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Forest Products News

Paper industry doing well, despite struggling economy

By: Kimberley Smuts 27th March 2015 While the South African economy has been relatively stagnant over the past two years and is not expected to grow much this year – with 2% being an optimistic upward growth projection – the pulp and paper industry is “doing well under extremely difficult circumstances”, says Paper Manufacturers... →

Mpact revenue rises to R8.6bn in tough 2014

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 27th March 2015 JSE-listed packaging company Mpact’s basic underlying earnings a share, for the year ended December 31, increased by 15.3% to 269.2c, while revenue increased by 11.9% year-on-year to R8.6-billion, owing to a drop in the oil price, capital expenditure investments and higher average selling prices.... →

Zest WEG signs long-term deal with paper mill

By: Jonathan Rodin 27th March 2015 Following the successful installation of a steam turbo generator set for packaging and paper group Mondi’s Richards Bay facility, motors, controls, electrical products and solutions provider Zest WEG Group, through its subsidiary Zest Energy, on November 14, 2014 signed a five-year long-term... →

INCREASED EFFICIENCY The 48 MW TGM multiextraction condensing steam turbine rotor, which is designed to maximise efficiency and power generation capability

Industry body prioritises education, empowers full-time employees

By: Kimberley Smuts 27th March 2015 In an effort to replace the old N-level courses previously offered by former further education and training colleges, the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (Pamsa), in partnership with the Fibre Processing and Manufacturing (FP&M) sector education and training authority (Seta) and... →

RECYCLING REWARDS One tonne of recovered paper saves three cubic metres of landfill space, reducing costs for municipalities

Agribusiness push continues as govt seeks to bolster economic growth, job creation

By: Tracy Hancock 27th March 2015 In 2015, government continues to stress the agroprocessing agenda in an attempt to bolster economic growth and job creation, while also securing South Africa’s future food requirements, in an economy that fell short of its growth target in 2014, achieving 1.5%, after initially being forecast to... →

AGROPROCESSING DRIVE
The Department of Trade and Industry has invested about R1.2-billion into the agroprocessing industry since 2009

Photo by Duane Daws
AGROPROCESSING DRIVE The Department of Trade and Industry has invested about R1.2-billion into the agroprocessing industry since 2009

Automation improves wood treatment processes

20th March 2015 In their quest for accuracy, chemical specialists from wood preservative chemicals company Dolphin Bay Chemicals have taken an innovative approach to determining the correct solution strength of Permacure CCA, which is a wood preservative, which involves using existing technology and adapting it... →

Photo by Duane Daws
AUTOMATED PROCESS The titration process has been automated to ensure the adequate retention of Permacure CCA in timber

African CEOs keen to expand agribusinesses into other African countries

By: Tracy Hancock 13th March 2015 African agribusiness CEOs are very positive about the possibility of expansion into African countries outside their own, with 72.7% indicating that they would pursue such opportunities, finds PwC’s Agribusinesses Insights Survey 2014/2015. “African CEOs identified the following as countries where... →

Industrial holdings group restructures amid tough economic climate

By: Schalk Burger 13th March 2015 JSE-listed industrial group KAP Industrial Holdings delivered robust interim results, owing to active restructuring of its divisions, cost-savings measures, improved efficiencies and the implementation of new technologies in its industrial division. The group also reduced its gearing ratio from... →

Compact housing launched onto national market

By: Donna Slater 27th February 2015 Grabouw-based timber homes company Rustic Homes last month launched a rustic modular-design luxury housing solution, the Eco Cabin, which uses locally available materials unique to the Western Cape, onto the national market. →

MODULAR DESIGN The small cabin is premade in Rustic Homes’s factory in Elgin, about 70 km south-east of Cape Town

Packaging paper drives 10% FY profit gain for Mondi

By: Natalie Greve 24th February 2015 While Mondi’s revenue for the year ended December 31, at €6.4-billion, remained largely unchanged year-on-year, the international paper and packaging group succeeded in lifting overall profit up 10% to €767-million for the 12 months, leveraging strongly off acquisitions and a solid showing by the... →

Bamboo group receives $8.6m cover for sustainability project in E Cape

By: Tracy Hancock 24th February 2015 The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) is providing $8.6-million to US-based EcoPlanet Bamboo Group, covering an equity investment by the company in EcoPlanet Bamboo South Africa, to contribute to sustainable agricultural development in the Eastern Cape. MIGA, the political risk... →

York expects 425% rise in H1 earnings

By: Natalie Greve 20th February 2015 York Timbers expects its earnings a share and headline earnings a share for the six months ended December 31 to jump by between 425% and 445% to between 21c and 21.8c. Operating profit was likely to be between 55% and 65% higher than that reported for the first six months of the prior financial... →

Sappi cuts debt to below $2bn

By: Natalie Greve 10th November 2014 Pulp and paper producer Sappi’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda), excluding special items, have increased 25% to $658-million for the year ended September 30, on the back of a strong fourth quarter. Special items included a charge of $32-million, comprised... →

Aussie bug war staged to safeguard SA’s commercial forests

By: Irma Venter 31st October 2014 One tiny Australian wasp is killing another tiny Australian wasp in South Africa’s commercial forests – and it is a good thing. Leptocybe invasa, the bad guy in this story, was first spotted in Eucalyptus trees outside its native Australia in 2000, in Israel, says the University of Pretoria (UP)... →

UP evaluating indigenous plants for cosmetic, medicinal use

By: Schalk Burger 31st October 2014 Scientists at the University of Pretoria (UP) Plant Science department are researching the medical and cosmetic applications of indigenous plant species traditionally used for ailments among the more than 100 indigenous South African medicinal plants already documented. UP medicinal plant science... →

BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE COSMETICS
UP plant scientists are exploring the cosmetic and medicinal applications of more than 100 indigenous plants used in traditional remedies

Photo by Bloomberg
BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE COSMETICS UP plant scientists are exploring the cosmetic and medicinal applications of more than 100 indigenous plants used in traditional remedies

York Timbers earnings down 53%

By: Leandi Kolver 30th September 2014 Forestry and forest products group York Timber Holdings on Tuesday reported earnings of R49.76-million for the year ended June 30, down 53% from the R106.86-million achieved during the prior year, with the decline mainly the result of reduced sawmill profitability and lower margins achieved by... →

Sappi producing specialised cellulose to secure future growth, profitability

By: Creamer Media Reporter 10th July 2014 Paper and pulp manufacturer Sappi recently started producing specialised cellulose at its Ngodwana mill, in Mpumalanga, in line with its strategy of facilitating growth in high-margin products. →

Sappi

Ngodwana cellulose plant to reach full capacity by year end

By: Leandi Kolver 18th June 2014 The newly constructed Fibre Line 3 specialised cellulose plant at pulp and paper manufacturer Sappi’s Ngodwana mill, would ramp up to full capacity of 200 000 t/y by the end of this calendar year, Sappi Southern Africa CEO Alex Thiel told Engineering News Online on Wednesday following the... →

Sappi Ngodwana GM SW Engelbrecht and Sappi Southern Africa CEO Alex Thiel speak at the opening of Fibre Line 3. Camerawork & editing: Nicholas Boyd. Recorded: 18/06/2014.

Sappi sells Nijmegen mill

By: Leandi Kolver 17th June 2014 Paper and packaging group Sappi has sold its Nijmegen mill, in the Netherlands, to an affiliate of American Industrial Acquisition Corporation. In September last year, the group announced that it had generated a loss in its European activities as a result of the continued market decline and... →

Sappi emerging as world player in specialised-cellulose market

By: Sashnee Moodley 6th June 2014 Paper and packaging group Sappi Southern Africa has diversified its operations to include the export of specialised cellulose, a grade of pulp which it produces and from which it generates a revenue of about $800-million a year. →

Sappi Southern Africa CFO Colin Mowatt discusses Sappi’s operation diversification at the inaugural Manufacturing Indaba, in Ekurhuleni, last month. Camerawork: Nicholas Boyd. Editing: Shane Williams. Recorded: 19.05.14

Vietnam, South Africa seek to bolster bilateral trade and investment

By: Keith Campbell 30th May 2014 Vietnam is hoping that it will be able to increase its exports of certain agricultural products to South Africa. In particular, it is seeking to increase its exports of coffee, tea, rice and peppers. In parallel, South Africa is also hoping to increase its exports to the South East Asian country,... →

Mondi Q1 operating profit up 13%

By: Leandi Kolver 14th May 2014 Dual-listed Mondi increased its underlying operating profit by 13% year-on-year and 14% quarter-on-quarter to €183-million during the three months ended March 31 the company announced on Wednesday, stating that this performance was in line with management expectations. Sales volumes during the... →

Sappi continues financial bounce-back

By: Natasha Odendaal 12th May 2014 Paper and packaging group Sappi maintained an improving trend in its operating performance during the three months to March 2014, after bouncing back into the black during the first quarter of the year. The improving operating performance during the second quarter of the year – despite tough... →

Ralph Boettger

Association upbeat about stressed industries

By: Ilan Solomons 28th March 2014 If the weak rand persists during this year, producers of paper, pulp and board will register stronger returns, particularly from bleached hardwood pulp and chemical cellulose exports, Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (Pamsa) executive director Jane Molony tells Engineering News.... →

JANE MOLONY The paper, pulp and board sectors employ 146 000 people who are involved in every process, from planting the trees to making the paper

Air motors ideal for use in paper, pulp and board industy

By: Ilan Solomons 28th March 2014 Industrial products supplier Dowson & Dobson assembly technology manager Herman Parsons says air motors are generally well suited to the preparation of materials in the harsh operating conditions of the paper, pulp and board industries. “These industries’ operating environments are usually... →

DEPRAG AIR MOTOR Dowson & Dobson stocks a range of Deprag air motors which are made entirely from stainless steel

R20m invested in packager’s product line

By: Ilan Solomons 28th March 2014 Local moulded fibre packaging manufacturer Huhtamaki South Africa’s Finnish parent company, Huhtamaki Oyj, is investing R20-million in the installation of a new Leotech pulp-moulding machine to enhance the range of products that the company can manufacture. Leotech equipment is used to produce... →

HUHTAMAKI SOUTH AFRICA MANAGEMENT National sales and marketing manager Henry Nel, Atlantis plant manager Athool Lakhoo and GM Wil Rigby

Paper remains important in the digital age, despite criticism

By: Ilan Solomons 28th March 2014 While the paper industry is facing significant challenges, owing to the increasing use of digital online platforms and the convenience of receiving documents electronically, the electronic distribution of information should not be touted as being more environmentally friendly than distributing... →

Photo by Paper Recycling Association of South Africa
PAPER AND BOARD RECYCLING Paper is not only biodegradable but also recyclable

Company empowers rural communities to grow trees for timber use

By: Ilan Solomons 28th March 2014 Paper and packaging group Sappi Southern Africa’s Project Grow programme is supporting emerging historically disadvantaged tree growers to produce timber for the local paper, pulp and board industries. Sappi Southern Africa CEO Alex Thiel tells Engineering News that the programme forms the... →

EMPOWERING RURAL COMMUNITIES Project Grow comprises more than 4 500 tree growers, from small individual growers to larger community projects, farming on about 19 250 ha

Photo by Duane Daws
EMPOWERING RURAL COMMUNITIES Project Grow comprises more than 4 500 tree growers, from small individual growers to larger community projects, farming on about 19 250 ha

Company contributes to job creation through paper recycling

By: Ilan Solomons 28th March 2014 The pulp and paper industry is one of the largest employers in South Africa, making a significant yearly contribution to the economy of about R35.26-billion, says the Paper and Recycling Association of South Africa (Prasa). Paper and plastic packaging manufacturer Mpact plays a significant part... →

PILING IT ON Piet Matentshi has been running a successful business for more than ten years, collecting recovered paper and delivering it to Mpact’s paper mills

Cellulose production provides new opportunities

By: Ilan Solomons 28th March 2014 Paper and packaging group Sappi Southern Africa CEO Alex Thiel is confident that the company will be successful this year, as it aims to diversify some aspects of its operations and streamline others. He says that following the global downturn in 2008, there has been less demand for graphic paper... →

WET SPECIALISED CELLULOSE Sappi has a 20% global share in all special cellulose production, which generates about R7-billion in yearly revenues for South Africa

Sappi Southern Africa CEO Alex Thiel discusses the company's current operations and its future prospects.

Amid technical and financial concerns, SA moves ahead with biofuels strategy

By: Schalk Burger 21st March 2014 While the food-versus-fuel dilemma remains, South Africa is moving ahead with the roll-out of its much debated biofuels strategy, which even received a mention in President Jacob Zuma's February State of the Nation address, when he confirmed that biofuels manufacturers had been selected and had... →

Sappi appoints new CFO

By: Leandi Kolver 17th March 2014 Paper and packaging group Sappi on Monday announced the appointment of Sappi Europe and Southern Africa CFO Glen Pearce as group CFO and executive director, with effect from July 1. Pearce would be replacing current Sappi group CFO Steve Binnie, who would be succeeding Ralph Boëttger as CEO on... →

Renttech concludes Sappi Ngodwana project

By: Leandi Kolver 17th March 2014 Welding and construction-related equipment supplier Renttech has concluded a turnkey project for paper and packaging group Sappi’s Ngodwana mill GoCell Project. The GoCell Project comprised the establishment of a new fibre line for the manufacturing of specialised cellulose as well as upgrading... →

Sappi Ngodwana operation

Mondi yields positive results owing to low-cost asset investment, support strategy

By: Leandi Kolver 28th February 2014 Dual-listed Mondi’s record financial performance during the year ended December 31 reflected the consequences of the company’s strategy of supporting and investing in low-cost assets, with sustainable margin benefits and exposure to high growth products and regions, which had been in place for... →

Mondi Group CEO David Hathorn

Mondi expecting higher 2013 HEPS, operating profit

By: Leandi Kolver 19th February 2014 Dual-listed Mondi on Wednesday announced that it expected headline earnings a share for the year ended December 31 of between €0.88 and €0.93 as opposed to €0.629 during the prior year. Basic earnings a share were expected to be higher at between €0.77 and €0.82, with underlying operating profit... →

Sappi appoints new CEO

By: Sapa 10th February 2014 Sappi CFO Steve Binnie will succeed Ralph Boettger as CEO of pulp and paper producer Sappi later this year, the paper company said on Monday. Boettger resigned after seven years as CEO and director of Sappi. →

Sappi CEO Ralph Boettger

Sappi CEO to step down owing to ill health

By: Creamer Media Reporter 15th January 2014 Global pulp and paper company Sappi announced on Wednesday that its CEO of almost seven years, Ralph Boëttger, would be relinquishing his position as CEO and director on June 30 as he had been diagnosed with a serious illness. Sappi board chairperson Dr Danie Cronjé said: “I personally and on... →

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