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.
Even in stifling heat (40°C outside and an overheated production hall inside), scanning doesn't stop. Our teams were recently at the Papeterie Le Bourray mill near Le Mans, France, to scan a machine for MECABRIDE.
Amoos Fresh is the new scented toilet paper from the Amoos brand, developed by The Navigator Company using the exclusive Air Sense™ technology—an innovative micro-encapsulation solution completely free of microplastics. This technology gradually releases fragrance when activated by movement, ensuring a prolonged sensation of freshness.
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.
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.
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%.
Tissue World, the global tissue industry's premier event, will make its highly anticipated debut in Portugal's vibrant capital from 7-9 April 2027 at Feira Internacional Lisboa.
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.
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.
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.
As part of our partnership with Leancubator for the 8th edition of the Algeria Startup Challenge, we are launching two innovation challenges designed to address key industrial priorities. This first challenge focuses on industrial data valorization and invites participants to imagine the next generation of solutions capable of unlocking the full potential of operational data.
Cascades, a leader in the manufacturing of eco-friendly packaging and hygiene products, announces the installation of a state-of-the-art tissue converting line at its Granby, Quebec facility. This next-generation equipment will increase the site's production capacity while enhancing product quality. The installation of the new equipment, a $15 M investment, will take place over a period of 9 months. This builds on a $14 M investment made in recent years, for a total investment of $29 M.
The Toulouse Commercial Court has decided to postpone the hearing scheduled today June 17 to July 6. Here is the press release received from Fibre Excellence:
Metsä Group’s impact on the Finnish economy is significant: the company’s value-added impact amounts to approximately EUR 3.4 billion per year, and its operations employ more than 30,000 people in Finland. The figures are based on an assessment by KPMG Oy Ab of Metsä’s economic impact in 2023–2025.
Valmet launches the world’s first fully non-contact, nuclear-free quality control system (QCS) for tissue production. This solution delivers real-time insight into key tissue properties without physically touching the sheet. By eliminating contact and radioactive sources, the system enhances operational safety, reduces web break risks, and enables more stable and efficient production.
Time is running out. When questioned by MPs during this week’s Question Time, the French Minister for Industry, Sébastien Martin, expressed his regret at the absence of “an industrial investor” in the sole bid to take over Fibre Excellence (FE). This bid is being led by the current management team, headed by Jean-François Guillot. In a Press Release received this Friday, June 12, and which we are publishing in full, FE outlines its perspective on the situation. The Toulouse Commercial Court is scheduled to rule on the site's future on June 17.
Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA (publ) on May 8, 2018 established a Medium Term Note program (MTN) with a loan framework amounting to SEK 8 billion. In connection with the annual update in 2026, SCA’s Board of Directors has resolved to increase the borrowing limit from SEK 8 billion to SEK 12 billion to ensure flexibility and diversification in the financing.
Proposals to reduce forestry activity and increase protected forest areas have become an important part of the European forestry debate. However, according to a new impact assessment, such measures risk leading to lower production, tens of thousands of lost jobs, and higher societal costs – without delivering any climate benefits.
The Navigator Company has announced the launch of gCELL, a new brand for its pulp portfolio, aligned with the differentiation and value creation it brings to the global pulp market. With gCELL, Navigator brings its pulp business under a unified and distinctive identity rooted in more than 70 years of expertise in Eucalyptus globulus pulp production.
Based on documented results at Södra Värö, Södra has decided to scale Viking Analytics’ AI platform, MultiViz, across the entire group. The framework agreement covers 3,650 sensors deployed across the mills in Värö, Mörrum, and Mönsterås, marking the next step in Södra’s commitment to data-driven, proactive maintenance.
22 new projects across Finland focusing on strengthening biodiversity and ecological restoration were selected for Metsä Group’s Funding programme for nature projects. A total of EUR 300 000 was granted. This year, several accepted projects combined concrete nature management measures, environmental education, and community involvement.
Al Ahalia Hospital recently organized a Beat the Heat Awareness Campaign, with Crown Paper Mill (CPM) and Ittihad Paper Mill (IPM) participating as special invitees.
Fastmarkets, the leading price reporting agency for commodities market pricing, news, and analysis, has named Cristián Infante of Arauco as Latin America CEO of the Year 2026. The award will be presented during the annual Fastmarkets Forest Products Latin America Conference, taking place in Brazil from August 10–12.
The WEPA Group and the start-up Epyr have inaugurated France’s first thermal energy storage unit dedicated to the electrification of industrial heat at the WEPA site in Troyes. The inauguration was also attended by François Baroin, Mayor of Troyes and President of Troyes Champagne Métropole.
