www.pulpandpaper-technology.com News

Metso continues negotiations with Aracruz about the new implementation schedule of the Guaíba pulp project

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:01:26 GMT

Metso’s customer Aracruz announced on January 19, 2009 that it plans to resume the expansion project at the Guaíba unit in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, as from the first half of 2011. Metso has done work for the pulp project in the cost frame covered by the down payment and the project remains in Metso’s order backlog. Metso continues negotiations with Aracruz about the new implementation schedule of the project.

Further information for the press, please contact:
Bertel Langenskiöld, President, Paper and Fiber Technology, tel. +358 20 484 3200

Further information for investors, please contact:
Johanna Sintonen, Vice President, Investor Relations, tel. +358 20 484 3253

Gunns Welcomes Federal Bell Bay Mill Environmental Module Approvals

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:01:26 GMT

Gunns today welcomed the decision by Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett to give further approvals for the Environmental Impact Management Plan modules

Mr Garrett announced he has now approved 13 of the environmental modules which Gunns submitted. Three remaining modules have provisional approval, pending completion of modelling for which the scope has been agreed

"We are now clear to begin construction on the mill, pending financial close. We are pleased that the Minister for the Environment recognises that this mill will be the most environmentally friendly mill in the world, conforming to the strict standards set down by the previous Government

This decision will bring added certainty to the mill project for our banking syndicate and potential partners. Today’s decision is a significant achievement and a major milestone for Gunns and the Bell Bay Mill

We now call on Federal and State Governments to get behind this project and create jobs for Tasmania in this difficult financial climate.

John Gay, Executive Chairman
For further information please call 03 6335 5201

Xerium Technologies Receives Continued Listing Standards Notice from the NYSE

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:01:26 GMT

Xerium Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: XRM), a leading global manufacturer of clothing and roll covers used primarily in the paper production process, today announced that on December 29, 2008, it received notification from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) that it was not in compliance with two NYSE standards for continued listing of the Company's common stock on the exchange. Specifically, the Company is considered below criteria by the NYSE because (i) the average closing price of the Company's common stock was less than $1.00 per share over a consecutive 30 trading day period, and (ii) the Company's average total market capitalization has been less than $75 million over the same period and its most recently reported stockholders' equity was less than $75 million.

Under NYSE rules, the Company has 45 days from the date of the notice to submit a plan to the NYSE to demonstrate its ability to achieve compliance with the market capitalization listing standards within 18 months of receiving the notice. The Company intends to submit such a plan. Additionally, since the Company is below the share price criterion, it must bring its share price and average share price above $1.00 within the longer of six months of receipt of the notification or its next annual meeting of stockholders if stockholder action is proposed. During this cure period, the Company's shares will continue to be listed and traded on the NYSE, subject to the Company's compliance with other NYSE continued listing standards but will be assigned a ".BC" suffix by the NYSE to signify that the Company is not currently in compliance with the NYSE continued listing standards. If the Company fails to become compliant with the continued listing standards within the applicable timeframe, its common stock may be delisted by the NYSE.

The Company's business operations, credit agreement and Securities and Exchange Commission reporting requirements are unaffected by this notice.

About Xerium Technologies

Xerium Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: XRM) is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of two types of consumable products used primarily in the production of paper: clothing and roll covers. The Company, which operates around the world under a variety of brand names, utilizes a broad portfolio of patented and proprietary technologies to provide customers with tailored solutions and products integral to production, all designed to optimize performance and reduce operational costs. With 35 manufacturing facilities in 15 countries around the world, Xerium has approximately 3,700 employees.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may," "could," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond our control and that could materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. Factors that could materially affect our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements include the following items: (i) our plan to achieve compliance with NYSE continued listing standards may not be accepted by the NYSE; (ii) we may not meet the goals set forth in our plan to achieve NYSE compliance; (iii) even if we meet the goals set forth in the plan, we may not be able to achieve compliance with NYSE continued listing standards; (iv) our revenues and profitability could be adversely affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates; (v) our profitability would be reduced by a decline in the prices of our products; (vi) our profitability could be adversely affected by fluctuations in interest rates; (vii) we may not be able to develop and market new products successfully or we may not be successful in competing against new technologies developed by competitors; (viii) our credit facility contains restrictive covenants, including covenants requiring compliance with minimum interest coverage and fixed charge coverage ratios and maximum leverage ratios, that will require us to improve our performance over time in order to comply therewith; (ix) we may have insufficient cash to fund growth and unexpected cash needs after satisfying our debt service obligations due to our high degree of leverage and significant debt service obligations; (x) we are subject to the risk of weaker economic conditions in the locations around the world where we conduct business, including without limitation the current turmoil in the credit markets and the impact of the current global economic crisis on the paper industry; (xi) we may be required to incur significant costs to reorganize our operations in response to market changes in the paper industry; (xii) we are subject to the risk of terrorist attacks or an outbreak or escalation of any insurrection or armed conflict involving the United States or any other country in which we conduct business, or any other national or international calamity; (xiii) we are subject to any future changes in government regulation; (xiv) we are subject to any changes in U.S. or foreign government policies, laws and practices regarding the repatriation of funds or taxes and (xv) those other risks described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2008 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and subsequent SEC filings. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from what we projected. Any forward-looking statement in this press release reflects our current views with respect to future events. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    CONTACT: SBG Investor Relations
             Geoffrey Buscher, 508-532-1790
             IR@xerium.com

Marcal Makes It Easy To Go Green: Introduces Small Steps Line Of 100% Recycled Paper Products

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:01:26 GMT

As retailers seek to provide affordable and meaningful eco-friendly choices that consumers are increasingly seeking, Marcal Paper Products, LLC recently announced the launch of its new product line: Marcal Small Steps.

The new Small Steps line of 100 percent recycled paper products gives consumers just that: a convenient way to go green without compromise. The new and improved Small Steps line of bath tissue, paper towels, napkins and facial tissue will arrive on retailer's shelves starting in early 2009. And by choosing Marcal, versus regular non-recycled paper products, consumers can feel good that they are making a difference. By simply switching to Marcal, consumers can help save 1 million trees.

Small Steps focuses squarely on the Marcal brand's green heritage. For over 50 years, Marcal has been saving trees and reducing landfill by making its paper products from recycled paper. Throughout the company's history, it has collected paper from curbs in residential neighborhoods across the Northeast, from the small blue baskets in office buildings across America, the US post office's unwanted junk mail, and waste from printers, all in an effort to do something good ... to produce something that people need. Priced so that consumers will appreciate the product's affordability, and offering high-level strength & absorbency performance, consumers will not feel they need to sacrifice when choosing a "green" product.

"Our research shows that shoppers are looking for ways to help the environment, but they may not know how. They want to do something good, without having to compromise. Small Steps achieves that, without compromising on performance, without compromising on convenience, and without paying a premium for the simple 'privilege' of being green," said Tim Spring, CEO Marcal Paper Products, LLC.

"This brand's heritage is rooted in conserving resources, protecting our environment and keeping the air our families breathe cleaner and healthier. Marcal has a longstanding history addressing the issues of sustainability that face industry," said James Dagosta, Senior Vice President of Sales Marcal Paper Products, LLC.

Small Steps products are also safe for the family: They are hypoallergenic, virtually lint free, manufactured without chlorine bleaching and are made without added dyes and fragrances.

BAVARIA Industriekapital Acquires Norwegian Paper Manufacturer Hunsfos

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:01:26 GMT

The stock-listed company BAVARIA Industriekapital AG has signed a contract for the acquisition of the Norwegian paper manufacturer Hunsfos Fabrikker AS from Cham Paper Group. The plant Hunsfos in South Norway generates annual revenues of Euro 50 million with 120 employees and manufactures uncoated specialty grade papers.

"Hunsfos Fabrikker is among the leading market players in Europe in the segment of industrial packaging material. The implementation of BAVARIA's Operating System will optimize the plant. In addition, the international expansion will be promoted. The completion of the acquisition transaction is expected in December 2008, which will provide planning reliability to the customers", comments Hans Magnus Andresen, Managing Director of BAVARIA Industriekapital AG.

BAVARIA Industriekapital AG is an industrial holding company which acquires low-profit companies throughout Europe. Through active restructuring and revitalisation management it ensures the long-term success of the companies acquired. The extensive experience and know-how of its staff allow BAVARIA Industriekapital AG to restore even companies in difficult sectors to profitability. The majority of the stock of BAVARIA Industriekapital AG is family-owned and the company has been listed on the Entry Standard All Share Index of the German Stock Exchange since 2006. At present BAVARIA Industriekapital AG has holdings in nine companies and around 3,000 employees. In 2007 the group turnover amounted to Euro 410 million. The annual profit of BAVARIA Industriekapital was Euro 23 million.

No Pulp Fiction: Engineers See Major Paper Mill Savings with New Rotor Technology

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:01:26 GMT

A partnership between UBC, government and the pulp and paper industry has resulted in the development of three high efficiency pulp screen rotors that produce high quality paper while reducing almost half the energy required.

“There are currently 300 pulp screens in British Columbia’s 20 pulp and paper mills,” says UBC Mechanical Engineering Assoc. Prof. James Olson. “The industry consumes almost 20 per cent of all the electricity produced in the province and pulp screening is an energy intensive operation in that process.”

Pulp screens work somewhat like the spin cycle in a household washing machine by rotating at high speeds and forcing pulp through narrow openings in the screen. Pulp screens in B.C. alone consume 300 Gigawatt Hours per year at an estimated cost of $16 million -- or enough energy to light up 15,000 homes.

The technology was patented and licensed to Advanced Fiber Technologies and 100 new rotors were installed in 30 mills across Canada.

While the cost savings would increase the industry’s competitiveness against new paper producers such as China, the reduced energy usage also translates into lower greenhouse emissions. The new technology could also cement Canada’s leadership in pulp equipment manufacturing and further diversify a sector that currently logs $53 billion in sales and $44 billion in exports per year.

As a result of the success in the mill trials, the research team has won BC Hydro’s New Technology of the Year Award (2007), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)’s Synergy Award for Partnership and Innovation (2007), and the British Columbia Innovations Council’s Lieutenant Governor’s Award (2008).

“There’s a gap between electricity supply and demand in B.C. and we need to do more to conserve power,” says Lisa Coltart, BC Hydro’s director of Power Smart. “We’re excited to contribute to research that will provide substantial energy savings while making the province a world leader in the field.”

Black Liquor from Paper Plants Could Provide 2% of Global Fuel

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:01:26 GMT

Black liquor is a waste byproduct of the paper/pulp process. As environmental regulations grow stricter, the paper/pulp industry has been under pressure to find an economical use for the waste stream. Chemrec has developed a Black Liquor Gasification (BLG) process to turn the waste fluid into syngas, then into CHP or fuel.

Chemrec’s black liquor gasification (BLG) technology converts the black liquor waste stream from the paper pulping process into synthesis gas. The synthesis gas can then be processed into a variety of fuels—likely dimethyl ether (DME) and methanol (MeOH), although fuels such as Fischer-Tropsch diesel (FTD), Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG), or hydrogen are also possible.

The global potential of this is equivalent to more than 45 billion liters a year of gasoline, according to Chemrec—2% of global fuel demand. _GCC

Any carbon based organic matter can be converted into syngas using gasification, or into bio-oil and bio-char by using pyrolysis. The syngas and bio-oil can be chemically refined into fuel, or can be used to fire CHP generators directly. The bio-char can be used for soil enrichment, or for the many other uses to which charcoal is put.

Metso Acquires Flash Drying Technology from Nilsen Engineering

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:01:26 GMT

Metso and Nilsen Engineering have signed a purchase agreement regarding Nilsen Engineering’s flash drying technology. The transaction was closed on September 4, 2008. The value of the purchase agreement is not disclosed. The acquired technology will be integrated into Metso’s Fiber business line.

After the acquisition, Metso will be able to supply complete flash drying lines and thereby strengthen its competitiveness as a full-scope supplier to the pulp industry. The acquired technology is used for drying all types of pulp, especially mechanical pulp. The flash drying technology together with sheet drying will enable Metso to offer the optimal and most cost-effective drying solution for any given application.

Nilsen Engineering AS was the first to introduce the flash drying technology in Scandinavia in the late 1950s. Since then the company has served the pulp and paper industry world-wide with engineering and equipment in the field of flash drying and related machinery.

Marcal(R) Makes It Easy To Go Green: Introduces Small Steps(TM) Line Of 100% Recycled Paper Products

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:01:26 GMT

As retailers seek to provide affordable and meaningful eco-friendly choices that consumers are increasingly seeking, Marcal Paper Products, LLC today announced the launch of its new product line: Marcal Small Steps.

The new Small Steps line of 100 percent recycled paper products gives consumers just that: a convenient way to go green without compromise. The new and improved Small Steps line of bath tissue, paper towels, napkins and facial tissue will arrive on retailer's shelves starting in early 2009. And by choosing Marcal, versus regular non-recycled paper products, consumers can feel good that they are making a difference. By simply switching to Marcal, consumers can help save 1 million trees.

Small Steps focuses squarely on the Marcal brand's green heritage. For over 50 years, Marcal has been saving trees and reducing landfill by making its paper products from recycled paper. Throughout the company's history, it has collected paper from curbs in residential neighborhoods across the Northeast, from the small blue baskets in office buildings across America, the US post office's unwanted junk mail, and waste from printers, all in an effort to do something good ... to produce something that people need. Priced so that consumers will appreciate the product's affordability, and offering high-level strength & absorbency performance, consumers will not feel they need to sacrifice when choosing a "green" product.

"Our research shows that shoppers are looking for ways to help the environment, but they may not know how. They want to do something good, without having to compromise. Small Steps achieves that, without compromising on performance, without compromising on convenience, and without paying a premium for the simple 'privilege' of being green," said Tim Spring, CEO Marcal Paper Products, LLC.

"This brand's heritage is rooted in conserving resources, protecting our environment and keeping the air our families breathe cleaner and healthier. Marcal has a longstanding history addressing the issues of sustainability that face industry," said James Dagosta, Senior Vice President of Sales Marcal Paper Products, LLC.

Small Steps products are also safe for the family: They are hypoallergenic, virtually lint free, manufactured without chlorine bleaching and are made without added dyes and fragrances.

Marcal is employing a comprehensive consumer support program to support the Small Steps' rollout, including print, broadcast, and online advertising, public relations, and extensive couponing.

By choosing to carry Marcal, Retailers are helping the consumer take "A small easy step to a greener earth(TM)".

Tentative Agreement Reached between Catalyst and PPWC

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:01:26 GMT

The Pulp and Paper Workers of Canada (PPWC), Local # 2 and Catalyst Paper announced today that a tentative agreement has been reached on the renewal of the collective agreement at the Crofton Division. The deal addresses the twin priorities of an $80 per tonne target in labour costs and the PPWC Industry Pattern Agreement.

The four-year agreement will enable the operation to achieve competitive labour costs through innovation in work practices and implementation of new ways to reduce manning levels without the need for traditional layoffs and severances. The age and service of employees allows for the workplace changes needed with a succession plan for senior employees who are leaving the division at a high rate every year.

"The union is to be commended on their solutions-focused approach to dealing with the significant issues that confront the industry and our cost structure. We achieved an agreement that balances the needs of their members while helping to establish a more cost-efficient operation that keeps workplace safety and production focus in everyone's mind," said Richard Garneau, Catalyst president and CEO.

"Commitment, effort and understanding by both the Catalyst and Local # 2 negotiating teams made this deal possible. The untypical nature of these negotiations meant everyone had to take a holistic view to make the myriad of components fit in a plan suited to these turbulent economic times. Ratification of this agreement puts the Crofton pulp and paper mill in a better position to weather the challenges the industry is currently facing," stated Lloyd Kelly, President PPWC Local # 2.

The union is recommending acceptance of the agreement to its members and results of the ratification vote are expected to be known on December 3, 2008. The PPWC represents approximately 560 employees at the Crofton mill.

Catalyst is the largest producer of specialty printing papers and newsprint in Western North America and also produces market kraft pulp and owns Western Canada's largest paper recycling facility. The company's six mills have a combined annual capacity of 2.8 million tonnes of production. Catalyst is headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada and its common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CTL.