Paper Converting Machine Company announces formation of nonwovens group
Paper Converting Machine Company of Green Bay Wisconsin has announced the formation of a new nonwovens group within the special products division.  This group will be responsible for the sales, engineering, manufacturing, and service of all PCMC nonwovens machinery.  Sales engineers at PCMC can now approach nonwovens customers and provide them with turnkey solution line integration to help them be more efficient in nonwovens converting.  Nov. 2001.

Georgia-Pacific gets set for new tissue PM in France
GP is moving forward with a plan to install a new tissue PM at its Gien mill in France.  The plan was originally by former producer Fort James.  Oct. 2001.

WEPA to rebuild PM 5 at Giershagen mill in Germany
The German tissue producer WEPA Papierfabrik, is to rebuild PM 5 at its Giershagen mill in Westfalia.  Toschi will supply the equipment for the project.  Work is slated to start in late February 2002.  Earlier 2001, WEPA acquired 100% of Papierfabrik Kriebethal (Kriepa), a tissue producer it had jointly owned with Kubler & Niethammer.  Kriepa has a capacity of 20,000 tonnes/year.  Oct. 2001.

Kimberly-Clark starts $10 million Colombia plain
The Colombian unit of Dallas-based Kimberly-Clark Co announced that its recently constructed, $10 million Colombian toilet paper plant would begin operation in December.  The company said that plant, located in southwestern Columbia, would export about 60-70% of its product mainly to neighboring South American nations.  The company's Colombian subsidiary, Colombiana Kimberly Colpapel, is 31.1% owned by local cigarette Coltabaco, which is part of Colombian industrial conglomerate Sindicato Antioqueno.  Oct. 2001.

Leicester Paper kicks off commercial production on UK tissue PM
Leicester Paper (LPC) has started commercial production on a new tissue PM at its mill in Leicester, UK.  The Andritz unit is the site's second tissue machine.  Oct. 2001.

Siman Paper Group brings tissue PM online in El Salvador
The Siman Paper Group is expected to reach commercial production on its new tissue PM at the Cartotecnica Centroamericana mill in Oct/Nov 2001.  Oct. 2001.

Turkey's Levent Kagit starts up their second tissue line
Levent Kagit is about to start up their second-hand PM 2 at its Kemalpasa mill near Izmir on or about Nov/Dec 2001.  Sept. 2001.

CartOran starts up tissue pM
CartOran has started commercial production of its first 28,000 tonne/yr tissue machine at the Cagliari mill in Sardinia, Italy.  The 3.15 m wide crescent former unit from Over Meccanica.  CartOran is part of the Oran group, which also operates Cartiere Santa Anna, a 20,000 tonne/yr tissue mill in Aulla, Italy.  Sept. 2001.

Brazil government fines three tissue producers
The Brazilian government has fines the country's three largest tissue producers the equivalent USD 700,000 for reducing the length of their toilet rolls from 40 m to 30 m, while charging the same retail price.  Sept. 2001.

Tunisia's Tunisie Ouate to quadruple tissue production
Tunisie Ouate has chosen an Italian paper machine manufacturer to supply a new 15,000 tonne/yr tissue machine for its mill in Enfida, the Sousse region of Tunisia.  Sept. 2001.

LPC to start new tissue PM at its Leicester mill in the UK
Leicester Paper (LPC) is to start up its new tissue PM online at its mill in Leicester, UK.  The company is also investing in new converting equipment.  Sept. 2001.

Fire hits Kimberly-Clark tissue mill in the UK
A fire broke out at the Kimberly-Clark (K-C) Northfleet mill in the UK on September 10.  A small blaze erupted in the drying section of a paper machine at 4 pm.  Sept. 2001.

Cascades completes buy of Plainwell tissue mills in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania
Cascades Inc., completed through its subsidiary Perkins Papers Ltd., the acquisition of two tissue mills from U.S.-based Plainwell Inc. for $65 million, including 13.2 million in working capital.  These mills would add approximately 110,000 tpy to Cascades/Perkins current 260,000 tpy tissue capacity.  The mills are located in Eau Claire, WI and Ransom, PA.  Sept. 2001.

ECO-Invest in talks to acquire Bosnian tissue producer
ECO-Invest, the owner of Slovakian hygiene paper producers, Harmanecke papierne and Slavosovske papierne, is in discussion to acquire a tissue company in Bosnia-Herzegovina.  August 2001.

KC-US completes integration of S-K Corp and Taiwan Scott Paper Co.
KC has completed the merger of S-K Corporation and Taiwan Scott Paper Corporation into one company, Kimberly-Clark Taiwan.  With annual sales of more than $200 million, Kimberly-Clark Taiwan will be the country's second largest consumer products company.  August 2001.

U.S. tissue growth continues in the first half of 2001
Despite a slowing economy and overall weak pulp and paper output, tissue production continues to grow.  In the first half of this year, U.S. tissue production increased 3.5% compared to the same period in 2000, according to reports from the American Forest and Paper Association( AF&PA).   August 2001.

Israeli mill buys new PM 
Hogla-Kimberly is investing in a new 20,000 tonne/yr tissue machine for its plant in Petah Tikva, Israel.  Start up is planned for the end of 2002.  Holga-Kimberly is a strategic partnership between Kimberly-Clark and American Israeli Paper Mills.  August 2001.

Georgia-Pacific to break from AF&PA
Georgia-Pacific Corp. submitted its resignation notice to the American Forest & paper Assn. (AF&PA) in May 2001, triggering speculation across the industry as to the cause and potential impacts of the stark decision, effective in January 2002.  August 2001.

Bathroom Tissue Revolution:  Introduction of Wet Toilet Paper
Toilet Tissue has changed the face of American Culture.  For nearly 150 years all basic needs were provided by dry Toilet Tissue.  Now there's an innovation that will revolutionize the Toilet Tissue Industry.  The introduction of Wet Toilet Tissue that's designed as a supplement to dry tissue formulated with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E that includes a mild anti-bacterial ingredient to give consumer added protection against germs.  Pre-moistened Bathroom Tissue will reform the Tissue industry as which Toilet Tissue did when introduced over 144 years ago.  Meanwhile, the Toilet Paper Industry leading competitors are geared up for battle with their leading brands to launch their product of the wet Toilet Paper.  Georgia Pacific ahs introduced Quilted Northern Wipes, Kimberly-Clark has plans to launch Cottonelle Rollwipes, and Procter and Gamble will kick off their product under Charmin.  July 2001.

Perkins Canada to purchase 3 remaining tissue mills from Plainwell
Plainwell Inc. will sell its consumer products division consisting of three tissue mills in Eau Claire, Wis., and Ransom, Pa., and a converting mill in Pittston, Pa., to Perkins Papers, Ltd for $64.2 million.  The Plainwell tissue mills would add about 100,000 tpy to Perkins current 260,000 tpy tissue capacity.  Perkins is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cascades, Inc.  The combined tonnage will bump Cascades into the No. 4 or No. 5 spot in tissue production in North America, with about a 5% market share.  July 2001.

More tissue machines for the Middle East
American Israeli Paper Mills Ltd. announced that Hogla-Kimberly Ltd (held 49.9% by AIPM and 50.1% by Kimberly-Clark Corp.) signed an agreement for the purchase of a new paper tissue machine.  The total investment is approximately $20 million.  The new tissue machine will enable Hogla-Kimberly to increase its production capacity by some 20,000 tons per year and will meet its needs in the near future while planning additional future investments.  July 2001.

American Tissue picks up former Shelby Tissue Mill in Memphis, Tenn.
American Tissue signed a long-term agreement with GE Capital to operate its Memphis, Tenn., mill which Plainwell Inc., had been operating for the last two years under a similar agreement.  American Tissue already signed an agreement for the attached Ponderosa Fibres deinked pulp mill and operates the formal Global Tissue LLC in Memphis.  July 2001.

Kimberly-Clark Introduces Coreless Bath Tissue
Kimberly-Clark is introducing Kleenex Cottonelle and Scott Coreless Tissue, which easily retrofit into traditional dispensers using handy adapters, approximately 3/4" by 1.5", that gently press an indentation into the issue to hold it in place.  Coreless tissue provides double the number of sheets of bath tissue on a roll versus standard sized rolls, making it ideal for busy areas such as office buildings, stadiums, school, restaurants, and manufacturing facilities.  July 2001.

Imbalpaper's Lucca mill in Italy - Update on new tissue machine
Imbalpaper's Lucca mill in Italy is due to take delivery of its new tissue machine from Recard in June 2001.  The project is running to a revised schedule after experiencing a number of delays caused by construction work at the plant.  The new unit is expected to start production at the end of the year.  The machine will produce some 125 tonnes per day of tissue and will run alongside the plant's existing unit, which was also supplied by Recard and produces 55 tonnes per day of tissue.  June 2001.

Scott Paper Canada reconstruct PM5 in Hull
Scott Paper Limited, Hull Quebec, Canada, has given Recard an order for the reconstruction of its PM5.  The present 3550mm sloped wire machine will be rebuilt into a crescent former.  Scott Kruger decided to invest in its Hull facilities to improve quality and lower manufacturing cost.  Delivery is expected at the beginning of September 2001 and start up is projected for November. May 2001.

Tissue PM for United converters in Hungry
Two local tissue converters, Nova Papir and Dunai Papir, have formed a new company called United Paper for the purposes of building a new tissue machine.  United Paper has ordered a complete "Modulo" tissue machine with a capacity of up to 9,000 mtpy, from Toschi.  The machine will be installed at a plant in Tokol, some 45 minutes drive south of Budapest, and will be based on waste-based raw materials supplied by the on-site wastepaper collection operations.  Delivery is to take place by the end of 2001, with startup scheduled for the first half of 2002.  May 2001.

Kimberly-Clark shut Mobile tissue PM
Citing high energy costs, Kimberly-Clark Corp. plans to shut down one of five paper machines at its 245,000 tpy Mobile, Ala., tissue mill by the end of June.  with the shut, the company plans to reduce production by 20% at the mill.  A company spokesman said the mill would not return to full production capacity until Mobile Energy Services Co. (MESC) lowers energy prices or the facility can offset the energy costs of running all five machines.  May 2001

P&G lowers paper towel prices and launches new napkin
Procter & Gamble lowered prices by 4.5% for its Bounty paper towel products late 200, the same year of an earlier price increase.  Prices for Charmin premium bathroom tissue last increased in the spring of 200.  P&G and G-P have about a one-third share each of the U.S. paper towel market followed by K-C.  Separately, P&G announced the national launch of new Bounty brand paper table napkins following a successful test market in Charleston, N.C.  March 2001.

K-C Mexico gets new tissue PM
Kimberly Clark de Mexico (KCM) has invested $165 million in a new 90,000-mtpy tissue paper machine, which will be installed between March 2001 and early October 2002.  KCM has also ordered a rebuild of the 350-mtpd PM 1 at its Bajio mill in Queretaro state.  This will increase output at Bajio and it is scheduled to resume in October 2001.  March 2001.

124th AF&PA Paper Week
Paper and forest industry executives will meet in New York for the American Forest & paper Assn.'s (AF&PA) 124th annual Paper week.  the three day gathering will be held March 11th through the 13th at the Waldorf-Astoria and is expected to draw more than 1,000 attendees from around the world.  Convermat will be host their visitors in suite 700H during the convention.  March 2001.

Eastern's Ply Bonding Process wins Patents
Specialty tissue maker Eastern Pulp & Paper Corp., has been awarded US and Australian patents for innovation in the manufacture of premium tissue products.  The patents have been awarded for their inventions of spray-bonding individual tissue plies to allow them to be converted at very high speeds into napkins, paper towels, medial disposable towels, table covers, and similar products.  The invention also permits the tissues to be more easily printed in a variety of bright colors and elaborate designs.  The invention resulted from over seven years of intense collaboration between the company and its customers.  March 2001.

SCA's Deal to Buy Metsa Tissue Officially off
The European Commission has not approved SCA's buy of the Finish Company Metsa Tissue. SCA says that meeting all the Commission's divestiture demands, particularly regarding consumer and away-from-home assets in Finland, would be incompatible with the goal of the deal.  Feb 2001.

SCA bases its initial Headquarters in Philadelphia
As a result of the acquisition of Georgia-Pacific's tissue operations and the bid for the Tuscarora packaging company in North America, SCA is establishing an American business area, SCA North America, with its head office initially in Philadelphia.

SCA North America will have three business units-a tissue division managed by former G-P executive Lee Bingham, based in Neenah, Wis.; an incontinence division under the management of Scot Jungles, based in Philadelphia, and protective packaging division headed by John O'Leary in Pittsburgh. President of the North American operations Is Colin Williams, currently head of SCA's Packaging business.  Feb 2001.

K-C Buying Italian Diaper Maker Linostar
Kimberly-Clark has signed a definitive agreement to buy Linostar, a leading Italian diaper manufacturer that makes Lines, Italy's second largest diaper brand. The buy comes just months after K-C entered the Italian personal care market with its launch of a range of child care products, including Pull-Ups training pants, DryNites youth pants and Little Swimmers swim pants, in June. Linostar is currently owned by Amsterdam's Bolton Group, which makes, markets and distributes a wide range of branded consumer goods. K-C owns three tissue production facilities in Italy in Alanno, Romagnano and Villanovetta and has an office in Turin.  Feb 2001.

New Toyo gets board and tissue plants for Vietnam
Singapore-based New Toyo International inaugurated its 20,000 tpy tissue mill in Vietnam in mid-November 20001. New Toyo invested $33.4 million in two new tissue machines supplied by San-Ei of Japan. The units each have a capacity of 10,000 tpy and are located at New Toyo's mill in Binh Duong, near Ho Chi Minh City. The virgin-fiber PM1 started commercial production in July 2000, while the 100% wastepaper-based PM2 came on steam in August 2000.  Jan 2001.

Tronchetti of Italy starts up new tissue PM
Europaper, part of the industrie Cartarie Trochetti group, has started up a complete new 90 tpd crescent former tissue machine at its mill in Monzone, up the coast from Pisa in northwestern Italy. The 2.7- m trim. 1500-m min machine. PM3, as well as a new slitter/rewinder, was supplied by Recard.  Jan 2001.

SCA Invests in Familia
Productos Familia del Ecuador, an associate company of Sweden's SCA, is importing a second-hand paper machine from the Netherlands. The 2.45m trim PM will be rebuild from a fourdrinier configuration into a 50 tpd crescent former tissue machine by Recard. It is scheduled to arrive in March 2001 with startup due around mid-year. Productos Familia del Ecuador is owned by Colombia's Productos Familia, which bought the company back in 1998, when it was only an 11,000 tpy producer called Tecnopapel. This was already equivalent to a 41% market share in Ecuador, and this new investment should roughly double the company's capacity. Familia already operates a twin-wire Recard machine installed in 1991.  Jan 2001.

SPM installs new tissue PM
Saudi Paper Manufacturing has started building the new tissue PM at its Dammam mill in Saudi Arabia. The company aims to complete the installation of the 110 tpd Recard machine in five months, with commercial production planned for June 2001.  Jan 2001.

K-C buys remainder of Taiwan Scott Paper
Kimberly-Clark (K-C) is buying the remaining 33.3% interest in Taiwan Scott Paper Corporation that it didn't already own from its co-owner. Goldsun Development & construction. The transaction valued at approximately $40 million.  Jan 2001.

Higher Energy Costs Behind Price Hike Announcements for Tissue
Kimberly-Clark announced a 6% increase in its away-from-home tissue products, effective on Feb. 1. G-P, the largest commercial tissue producer, also planned raising its AFH tissue prices. A weakening pulp market is expected to exert downward pressure on pulp prices through widening discounts from the end of January through spring.  Jan 2001.

G-P begins New Year as world tissue giant
Georgia-Pacific Corp. has become the world's tissue paper superpose with completion of a $7.3 billion acquisition of Fort James Corp. The deal won antitrust clearance from the U.S. Justice Dept. after G-P agreed to divest its existing commercial/industrial tissue business including approximately 368,000 tpy of production capacity and more than 637,000 tpy of production capacity and more than 637,000 tpy of converting capacity at nine U.S. locations. The new G-P will have total estimated tissue production capacity of about 2.95 million tpy in North America after the sale of G-P's away-from-home assets. Fort James adds additional total tissue capacity of about 900,000 tpy in Europe.

Fort James is large in the U.S. away-from-home market from its previous merger of Fort Howard, with about 38% of its total tissue sales in the commercial/Industrial sector. The company estimated it held a 40% share of the commercial tissue market before the G-P acquisition. G-P said it will begin operating and integrating Fort James immediately under the Georgia-Pacific name. The new GP will have combined revenues exceeding $24.8 billion and employees total more than 85,000 worldwide.  Jan 2001.