Kruger Specialty Papers reached an important milestone earlier this year when Kruger’s Trois-Rivières facility delivered its first shipment of bleached thermomechanical pulp (TMP) which enabled the Wayagamack Mill to expand its product portfolio into a wider range of brightness levels. In total, $40 million were invested to build the new bleached TMP plant at Kruger Trois-Rivières and to upgrade production at Wayagamack. Launched in September 2017, Kruger’s SPEK project is a three-year initiative to develop new markets for the Brompton, Wayagamack and Trois-Rivières mills as part of the Company’s strategy to diversify its production and complement its product portfolio. Upon launching SPEK, Kruger also created its new Specialty Papers division which is leveraging the Company’s long-standing papermaking expertise, production facilities and customer service infrastructure to introduce innovative and sustainable high-quality products. Target markets for these new products include lightweight packaging for the food and retail industries, labelling and digital printing. Click Read More below for additional detail.

The American Forest & Paper Association underscored its opposition to a proposed tax on paper carryout bags currently under discussion as the New York legislature works out its 2019-2020 state budget. AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman issued the following statement: “Taxing paper carryout bags is a regressive move that wrongfully penalizes a product that is recyclable, easily processed at municipal recovery facilities, compostable, made of recycled material and reusable. Retail stores today have the option to charge for carryout bags or any other in-store service without needing permission from the state. A state-required fee creates state-mandated profits at the expense of customers, particularly impacting low-income New Yorkers.” Paper bags are an environmental success story, made from a renewable resource (trees) and paper recovered from recycling programs. In 2017, 65.8 percent of all paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling, and the recovery rate has met or exceeded 63 percent for the past nine years. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Cascades Inc. announces that it will discontinue manufacturing felt backing for flooring at its Lupel plant in Trois‑Rivières, Québec. In total, 35 employees will be affected by the resulting plant closure, which is expected on or about July 1, 2019. As a result of this decision, Cascades will be permanently withdrawing from felt production for the floor covering market. "Despite efforts to increase sales levels at the plant, the drop in popularity of vinyl flooring and the gradual market shift from felt backing toward fibreglass backing has had a serious negative impact on the plant's operations. Unfortunately, the resulting low production volumes mean that the plant is not profitable, a trend that is not expected to reverse given the market outlook. In these circumstances, we unfortunately have little choice but to announce that the plant will cease operating," said Luc Langevin , President and Chief Operating Officer of Cascades Specialty Products Group. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Fortress Global Enterprises Inc. reported 2018 fourth quarter operating EBITDA from continuing operations of $4.2 million compared to operating EBITDA from continuing operations of $7.5 million in the previous quarter and operating EBITDA loss from continuing operations of $5.7 million in the prior year comparative period. The Dissolving Pulp Segment generated operating EBITDA of $6.1 million. The Company invested $0.8 million in the Bioproducts Segment and corporate costs were $1.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. Giovanni Iadeluca, Chief Executive Officer of Fortress Global Enterprises, commented: “Fortress Global Enterprises achieved significant improvements in fiscal 2018 when compared to the previous year. Operating EBITDA from continuing operations increased by $12.7 million and total improvement, excluding the Bioproducts segment, was $14.4 million. Click Read More below for additional detail.