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AUSTRALIA Amcor is to merge its two packaging businesses in Australasia into one unit. Amcor Containers Packaging and Amcor Fibre Packaging will be fused to form Amcor Packaging Australasia. Amcor said the move would benefit customers by offering them a one-stop solution for all their packaging needs, including peripheral services such as logistical solutions, inventory management and integrated packaging designs.
CANADA ABB has signed a maintenance partnership agreement with Fletcher Challenge Canada to service its three Canadian pulp mills at Elk Falls, Crofton and Mackenzie. The 50-50 partnership, to be called AllWin Technical Services, will cover maintenance matters at all three mills. The combined capacity of the sites reaches some one million tons/yr of softwood kraft pulp.
CHINA Valmet is to invest Euro 11 million ($11 million) in a technology center in the Jiangsu province near Shanghai. The company decided to make the investment in response to the rapid growth in demand for paper, tissue and board in China. The center will provide support for Valmet's fiber and paper machine deliveries in the country, including spare parts, services for process improvements and upgrades. The new facility will include a 2000 m‰ workshop specialized in mechanical roll overhauls and roll covers. The unit is due to open its doors in the second quarter of 2001.
ESTONIA The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has awarded a second loan to the Imavere Saeveski sawmill. The DM 10 million ($5 million) loan will be used to fund a capacity increase at the site. The project will include a new fully computerized component line. The EBRD was able to accelerate the sawmill's second application for funds following the company's successful performance in a project which the bank co-financed in 1997.
GERMANY Kubler & Niethammer has extended the deinking plant at its graphic paper mill in Kriebstein, Germany. The company has installed an EcoCell flotation system, MC dithionite and HC peroxide bleaching equipment from Voith Sulzer. The aim of the investment was to improve the brightness and cleanliness of the finished stock. The expanded deinking unit started up at the end of last year.
GERMANY Reuling Papierverarbeitungs has tripled its converting capacity with the startup of a 10 pocket Bielomatik machine. The new cutter has the capacity to cut 60,000 tons/yr of paper and replaces a smaller sheet cutter. The company specializes in providing converting facilities for paper producers and office paper distributors.
GERMANY Zanders Feinpapiere and International Paper’s Papeteries du Souche have pooled their sales and marketing divisions under the umbrella Chromolux & Souche. Through this consolidation, the partnership is able to offer a wider product range to its customers. The collaboration is part of Zanders Feinpapiere and International Paper’s strategy to combine complementary businesses and create synergies within the group. International Paper is the majority shareholder in the German fine, specialty and printing/writing paper producer.
ITALY Ascoli Paper has ordered a Honeywell-Measurex paper machine automation system for its mill in central Italy. The automation system is part of an upgrade of the unit’s PM and off-machine coater scheduled for completion in September of this year. The order comprises a TotalPlant Alcont system that will control stock preparation, the dilution headbox and the coating kitchen, as well as a Proflow control actuator for basis weight control.
THE NETHERLANDS Hallmark Card's Dutch subsidiary has chosen Stora Enso as its principal card material supplier. The greetings card company chose the Ensocoat solid bleached sulfate (SBS) board grade based on its brightness, gloss and stiffness. Stora Enso's high level of service was also a deciding factor for Hallmark. The two companies will carry out joint product development into areas such as board grades suitable for digital printing.
SOUTH AFRICA Ahlstrom kicked off the new millennium by opening a sales subsidiary in Durban, South Africa. The sales company, Ahlstrom Paper Group South Africa, will serve most of the parent company’s 25 product lines. The main business areas of the subsidiary are self-adhesive base papers and label papers, industrial products such as paper for wall coverings and furniture laminates, flexible packaging papers and filtration applications. Prior to opening the sales office, the company’s business interests in South Africa had been represented by agents.
USA Champion International has decided to invest in a new automation system at its Applied Technologies division in New York. The company has placed an order for a portable WebForm system from JH Instrumentation in the UK. The system was due to be delivered in February this year. Champion plans to use the WebForm unit for research and machine optimization at a number of its plants. The online device is designed to detect, measure and analyze both random and periodic variations in paper webs over a wide frequency range.
USA Procter & Gamble (P&G) is to expand its tissue and converting capacity in the USA with the addition of two new paper machines at its Mehoopany plant in Pennsylvania. The first machine will increase the site’s capacity by 75,000 tons when it starts up in the middle of 2001. The startup date for the second machine is still to be decided. P&G chose to invest at the Mehoopany site as it offers good infrastructure and distribution links. The company said it decided to make the capacity expansions following a 30% growth in its tissue and towel businesses in the USA over the last five years.
USA Four companies from the Messer group involved in on-site gas generation have been merged under the umbrella Messer Advanced Gas Systems (AGS). Germany's Mahler joined Generon of the USA, Italfilo Engineering in Italy and the Chinese company Asia Gas Systems to form the new company at the beginning of 2000. Since each member company of Messer AGS specializes in various gas generation markets, the company will continue to offer their products under individual brand names. Messer AGS is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Messer Group.
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