4 INDUSTRY NEWS


Pulp Paper & Logistics


WestRock agrees to buy corrugated specialist KapStone


corrugated and speciality paper maker KapStone in a deal worth US$4.9 billion. The move is expected to


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strengthen WestRock’s position on the west coast of the USA, and provide a better product mix. WestRock will acquire KapStone’s


share capital and take on about $1.36bn in debt. KapStone’s chairman Roger Stone and chief executive Matt Kaplan have agreed to the transaction, subject to certain limitations. Founded in 2005 and based in Northbrook, Illinois, KapStone is a leading North American producer


eading paper-based packaging manufacturer WestRock has agreed to buy containerboard,


and distributor of containerboard, corrugated products and speciality papers, including liner and medium containerboard, kraft papers and saturating kraft. KapStone also owns Victory Packaging, a packaging distribution company with facilities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. KapStone’s most recent full-year sales in 2016 were $3.08bn, up 10 per cent on 2015. Second largest in the paper


packaging world to International Paper, WestRock is based in Atlanta with yearly sales of about $21.5bn. Commenting on the KapStone


agreement, WestRock chief executive Steve Voorhees said: “KapStone is a great fit with WestRock. Their complementary


corrugated packaging and distribution operations will enhance WestRock’s ability to serve customers across our system, particularly in the western United States, and the addition of their specialty kraft paper products that we do not make enhances our differentiated portfolio of paper and packaging solutions. “Importantly, KapStone and


WestRock share the same dedication to serving customers. We look forward to welcoming the KapStone team members to WestRock and working with them to help make WestRock an even better company.” Matt Kaplan added: “The agreement to combine with


WestRock is a testament to the tremendous company we have built and the hard work and accomplishments of the KapStone team. “The transaction enables us


to deliver an immediate and compelling cash premium to our shareholders. As we began to understand WestRock’s principles, we realised how closely aligned our cultures are. As a result, we believe strongly that this will be beneficial to both our employees and customers.” WestRock says that the acquisition will enable it to provide a broader product portfolio to existing customers, including speciality kraft paper and a higher mix of virgin fibre.


A.Celli Group launches developments to meet Industry 4.0 systems


Italian paper making equipment manufacturer A.Celli Group has launched new business units to meet the market’s need to meet the Industry 4.0 revolution. Both are part of a vision it calls ‘Extreme Automation’. Says the Lucca-based firm: “The


A.Celli Group firmly believes in a production process that uses the new technologies dictated by the Industry 4.0 revolution and that can yield a more immediate and concrete production optimization during the individual process phases. “Certainly the most interesting and useful aspect is centred on


January/February 2018


managing the data acquired, on the possibility of filing them for future reference, making them the object of a more accurate analysis, to transmit predictive maintenance programs to operators and to act on the system and eliminate defects or non- conformities. And all this in order to maintain the machine park at a superior level of efficiency/ productivity, guaranteeing a better final product quality.” The developments covered by


‘Extreme Automation’ are in a number of sectors: Industry 4.0 division – Development of machine data


collection and analysis platforms to: ● Implement predictive machine maintenance


● Optimise production ● Easily interface the machines with customer management software (ERP, MES)


Introduction of innovative machine learning logics to optimise machine operation. DCS division – Development of new-generation DCS process controls for the paper field that: ● Optimize production in terms of quality and energy


● Minimise operator intervention


● Affords facilitated remote support oriented towards global control Software applications Winders & Rewinders: ● Development of PLC and Drives software applications for the new winders and rewinders


● Development of new-generation HMI machine interfaces


Packaging and System integration: ● Development of software systems to integrate Handling & Packaging with customer management systems


● Development of integrated systems for automatic warehouses.


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