Dr. Fabian Gaus complements the LEIPA Group GmbH as managing director

Paper Excellence in Port Alberni has been awarded a pair of CleanBC Industry Fund grants totalling $145,000 for feasibility studies examining two sustainable business projects. The first grant, for $51,000, will help Port Alberni’s Catalyst Paper division look at offloading and delivery options for its biofuel. This would include improving efficiency in offloading of hogfuel at the plant as well as ways to increase biofuel steam production to reduce natural gas consumption in its No. 4 power boiler and auxiliary boilers. The second grant, for approximately $94,000, will help Catalyst Paper investigate the feasibility of power boiler stack heat recovery. This project would ideally see the paper plant install a heat-recovery system in the power boiler exhaust. Recovered heat would in turn offset the heat generated from fuel combustion.

Neenah, a leading global manufacturer of latex-saturated and coated papers used in abrasive products worldwide, introduces DURAFLAT® Fibre Grinding Disc Backing, an alternative to traditional vulcanized fibre discs, to the marketplace. DURAFLAT Fibre offers better dimensional stability to reduce curl, improved efficiencies, lower costs, and flatter discs that enhance grinding execution and reduce bursting in packaging on the shelf. “Over the last 60 years, Neenah has designed over 180 paper-based abrasive backers for various end-use applications. In DURAFLAT Fibre, we wanted to create a competitive, high-performance alternative for the growing number of our customers looking to reduce dependency on vulcanized fibre discs,” says Valerie Henderson, Abrasive Backings Product Manager for Neenah. DURAFLAT Fibre effectively resists humidity and will not curl like traditional vulcanized fibre discs. As a result, abrasives manufacturers and end-users get a product that increases functionality and effectiveness. Neenah also differentiates by offering custom design support, a range of weights, and unlimited colors for a tailor-made brand experience.

Avery Dennison Corporation said it has made an investment in Gauzy, an Israeli-based developer and manufacturer of liquid-crystal-based materials, films, applications and solutions for a variety of end markets including construction, automotive, consumer electronics, home appliances, the solar industry and more. Based in Tel Aviv, Israel, Gauzy has successfully commercialized several initial “smart glass” products, including an embedded switchable window film that can alternate from clear and frosted with the touch of a button. Gauzy is the lead provider that offers a fully warranted, integrated solution that includes window films, hardware controllers for film operation and preservation, and complete certification and training with verification tools for worldwide partners. The film is currently used in architectural applications and is under evaluation for automotive applications. Click Read More below for additional detail.