Madison Paper Industries concluded the sale of its hydro power facilities in North America to Eagle Creek Renewable Energy

SCA has launched a new tool with AI functionality for digital forestry planning. In 2023, small-scale tests were conducted to scale up to more extensive tests in 2024. “It’s incredibly exciting. It involves both new technology and new working methods that give us several advantages,” says Magnus Bergman, who leads SCA Forest’s technology and digitization staff. The goal is that by 2025, all forest planners at SCA Forest will use digital forestry planning to prepare for harvesting in SCA’s own forests. “Digital forestry site planning brings several positive aspects. The most important is that we achieve more efficient forestry site planning thanks to higher and more consistent quality of our forest data, and a large part of the planning work can be done in the office. Additionally, we can plan more during the winter,” says Magnus.

The Paper Excellence Group announced the successful closing of its previously-announced acquisition of Domtar. The acquisition further establishes Paper Excellence Group as an industry leader, significantly broadening its global reach and expanding its product range to include airlaid nonwovens and containerboard, in addition to significantly increased pulp and paper production. Domtar will operate as a stand-alone business entity within the Paper Excellence Group, with Domtar’s current CEO and management team remaining in place. There are no further changes to operating locations, business plans, or Domtar’s employee base at this time.

Materials Group: *Reported sales increased 5% to $1.5 billion. Sales were up 6% ex. currency and on an organic basis. -Label Materials sales were up mid-to-high single-digits on an organic basis. **Volume/mix was up low double-digits, which was partially offset by deflation-related price reductions. -Graphics and Reflectives were up low single-digits organically. -Performance Tapes and Medical were down low single-digits organically. *Reported operating margin was 14.4%. Adjusted EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) was 17.9%, up 220 basis points driven by higher volume/mix and benefits from productivity, partially offset by higher employee-related costs. Solutions Group: *Reported sales increased 12% to $689 million. Sales were up 14% ex. currency and 11% on an organic basis. -Sales in high-value categories were up low double-digits ex. currency. -Sales were up mid-to-high teens ex. currency in base solutions. *Reported operating margin was 9.3%. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 16.8%, up 100 basis points, driven by higher volume and benefits from productivity, partially offset by higher employee-related costs and investments. -Margin was up 70 basis points sequentially; the company expects margin to continue to improve in the second half of 2024.