After serving the pulp and paper industry for more than 100 years, Solenis is well known as a leading supplier of process and functional chemistries. The Wilmington, Delaware-based company already had a world-class portfolio of products, state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems and a global network of professionals respected for their consultative approach to working with customers. Meanwhile, the Germany-based BASF had built its reputation as an innovative chemical company, and its 2008 acquisition of CIBA expanded its colorants portfolio and expertise even more, establishing BASF as the go-to reference in the market. But every great team can be improved. For Solenis, which did not count colorants expertise as a core competency, the pickup of BASF’s basic dyes, direct dyes and pigment preparations was a key addition that strengthened an already robust portfolio. Now, Solenis has fully assimilated the acquired technologies and is well positioned to offer a colorants portfolio that gives papermakers great flexibility, along with support from a technical team.

Effective with shipments on or after May 20, 2018, Navigator North America will be increasing prices by 5% to 7% for: Navigator Premium Inkjet, Soporset Premium Opaque Offset (Text & Cover & Digital) in sheets and sSheeter rolls and all cut-size office papers including Navigator, Pioneer and Discovery. Also implementing a freight surcharge of $2.00/cwt for shipments to CO, NM, OR, WA, NV and AZ and a $4.00/cwt freight surcharge for shipments to ID, UT, WY, MT, SD and ND.

Domtar’s Engineered Absorbent Materials (EAM) facility in Jesup, Georgia, recently celebrated the completion of a $90 million project that added a large-scale airlaid production line to the facility as well as 75 new jobs. The EAM expansion makes Domtar a leading nonwovens provider. The facility hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 23 that included remarks from Domtar leaders and Georgia state and county officials. Staff from U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter’s office also attended. “The EAM expansion adds more scale and technology, and combining it with our world-class fluff pulp business, we will deliver more value to our customers and Domtar for many years to come,” said Steve Henry, Domtar executive vice president and chief operating officer. “We are very confident and excited by what the future holds for Domtar’s pulp business and EAM.”