2 INDUSTRY NEWS


Valmet expands scope with the acquisition of GL&V


T


echnology group Valmet has agreed to acquire North American-based GL&V,


a global provider of technologies and services to the pulp and paper industry. The value of the deal is €113 million (US$127m) including cash and debt, and was expected to have been completed by the beginning of April. GL&V supplies technologies,


upgrades and optimisation services, rebuilds, and spare parts for the pulp and paper industry worldwide. The net sales of the acquired operations were approximately €160m ($180m)


producing an EBITA margin of around 11 percent in the 2018 calendar year. The acquired operations employ about 630 people of whom almost two-thirds are in North America with the remainder mainly in Europe, South America and India. Not included in the deal


are GL&V’s washing, oxygen delignification and bleaching operations with Compact Press, pumps and mixers technology for chemical pulping as well at its related Product Center at Karlstad in Sweden. Commenting on the deal,


president and chief executive of Valmet Pasi Laine said: “The


acquisition has an excellent strategic fit – it strengthens Valmet’s global services business, complements our technology offering and builds further our local presence and capabilities especially in North America. “The combination of Valmet’s global reach and GL&V’s product and services offerings for chemical pulping and paper production form a good basis to create new business opportunities and serve our customers even better.” GL&V specialises in chemical pulping, stock preparation, paper making and finishing. Its key locations are in the US


“An excellent strategic fit” says Valmet’s chief executive Pasi Laine


(Nashua, New Hampshire; Lenox, Massachusetts; and Hudson Falls, New York) in Canada (Trois- Rivières, Quebec), in Sweden (Stockholm), in India (Pune) and in Brazil (Campinas). Valmet says that following the acquisition it expected its sales to increase in 2019 compared with those in 2018, which were €3.33 billion ($3.73bn) with EBITA of €257m ($288m).


Compostability certification for Metsä Board’s eco-barrier paperboard


A new eco-barrier paperboard, Pro FSB EB1 manufactured by Metsä Board, has recently achieved industrial compostability certification by complying with DIN EN 13432* and ASTM D6400* standards. Katja Tuomola, business


development director at Metsä Board, says: “Brand owners are looking for new, more ecological solutions made of renewable, non-plastic materials, which can


be composted and recycled. This external certification helps them choose packaging materials that truly comply with their disposal requirements.” The special non-plastic barrier


treatment makes it an ecological and efficient packaging material for food, take-away and food-on- the-go applications. Its grease resistance can be enhanced further at the converting stage with the addition of just one


production. It is available in basis weights of 195-320 g/sqm and can be recycled with paper and board recycling schemes. *DIN EN 13432 standard


varnish layer. The product is safe for direct food contact and no optical brighteners or fluorochemicals are used in the


refers to ‘Requirements for Packaging Recoverable through Composting and Biodegradation’. US certification ASTM D 6400-12 covers the ‘Standard Specification for Labelling of Plastics Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities’.


Premium papers for digital print launched


Smurfit Kappa has launched a new range of premium papers that are suitable for both digital and flexographic printers. DigiStar paper was developed in response to a growing demand for


March/April 2019


a multi-purpose premium paper for high quality printing. One type of paper for multiple printers increases cost savings, while wastage is reduced and stock is easier to control. The paper is also


suitable for both UV and water- based inks. Lars Henriksson, product


development chief at Smurfit Kappa’s Paper Division said: “Digital printing is evolving strongly and


our paper technology is developing at a similar pace. We created DigiStar to respond to the need for a premium, multi-purpose paper and we are very excited about the potential that it holds.”


Pulp Paper & Logistics


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