HoustonPoly Announces Price Increase

Containerboard production was essentially flat compared to September 2016. The month-over-month average daily production compared to August 2017 was 3.8% lower. The containerboard operating rate for September decreased from 97.2% to 95.9%, which was 0.9 percentage points lower than September of last year. Year-to-date production of containerboard for export is up 2.2%, with the September volume falling 13.6% below the same month last year.

Sonoco announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire S.P. Holding, Skjern A/S, a privately owned manufacturer of paper based in Skjern, Denmark. The acquisition expands production capacity for customers and Sonoco converting operations throughout Europe and bordering regions. The estimated $88 million (675 million DKK) all-cash transaction has been unanimously approved by Sonoco’s Board of Directors and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions. Founded in 1965, Skjern is a leading producer of high-grade paperboard from 100% recycled paper for rigid paper containers, tubes and cores, and other applications. The company has robust sustainability programs in place for renewable energy and CO2 emission reduction and operations are powered by a biomass boiler, which reduces reliance on natural gas. In 2022, Skjern is expected to achieve annual sales of $50 million and the transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to both earnings per share and cash flow.

Solenis, a leading producer of specialty chemicals, is collaborating with Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, an innovative technology company with a leading position in the global printing industry, to advance a more cost-effective way of integrating barrier coatings for paper packaging directly within the existing flexographic printing process. Barrier coatings are used to repel hot and cold liquids, oils, greases, and water vapor in paper packaging. With this innovation, packaging producers can use the HEIDELBERG portfolio of flexographic machines to print-apply Solenis’ barrier coatings. This expands the possibilities for flat sheet paper and inline web-fed flexo applications with improved product performance and better production efficiency.