International technology Group ANDRITZ has received an order from Guangxi Sun Paper to supply two tissue machines for its new mill in Beihai City, Guangxi Province, China. Start-up is planned for 2021. The ANDRITZ tissue machines are of the type PrimeLineTM W 2000, with a design speed of 2,000 m/min and a working width of 5.65 m. They are equipped with a large suction press roll, an 18 ft. PrimeDry Steel Yankee with head insulation, and a re-evaporation system, thus enabling energy savings. The scope of supply also includes FibreSolve FSV pulpers, the paper machine approach flow systems, broke handling and fiber recovery, and automation systems (QCS, DCS).

Shareholders representing 98% of the owners in Bergvik Skog AB, a Swedish forest holding company, have agreed to initiate discussions, based on a non-binding letter of intent, aiming at structural changes in Bergvik Skog Group. These shareholders are Stora Enso, Länsförsäkringar, FAM, BillerudKorsnäs, Kåpan Pension, Tredje AP-fonden, Persson Invest, Karl Hedin AB and Tham Invest. “The wood supply agreement with Bergvik Skog, established 15 years ago, expires next year. Together with our partners, we have had a successful journey which now comes to an end. The planned transaction is a natural next step for us, as we strongly believe in the bioeconomy and want to secure our competitive raw material supply in the long term. We will seek support from the remaining 2% outstanding shareholders as well as all other relevant stakeholders”, says Karl-Henrik Sundström, CEO of Stora Enso. Bergvik Skog’s Swedish forest assets are owned by its subsidiaries Bergvik Väst AB and Bergvik Öst AB, representing approximately 83% and 17% respectively. Click Read More below for additional information.

Revenue in Q1 2018 was $323.7 million, compared to $289.3 million in Q1 2017, an increase of $34.4 million or 11.9%. The increase in revenue was due to the combination of: an additional 6 days of sales in Q1 2018 compared to Q1 2017; the favourable impact of increased sales volume; and a Consumer selling price increase in Canada in Q4 2017; partially offset by the unfavourable impact of foreign exchange fluctuations on U.S. dollar sales. Net income in Q1 2018 was $1.6 million, compared to $6.9 million in Q1 2017, primarily due to lower Adjusted EBITDA of $6.8 million, higher depreciation expense of $1.1 million, an increase in interest expense of $1.0 million, a decrease in foreign exchange gain of $0.4 million and the loss on sale of fixed assets of $0.4 million. These items were partially offset by a decrease in tax expense of $3.8 million and the change in fair value of derivatives of $0.6 million. Click Read More below for additional information.