HDPTH News

Stora Enso is investing EUR 19 million at its Skutskar mill in Sweden to increase fluff pulp production. The company says the project targets higher efficiency, quality, production stability and future fiber-blend flexibility after the closure of a softwood pulp line.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Fluff pulp availability feeds diapers, feminine care and absorbent products, so converters should connect raw-material security with nonwoven, film and absorbent-core roll handling requirements.

Source: PaperAge on Stora Enso fluff pulp investment

Cascades is installing a tissue converting line at its Granby, Quebec facility. PaperAge reported that the $15 million project is scheduled for a nine-month installation and is expected to add about 3 million cases of annual capacity from the fourth quarter of 2026.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Direct converting investment highlights the need to balance parent-roll supply, rewinding, packing speed and finished-roll quality before adding case capacity.

Source: PaperAge on Cascades tissue converting capacity

Baotuo Paper Machinery will supply Vinda Household Paper with six BC1800-3490 high-speed crescent former tissue machines in China. PaperAge reported each machine has a 3,490 mm paper width, 1,800 m/min design speed and 30,000 tonnes per year of capacity.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Large tissue-machine additions create downstream pressure for converting, slitting, perforating, rewinding and packing systems sized for wider parent reels and higher output.

Source: PaperAge on Baotuo and Vinda tissue machine order

BW Papersystems said Nippon Tokushu Toryo installed a Questec multifunctional sheeter for specialty paper and board processing. The project supports precision sheet conversion and flexible formats for high-value coated or specialty materials.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Specialty paper projects depend on cut accuracy, surface protection and web stability, the same process discipline needed when specifying slitting and rewinding equipment for sensitive rolls.

Source: BW Papersystems on the Questec sheeter project

Greif announced a $60 per short ton increase for uncoated recycled paperboard products and a minimum 6.5% increase on tube, core and protective packaging products. The company cited input, adhesive and transportation costs plus stronger demand across end markets.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Core cost and availability affect every rewinding project, so buyers should specify core sizes, finished-roll diameters and waste-control targets early when calculating operating cost.

Source: PaperAge on Greif URB and tube/core price increases

ANDRITZ said Goliplik is preparing to enter nonwovens with a complete neXline Wetlace line for bio-based, flushable wipes. Erection and commissioning are scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Pulp-rich flushable wipe substrates can be softer and less forgiving than standard spunlace, so slitting, perforating and rewinding systems need stable tension and disciplined roll build.

Source: ANDRITZ on Goliplik Wetlace project

ANDRITZ received an order from Aksan Kozmetik for a high-capacity neXline spunlace line. The line will produce 30-80 gsm roll goods for wipes, allowing the Turkish converter to bring parent-roll supply closer to its own converting operation.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: In-house roll-goods production changes the equipment discussion from buying commodity rolls to controlling web uniformity, inspection, slit width and rewind density across the factory.

Source: ANDRITZ on Aksan Kozmetik spunlace line

ANDRITZ received an order from ATCO Hygienics for a new baby diaper production line at its Tashkent, Uzbekistan plant. Commissioning is scheduled for the end of 2026, and the line will manufacture baby diapers for the PERLA brand in Central Asia.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Regional diaper growth pulls demand for consistent nonwoven, acquisition-layer and backsheet rolls, making unwind stability and roll defect control important purchasing criteria.

Source: ANDRITZ on ATCO Hygienics baby diaper line

ANDRITZ will supply Sanitex in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with two baby diaper production lines and one sanitary napkin line. The lines include forming technology, SAP dosing, web tension control, quality inspection and integrated packaging.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Absorbent-hygiene growth pulls demand for defect-free nonwoven, film and tissue rolls, making unwind stability, edge control and inspection practical purchasing criteria.

Source: ANDRITZ on Sanitex hygiene lines

ANDRITZ received an order from Kruger Nonwovens for a complete Wetlace hybrid line at the Wayagamack mill in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. The line is designed for plastic-free and chemical-free materials for sustainable wipes and is scheduled to start production in 2028.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: New sustainable wipe roll goods create converting requirements around soft web control, liquid loading, clean slitting, perforation quality and repeatable rewind density.

Source: ANDRITZ on Kruger Nonwovens Wetlace hybrid line

Packaging Europe summarized new European Commission guidance around the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, including design-for-recycling, recycled-content and documentation requirements. The article highlights how packaging producers are preparing for practical compliance timelines.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Regulation is turning material changes into factory projects, so converters should specify slitters, rewinders and inspection systems that can handle trial runs, thinner structures and documentation-driven quality checks.

Source: Packaging Europe on PPWR implementation guidance

Mondi launched re/loop FlowWrap, a mono-polypropylene form-fill-seal material for wet wipes packaging with 35% post-consumer recycled content. Mondi said trials validated sealing, barrier protection, machinability and use on existing packaging lines.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: PCR wet-wipe films put more attention on stable unwind, heat-seal consistency, edge quality and inspection because small film variation can create package leaks or downtime.

Source: Mondi on re/loop FlowWrap for wet wipes packaging

Coveris acquired GEFO Folienbetrieb GmbH, a German cast polypropylene film producer. Coveris said the deal expands CPP extrusion capability for recyclable mono-material packaging across retort, lidding, bakery, medical and non-food applications.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: More CPP and mono-material film capacity increases demand for slitting and rewinding lines that preserve flatness, edge quality and roll geometry on thin packaging webs.

Source: Coveris on GEFO CPP film acquisition

Innovia Films reported successful production and trial evaluation of white cavitated BOPP film made with PureCycle recycled polypropylene. The film contains more than 40% post-consumer recycled content and targets food-contact packaging and roll-fed label uses.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Higher PCR content in cavitated BOPP can narrow the processing window, so converters need clean slitting, static control and controlled winding to protect printability and roll-fed performance.

Source: Innovia Films on recycled-content white cavitated BOPP

Amcor and DCM introduced recycle-ready mono-material PE film for European fertilizer packaging. The packs use 35% PCR content, cover formats from 650 g to 7 kg and use an MDO PE structure with a functional sealant layer.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Switching from multi-material structures to mono-PE changes tension, puncture, sealing and roll-formation behavior, so converters should validate full-width trials before scaling new pack formats.

Source: Amcor on DCM recycle-ready fertilizer packaging