PaperFIRST

The paper and board community: Innovation through collaboration at the Technologie Kring Seminar

At the end of November 2026, German device manufacturer emtec Electronic GmbH is returning to Apeldoorn, Netherlands for the fall edition of the Technologie Kring VNP Millvision Seminar. From November 25th to 26th sales representatives Philipp Sievers and Andrea Maldonado Castellar from emtec plus local partner Thierry Onder de Linden from ODL Paper Service will be on site to discuss, share and explore new ideas. Fitting the seminar’s theme “Paper and board machines, technologies and products”, five of emtec’s paper and board measuring solutions are going to be presented at their tabletop.

Valmet improves boiler reliability and reduces downtime with CFB boiler upgrade at Stora Enso Ostrołęka mill in Poland

Valmet has received an order from Stora Enso Narew Sp. z o.o. to modernize the circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler at the Ostrołęka pulp and paper mill in Poland. The upgrade will improve boiler availability, reduce unplanned downtime, and lower operating costs.

Sonoco Announces CEO Succession Plan

Howard Coker to Retire Following Distinguished 41-year Career, Including as Director, President and CEO since 2020

SCA appoints a new head for business area Containerboard and Pulp

SCA appoints Gustaf Nygren as the new head of business area Containerboard and Pulp and member of the executive management team.

Valmet continues long-term cooperation with board producer in Asia with another board making line order

Valmet has been selected to supply another complete board making line with automation and lifecycle services to one of its major customers in Asia. Building on the companies’ long-term cooperation and the experience from previous deliveries, the new investment will further support the customer’s ambitions to expand premium-quality coated board production while improving production efficiency and operational performance. Valmet has previously delivered board and paper making lines to the same customer. This new line will be similar in concept to the board line announced earlier this year, enabling the customer and Valmet to build on operational experience and best practices from their existing cooperation.

German manufacturer emtec connects with corrugated packaging industry at VDW's Technical Members' Meeting 2026

To strengthen its connections within the corrugated cardboard and paper industry and stay up to date with the latest technical developments, Leipzig-based company emtec Electronic GmbH will attend the 31st VDW Technical Members' Meeting from November 15 to 17, 2026, in Seeheim-Jugenheim, Germany.

Over AED 1.3 billion investments in Regional Paper Industry Underscore Growth Potential at ProPaper Dubai 2026

Projects unveiled at the two-day B2B event also highlight the pace at which the UAE’s industrial sector is rapidly transitioning towards a sustainable, high-tech, and circular economy

Agilyx: GreenDot to acquire 50% of French packaging EPR company Léko, expanding its European recycling platform

Agilyx ASA announces that GreenDot, its majority-owned holding, has entered into an agreement to acquire 50% of Valorie SAS, a fast-growing state-approved extended producer responsibility (EPR) recycling company in France owning 100% of Léko and Léko Pro. GreenDot will share joint ownership and control of Valorie with German environmental services company Reclay International. The transaction is funded from cash within the GreenDot Group and involves no cash outlay and no share issuance by Agilyx.

UPM and Sappi submit remedies in European Commission review of proposed graphic paper Joint Venture

UPM and Sappi have formally submitted remedy proposals to the European Commission as part of its ongoing review of the planned graphic paper Joint Venture.

Ircon-Solaronics to improve the drying after a film press, to better control the gas consumption and to optimize the drying strategy in Cartiera Ermolli S.p.A (Italy)

After a successful project was realized in 2020, #IrconSolaronics was selected by the Cartiera Ermolli to improve the drying after the film sizer on their machine 1 by replacing an old hot air dryer.

Back in London with emtec’s smart measurement technology for confident decisions in paper manufacturing

To demonstrate its innovative paper and tissue testing technologies to the British audience, Leipzig-based company emtec Electronic GmbH is pleased to participate in the Paper & Tissue Show London in the UK. Simultaneously, thanks to their Canadian representative von QC Contrôle, emtec’s measurement solutions will be showcased at the Advanced Design &

Bergslagets Skogar outlined strategy for long-term value creation at its first Capital Markets Day

Bergslagets Skogar presented its strategy, business model and long-term value creation framework at its first Capital Markets Day in Stockholm on 3 November 2026. The event marked an important step in the preparations to separate Bergslagets Skogar from Stora Enso into a standalone listed company, subject to customary approvals.

Jukka Flinkman appointed VP, Mill Manager of Metsä Group’s Äänekoski bioproduct mill

Jukka Flinkman has been appointed VP, Mill Manager of Metsä Group’s Äänekoski bioproduct mill as of 1 March 2027. Flinkman will join Metsä Fibre from UPM, where he has served as Director, Operations at the Rauma paper mill, with overall responsibility for the mill’s operations. Previously, he worked as Production Manager at UPM’s Kymi pulp mill. He has extensive experience in production management in both the pulp and paper industries.

Sonoco to Modernize and Expand URB Production at Richmond, VA Mill

Sonoco Products Company, the largest producer of uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) in North America, today announced plans to invest $40 million over the next two years to modernize and expand production of its Richmond, VA paperboard mill, reinforcing the Company’s commitment to operational excellence, product innovation and long-term growth.

Veolia’s advanced water regeneration technologies strengthen environmental security at Arauco’s new pulp mill in Brazil

Global pulp producer Arauco has chosen Veolia, the world leader in water treatment technologies, to develop the water treatment line for the Sucuriú Project. The contract covers the design and implementation of an industrial effluent treatment plant for Arauco’s first pulp mill in Brazil, which will be the largest industrial facility in the world built in a single phase.

Wet-end starch consumption reduced: IBS iTABLE® maXX® enables annual savings of 540.000 €

The IBS Paper Performance Group, technology leader in paper machine optimization, has successfully reduced the consumption of wet-end starch by 12 percent for a European manufacturer of packaging paper. On a machine with an annual production capacity of 195,000 metric tons, targeted upgrades to the wire section yielded significant efficiency gains,

Changes in UPM’s Group Executive Team: Sangeeta Pandey appointed Executive Vice President, Human Resources

Sangeeta Pandey has been appointed Executive Vice President, Human Resources at UPM. She will be a member of UPM’s Group Executive Team and report to Massimo Reynaudo, President and CEO. She will assume her role on January 1, 2027, and will be based in Helsinki, Finland.

MM Board & Paper invests in continuous cooking technology at Kwidzyn, cutting production CO₂ emissions by around one-third

MM Board & Paper has completed its investment in continuous cooking technology at MM Kwidzyn, marking a further step in the site’s long-term development. The new continuous digester, which has already commenced operations, is expected to reduce the integrated mill’s CO₂ emissions substantially by around one-third as well as the mill’s wood consumption.

Recent BIR World Recycling Convention & Exhibition, Malaga (25) 26-27 October 2026 International Environment Council: “A dangerous shift to strategic supply chains”

Trade barriers and restrictions are increasingly prompted by political and strategic concerns for supply chain security rather than economic or environment reasons, the Bureau of International Recycling’s World Recycling Convention in Malaga, Spain has been told.

BIR Paper Division: EU urged to postpone “disastrous” DIWASS scheme

Clear calls to postpone use of the new EU Digital Waste Shipment System (DIWASS) by at least six months, and for European leaders to engage with the recovered paper sector on new rules which could have catastrophic impacts, have been made at the Bureau of International Recycling’s World Recycling Convention in Malaga.

Paper Industry Must Move Beyond Production to Shape the Future of Materials, Says M.A.H.Y. Khoory Group CEO

At ProPaper Dubai 2026, Abdel Rhman Obaid calls for greater industry involvement in material innovation, value creation and the emerging renewable materials economy.

Nestlé Honors DS Smith at Its Supplier Awards: A Benchmark 35-Year Partnership

DS Smith, an International Paper company, has been awarded the "Lighthouse Award" by Nestlé Germany at its Supplier Awards. This unique distinction recognizes suppliers who serve as benchmarks and role models in the industry.

UPM to open its first label material factory in India to accelerate growth in the region

UPM Adhesive Materials plans to open its first factory in India in early 2028. Located in the state of Gujarat, the factory will feature an acrylic-based coating line for self-adhesive label materials. The investment continues UPM’s expansion in India, following the company’s March 2026 announcement of a new label material slitting and distribution terminal near New Delhi.

Smartlog joins the Smartlogistix Group, completing its offering for integrated intralogistics

Smartlog, founded in 2005 by Alberto Barbieri, brings its expertise and track record in automated warehouses, strengthening the Group’s offering. The Group can now provide integrated solutions for material handling, storage and management, with a single point of management and responsibility.