growing competition and heavy pressure on margins. Further to the sale of Arjowiggins Security BV and its Apeldoorn mill in the Netherlands in July 2017, the planned disposal of Arjowiggins Security would enable the Group to fully divest from the banknote paper business that has suffered substantial losses for more than two years.

According to Reuters, Kleenex and Huggies maker Kimberly-Clark Corp said on Tuesday it expects to eliminate 5,000-5,500 jobs, or 12-13 percent of its workforce, as part of its global restructuring program.

The company said it expects to close or sell about ten manufacturing facilities and would exit or divest some lower-margin businesses.

The restructuring is expected to broadly impact all the business segments of the company, it said.

The cost-savings program, which will begin in the current quarter, is expected to be completed in two years and the company sees incurring related pretax charges of $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion over that period.

Kimberly-Clark said the program would generate annual pretax cost savings of $500 to $550 million by the end of 2021.

It expects cash costs for the restructuring, mainly related to workforce reductions, to be between $900 million to $1 billion.

The company on Tuesday also reported a near 1 percent rise in fourth-quarter net sales to $4.6 billion, compared with a year earlier.

Kimberly-Clark said it expects net sales in 2018 to improve by 1 percent to 2 percent.

“Although we expect market conditions will remain challenging in the near-term, we plan to deliver better results in 2018 while we begin to implement our new restructuring”, Chief Executive Thomas Falk said in a statement.

Shares of the company, which also raised its quarterly dividend by 3.1 percent, were marginally up at $117.24 in early trading.

This information hasn’t been confirmed by Kimberly-Clark Corp yet.

Atlanta-based WestRock Co. has announced signing a definitive agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of Illinois-based KapStone Paper and Packaging Corp.

Founded in 2005, KapStone produces and distributes containerboard, corrugated products and specialty papers, including liner and medium containerboard, kraft paper and saturating kraft. KapStone also owns Victory Packaging, a packaging distribution company with facilities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

According to its website, KapStone operates four paper mills : two in South Carolina, one in North Carolina and the former Longview Fibre mill in Washington state, which it acquired in 2013.

“KapStone is a great fit with WestRock,” states Steve Voorhees, CEO of WestRock. “[Its] complementary corrugated packaging and distribution operations will enhance WestRock’s ability to serve customers across our system, particularly in the western United States, and the addition of [its] specialty kraft paper products that we do not make enhances our differentiated portfolio of paper and packaging solutions.”

The news release issued by WestRock also points to KapStone’s ability to consume virgin fiber feedstocks at a high percentage. The transaction “increases [the] mix of virgin fiber-based paper in WestRock’s paper portfolio,” the release states. “KapStone’s 3 million tons of paper is made using 78 percent virgin fiber and 22 percent recovered fiber. This increases WestRock’s overall mix of virgin fiber from 65 percent to 67 percent.”

The acquisition cost is valued by the two companies at approximately $4.9 billion, based on a $35.00 per share purchase price and WestRock’s assumption of $1.36 billion in KapStone debt.

KapStone’s chairman, Roger Stone, and its president and CEO Matt Kaplan agreed to vote their shares in support of the transaction, “subject to certain limitations.”

“The agreement to combine with WestRock is a testament to the tremendous company we have built and the hard work and accomplishments of the KapStone team,” says Kaplan. “As we began to understand WestRock’s principles, we realized how closely aligned our cultures are. As a result, we believe strongly that this will be beneficial to both our employees and customers.”

The two companies indicate the acquisition will enable WestRock to supply additional corrugated packaging to Victory Packaging and will “accelerate WestRock’s plans to improve margins in its North American corrugated packaging business.”

As of late January 2018, the transaction remains subject to closing conditions that include a vote by KapStone’s shareholders. Pending those conditions being met, the transaction is expected to close by the end of September 2018.

Pre-merger, WestRock employs some 45,000 people at more than 300 operating and office locations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. KapStone employs about 6,200 people at more than 90 locations in North America.

Turkish coated cardboard producer, Kartonsan has appointed Greycon to implement its full range of solutions including opt-Studio for production planning, X-Trim for trim optimisation and GreyconMill as Manufacturing Execution System at its facilities in Turkey.

Kartonsan is the leading coated cardboard producer in Turkey with about 40% market share, and is the 4th largest producer in Europe. Founded in 1967, Kartonsan has been increasing its capacity and production volume over the last few years by investing in the expansion and modernisation of the company.

Mr. Umit Ozkan, Mill Manager at Kartonsan said : “Production power supported by expertise, experience and technology, as well as strong corporate competencies and efficient human resources are among the most important factors and the founding principles for Kartonsan. The implementation of Greycon’s products will ensure we continue to meet and exceed our customer’s needs delivering superior customer satisfaction based on uncompromising quality standards as well as on our production and logistics capacity.”

Greycon’s systems will bring numerous benefits to Kartonsan including : 
• Trim efficiency – expected improvement between 0.5% and 1.0% of reduced waste ;
• Improved item genealogy and quality tracking ;
• Production progress visibility for planning and sales department with opt-Studio and web reports ;
• Customer service improvements due to scheduling capabilities.

Constantine Goulimis, CEO at Greycon commented : “Kartonsan maintains its production procedures with a high level of environmental awareness and a minimum use of natural resources and pollution. The usage rate of waste paper in Kartonsan is 99%, exceeding the average use in Europe. We are excited to be working with Kartonsan to implement this project and embed our solutions to assist them in furthering their achievement of targets and objectives, both in economic growth and sustainability.”

As the world leader in label papers, UPM continues to grow in the attractive release liner segments to support its customers mainly in Europe and the Americas. Healthy growth is expected to continue in these markets based on general economic conditions, increase in labelling, packaging and e-commerce as well as growth in medical and hygiene products.

UPM expands its glassine and supercalendered kraft (SCK) paper manufacturing capacity by rebuilding a calender at UPM Jämsänkoski Mill in Finland. The additional capacity of approximately 40,000 tonnes/a will be available in Q4/2018. During the expansion, production at the mill will continue normally. UPM has also successfully developed UPM Kymi Mill’s capability to produce one side coated products, which will affirm its production capacity levels.

In addition to the Jämsänkoski investment, UPM has decided to conduct a feasibility study on the conversion of the fine paper machine PM2 at Nordland Papier into release liner production. The study is planned to be completed during the first half of 2018.

"UPM Specialty Papers’ markets are growing and with the possible machine conversion in Nordland in addition to Jämsänkoski’s calender investment, we plan to be part of the growth. Our aim is to be the preferred partner for our customers and enable our customers’ growth both regionally and globally," says Bernd Eikens, Executive Vice President of UPM Specialty Papers.

According to Essity’s articles of association, owners of Class A shares have the right to have such shares converted to Class B shares. Conversion reduces the total number of votes in the company. When such a conversion has occurred, the company is obligated by law to disclose any such changes in this manner.

In January, at the request of shareholders 57,050 Class A shares were converted to Class B shares. The total number of votes in the company thereafter amounts to 1,279,092,981.

The total number of registered shares in the company amounts to 702,342,489 of which 64,083,388 are Class A shares and 638,259,101 are Class B shares.

The Shareholders’ Nomination Board, established by Stora Enso’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), will propose to the AGM to be held on 28 March 2018 that the company’s Board of Directors shall have nine (9) members.

The Shareholders’ Nomination Board proposes that of the current members of the Board of Directors – Anne Brunila, Jorma Eloranta, Elisabeth Fleuriot, Hock Goh, Christiane Kuehne, Richard Nilsson, Göran Sandberg, and Hans Stråberg be re-elected members of the Board of Directors until the end of the following AGM and that Antti Mäkinen be elected new member of the Board of Directors for the same term of office.

The Shareholders’ Nomination Board proposes that Jorma Eloranta be elected Chairman and Hans Stråberg be elected Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Mikael Mäkinen has announced that he is not available for re-election to the Board of Directors.

“Mikael Mäkinen has during his tenure as a member of the Board of Directors since 2010 had a positive impact on what Stora Enso has become today. Mikael has also been a valuable member of the Financial and Audit Committee contributing to the work of the Committee. I would like to thank Mikael warmly for all his work for Stora Enso," says Jorma Eloranta, Stora Enso’s Board Chairman and member of the Shareholders’ Nomination Board.

Antti Mäkinen, LL.M., born 1961, Finnish citizen, has a strong business background in the banking and financial sector and since May 2017 acts as the CEO of Solidium Oy. Previous working experience includes several leading management positions within Nordea Corporate & Investment Banking, most notably as Head of Corporate Finance in Finland, Head of Strategic Coverage unit and as Co-Head for Corporate & Investment Banking, Finland (2010 – 2017). Prior to this Mäkinen acted as CEO of eQ Corporation and its main subsidiary eQ Bank Ltd. (2005 – 2009). Mäkinen is a Board member of Rake Oy and acts as chairman or a member of the shareholders’ nomination boards of several listed companies. He is independent of the company, but not independent of the company’s significant shareholders due to his position as the CEO of Solidium Oy.

Change often begins with a question. This fact forms the basis of BillerudKorsnäs’ new communication concept “What if ?” – with the ambition to inspire more to challenge conventional packaging for a sustainable future.

BillerudKorsnäs’ mission, to challenge conventional packaging for a sustainable future, is based on the fact that innovative and sustainable packaging solutions have an important role to play in delivering solutions to some of the global challenges that we all face today. Through the communication concept “What If ?”, classic product positioning is replaced with open questions that invite reflection and dialogue.

“To contribute to a sustainable future, it’s not enough for BillerudKorsnäs to be customer-centered. We must cooperate and build our business in a planet-centered way and understand the long-term consequences of our and our customers’ operations. With “What if ?” we aim at everyone who wants to make a difference. Achieving change essentially requires dialogue and cooperation arising from the questioning of common methods, principles and realities.We believe that fibre-based packaging materials and solutions can contribute to a sustainable future. But we don’t have all the answers. Therefore, it is important to ask the right questions. This is our way of interacting with our customers and making them part of our pursuit,” says Johan Dyrendahl, Director, Communication at BillerudKorsnäs.

The concept “What if ?” builds on a new brand platform developed by BillerudKorsnäs in cooperation with the brand agency Grow and will, as from today, be used in company marketing, recruitment, brochures, web pages, banners, social channels, exhibitions and trade fairs and offices around the world.