Valmet initiates a strategic review to evaluate a potential separation of its two segments

Valmet initiates a strategic review to evaluate a potential separation of its two segments

The Board of Directors of Valmet Oyj has decided to initiate a strategic review to evaluate a potential separation of its two core businesses, Biomaterial Solutions and Services, and Process Performance Solutions, into two standalone publicly listed companies. The review will focus on assessing whether a separation of the two businesses and their operation as separately listed companies on Nasdaq Helsinki would create additional value for shareholders compared with the current combined structure.

François HENIN François HENIN
SOFIDEL and WWF ITALY renew their partnership on climate and energy, responsible sourcing, and awareness-raising activities

SOFIDEL and WWF ITALY renew their partnership on climate and energy, responsible sourcing, and awareness-raising activities

Eighteen years after signing their first agreement, Sofidel and WWF Italy renew one of the longest-standing partnerships in the history of WWF Italy, in a year when both organizations celebrate the 60th anniversary of their founding. The renewed partnership focuses on three areas of collaboration: climate and energy transition, responsible forest sourcing, and stakeholder awareness.

François HENIN François HENIN
Arbex: a new global leader in tissue and hygiene

Arbex: a new global leader in tissue and hygiene

Arbex, a new global leader in tissue and hygiene, started operations last week as an independent business and unveileddetails of its brand, leadership team, and company structure. Announced in June 2025 as a $3.4 billion joint venture between Suzano, the world’s largest pulp supplier, and Kimberly-Clark Corporation the new business will manufacture, market and distribute consumer and professional products across more than 70 markets on five continents.

Stephane RICHARD Stephane RICHARD
In Pannes (France), 78% of the heat produced at the ICT paper mill will be renewable by 2027 thanks to a biomass boiler facility

In Pannes (France), 78% of the heat produced at the ICT paper mill will be renewable by 2027 thanks to a biomass boiler facility

Against a backdrop of accelerating industrial decarbonization, ICT is reaching a key milestone at its Pannes facility (Loiret) with the launch of construction on its future biomass boiler plant, designed, financed, and operated by ENGIE. This Thursday, July 2, Johan Lemarchand, Managing Director of ICT, and Benoît Martin, Central-Western Director of Local Energy Infrastructures at ENGIE, in the presence of Mohamed Amjahdi, Regional Director of ADEME Centre-Val de Loire, laid the first stone, marking the official start of the construction site.

François HENIN François HENIN
Metsä Group and Qutwo take the next step in advancing AI in the forest industry

Metsä Group and Qutwo take the next step in advancing AI in the forest industry

Metsä Group and Qutwo, a Finnish AI and quantum technology company, are launching a collaboration aimed at deepening the use of artificial intelligence at Metsä and bringing next-generation AI into the core processes of the forest industry. Next-generation AI refers to solutions that can take into account a broader range of variables and simultaneously optimise complex systems.

François HENIN François HENIN
AFVP holds its 2026 annual seminar in Divonne-les-Bains

AFVP holds its 2026 annual seminar in Divonne-les-Bains

The Association Française des Vendeurs de Pâtes (AFVP) gathered around 40 professionals from the French pulp supply sector on Thursday 26 June 2026 for its annual seminar, held once again at the Grand Hôtel in Divonne-les-Bains.

Stephane RICHARD Stephane RICHARD
Lucart presents its 21st Sustainability Report: decarbonisation, circularity, and industrial responsibility guide the Group’s growth in Europe

Lucart presents its 21st Sustainability Report: decarbonisation, circularity, and industrial responsibility guide the Group’s growth in Europe

Lucart, the multinational paper group known for the Tenderly, Tutto, Lucart Professional and Grazie EcoNatural brands, today presented in Lucca its 21st Sustainability Report, which outlines the results achieved in 2025 and confirms the Group’s path towards an industrial model increasingly focused on decarbonisation, resource-use efficiency, circularity and social responsibility.

François HENIN François HENIN
Valmet’s new technology introduces a new type of tissue that has fabric-like strength and softness

Valmet’s new technology introduces a new type of tissue that has fabric-like strength and softness

Valmet launches new Valmet Advantage NTTe technology that enables the production of a completely new type of tissue paper with exceptional softness and a distinctive textured appearance. The technology, introduced for the first time at Valmet’s Tissue Making Days in Karlstad, Sweden on June 24, 2026, offers tissue manufacturers the ability to produce premium tissue paper that has the look and feel of fabric.

François HENIN François HENIN
Water consumption for cleaning forming fabrics 90% reduced with FabriCare

Water consumption for cleaning forming fabrics 90% reduced with FabriCare

The IBS Paper Performance Group, technology leader in paper machine optimization, has successfully started up two FabriCare ultra-high-pressure cleaning systems at a customer site in Germany. Thanks to the FabriCare systems, water consumption for cleaning the forming fabrics on a gap former machine was reduced from 330 l/min to just 32 l/min - a significant reduction of more than 90%.

François HENIN François HENIN
Fibre Excellence: the management team withdraws its bid to facilitate a new plan to revive the sites

Fibre Excellence: the management team withdraws its bid to facilitate a new plan to revive the sites

Another turn of events. Following Matthieu Pigasse’s expression of interest (letter of intent) regarding the takeover of Fibre Excellence, the French producer of market pulp (FE; see our news last 18 June), on 22 June, in a press release, Jean-François Guillot, chairman of FE (photo), announced the withdrawal of the bid he had put forward alongside the management team, in light of “the doubts raised by the Minister for Industry and various stakeholders regarding the governance of the bid.” The Toulouse Commercial Court is due to rule on this case on 6 July.

François HENIN François HENIN
Tero Kokko to assume the position of President & CEO Voith Paper effective next October 1

Tero Kokko to assume the position of President & CEO Voith Paper effective next October 1

Andreas Endters has informed the shareholders and Group management of his decision to leave Voith at the end of the current fiscal year. This request has been accepted. Effective next October 1, 2026, Tero Kokko (photo) will join the Corporate Board of Management of Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA and, as President & CEO of Voith Paper, will assume responsibility for the Group Division.

François HENIN François HENIN
Fibre Excellence: Matthieu Pigasse is the investor interested in Fibre Excellence

Fibre Excellence: Matthieu Pigasse is the investor interested in Fibre Excellence

According to the regional and national press (La Marseille, Les Echos, Libération, etc.), the investment banker and media businessman Matthieu Pigasse has submitted the letter of intent with a view to supporting the takeover bid led by the company’s management (see our news dated June 17). Other investors may yet come forward to bolster this bid. In any event, hopes are being revived for a possible takeover of the company, even though many uncertainties remain to be resolved, such as the amount of funding required or the government’s fulfilment of the conditions precedent to the management’s bid (electricity purchase price, timber price, etc.). The hearing at the Toulouse Commercial Court has been postponed until 6 July.

François HENIN François HENIN