Official Board Markets articles from August 2005

Official Board Markets archives from August 2005

Soft board prices persist: finally addressing capacity issues.(News Analysis)
August 6, 2005... Independent box converters greeted last week's announcement that Smurfit-Stone Container Corp., Chicago, will be eliminating 700,000 tons of its total containerboard manufacturing capacity (see sidebar for more details) with a collective "about...

Transacted containerboard prices.
August 6, 2005... Transacted Containerboard Prices Average transacted price levels are tabulated by obtaining paid prices from independent converters purchasing linerboard and medium. All prices are intended standard only. Transactions may be concluded...

SSCC to stop production at three mills.
August 6, 2005... Smurfit-Stone Container Corp., Chicago, will stop production permanently at two North American containerboard mills and shut down an idled machine at a third mill. The company says it will close the linerboard mill in New Richmond, Quebec,...

AIMCAL launches four industry blogs.(INFORMATION RESOURCE)
August 6, 2005... Four blogs sponsored by the Association of Industrial Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators (AIMCAL) went live on Aug. 1 to help members of the converting community locate information on new technology and industry issues. The blogs also...

CPP EXPO closes in on 200 Exhibitors.(Trade show news)(Event overview)
August 6, 2005... With Mamata USA, Faustel Inc. and OEC Graphics joining the list of CPP EXPO Exhibitors, the inaugural event is closing in on 200 exhibiting companies. The show will take place Sept. 26-28 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas....

AICC awards student designs.(Student competition)
August 6, 2005... The Association of Independent Corrugated Converters (AICC) has selected the winners of the 6th Annual Student Packaging Design Competition. Students from Clemson University, Mohawk College, University of Florida, California Polytechnic...

Paperboard recycling is up.(AF&PA REPORTS)
August 6, 2005... The American Forest & Paper Association's (AF&PA) 2005 Community Survey found that 86 percent of the U.S. population, or 254 million people, have access to curbside or drop-off recycling programs. AF&PA and its member companies are encouraged...

TAPPI corrugated confab features newest innovations.(WHAT'S NEW SHOWCASE)
August 6, 2005... Participants in the TAPPI Corrugated Packaging Conference, Sept. 26-27, in Las Vegas, Nevada, will discover the latest products and services available to the corrugated packaging industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in...

Amtech sells to HSM Packaging.(SOFTWARE SALE)
August 6, 2005... Bensalem, Pa.-based Amtech has sold its advanced Imaginera software system to HSM Packaging Corp., Syracuse, N.Y. Imaginera is an integrated, Windows-based software solution for the box industry. Modules included cover all aspects of customer...

Express Packaging opts for Advantzware.(SOFTWARE SALE)
August 6, 2005... Express Packaging of Pembroke, Ga., has purchased Windows-based Advantzware box software suite from Advanced Software, Inc. of Yardley, Pa. The system automates all plant and office aspects of a corrugated box or folding carton box plant....

Improve storage productivity: the storage of service parts has a dramatic impact on equipment productivity. Your approach could have labor, tax and insurance implications.(SERVICE PARTS MANAGEMENT)
August 6, 2005... Converters are continually attempting to improve the lifecycle productivity of their equipment: corrugators, material handling equipment, gluers, diecutters, printing equipment and others. Equipment lifecycle productivity has several variables....

Oil, energy costs threaten growth.(MANUFACTURING SURVEY)
August 6, 2005... U.S.-based industrial manufacturers are considerably less optimistic about the global and domestic economies, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers' most recent Manufacturing Barometer survey. Just 46 percent of respondents, compared to 70...

New life for boxes.(MORE COMPETITION FOR PLASTIC)(Company overview)
August 6, 2005... Reusability was one of the key advantages plastic container makers could cite in selling against paperboard boxes. That advantage is going away thanks to entrepreneurs like Marty Metro. He found a way to give new life to used and rejected...

Average sheet prices.(Statistical table)
August 6, 2005... Average Sheet Prices Based upon a survey of sheet plants. Per 1000 sq. ft., 50,000 sq. ft. single item orders, including delivery charges. Southeast/ East South...

Transacted boxboard prices.
August 6, 2005... Transacted Boxboard Prices The prices tabulated here are intended only as a reference standard to the current levels commonly prevailing in a representative proportion of the U.S. contract transactions. The prices listed do not...

Transacted paper stock prices--low grades.
August 6, 2005... Transacted Paper Stock Prices--Low Grades Mixed Boxboard Paper Cuttings News (1) (4) (6) Chicago $50-55 (-10) 65-70 (0) ...

West Coast OCC prices take a hit.(Market report)
August 6, 2005... Soft and sloppy are the words that come to mind when describing the OCC market on the West Coast. One key reason for this is the trucking strike in Vancouver. For four weeks now it has meant that tractor trailer trucks haven't been able to...

Single Stream book released.(ARTICLE ANTHOLOGY)
August 6, 2005... Resource Recycling has published Single Stream in Perspective, the first volume of its kind chronicling the rise of single stream collections in North America. Single Stream in Perspective is an anthology of the single stream-related articles...

Transacted paper stock prices--high grades.
August 6, 2005... Transacted Paper Stock Prices--High Grades For detailed chart explanation, see page 11 White Coated New DLK News Soft Wht. Cuttings ...

TAPPI holds course in Chicago.(One box set up course)
August 6, 2005... The TAPPI One Box Set Up Course will take place Nov. 1-3 at the Wyndham Drake Hotel in Oak Brook, Ill., in conjunction with the Chicago TAPPI Local Section Meeting and Table Top Trade Fair. The course, geared toward senior operators,...

RT closes Waco, Texas plant.(PLANT CLOSURE)
August 6, 2005... Rock-Tenn Co., Norcross, Ga., will close its Waco, Texas, folding carton plant in the first quarter of fiscal 2006. The plant was acquired on June 6 as part of the purchase of the Gulf States paperboard and packaging businesses. RT will...

Fisher expands capabilities in China.(GLOBAL BUSINESS)
August 6, 2005... Fisher International Inc. is expanding its capabilities in China. The expansion will help Fisher's clients do business with more Chinese paper manufacturers more effectively. "Doing business successfully in China today hinges on developing...

Refresher on printing.(AUGUST 15-18)
August 6, 2005... Converters seeking a refresher on print production would do well to attend PIA/GATF's "Orientation to the Graphic Arts Workshop." This training course covers: * Printing reproduction * Hands-on exercises from prepress through...

RFID: the converter's perspective.(ADDING CREDENTIALS AND CREDIBILITY)
August 6, 2005... If radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is to be accepted throughout the supply chain, its behavior in all environments will have to be clearly understood. Supply chains in the food industry are proving especially challenging. For...

AF&PA's Moore applauds energy, postal bills.(LEGISLATION)
August 6, 2005... W. Henson Moore, president and ceo of the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) and former deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, praised Congress for its passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the House of...

Canadian Q2 box numbers down.(CCCA REPORTS)
August 6, 2005... The Canadian Corrugated Case Association (CCCA) reports that second quarter 2005 corrugated box and wrapper shipments to Canadian destinations decreased 2.1 percent from the same quarter last year. Year-to-date shipment decreased 3.2 percent...

MeadWestvaco award gives paperboard exposure.(2005 UNSALEABLES INNOVATION AWARD)
August 6, 2005... MeadWestvaco Coated Board, Stamford, Conn., has been selected this year's Unsaleables Innovation Award winner, presented by several grocery, retail and healthcare associations. Entrants are asked to document an innovation that generated...

FBA: are RFID tags recyclable?(RFID RESEARCH)
August 6, 2005... The Fibre Box Association (FBA), Rolling Meadows, Ill., has conducted a study on the environmental and product stewardship implications of recycling old corrugated containers (OCC) containing radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. As...

Motorola chooses combo packaging.(FROM AGI/KLEARFOLD)
August 6, 2005... In an effort to better position its Original[TM] cell phone accessories using more distinctive packaging, Motorola partnered with AGI/Klearfold, a MeadWestvaco Resource specializing in creative plastic, paperboard and combination packaging. ...

Rex Corp. wins regional awards.(Packaging honors)
August 6, 2005... The Printing Association of Florida recently honored Rex Corp., Jacksonville, Fla., with several awards. Rex Corp. took home a Best of Category trophy for its promotional sales kit for an exemplary use of multiple coatings on foil paperboard....

Online scanner.(Product Update)(CCI Inc.)(Enterprise Design Inc.)
August 6, 2005... CCI, Inc., Portsmouth, N.H., has formed a partnership with Enterprise Design Inc., Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, to provide a new online scanner for the web offset market that accurately measures color densities at high speeds on web presses to achieve...

UV ink system.(Product Update)
August 6, 2005... Coates Screen, a division of Sun Chemical, Parsippany, N.J., offers a new UV ink system for screen printing applications. Revolution (REV) inks are fast-curing, multipurpose inks for printing P-O-P displays on a wide range of substrates. REV...

Book for manufacturing operations.(Product Update)
August 6, 2005... Productivity Press has released a new book for manufacturing operations: Creating Lean Corporations--Reengineering from the Bottom Up to Eliminate Waste by Jeffrey Morgan. The author, a senior project engineer in the Powertrain Group at General...

SofTak[TM].(Product Update)
August 6, 2005... SofTak[TM] from Michelman Inc. is a new, easy-to-apply gluable water-based product that increases the angle of slide of paper and also provides a perfect packaging material. SofTak can be applied to slip or interleave sheets for preventing...

Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.(People Update)
August 6, 2005... David Stevens will retire as senior vice president and general manager of Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.'s Recycling division, effective Oct. 1. A 50-year paper industry veteran, Stevens joined the former Jefferson Smurfit Corp. in 1987. He...

Graphic Packaging Corp.(People Update)
August 6, 2005... Graphic Packaging Corp., Golden, Colo., has appointed William Fields to the company's board of directors. Fields fills the vacancy created by retired board member Martin Walker. Fields brings more than 30 years retail and consumer good industry...

Sonoco.(People Update)
August 6, 2005... Rex Varn, vice president and general manager, flexible packaging, Sonoco, Hartsville, N.C., has been elected a corporate officer. Varn rejoined Sonoco after having served as president and coo of Hilex Poly Co., LLC, since December 2003 when...

AICC Meeting on design and value.(OCT. 26-29)
August 6, 2005... The Association of Independent Corrugated Converters (AICC) 2005 Annual Meeting is themed "Design to Deliver: How to Create, Capture, Sell and Deriver Profitable Value to Your Customers." During the event, at the Westin Copley Place Hotel in...

Boise Cascade Co.(People Update)
August 6, 2005... Boise Cascade Co., Boise, Idaho, announced the following appointments to its board of directors: Hank Brown, Sam Duncan, William Kirsch, and Duane McDougall. With these additions, the Boise board now consists of nine outside directors and one...

International Paper's Shorewood Packaging Business.(People Update)
August 6, 2005... International Paper's Shorewood Packaging Business named Bill Legard senior vice president of its Home Entertainment segment. Legard joined Shorewood Packaging in 2001, and was most recently vice president and general manager of Shorewood...

Roundtable helps spread safety smarts: industry panel discusses safety and maintenance best practices.(AUDIO/WEB CONFERENCE)(Discussion)
August 13, 2005... A group of industry members seasoned in safety and maintenance gathered at Kiwiplan Americas' new corporate headquarters in Cincinnati last week to discuss "How to Establish a Culture of Safety for Maintenance Operations." The roundtable,...

Transacted containerboard prices.
August 13, 2005... Transacted Containerboard Prices Average transacted price levels are tabulated by obtaining paid prices from independent converters purchasing linerboard and medium. All prices are intended as a reference standard only. Transactions...

M-real will keep carton plants.
August 13, 2005... M-real Corp., Norwalk, Conn., has decided to retain ownership of its folding carton plants located in Finland, Belgium and Hungary. The company had been in talks with some parties interested in buying the units but didn't receive any...

Menasha closes medium mill.(NO BUYER FOUND)
August 13, 2005... On August 9 Menasha closed its semichemical medium mill in Otsego, Mich. It produced about 850 tons of medium each day. The operation will only open again if its owner can find a buyer. A few paper companies looked at the mill but all of them...

TAPPI's CPD looks to award scholars.(SENDS OUT INVITATION)
August 13, 2005... The Corrugated Packaging Division (CPD) of TAPPI has 12 applicants for its scholarship money. The CPD scholarship committee would like to invite any box plant employee currently attending college or technical school during the day, evening or...

Recovering from a stab to the heartland.(Market Report)(Market overview)
August 13, 2005... The Heart of America--especially the South Central and East Central regions--took some painful stabs in June, but there seems to be a small sparkle of hope for recovery later this year. June's drop in sales followed a generally lackluster...

Bobst Group opens demo facility.(AT ADVANCED DIE)(Brief article)
August 13, 2005... Bobst Group USA Inc., Roseland, N.J., opens a West Coast machinery demonstration site at the Advanced Die Supplies facility in Santa Fe Springs, Calif. The site will house a fully-operational Bobst Fuego 110-A2 CS folder-gluer and Bobst SPeria...

Linerboard inventories rise.(AF&PA REPORTS)
August 13, 2005... Linerboard inventories at mills increased 4.8 percent between the end of April and the end of May, the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) reports, going from 244,100 tons to 255,900 tons. During the same period medium inventories rose...

Readers sound off on methodology.(IS ACCURATE PRICING POSSIBLE?)(used paper price survey)
August 13, 2005... Earlier this summer Official Board Markets (OBM) surveyed readers who closely follow recovered paper prices about the methodology the newsletter uses to gather and report these numbers. Currently a printed pricing survey is mailed out to board...

Transacted paper stock prices--low grades.
August 13, 2005... Transacted Paper Stock Prices--Low Grades Mixed Boxboard Paper Cuttings News (1) (4) (6) Chicago $50-55 (-10) 65-70 (0) 50-55...

Weyco's Grogan to speak at PSI conference.(IN MIAMI BEACH)
August 13, 2005... Weyerhacuser's Peter Grogan is the keynote speaker at the Paper Stock Industries' 44th Animal Fall Conference, to be held November 9-11 at the Fontainebleau Resort, Miami Beach, Fla. His topic is "The New World Order and the Future of Paper...

Pactiv caters to consumers.(DISPOSABLE CASSEROLE DISH)
August 13, 2005... Pactiv Corp., Lake Forest, Ill., has developed the Hefty[R] E-Z Ovenware[R] Casserole Pans, made from sturdy and cut-resistant press paperboard with a non-stick interior. The product can be used in conventional ovens up to 425 degrees and is...

Amtech to install at Anna container.(PARTNERSHIP)
August 13, 2005... Bensalem, Pa.-based Amtech has sold its advanced Imaginera system to Arma Container Corp., Deer Park, N.Y. Imaginera modules cover all aspects of customer service, production and sales. High-level analysis is provided to evaluate sales,...

Transacted paper stock prices--high grades.
August 13, 2005... Transacted Paper Stock Prices--High Grades For detailed chart explanation, see page 11 White Coated New DLK News Soft Wht. Cuttings ...

Adhesive supplier opens training center.(TESA TAPE)(Brief article)
August 13, 2005... Pressure-sensitive adhesive supplier, tesa tape, inc., opened a new training facility for employees and customers. The tesa Knowledge Center is located in Sparta, Mich., at the company's North American manufacturing facility. Customers and...

Weyco mill rebuilds recovery boiler.(IN SPRINGFIELD, ORE.)
August 13, 2005... Weyerhaeuser Co.'s kraft linerboard mill in Springfield, Ore., is set to begin an upgrade to its 35-year-old recovery boiler to improve the facility's efficiency, enhance its environmental performance, and lower energy costs. The upgrade will...

New TAPPI council begins term in Sept.(CORRUGATED PACKAGING DIVISION)
August 13, 2005... TAPPI's Corrugated Packaging Division members have elected the following people to the Corrugated Packaging Council: Richard White, vice chair/local section development of the division and council; Bill Pratt, industry supplier; and Jim...

Earnings reports reveal mixed results.(BOISE, CASCADES, CHESAPEAKE)
August 13, 2005... Last week Boise Cascade Co., Boise, Idaho, reported income from operations of $77.4 million for the second quarter 2005, compared with $51.4 million for the same period a year ago. However, including $51.9 million of special items before taxes,...

AICC reschedules golf outing.(RAIN DATE)
August 13, 2005... The Chicago AICC Region 6 Golf Outing has been rescheduled for Oct. 3. It will be held at the Flossmoor Country Club in Flossmoor, Ill. For more information, call Sharon Spindler at 630-879-2100 or e-mail sharons@bcibox.com.

Interstate Resources.(People Update)(Tom Seagraves appointed as a general manager)(Brief article)
August 13, 2005... Interstate Resources, Arlington, Va., appoints Tom Seagraves general manager, Interstate Container, Miami. He will be responsible for the performance of the Miami sheet feeder and will lead production, scheduling, customer service, and...

Paperboard use wanes in cosmetic market.(LITTLE GROWTH EXPECTED)
August 13, 2005... U.S. demand for cosmetic and toiletry containers is projected to increase 2.6 percent per year to 24.7 billion units in 2009, according to "Cosmetic & Toiletry Chemicals," a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industrial...

X-Rite colorimeter available.(WITH EIZO SOFTWARE)
August 13, 2005... X-Rite's DTP94 colorimeter is now available with EIZO's new ColorNavigator Version 4 calibration software. EIZO customers who purchase ColorEdge[R] LCD monitors will now have access to the industry's most accurate and dependable colorimeter,...

Rock-Tenn posts profit in Fiscal Q3.(QUARTERLY EARNINGS)
August 13, 2005... Revenue from recent acquisitions helped Rock-Tenn Co., Norcross, Ga., rise to a profit in the fiscal third quarter. Net sales for the third quarter fiscal 2005 were $424.7 million compared to 2004's third quarter net sales of $397.3 million....

Schrafel Paper.(People Update)
August 13, 2005... Barry Schwartz has joined Schrafel Paper as senior sales executive. He has extensive paper industry experience with both mills and distributors, most recently serving as sales representative for Case Paper. His responsibilities include sales of...

Fisher International partners with CPBIS.(RESOURCE SHARING)(Center for Paper Business and Industry Studies)(partnerships)(Brief article)
August 13, 2005... Fisher International, Inc., Norwalk, Conn., and the Center for Paper Business and Industry Studies (CPBIS), Atlanta, Ga., plan to work together in a sponsorship arrangement. Fisher will make available to CPBIS its Fisher Pulp & Paper Worldwide...

Container Graphics Corp.(Noteworthy News)
August 13, 2005... Container Graphics Corp., Cary, N.C., recently presented the corporation's CS1 Quintessence Award to James Smithwick, vice president of manufacturing and engineering. The award, the company's most distinguished honor, is given to recognize an...

Weyerhaeuser Co.(People Update)
August 13, 2005... Mike Hokanson is named general manager of Weyerhaeuser Co.'s Rockford, Ill., containerboard packaging plant. Previously he was production manager at the company's containerboard packaging facility in Manitowoc, Wis.

Temple-Inland Inc.(People Update)
August 13, 2005... Temple-Inland Inc., Austin, Texas, names Carolyn Sloan vice president--Internal Audit. Sloan's responsibilities include internal audit, security and Temple-Inland's risk management process. She joined Temple-Inland in 2001 as director of...

Laminations.(People Update)
August 13, 2005... Laminations, part of Great Northern Corp.'s Specialty Group, names Jamie Thorne inside sales partner and Keri Otremba as a new product engineer at its central office in Appleton, Wis. Thorne has been with Laminations for four years working...

Valley Packaging, Inc.(People Update)
August 13, 2005... Valley Packaging, Inc., Northvale, N.J., appoints Michael Males to the position of vice president of sales. He also will assume an equity position in the company.

Fisher International, Inc.(People Update)
August 13, 2005... Fisher International, Inc., appoints Margot Harding as regional vice president of sales. She is responsible for relationships with industry suppliers and consumer packaging companies in the Midwest and Southwest. Harding comes to Fisher from...

Huhtamaki Oyj.(People Update)(appointment)(Brief article)
August 13, 2005... Huhtamaki Oyj, Espoo, Finland, appoints Kalle Tanhuanpaa as executive vice president, Global Customer Strategy. He was executive vice president, Americas. This new position is part of the continuous development program of Huhtamaki Group. His...

Obituary.(Bruno Asmaann)(Obituary)
August 13, 2005... Bruno Asmaann, 37, lead product manager for MAN Roland Inc., was killed in a private plane crash on July 30. Asmann, a veteran skydiver and certified jumpmaster, was in route to New Smyrna Beach, Fla., with three skydiving colleagues. Building...

IP chooses CHH stake buyer.(SELLING TO NZ'S RANK GROUP)
August 20, 2005... International Paper (IP), Stamford, Conn., has signed a lock-in agreement with Rank Group Investments Limited to sell its shares of Carter Holt Harvey Limited (CHH) into a full takeover offer to all shareholders. Rank Group Investments Limited...

Transacted containerboard prices.
August 20, 2005... Transacted Containerboard Prices Average transacted price levels are tabulated by obtaining paid prices from independent converters purchasing linerboard and medium. All prices are intended as a reference standard only. Transactions...

Fire destroys Colonial Carton.
August 20, 2005... On the evening of August 15 a fire destroyed Colonial Carton Co., Clayton, N.C. About 30 people were working at the folding carton plant when the fire broke out in the baling area of the plant. Everyone managed to get out safely. The blaze...

IP to relocate headquarters.(CORPORATE MOVE)
August 20, 2005... International Paper (IP) will relocate its global headquarters to Memphis, Tenn., from Stamford, Conn. The company expects the move to be complete by Aug. 1, 2006. The decision came after a 30-day evaluation announced in July as part of...

HP buys Scitex Vision.(PRINTER SUPPLIER PURCHASED)
August 20, 2005... Scitex Corp Ltd., Tel Aviv, Israel, has signed a definitive agreement to sell the assets and business of its majority-owned subsidiary Scitex Vision for $230 million in cash. "Our customers will benefit from access to a wider range of...

SSCC placed on CreditWatch negative.(MARKETS, DEBT CITED)
August 20, 2005... Standard & Poor's Ratings Services placed its ratings, including its "B+" long-term corporate credit rating, on Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. (SSCC) and its subsidiaries on CreditWatch with negative implications. SSCC is based in Chicago. ...

We're missing the point.(IT'S ALL ABOUT BOXES)(Letter to the editor)
August 20, 2005... To the Editor: I read your article, "Soft Board Prices Persist," (8/6 OBM, page 1) with great interest. Although the information that is reported and the conclusions drawn seem accurate, as an industry we keep missing the point. Although...

Blue Ridge ventures to Central America.(LIQUID PACKAGING)
August 20, 2005... Blue Ridge Paper Products Inc., Canton, N.C., is forming a new joint venture to supply liquid packaging solutions to the Central American and Caribbean markets. The new company, Envases Panama, will be located in Panama City, Panama, and will...

GPI cooks up a winner.(Graphic Packaging International Corp. won "Best of the Best" DuPont Award for Innovative Packaging )(Brief article)
August 20, 2005... Graphic Packaging International (GPI) of Marietta, Ga., won a "Best of the Best" DuPont Award for Innovative Packaging for its Quilt Wave[TM] microwaveable packaging technology. Quilt Wave, created for Sepp's Gourmet Foods of Surrey, British...

Arvco gets elite vendor status.(FROM ARNSTRONG INTERNATIONAL)
August 20, 2005... Last month Arvco Container Corp., Kalamazoo, Mich., received the Certified Elite Vendor award from Armstrong International, Inc. To qualify, Arvco needed a quality rating of at least 99 percent and a quantity and delivery rating of at least 98...

HRMS sets Client Support Seminar agenda.(SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS)
August 20, 2005... HRMS plans two seminars in one for its Client Support Seminar, Sept. 11-14 at the Paradise Point Resort and Spa in San Diego, Calif. The first portion, "The Perfect Plant," will address how clients can better use their existing tools and...