New Sherbrooke Plant Doubles its Tissue Paper Capacity

International technology Group ANDRITZ recently completed successful replacement and start-up of the PM5 Yankee hood at Cascades Tissue Group’s tissue mill in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA. The ANDRITZ PrimeDry Hood is specially designed for low energy consumption and long durability. With this upgrade, production output of the PM5 – a medium-speed tissue machine for dry-crepe tissue with a 12 ft. Yankee – has increased remarkably while reducing specific gas consumption by the hood. Due to the energy savings achieved, Cascades Tissue Group Wisconsin was awarded the 2020 Energy Efficiency Excellence Award by FOCUS ON ENERGY®, Wisconsin’s energy efficiency and renewable energy resources program. This program encompasses 107 utilities across the state, with the goal of providing expertise and financial incentives to residents and businesses to reduce energy consumption or increase energy efficiency.

Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc. was recognized with three 2020 American Graphic Design Awards, presented annually by Graphic Design USA (GDUSA). Monadnock Astrolite PC 100 Swatchbook – Brochures + Collateral category (self); Luxury Performance Board Toolkit – Sales Promotion/Self Promotion category (client); “Sustainability is Kindness” Hemp Sample Box – Direct Mail + Direct Response category (client). “We love the opportunity to showcase our sustainable paper and packaging innovations,” says Lisa Berghaus, director of marketing communications at Monadnock. “It is a true testament to the hard work of our team, partners, and clients.”

A bi-partisan group of the House of Representatives on September 18 asked the International Trade Commission (ITC) to deny a petition filed by the North Pacific Paper Company (Norpac) that requests antidumping and/or countervailing duties of over 50 percent on newsprint imported from Canada. The bipartisan letter, led by Representatives Chuck Fleischmann (R-Chattanooga, TN) and Jamie Raskin (D-Rockville, MD), argued that a well-documented shift from printed newspapers to digital alternatives has caused a dramatic decline in newsprint consumption. And, that this trade dispute, brought on my one mill with 400 employees, could put at risk 175,000 jobs in the newspaper industry. Other representatives that signed the letter include House Republican Conference chair, Cathy McMoriss Rodgers (R-WA) and representatives Mike Rogers (R-AL), Diane Black (R-TN) and Ralph Norman (R-SC). Last week the Alliance Board of Directors sent its own letter to the ITC opposing the petition. The petition is also opposed by a broad coalition of U.S. and Canadian paper manufacturers, who understand that sharp price increases on customers could accelerate the decline in newsprint demand. The ITC is expected to make a preliminary determination on petition on September 22. If the Commission decides to move forward, the ITC and the Department of Commerce will conduct investigations and hearings that could lead to a final determination in late spring 2018.