International Paper Reaches Agreement to Sell Ownership Interest in Ilim Joint Venture

International technology group ANDRITZ has received an order from Holmen Iggesund Paperboard Ltd. to supply a state-of-the art primary effluent and sludge treatment line for its mill in Workington, UK. Start-up is scheduled for the first quarter of 2023. The mill will completely replace the existing primary effluent treatment plant to improve the efficiency of the system and reduce the level of total suspended solids (TSS) in the outfall. ANDRITZ will supply a tailormade technological solution, including channel screening, clarifying, automated flocculant and coagulant dosing, and sludge dewatering: *ANDRITZ Aqua-Screen channel screens specially designed for handling wastewater streams will ensure effective coarse screening and removal of large contaminants from the influent to the clarifiers. *Clarifiers will be installed to ensure efficient solid-liquid separation for coastal discharge. The clarifier tanks will be raised off the ground on legs to facilitate operation and maintenance activities. *State-of-the-art sludge handling line, including proven ANDRITZ gravity tables prior to ANDRITZ sludge screw presses for minimum flocculant consumption, lowest solids load in the filtrate and highest possible sludge dryness.

Appvion, Inc. announced plans to consolidate the majority of the carbonless paper coating and rewinding operations currently performed at its plant in Appleton, Wisconsin, to its integrated pulp and paper mill in Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania, and relocate the Appleton Plant’s sheeting operations to an Appvion-operated facility near the mill. The company expects the transition will begin in January and be completed in the third quarter of 2018. Consolidating Appvion’s carbonless paper manufacturing, rewinding, and sheeting to the Roaring Spring area, where Appvion already produces this product, will help position the company for long-term success by increasing the efficiencies of its manufacturing and logistics operations. The consolidation plan will result in the shutdown of three under-utilized coaters and related rewinding and sheeting equipment at the Appleton Plant and the elimination of approximately 200 hourly and salaried jobs at that facility. Approximately 300 hourly and salaried plant employees will be retained at the Appleton Plant to continue producing the company’s thermal paper products and some carbonless and specialty coated grades. Employment at Roaring Spring Mill and at Appvion’s thermal paper coating plant in West Carrollton, Ohio, will be unaffected by the plan. Click Read More below for additional information.

Fortress Paper Ltd. reported 2017 second quarter operating EBITDA of $4.3 million, a decrease of $2.0 million relative to the comparative prior year period and a decrease of $3.2 million over the previous quarter. The Dissolving Pulp Segment generated operating EBITDA of $3.5 million and the Security Paper Products Segment generated operating EBITDA of $2.8 million. Corporate costs included in operating EBITDA were $2.0 million. After 36 years in the forestry industry, including nearly five years at Fortress Paper, Yvon Pelletier will be retiring from the Company effective October 1, 2017. Chadwick Wasilenkoff will re-assume the role of Chief Executive Officer and President and continue to serve as Chairman of the board. In order to facilitate a smooth transition of Mr. Pelletier’s duties and strong customer and government relationships, he has agreed to a two year consulting agreement. Click Read More below for additional detail.