Neenah expands its wide format portfolio to address significant market demand for safe signage solutions by offering new, innovative solutions with conVerd Board® Wipe Clean™ and DigiScape® FootPrint™. “As the CDC continues to update safety guidelines for businesses, our customers need the flexibility to update their signage with cleaner and environmentally smarter products. With these new options, we meet the need for PVC-free products that print and perform better than plastic with similar properties. With conVerd Board Wipe Clean and DigiScape FootPrint, companies can effortlessly do the right thing for their customers, their brand, and the planet,” says Milene Ribas, Global Business Development Manager for Neenah. conVerd Board has long been the choice of brands searching for a recyclable alternative for structural signage. Now, Neenah introduces state-of-the-art conVerd Board Wipe Clean, the only 100% paper-based, fully recyclable product on the market with a wipeable, printable surface.

The aim of the partnership is to construct a new facility to produce advanced renewable fuels from tall oil with a capacity of 100 000 tonnes per annum. Construction of the new facility, subject to permission process and final approval from both companies, is expected to cost around 500 MSEK to build and is planned to be operational in 2021. Tall oil is a residual product from the production of kraft pulp in SCA’s mills Östrand, Obbola and Munksund. SCA is presently expanding its kraft pulp mill Östrand and as a result the production of tall oil from the mill will increase by more than 100 per cent. Between the two partners, the parties constitute the full value-chain from the raw material to the refining process, distribution and sale of the renewable fuel to the customers. Click Read More below for additional information.

Printing Papers operating profits in the first quarter of 2018 were $64 million versus $136 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. In North America, the benefits from increased sales prices and a favorable mix were more than offset by higher planned maintenance outages and higher input costs related to transportation and energy. In Brazil, seasonally lower sales volumes and an unfavorable geographic and product mix exceeded the benefits from higher sales price realizations. In Europe and Russia, earnings decreased due to higher planned maintenance outage costs, higher input costs and lower sales volumes, partially offset by improved pricing. Industrial Packaging operating profits in the first quarter of 2018 were $437 million ($464 million excluding special items) compared with $609 million ($614 million excluding special items) in the fourth quarter of 2017. In North America, strong demand in box and export containerboard markets, along with price realization, were more than offset by seasonally lower sales volume, production constraints due to weather related disruptions and maintenance outage costs. Click Read More below for additional information.