INDONESIA
APP SUSTAINABILITY CONCERNS
(NEWS BY RISI)

Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) is back under the microscope as environmental groups have reiterated their concerns over claims of deforestation in Indonesian forests. A spokesman for WWF Indonesia said the group has written to the pulp and paper producer to ask how it is addressing worries about illegal logging activities in high conservation value forests in Indonesia.

The move follows news reports that Aida Greenbury, APP's director for sustainability and stakeholder engagement, reaffirmed APP's commitment to sustainability and the Pan European Forest Certification (PEFC) chain of custody scheme at a conference in London last month.

The WWF spokesman said the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is the only forest certification scheme it is endorsing. "We have a very strong position on certification and we only recognise the FSC certification as it is the most credible scheme worldwide," he said, adding that WWF's evaluations have found that PEFC schemes are inconsistent. FSC severed ties with APP last year over allegations of forest destruction in Indonesia.

"Reports from WWF, Greenpeace, Eyes on the Forest and many other independent sources suggest that APP is actively conducting forestry practices contrary to FSC principles and criteria. As a result, [we] decided to end the use of the FSC name and trademarks by APP and subsidiaries in which APP is the majority shareholder," the body said at the time in a statement.

INDIA
INDIA DISCOVERS LIBRESSE

SCA’s feminine care brand Libresse is currently being launched in 600,000 shops around India. The launch is supported by a TV commercial broadcasted in nine different languages.

The Libresse launch is a result of the joint venture between SCA and Indian Godrej. Godrej’s products are well known to the Indian consumers since the company is the market leader in hair dye and number two in deodorants and soap.

“Through the joint venture our products (Libresse, Tena, and Libero) get access to all 600,000 shops where Godrej’s products are sold. This is where our large sales force is out promoting Libresse at the moment,” says Samir Prasad, commercial director for India within SCA Personal Care.

As part of the launch a TV commercial is being broadcast in nine different languages across India. It features a woman in a hot and sunny green field who gets soothed by a cloud. The relief and comfort brought to her from the shade is the same as the feeling from wearing a Libresse – with Aloe Vera – for the natural touch.

Aloe Vera has an ancient history in India and is added to the Libresse products because natural products, scents and herbs are very popular and well-seen.

“We have a long and profound tradition of using these substances for both beauty and health purposes and the knowledge of how to use them still lives and flourishes,” explains Samir Prasad.

METSO STRENGTHENS ITS ENGINEERING CAPABILITIES

Metso is strengthening its engineering capabilities in India by entering into a joint venture with EPT Engineering Services, it has announced. Metso will own 51% of the new company, called Metso Power India, which will start its operations in July 2008 in Chennai. The new company will support Metso’s growth strategy by providing engineering services primarily to Metso Power’s global business operations but gradually also to other Metso units. During the first year the company will employ about 50 people.

EPT Engineering Services is one of Metso Power’s biggest global engineering subcontractors. The company has extensive engineering know-how both in power and recovery boilers as well as in evaporators, which all are Metso Power’s main products. "This step deepens our successful cooperation and turns it into a partnership. It also enhances our resources to meet the future growth targets," says Lennart Ohlsson, President of Metso Power. Metso Power is a business line within Metso Paper business area.

“We value Metso Power’s global presence and high technology know-how, especially in the rapidly growing field of green energy," adds Mr. N. Chandrasekaran, Managing Director of EPT Engineering.

EPT Engineering Services Pvt. Ltd is a multi-disciplinary engineering, procurement, expediting, quality control and project management company. It offers expertise in numerous engineering disciplines including design, detailed engineering and computer aided design to global customers. EPT has over 100 employees in India. www.eptengg.in.


CORRECTION

Brunnschweiler writes: "We have not installed a new in-line printing system [as stated in Tissue World news 24 April] but our participation in LC Paper MP-2 has been designed to improve MG hood efficiency and also to increase the drying capacity, without any intervention in its printing line.

"In order to achieve both objectives , the modification of the air circuits was decided to improve the machine efficiency, as well as the increase of the surface covered by the high velocity hood on the MG cylinder to increase drying capacity. These modifications were made in two separate phases:

1st phase: Brunnschweiler replaced the current air heating system, from diathermic oil heating coil to gas direct combustion (new line burner in wet end hood air circuit). A new heat recovery unit was also installed to replace the damaged one in the exhaust circuit with the adaptation of the ducting. This rebuild was implemented during Christmas shutdown, veryfing afterwards the improvement in the Hood efficiency and the facility of operation.

"2nd phase: Brunnschweiler installed a new 24 degrees wrapping angle hood in the tail, at wet end inlet, increasing both drying capacity and machine production, with new and independent air circuits from the existing ones. This modification was developed during the machine shut-down of Easter."

JAPAN
METSO PAPER ACQUIRES MITSUBISHI PM TECHNOLOGY

Metso Paper has closed the deal with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) over the acquisition of MHI’s paper machinery technology. The transaction enhances Metso Paper’s technological leadership as well as services especially in Asia and Japan, where Metso Paper has opened a new office in Onomichi. More staff has been recruited in Japan to further complement Metso Paper’s extensive network of close to 50 service locations around the world in over 20 countries.

“This acquisition strengthens our capabilities in Asia”, says Jari Siitonen, vice president, sales, Asia Pacific, at Metso Paper. “We look forward to cooperate with mills operating MHI equipment and will ensure continuous technical support for them through our global network of spare part, logistics, and specialist service network.”

Back in 2000, both Metso Paper and MHI purchased rights to the intellectual property of Beloit Corporation’s paper machinery technology. Through the new acquisition Metso Paper is now the sole owner of Beloit’s paper machinery intellectual property.

“We are thus able to support the service and modernisation needs for all of the MHI installed base,” adds Jari Siitonen. “Our services cover the entire lifecycle of power, fibre processing, paper, board and tissue manufacturing lines.”

VIETNAM
DIANA PAPER BUILDING TISSUE MILL
(NEWS BY RISI)

Diana Paper has started construction work on a greenfield plant in the northern Vietnamese province of Bac Ninh. Groundbreaking for the 20,000 ton/yr tissue mill began on 28 May.

The facility, which will also house a new deinked pulp line, is being built in the province's Tan Chi industrial zone, some 30 km east of Hanoi. The project cost is expected to total some $20 million.

Output will be processed into various types of products at the firm's converting facility in Hanoi. Start-up is penciled in for February next year. Further details such as suppliers are not available.