Week of 9 December 2019: Solar is getting closer to making economic sense without subsidies

Solar cells are continuing to improve in efficiency. My best source tells me that within a few years, we will likely be seeing solar arrays of multiple layers, each layer tuned to a particular wavelength emitted by the sun. Why is this important now?

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Patent Applications and Patents

Airmaster Aerator L.L.C. receives new patent

The United States Patent Office awarded Airmaster Aerator L.L.C. patent number 10,301,202 B2 on May 28, 2019. The title of the patent is "System and Method for Aeration by Air Infusion." The inventor is listed as Dean A. Caldwell, DeRidder, LA. Caldwell is the CEO of Airmaster Aerator.

Latest IDC Survey: Customers Are on the Move to SAP S/4HANA

Business innovation goes hand in hand with business process innovation. Intelligent enterprises connect business processes end-to-end for better outcomes.

[Adv.] Advanced Coil

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

Wieland Stacks Up

In October, Wieland, a general contracting and construction management firm, announced it has been awarded the contract for the new Graphic Packaging mill project in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and has become a go-to company for the pulp and paper industry.

'Bible business has really gone soft': Philly printer to lay off 174, shut plant by Christmas

An enterprise that printed more than a billion Bibles since its founding during the Civil War says its Northeast Philadelphia plant will be shut by Christmas.

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.

A visit to Advanced Coil Technology

I just love to visit our clients. Today (13 May 2019), I was visiting Devon Barnes, President of Advanced Coil Technology, LLC in Owatonna, Minnesota. Advanced Coil makes liquid-to-air coils for any application.

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Lenzing Group to reduce its CO2 footprint

The Lenzing Group will drastically reduce its CO2 footprint. A first milestone is set for 2030, when Lenzing plans to cut down on CO2 emissions per ton of product by 50% compared to a 2017 baseline.

Valmet to close facility in Hudson Falls, New York

Valmet will proceed with plans for a phased closure of foundry, machine shop and assembly operations at its production center in Hudson Falls, New York.

CNG's Spicers Paper/PPI Adds to Packaging Business, Acquires Southern California's Kilmer, Wagner & Wise

Central National Gottesman Inc. (CNG), which owns a range of sales and distribution businesses in the global pulp, paper, tissue, packaging, wood products and metals industries, announced that its Spicers Paper division will add Kilmer, Wagner & Wise (KWW) Paper Company to its packaging portfolio.

Stora Enso creates new packaging materials division

Stora Enso is merging its container board business in the Packaging Solutions division with the Consumer Board division, creating a new Packaging Materials division.

Fire at Graphic Packaging facility in Ohio

A fire was reported at a Graphic Packaging facility in Kenton, Ohio early Dec. 3.

Rayonier Advanced Materials proposes governance changes

Re-Proposes Declassification of Board of Directors and Elimination of Supermajority Voting Provisions.

Pregis invests $5 million in fourth W&H blown film line in Grand Rapids, MI facility; boosts capacity by another 4 million pounds

Pregis is announcing another $5 million investment in its Pregis Films facility located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Additionally, Pregis is leasing an additional 35,000 square feet in the same location for expanded warehousing capability.

Green Bay Packaging's new mill won't be ready until 2021, but environmental emissions already cut

Green Bay Packaging Inc. officials on Monday celebrated a major environmental milestone in the construction of the company's new $500-million paper mill.

Atlas Holdings and Blue Wolf Capital Issue Letter to Verso Corporation Board of Directors

"We believe that Stevens Point, one of the Specialty Mills, is the "crown jewel" of Verso. Consequently, stockholders should expect full value for this asset."

Fire at Sonoco Paper Mill in Ontario

A small fire was contained at the Sonoco Paper Mill in Glen Miller north of Trenton Tuesday morning, Dec. 3.

TC Transcontinental enters into agreement with Hood Packaging Corporation for the sale of paper and woven polypropylene packaging operations

TC Transcontinental announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to sell its paper and woven polypropylene packaging operations to Hood Packaging Corporation for a price of US$180 million (about C$239 million) subject to working capital adjustments.

Finnish forestries plans 6-day lock-out at sawmills, plywood mills

Finnish Forest Industries Federation said on Wednesday it would hold a 6-day lock-out from Dec. 12, closing half of the Nordic country's sawmills and plywood factories, aiming to put pressure on unions in halted pay negotiations.

LSC Communications Addresses NYSE Listing Standards

LSC Communications, Inc. announced that it received notification from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on November 20, 2019, that the Company is no longer in compliance with NYSE continued listing criteria, which require listed companies to maintain an average closing share price of at least $1.00 over a consecutive 30 trading-day period.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö signs a non-binding letter of intent to acquire Chinese decor paper producer Minglian

Ahlstrom-Munksjö has signed a non-binding letter of intent with the majority shareholders of Hebei Minglian New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. to acquire the company, comprising a state-of-the-art greenfield decor paper plant in the city of Xingtai, Hebei Province, China.

Molpus purchases 18,433 acres of timberland in Alabama

The Molpus Woodlands Group, LLC (Molpus) has purchased approximately 18,433 acres of timberland in east central Alabama.

Appvion Announces DuraWorx Line of Converting Papers

These products are ideal for envelopes, continuous forms, billing statements and more.

Domtar to Transfer CDN $461 Million (US $348 Million) of Canadian Pension Obligations Through Group Annuity Contracts

Domtar Corporation announced that it has entered into an agreement with Sun Life to purchase group annuity buy-out contracts and to transfer approximately CDN $360 million (US $271 million) in obligations and related assets from its defined benefit pension plans in Ontario, Canada.

Cascades launches a cardboard food tray made from 100% recycled and recyclable material

Cascades is launching an innovative container for fresh food packaging on the North American market: a cardboard tray certified1 according to Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) standards, made from 100% recycled fibres, mainly from post-consumer sources, and which is fully recyclable.

Verso Introduces Influence Coated Paper Promotion

Influence® is designed to perform on web offset or rotogravure printing presses, is available in a variety of basis weights and finishes, and offered with chain-of-custody certification and recycled content.

AF&PA Applauds EPA's Ambient Air Policy Modernization

American Forest & Paper Association President and CEO Heidi Brock issued a statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement of their final ambient air policy under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program.

Södra reduces CO₂ emissions

According to a new report, Södra has a positive impact on global climate change, equivalent to 20% of Sweden's combined emissions of CO₂ equivalents.

Tieto Corporation merges with EVRY ASA

Trading on the Oslo Stock Exchange is expected to commence after the Merger is completed on 5 December 2019.

Enviva receives approval to construct wood pellet facility in Alabama

This permit paves the way for 85 full-time jobs and an estimated 180 additional jobs in logging, transportation, and local services, as well as the creation of 300-400 jobs during construction of the plant.

Wooden Metsä Pavilion - Designing the Optimal Structure for a Unique Building

A joint effort by Metsä Group and Business Finland, the Metsä Pavilion will be used during the summer Olympics in Tokyo.

IT Tech Packaging, Inc. Furthers Partnership with Its Pulp Paper Supplier Asia Symbol

The new partnership specifically involves technology exchange between ITP and Asia Symbol on a regular basis, and ITP's adding into Asia Symbol's supply chain traceability system to make sure products' quality and environmental requirements.

Interview with UWSP Paper Science and Engineering Senior Austin Jackson

Paperitalo Publications was able to catch up with Austin Jackson, a senior in the program, and we asked him a few questions about his experiences at UWSP.

Packaging Corporation of America donates $1 million to Miami University

Gift will go toward supplementing endowed scholarships.

Q&A with N.C. State Paper Science and Engineering Junior Michael McKenzie

A total of 208 students are enrolled in the N.C. State Paper Science and Engineering program, and Paperitalo Publications was able to catch up with Michael McKenzie, a junior in the program and we asked him a few questions about his experiences at N.C. State.

The Light Green Machine Institute

Ideas you can use now.

Testing...

I’ve been working with kids preparing for the ACT/SAT for over 10 years. Through this time, I’ve come to some conclusions. I hope you find them of interest.

Capital Arguments for November 2019

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.

Paper Ballots Key to Election Security

Important information belongs on paper and should be shielded from broken hard drives, data breaches and foreign hackers. Paper is personal, permanent, safe and confidential.

Easy and free access to paper-based communications is key for millions of consumers

A new International survey commissioned by Two Sides shows that most Americans and Canadians want to retain a choice to receive paper statements at no charge, and many prefer paper over digital.

Paper Products Takes Center Stage in Graduate School

As I prepare to enter my last year of graduate school, I look back and appreciate paper and paper products' role in my success throughout the past couple years.

Contributing to the Circular Economy: The Paper and Wood Products Industry

The paper and wood products industry's efforts to promote sustainable forest management, do more with less in the manufacturing process and recover products for recycling form the foundation of our contributions to the circular economy.

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October 2019

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September 2019

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Energy & the Environment News

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