Archives

The PM40 closed Friday, 31 January 2025, at 6006.

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 31 January 2025 up 16.4% from the 2 February 2024 level.

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

The Trump Administration's executive orders cut across dozens of industries. This searchable tool breaks down the orders and their impact.

Perhaps an unfortunate saying given the recent tragedy at Reagan National in Washington, DC, but still true: you can't learn to fly with one foot on the ground. This column is always directed at the executives in this industry, and they continue to amaze me with their views of what goes on in their mills.

A.Celli has been chosen once again by the leading Chinese papermaking group Sun Paper for a project involving the new paper production line in Nanning, Guangxi Province.

Andritz has acquired ATN Engineering B.V., a Dutch company specializing in advanced recycling technologies.

Chris has served as president of Kadant Black Clawson since 2019 and has filled various roles in business and technology development since joining as a Product Manager in 2006. He has provided strong technical leadership including the development of seven patents for KBC.

Doug comes to Röchling with over 40 years of experience in the Pulp and Paper Industry, with the first 10 years working in R&D and Manufacturing for Graphic Packaging, followed by 30+ years in Sales Leadership for industry-leading companies like Albany International, Voith Paper, and Coldwater / Valmet.

DS Smith has now confirmed its trust in Voith again by extending their service contract at Kemsley mill, UK, for the entire stock preparation of four production lines for a further three years.

Chinese tissue producer Hengan International Group started up a TADVISION tissue machine supplied by Toscotec at their headquarters facility in Fujian. This is the second of two TAD (Through-Air-Drying) machines that Toscotec supplied to Hengan, of which the first came online in 2023 at their Xiaogan mill in Hubei.

In his most recent role as Global Key Account Leader at Barry Wehmiller Packaging, Jerry led strategic initiatives across multiple divisions, coaching teams to enhance commercial excellence with top-tier global accounts.

Mr. Corte was promoted to vice president and general manager of Kadant Johnson in July 2024. He served as vice president of finance from 2021 to 2024 and as the director of customer service from 2015 to 2021. Mr. Corte began his career at Kadant Johnson in 2007 and has held various financial, commercial, and operational roles.

Kenny has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and a proven ability to drive sales and business success.

Start-up is scheduled for the Q3 2025.

The projects are scheduled for completion in 2025.

Valmet will deliver a comprehensive reel control system upgrade to Holmen's Iggesund mill in Sweden. The upgrade is set to be delivered in October 2025, and it will replace the reel servo and control systems of the mill's board machine 2 (BM2).

The machine is intended for coated specialty paper grades and will include Valmet's latest technology.

The analysis used to determine the ranking is based on a methodology that is reviewed annually and takes into account 25 performance indicators.

DS Smith, an international fibre-based packaging solutions company, has launched TailorTemp, a new temperature-controlled packaging solution, for the pharmaceutical industry.

The prestigious Global 100 list, which was announced during the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, represents the top 1% of companies worldwide in terms of sustainability performance.

This year Metsä Group's tissue paper brand Lambi celebrates 60 years of bringing softness and quality into homes across Nordics.

Rottneros Group's trays in the new range are claimed to have been produced using Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified raw materials sourced from Northern Europe and are manufactured with renewable energy.

Smurfit Westrock has once again demonstrated its prowess in designing innovative and sustainable packaging by picking up 10 awards in WorldStar 2025.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Heidi Brock issued a statement regarding President Donald Trump's announcement of 25% tariffs on all products from Canada and Mexico.

Essity could move more of its production into the U.S. from Mexico and Canada if tariffs are introduced by President Donald Trump, but is not considering facility closures, CEO Magnus Groth said.

International Paper's fourth-quarter loss narrowed as the company cut costs, but lower sales volumes in many categories of paper and packaging and the shutdown of a U.S. mill weighed on its results.

The Board of Directors has not yet made its decision for proposal for dividend for the financial year 2024 to the Annual General Meeting. Such decision will be communicated as soon as it has been made.

Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) announced a profit for its fourth quarter that increased from the same period last year but missed the Street estimates.

PotlatchDeltic Corporation reported net income of $5.2 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, on revenues of $258.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.

Rayonier Inc. announced the results of shareholder elections relating to the special dividend declared by its Board of Directors on December 2, 2024. The dividend of $1.80 per common share will be paid on January 30, 2025, to shareholders of record on December 12, 2024.

The new price is valid from March 1, 2025.

In Asia, the price increase will be $20 per ton. For Europe and North America, the price increase will be more significant, with a rise of $60 per ton.

Weyerhaeuser reported a sharp drop in fourth-quarter profit on Thursday as it struggled with higher forestry and road costs in its timberlands unit due to wet weather conditions.

Mercer and Woodland Cree have co-owned Peace River Logging since 2004, and this new agreement ensures the long-term sustainability of the joint venture and secures the jobs of more than 80 local people.

The world's largest pulp supplier, Suzano, announces a long-term commercial agreement with the AI-powered land use and supply chain management startup, Marvin. Alongside this, Suzano's venture capital arm, Suzano Ventures, has completed a strategic follow-on investment into Marvin, following its initial investment in October 2023.

The agreement is valid for five years, with an option to extend for a further year.

Province says it won't launch its own investigation after a prorogued Parliament wiped out a motion to summon Paper Excellence owner to testify.

The provincial government says the loan saves 2,500 jobs in the region, including 300 at the mill.

The enhanced facility will include spiral wound tube and core production and recutting capabilities, further reinforcing Ox Industries' commitment to supporting the Midwest market.

Nearly 500 employees lost their jobs when the International Paper facility shut down without warning last fall.

Amcor and Berry Global have filed a definitive joint proxy statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

International Paper and DS Smith, two of the leading producers of sustainable packaging, containerboard and pulp products, combined forces on January 31, 2025 to create a new global leader in sustainable packaging solutions, focused on the attractive North American and EMEA regions.

International Paper announced the completion of its acquisition of DS Smith plc. The combined company creates a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions.

Kelly Spicers, a leading West Coast distributor of paper, packaging, wide format products and facilities solutions, announced today that it has acquired Denver-based Creative Packaging Group, an independent packaging distributor with customers across the Rocky Mountain region.

The transaction is anticipated to close in the second quarter of 2025, pending foreign antitrust approvals and other customary conditions. Upon completion, Pactiv Evergreen will transition to a privately held company, delisting from Nasdaq.

RRD, a global provider of marketing, packaging, print and supply chain solutions, today announced that it has successfully closed on the strategic acquisition of Williams Lea, a provider of tech-enabled business services to financial, legal and professional services firms worldwide. The acquisition was first announced December 20, 2024.

Veritiv Operating Company, a leader in specialty packaging distribution, announced that it has completed the sale of Veritiv Containers, the company's rigid packaging business (formerly All American Containers) to TricorBraun.

This is a tremendous loss for everyone at the Sofidel Group, who express their profound sorrow for this loss and extend their condolences to the entire Stefani family.

Greif to close two facilities, impacting 140 jobs, due to cost increases and declining demand. Production to cease by mid-2025.

After 14 years with the Group, and almost ten years as president and CEO, Magnus Groth has informed the Board of Directors of Essity Aktiebolag (publ) that he has decided to step down as CEO and from the Board during 2025. A recruitment process for a successor will be initiated immediately.

Adsorbi, a Swedish startup, announced that it secured €1M to build a pilot plant or its cellulose-based air purification material.

Louisiana-Pacific has been fined $15,775 for stormwater and wetland violations, according to a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) enforcement investigation. The company operates a wood-board manufacturing facility in Two Harbors.

A new lawsuit accuses Procter & Gamble of deceiving Charmin purchasers with misleading environmental claims, known as greenwashing, about how it sources its toilet paper.

These new contracts, available from January 20, 2025, expand upon the existing management agreements to meet the diverse needs of forest owners.

UPM Raflatac and WWF Poland have renewed their contract to build a smarter future beyond fossils together.

The state Department of Ecology announced it has fined the company $145,000 for 36 stormwater discharge violations, 15 monitoring requirements violations, and 16 reporting requirement violations, all of which occurred between July 2022 and May 2024.

Nearly two dozen employees are being laid off from the Clearwater Paper facility in Lewiston.

A contractor was hospitalized with serious injuries Friday after falling through a roof opening at the Sappi Somerset Mill.

The fire apparently started in a gearbox of a conveyor belt that moves wood chips to be processed, Skowhegan fire Chief Ronnie Rodriguez said.

International Paper announced its Board of Directors elected Joy Roman to the newly created role of Senior Vice President, Chief People and Strategy Officer, reporting to Chairman and CEO Andy Silvernail.

A notice that a Smurfit Westrock facility in Illinois is closing has been filed and that will result in 88 jobs disappearing.

Union members at the Sappi Somerset mill in Skowhegan have come to a contract agreement after authorizing a strike earlier this month./span>