The French Paper Mill Smurfit Westrock Cellulose du Pin hit by a fire

The French Paper Mill Smurfit Westrock Cellulose du Pin hit by a fire

A fire broke out on the afternoon of 25 June at the Smurfit Westrock mill in Biganos, in the Arcachon basin, some 60 kilometres from Bordeaux (South-West of France). At the height of the operation, nearly 130 firefighters and 70 vehicles were dispatched to the scene, including a water-bombing helicopter and a Dash aircraft.

ATIP Technical Day in Épinal: Focus on upstream process technologies and a tour of Norske Skog Golbey’s PM1

ATIP Technical Day in Épinal: Focus on upstream process technologies and a tour of Norske Skog Golbey’s PM1

For its second Technical Day of the year, held on June 24 in Épinal (Eastern France), the Technical Association of the Paper Industry (ATIP) chose to address a fundamental aspect of papermaking: pulp preparation technologies, specifically regarding the wet end and press section. The event highlighted the importance of these technologies in achieving high-quality finished products and underscored their significant impact on key areas such as energy efficiency, environmental performance, and competitiveness. Following a welcome update from Copacel on regulatory developments (specifically EUDR and PFAS regulations), suppliers’ companies presented their latest innovations and market outlooks: the Centre Technique du Papier (CTP), Sensorik, Röchling, BTG, ABB (L&W), Techpap, Valmet, and AFT. CTP provided an update on boosting productivity in paper and board recycling mills by controlling water circuit acidification. Sensorik outlined the importance of accurate moisture measurement…

Rayonier Advanced Materials Announces the Appointment of Daniel M. Krawczyk as Chief Executive Officer; Company Continues Comprehensive Review of Strategic Alternatives

Rayonier Advanced Materials Announces the Appointment of Daniel M. Krawczyk as Chief Executive Officer; Company Continues Comprehensive Review of Strategic Alternatives

Rayonier Advanced Materials announced today that the Board of Directors has appointed Daniel M. Krawczyk as Chief Executive Officer and President, effective immediately. He will also join the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Krawczyk will be responsible for leading RYAM’s operations and business activities while working closely with the Board and its external advisors as part of RYAM’s exploration of strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value.

Volkswagen Group enters into exclusive arrangement with Bain Capital for sale of majority stake in Everllence

Volkswagen Group enters into exclusive arrangement with Bain Capital for sale of majority stake in Everllence

The Volkswagen Group has entered into an exclusive arrangement with Bain Capital for the sale of its majority stake in Everllence – 51 percent of the shares are to be transferred to Bain Capital. With this transaction, Volkswagen wants to significantly strengthen the company's financial position as its transformation moves forward. In the medium term, Volkswagen intends to remain a major shareholder in Everllence with a 49 percent stake.

Water consumption for cleaning forming fabrics 90% reduced with FabriCare

Water consumption for cleaning forming fabrics 90% reduced with FabriCare

The IBS Paper Performance Group, technology leader in paper machine optimization, has successfully started up two FabriCare ultra-high-pressure cleaning systems at a customer site in Germany. Thanks to the FabriCare systems, water consumption for cleaning the forming fabrics on a gap former machine was reduced from 330 l/min to just 32 l/min - a significant reduction of more than 90%.

Fibre Excellence: the management team withdraws its bid to facilitate a new plan to revive the sites

Fibre Excellence: the management team withdraws its bid to facilitate a new plan to revive the sites

Another turn of events. Following Matthieu Pigasse’s expression of interest (letter of intent) regarding the takeover of Fibre Excellence, the French producer of market pulp (FE; see our news last 18 June), on 22 June, in a press release, Jean-François Guillot, chairman of FE (photo), announced the withdrawal of the bid he had put forward alongside the management team, in light of “the doubts raised by the Minister for Industry and various stakeholders regarding the governance of the bid.” The Toulouse Commercial Court is due to rule on this case on 6 July.

Process steam from waste heat: How the paper industry reduces energy consumption

Process steam from waste heat: How the paper industry reduces energy consumption

Paper and pulp production is struggling with high energy costs and relies heavily on fossil fuels, resulting in significant carbon emissions. Nevertheless, paper and pulp producers can achieve a considerable reduction in primary energy consumption by recovering waste heat and reusing it as heating steam. Piller Blowers & Compressors offers efficient solutions based on Mechanical Vapor Recompression (MVR) and industrial heat pump technology.

Tero Kokko to assume the position of President & CEO Voith Paper effective next October 1

Tero Kokko to assume the position of President & CEO Voith Paper effective next October 1

Andreas Endters has informed the shareholders and Group management of his decision to leave Voith at the end of the current fiscal year. This request has been accepted. Effective next October 1, 2026, Tero Kokko (photo) will join the Corporate Board of Management of Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA and, as President & CEO of Voith Paper, will assume responsibility for the Group Division.

Fibre Excellence: Matthieu Pigasse is the investor interested in Fibre Excellence

Fibre Excellence: Matthieu Pigasse is the investor interested in Fibre Excellence

According to the regional and national press (La Marseille, Les Echos, Libération, etc.), the investment banker and media businessman Matthieu Pigasse has submitted the letter of intent with a view to supporting the takeover bid led by the company’s management (see our news dated June 17). Other investors may yet come forward to bolster this bid. In any event, hopes are being revived for a possible takeover of the company, even though many uncertainties remain to be resolved, such as the amount of funding required or the government’s fulfilment of the conditions precedent to the management’s bid (electricity purchase price, timber price, etc.). The hearing at the Toulouse Commercial Court has been postponed until 6 July.

SMAGUA 2027 gears up for a landmark edition in Zaragoza

SMAGUA 2027 gears up for a landmark edition in Zaragoza

SMAGUA, the International Water, Irrigation and Environment Exhibition, held its second Organising Committee meeting in Zaragoza on June 17, confirming strong momentum ahead of the February 16–18, 2027 edition at Feria de Zaragoza.

EUROSAC Congress 2026 in Bordeaux: Turning regulation into opportunities

EUROSAC Congress 2026 in Bordeaux: Turning regulation into opportunities

With a record attendance of more than 160 industry experts, the EUROSAC Congress 2026 took place in Bordeaux, France, from 28–30 May. Under the theme “Turning regulation into opportunities”, participants explored how evolving legislation, sustainability requirements and circular economy initiatives can become drivers of innovation, competitiveness and business growth.

Stora Enso invests in fluff pulp production increase at its Skutskär business unit and concludes change negotiations for softwood line closure

Stora Enso invests in fluff pulp production increase at its Skutskär business unit and concludes change negotiations for softwood line closure

Stora Enso strengthens its focus on specialised pulp grades by investing EUR 19 million in fluff pulp production increase at its Skutskär production unit in Sweden. This investment will cater to the growing consumer demand for hygiene products. As a result of the ongoing change negotiations, the company has also decided to permanently close softwood pulp production on fiberline 3 (L3).

Zellcheming-Expo 2026 is underway in Wiesbaden

Zellcheming-Expo 2026 is underway in Wiesbaden

ZELLCHEMING-Expo 2026, the German fair and congress for the pulp, paper, and fiber-based industries, has opened its doors this week at the RheinMain CongressCenter (RMCC) in Wiesbaden. Organized by the German association of paper producers, the annual event brings together the entire industrial value chain over three intensive days.

Mondi celebrates ten years of PERGRAPHICA with global anniversary campaign

Mondi celebrates ten years of PERGRAPHICA with global anniversary campaign

Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, is marking the 10th anniversary of its premium uncoated design paper brand PERGRAPHICA® with a global anniversary campaign titled ‘10 Years in 10 Days’. The time bound campaign brings together a curated programme of content, an anniversary film and a limited Time Capsule Giveaway, celebrating a decade of creative collaboration and design driven print.