CHINA APRIL (Asia Pacific Resources International) has awarded a certificate of excellence to the UK firm, M&Y Air Systems, for work carried out at its Chinese plants. The company supplied trim handling systems to serve six sheeters at APRIL's Changshu mill in China.

DENMARK SCA is the new owner of Danapak Papemballage - Denmark's third-largest corrugated board company. SCA paid DKr 530 million ($81 million) on a debt-free basis for the firm, but agreed to hand over an extra DKr 15 million if 1999 earnings significantly exceed those of 1998.

FINLAND Shareholders of Valmet and Rauma have given the go-ahead for the merger of the two companies. The link-up of the two Finnish suppliers received unanimous approval from both sets of shareholders. The new company, Valmet-Rauma, will come into being on 31 June 1999.

FINLAND Lohjan Paperi plans to upgrade PM 1 at its Lohja mill in Finland. The work is scheduled to take place in the third quarter 1999 and will raise silicated paper capacity from 25,000 tons/yr to 30,000 tons/yr. As part of the project, Honeywell-Measurex is supplying an automation system to control the PM's coating and drying sections, soft calender and headbox.

FINLAND Valmet has set a new world speed record in calendering. A multinip pilot calender installed by the supplier at the Finnish Pulp and Paper Research Institute (KCL) reached a speed of 2,500 m/min. It has a web width of 650 mm and a nip load capacity of 100 kN/m.

GERMANY Jagenberg is expanding its systems business in folding carton gluers with the takeover of Woschnik & Partner Maschinenbau. The company manufactures high capacity automatic die-cutters for the production of folding carton blanks in board and paper.

LITHUANIA Stora Enso's subsidiary, Pakenso, is investing Euro 4 million ($4.6 million) in a corrugated mill in Kaunas, Lithuania. The new plant will have a capacity of 20 million m/yr of corrugated board and is due to start up at the end of the second quarter this year.

NORWAY Norske Skog set a new company record for production levels in 1998. Last year, the company produced more paper, sawn timber and board than ever. Total paper output exceeded 2.4 million tons in 1998, up 12% on the year-earlier period.

PORTUGAL Stora Celbi has ordered a new bleaching plant from Sunds Defibrator for its mill in Figueira da Foz, Portugal. The plant will have a design capacity of 1,100 tons/day of fully bleached eucalyptus pulp. The order is part of a modernization project at the mill which aims to boost bleached eucalyptus pulp capacity by 20,000 tons/yr to 285,000 tons/yr.

SOUTH AFRICA LignoTech South Africa has launched production at its new plant near Durban. The plant's output focuses on lignosulphonate-based products. LignoTech is a joint venture between Borregaard and Sappi Saiccor.

Borregaard links up with Sappi

SPAIN Ence has received the all-clear from the Spanish government for the takeover of Celulosa de Asturias (Ceasa). The Council of Ministers recently approved the Pta 935 million ($6.6 million) deal, which will take Ence's total pulp capacity to 825,000 tons/yr. The transaction includes Ceasa's 205,000 ton/yr eucalyptus mill in Asturias and 3,400 ha of timberlands in northwest Spain.

SWEDEN Södra is 22% ahead of the target the company set itself for certifying the group's forest holdings. The self-certification scheme started in July 1998 and the company aimed to get 90,000 ha of forest approved by the end of January 1999. By the end of December Södra had succeeded in certifying 110,000 ha of forest.

UK Voith Sulzer Paper Technology announced that it has consolidated its UK operations. In January 1999, the company's sales and marketing activities for PMs and stock preparation equipment were combined with the finishing unit in Manchester. A new service center is also being set up at the same location.

UK UK Paper has received the Nordic Swan environmental label for its Evolve Business and Office papers. The paper is part of the company's 100% recycled Evolve range. Nordic Swan is an independent, voluntary environmental label.

UK JP Capital International is the new corporate finance division of Jaakko Pöyry Consulting. The London-based company has been set up to serve the global forest products and packaging industries. The company will focus on assisting groups with acquisitions, divestitures and restructuring activities.

USA ITT Industries is taking over Water Pollution Control (WPC). ITT is a global producer of pumps, fluid systems and services. WPC designs and produces aeration products and systems for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment. The deal is subject to regulatory approval.

USA Scapa Paper Machine Clothing has announced a reorganization of its fabric divisions worldwide. The company has appointed four managers to head up the tissue, fine paper, publication and packaging grade divisions, along with product line managers for forming, pressing and drying. Under the restructuring, there will be one international management team.

USA J&L Fiber Services has launched its internet home page at www.jlfiberservices.com. Product, service and company information can be found at the supplier's site. J&L Fiber Services supplies a variety of products and services for the pulp and paper industry, including refiner fillings, screen cylinders and cleaner cones.