PaperFIRST

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

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

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

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.

Production curtailments at UPM’s pulp mills in Finland

The UPM Kaukas pulp mill will be temporarily shut down as of August 3, 2026 for approximately six weeks. In addition, a potential temporary shutdown of the UPM Pietarsaari pulp mill is being planned for October.

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

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.

Tasowheel and PAPTECH Partner in Vietnam

Tasowheel is partnering with PAPTECH, expanding its presence in the Vietnamese pulp and paper market.

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).

Fibre Excellence: Toulouse Commercial Court postpones hearing to July 6 to solidify takeover plan with “a new, renowned French investor”

The Toulouse Commercial Court has decided to postpone the hearing scheduled today June 17 to July 6. Here is the press release received from Fibre Excellence:

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.

SPA Emerging Leaders Strengthen Leadership Skills at Sheard Packaging

Twenty-two delegates from the Sheet Plant Association's (SPA) Emerging Leaders Programme recently gathered at Sheard Packaging for the third module of the industry's flagship leadership development programme.

KPMG report: EUR 3.4 billion in value added to Finland – Metsä Group’s impact extends across the domestic economy

Metsä Group’s impact on the Finnish economy is significant: the company’s value-added impact amounts to approximately EUR 3.4 billion per year, and its operations employ more than 30,000 people in Finland. The figures are based on an assessment by KPMG Oy Ab of Metsä’s economic impact in 2023–2025.

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.

Delfort expands transformer insulation portfolio with new pressboard machine – Bellmer delivers key technology

Delfort, a global manufacturer of specialty papers, has announced a major investment in new pressboard production capacity for electrical insulation applications. The new machine will be installed at the company’s Tervakoski site in Finland and is scheduled to start operations in 2027.

GAZELEC, the must-attend event for French energy buyers & suppliers is back for its 17th editio

This new edition of GAZELEC will bring together more than 1,000 participants at the CNIT Forest. A wealth of conferences and new features are expected on the programme.

Fibre Excellence: Management Team Indicates It Is "Awaiting the State's Response to Its Proposals to Save the French Paper Industry"

Time is running out. When questioned by MPs during this week’s Question Time, the French Minister for Industry, Sébastien Martin, expressed his regret at the absence of “an industrial investor” in the sole bid to take over Fibre Excellence (FE). This bid is being led by the current management team, headed by Jean-François Guillot. In a Press Release received this Friday, June 12, and which we are publishing in full, FE outlines its perspective on the situation. The Toulouse Commercial Court is scheduled to rule on the site's future on June 17.

BHS Corrugated France & Afrique Becomes the Exclusive Partner of Mühlen Sohn

BHS Corrugated France & Afrique announces an exclusive partnership with Mühlen Sohn GmbH & Co. KG.

SCA updates MTN programme and publishes prospectus

Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) on May 8, 2018 established a Medium Term Note program (MTN) with a loan framework amounting to SEK 8 billion. In connection with the annual update in 2026, SCA’s Board of Directors has resolved to increase the borrowing limit from SEK 8 billion to SEK 12 billion to ensure flexibility and diversification in the financing.

Reduced logging delivers limited climate benefits at high cost

Proposals to reduce forestry activity and increase protected forest areas have become an important part of the European forestry debate. However, according to a new impact assessment, such measures risk leading to lower production, tens of thousands of lost jobs, and higher societal costs – without delivering any climate benefits.

New climate report from UPM Communication Papers marks major progress toward 2030 climate target

UPM Communication Papers has published its 2025 climate report, showing strong progress on the climate action roadmap. In Europe, fossil CO₂ emissions from own operations and purchased energy (Scope 1 and 2) fell by 38% per tonne of paper in 2025, measured against the 2023 baseline year. The reduction demonstrates accelerated implementation of the climate action roadmap.

The Navigator Company launches gCELL, its new pulp brand

The Navigator Company has announced the launch of gCELL, a new brand for its pulp portfolio, aligned with the differentiation and value creation it brings to the global pulp market. With gCELL, Navigator brings its pulp business under a unified and distinctive identity rooted in more than 70 years of expertise in Eucalyptus globulus pulp production.

Södra and Viking Analytics Sign Enterprise-Wide Framework Agreement for Advanced AI-Based Vibration Analytics

Based on documented results at Södra Värö, Södra has decided to scale Viking Analytics’ AI platform, MultiViz, across the entire group. The framework agreement covers 3,650 sensors deployed across the mills in Värö, Mörrum, and Mönsterås, marking the next step in Södra’s commitment to data-driven, proactive maintenance.

Recent World Recycling Convention in Gothenburg - Paper Division Side Session: Challenges will push paper sector to be more creative

The need to overcome constant challenges and the importance of logistics were key points of discussion at the BIR Paper Division side session held in Gothenburg on June 1. In his opening remarks, divisional President Francisco Donoso of DOLAF Servicios Verdes SL in Spain said that, while the recovered paper sector continues to face challenges, it is also evolving and the “demand for sustainable raw materials and circular solutions has never been more important than now”.