Valmet has completed the acquisition of Severn Group, accelerating the growth of the Process Performance Solutions segment

Valmet has completed the acquisition of Severn Group, accelerating the growth of the Process Performance Solutions segment

Valmet has today completed the acquisition of Severn Group (“Severn”), a well-established industrial valve company specializing in severe service flow control solutions. The acquisition was announced on December 22, 2025, and it covers all three Severn divisions: Severn Glocon, ValvTechnologies, and LB Bentley. Severn’s capabilities and customer relationships strengthen Valmet’s Process Performance Solutions segment, which already accounts for close to half of Valmet’s profitability. The acquisition further accelerates growth beyond the company’s traditional core biomaterials business.

Kyle Chapman elected Barry-Wehmiller Chairman of the Board

Kyle Chapman elected Barry-Wehmiller Chairman of the Board

Barry-Wehmiller, the privately held, 141-year-old, $4 billion global platform of industrial and packaging automation, professional services and life sciences technology, today announced that Kyle Chapman has been elected Chairman of the Board. In this role, Kyle succeeds his late father, Bob Chapman, who led the company for five decades.

International Paper Continues Strategic Transformation with North America Packaging Network

International Paper Continues Strategic Transformation with North America Packaging Network

International Paper, a leader in sustainable packaging, today announced strategic actions that aim to optimize its network, focus investments on the highest-value opportunities and better serve customers across North America. As a result, the company plans to cease its preprint operations at its Richwood, KY facility, and close its Aurora, IL sheet plant and converting plants in Elk Grove, CA and Barrington, NJ by the end of the third quarter 2026.

Metsä Group and Qutwo take the next step in advancing AI in the forest industry

Metsä Group and Qutwo take the next step in advancing AI in the forest industry

Metsä Group and Qutwo, a Finnish AI and quantum technology company, are launching a collaboration aimed at deepening the use of artificial intelligence at Metsä and bringing next-generation AI into the core processes of the forest industry. Next-generation AI refers to solutions that can take into account a broader range of variables and simultaneously optimise complex systems.

AFVP holds its 2026 annual seminar in Divonne-les-Bains

AFVP holds its 2026 annual seminar in Divonne-les-Bains

The Association Française des Vendeurs de Pâtes (AFVP) gathered around 40 professionals from the French pulp supply sector on Thursday 26 June 2026 for its annual seminar, held once again at the Grand Hôtel in Divonne-les-Bains.

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.