North American printing and writing paper demand down 6.5% in July
North American printing and writing paper demand declined by 6.5% to 719,000 tons in July, down 6.5% year over year according to the Pulp and Paper Products Council. Uncoated Freesheet operating rate stood at 80% down from 85% a year ago. And Coated Free Sheet operating rate rose to 85% up from 77% last July.
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Finnish Industrial Union settles for 8% pay rise over three years
The Boards of the Finnish Industrial Union and Technology Industry Employers of Finland on Saturday showed a green light to the pay agreement their negotiators had accepted on Thursday. The agreement guarantees employees a pay rise of 2.5 per cent in 2025, 2.9 per cent in 2026 and 2.4 per cent in 2027, equivalent to a pay rise of eight per cent over the three-year agreement term due to the compound interest effect. The third year, though, can be terminated by the contract parties. An employee currently earning 3,300 euros a month will thus see their earnings rise to 3,383 euros in 2025, to 3,481 euros in 2026 and to 3,564 euros in 2027. The agreement signals an important breakthrough in what had been a deadlocked labour market situation not only because if directly applies to roughly 90,000 employees in a key export industry, but also because it has an indirect impact on most wage earners in the country. The tradition has been that other industries take their cues from the agreement thrashed out in the technology industry.
Ahlstrom-Munksjö debuts EnduraFlex™ and HydroSize™ technologies for paper flexibility and water resistance
Ahlstrom-Munksjö is dedicated to providing sustainable alternatives to non-renewable plastic materials in everyday life. Two new technologies further this goal, solidifying the important role that paper will play in an eco-friendly future. EnduraFlex™ technology creates stretch in crepe and extensible papers, resulting in a product that can compete with alternative flexible materials. Extensible papers are structured to accommodate stretch; the surface of the paper is not affected by its inherent flexibility. Likewise, crepe papers produced with EnduraFlex™ technology showcase new levels of stretch without compromising appearance or functionality. The end uses of EnduraFlex™ papers are widely variable, ranging from use in construction materials to e-commerce and decorative packaging solutions. HydroSize™ papers offer a sustainable alternative to traditional waterproof materials. Ahlstrom-Munksjö has developed enhanced water resistance within paper fibers and structure, preventing product saturation. The resulting papers are able to repel water and other liquids for long periods. This new technological opportunity provides consumers with a water resistant option in several different areas, including agriculture, gardening and various e-commerce packaging solutions such as cold chain insulated packaging.