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WILMINGTON, DE, July 26, 2021 (Press Release) -Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, recently launched an informative new blog to help customers and organizations in water-intensive industries. Located at www.solenis.com/en/newsblog, the blog features tips and educational articles for sustainable water treatment and process improvement.

From the use of artificial intelligence in papermaking, to the impact of legislation on sustainable food and beverage packaging, Solenis’ blog covers a range of today’s most pertinent topics for both consumer and industrial markets.

Content will be updated regularly and is authored by Solenis team members, including technical experts and members of the leadership team. Subjects will include sustainability and social responsibility, artificial intelligence in papermaking, changes in food and beverage paper packaging, graphic paper development, tissue and towel production, industrial water treatment, wastewater management and more.

Readers can easily filter articles by industry or browse by themes such as digital solutions, process enhancement, barrier coatings and sustainability.

“Solenis has long been a trusted partner with the resources to help solve the most complex sustainability challenges,” said Christoph Adami, vice president, Technology and Global Marketing for Solenis. “This new blog allows us to better share our expertise with plant managers, brand owners and others who work in consumer and water-intensive industries so they can manage their resources more efficiently — and more sustainably.”

The blog adds to Solenis’ expanding portfolio of resources for decision-makers. The company also recently launched a new website at www.solenis.com/explore, which offers greater transparency into its sustainability efforts plus easy access to product and solution information, like the Solenis safety data sheet (SDS) library.

About Solenis

Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals focused on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries, including the pulp, packaging paper and board, tissue and towel, oil and gas, petroleum refining, chemical processing, mining, biorefining, power and municipal markets. The company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids, functional additives as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets and minimize environmental impact. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 41 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of approximately 5,000 professionals in 120 countries across five continents. Solenis is a 2021 US Best Managed Company.

LONDON, July 26, 2021 (Press Release) -The Papresa Paper Mill in northern Spain produces newsprint paper and packaging paper from recycled paper. Mainly supplying newspaper publishers, together with other commercial printing, Papresa’s production capacity of 375,000 tons of paper is delivered by three paper machines and two de-inking plants. Following the firm’s recent acquisition by Quantum Group, and as part of the new owner’s industrial diversification plan - a response to the global decline in newsprint - the mill will now be producing new products such as cardboard packaging paper. This strategy responds to the growing demand for packaging as a result of the growth in e-commerce. This new plan will secure the future of the mill, the eighth-largest paper producer in Spain, and its 243 employees.

Successful implementation of the new strategy was going to rely on the use of technology to automate processes and facilitate more effective forward-planning and decision making.  Most of the planning and trim processes were being carried out manually using Microsoft Excel, and, while this approach had been satisfactory for the production of a range of newspaper print reels, the firm was about to invest in both new and existing equipment and wanted to maximise productivity.

The investment in new equipment would include increasing production capabilities with a full rebuild of one paper machine scheduled for spring 2022, and a new OCC Plant to cover the requirements of raw material by the production increase. To accommodate the period of time when this machine was unavailable, and in advance of the completion of the rebuilding work, the factory needed to find ways to operate more efficiently in advance of work starting. Building automation to the planning processes was seen as a potential solution that would also be able to increase the visibility of future planning decisions.

Papresa’s USP is its ability to maintain a flexible production strategy to meet customer delivery dates. This meant that the solution needed to be able to measure production and switch over costs while ensuring every delivery date is achieved.

Greycon Ltd, experts in planning, scheduling, trimming and MES software, proposed their opt-Studio and X-Trim solutions to Papresa to help meet their goals. The trim optimisation tool reduces waste and improves machine efficiency while reacting to customer requirements by prioritising urgent orders without missing deadlines for other production throughput. 

This is a powerful combination of tools that automates production to optimise trim processes and consequently deliver much-improved dispatch times. The solution facilitates daily production planning while identifying any conflicts in production capacities and capabilities at the same time as providing the commercial and logistics department with information about production plans, order delays and any backlogs.

Papresa’s investment in opt-Studio and X-Trim means they now have access to the most efficient planning tools in advance of the planned infrastructure upgrade, ensuring the business is well-positioned to maximise Quantum’s investments in the future of the mill. The project was proposed with an aggressive timeline of 4 months, including the systems live integration with their existing Navision installation. With that, Papresa could achieve an early ROI, and have already planned six days of trim sheets across two slitting machines. This could not have been achieved without excellent synergies between the teams at Papresa and Greycon.

“opt-Studio has allowed us to transform our production planning system, reducing the workload by automating the optimization of materials, reducing product in process, significantly reducing waste, and helping improve our competitiveness and profits” states Miguel Ángel Sánchez García, Papresa CEO. “I highly recommend its application as a powerful tool for productivity. We are very happy with the support and professionalism throughout the project, which was delivered impeccably and within the time constraints that we set. We are looking forward to a fruitful partnership with Greycon as we continue to upgrade our technologies.”

About Greycon

Greycon is the leading provider of supply chain planning & optimisation, production planning & detailed scheduling, trim optimisation and manufacturing execution systems for roll-based & flat sheet industries; specifically, the paper & board, film & flexible packaging, nonwoven, converting and metal industries.

Established in 1985, over 500 plants in 43 countries use our solutions. Our extremely skilled and talented employees cover 15 languages across our worldwide operation.

KENDAL, UK, July 20, 2021 (Press Release) -We are delighted to announce a three-year headline sponsorship of The Wainwright Prize, a prestigious nature writing prize, named after much-loved writer Alfred Wainwright, a Kendal local famous for his Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells. Having made fine papers for publishing, premium print, art and luxury packaging since 1845 in the very town where Alfred Wainwright lived and worked, the partnership underpins the shared history and purpose of both organisations.

In 2005, we produced a custom-made paper, matching the paper from the first editions, for the 50th Anniversary Wainwright pictorial guides that were once again printed in Kendal.

Publishers Frances Lincoln, in association with the National Trust, launched The Wainwright Prize for UK Nature and Travel Writing in November 2013. The prize aims to reward outstanding literary titles inspired by the general outdoors, UK nature, travel and conservation.

I am thrilled that James Cropper is sponsoring the Wainwright literary prizes this year. Growing up near the paper mill, I have always known the company, and their local knowledge and reputation for sustainability make them an ideal sponsor. I’m sure that Wainwright himself and my mother would have been delighted with the partnership. JANE KING, STEP-DAUGHTER OF ALFRED WAINWRIGHT

For the second year, the prize includes an additional category for books on global conservation and climate change. In the midst of a pandemic, coupled with the ongoing climate crisis, the prize feels timelier than ever before, as recognition of the restorative role that nature plays, and the urgency with which it needs to be protected grows.

Being located amongst the Lake District fells, stewardship of the natural environment is integral to the James Cropper business, and it is that mutual respect and celebration of nature and conservation that sit at the heart of the business’ sponsorship of the Wainwright Prize.

Throughout society, people are increasingly rediscovering a love of books and spending more time connecting with nature and green spaces. We are delighted to support the authors involved in this year’s Wainwright Prize who are telling their story with paper; writing such wonderful books, and inspiring book lovers of all generations, to connect with the natural world and share an intrinsic attitude towards global conservation. MARK CROPPER, JAMES CROPPER PLC, CHAIRMAN

The shortlisted authors will be announced on the 4th August with the longlist including authors such as David Attenborough, Helen Macdonald, James Rebanks and Dieter Helm.

This year’s Nature Writing judging panel is chaired by TV presenter Julia Bradbury, and her fellow judges are: Geoff Duffield, Wildlife Trust volunteer and former publisher; Jessica J Lee, Editor WillowHerb Review; Mark Funnell, Communications and Campaigns Director, National Trust; Patrick Neale, Bookseller Jaffe & Neale and Andrew Willan, Wealden Festival Director. They are joined this year by TV presenter and author; Ray Mears.

The Chair of Judges for the new Global Conservation Prize is BBC Countryfile presenter, Charlotte Smith. She is joined by Adrian Phillips, Environmental Professional; Dr. Craig Bennett, CEO UK Wildlife Trust; Rachel Woolliscroft, sustainability expert; Anita Longely, Chair, Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability and Nigel Roby, Community Energy Enthusiast and Strategic Advisor.

This is the eighth year of this special prize, and the restorative effects of natural capital are reflected keenly in this year’s entries. The Wainwright Prize is about celebrating the wonder and awe of green spaces and natures creatures through the prism of our authors lives.

Publishers Frances Lincoln, in association with the National Trust, launched The Wainwright Prize for UK Nature and Travel Writing in November 2013. The Prize aims to reward outstanding literary titles inspired by the general outdoors, UK nature, travel and conservation.