Paper, Nonwoven and Film News for June 5, 2026

Metsa Group opened the upgraded Mariestad tissue mill, a EUR 370 million project that doubles annual capacity to about 145,000 tonnes and includes new rolled and folded tissue converting lines.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Integrated mill-and-converting investments show that productivity gains are now being captured across the full line, from parent-roll making to high-speed finished-roll handling.

Source: MET Magazine on Metsa Mariestad

Georgia-Pacific began final engineering and planning for additional structured paper machines and associated converting equipment to support premium bath tissue and towel demand in the U.S.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: When large tissue suppliers commit to premium capacity, the downstream benchmark rises for softness, roll build, line speed and packaging efficiency across the supply chain.

Source: MET Magazine on Georgia-Pacific capacity plans

Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers commissioned its ANDRITZ TM5 line at Mondipatti, adding 34,000 tonnes per year of premium tissue capacity and entering the consumer tissue market with in-house hardwood kraft pulp integration.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Fresh tissue capacity in a growing market usually creates follow-on demand for converting, packaging and roll-handling equipment built for new grade mixes and retail formats.

Source: MET Magazine on TNPL tissue start-up

Navigator approved a EUR 115 million investment for a new tissue machine at Aveiro, adding 70,000 tonnes of annual output designed to supply the group's converting operations in the United Kingdom.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: When a paper producer adds machine capacity specifically to feed converting operations, it signals confidence in finished-goods demand and in the economics of downstream automation.

Source: MET Magazine on Navigator's new tissue machine

AF&PA reported March packaging papers and specialty packaging shipments up 7% year over year, with unbleached packaging paper shipments at their highest level in more than two years and inventories at a 13-month low.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Stronger packaging paper movement and tighter inventories can support additional slitting, sheeting and rewinding activity while making uptime and material yield more valuable.

Source: AF&PA packaging papers report

A.Celli and Dalian Ruiguang signed a new wetlaid nonwoven project at INDEX 2026 covering an E-WIND STREAM winder and an E-WIND RAPID rewinder for reels up to 3,600 mm wide.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: This is a direct reminder that wetlaid and wipe-grade materials still depend on precise winding, stable roll formation and efficient rewind capacity before downstream converting can run well.

Source: MET Magazine on A.Celli and Dalian Ruiguang

ANDRITZ received an order from ATCO Hygienics in Uzbekistan for a new baby diaper production line at its Tashkent plant, supporting local hygiene capacity growth.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Growth in diaper manufacturing expands demand for upstream nonwoven, film and absorbent-material roll processing with tighter quality expectations and faster line-response requirements.

Source: MET Magazine on ATCO Hygienics

Kruger Nonwovens ordered a complete Wetlace hybrid line for its Wayagamack mill in Trois-Rivieres, preparing to enter the market with plastic-free, chemical-free wipe materials. Production is scheduled for 2028.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: New wipe substrates based on pulp and natural fibers raise the importance of tension control, dust management, clean slitting and repeatable rewind quality.

Source: ANDRITZ on the Kruger Wetlace line

Wangjin Holdings signed for a new Pulp X spunlace nonwoven production line with Trutzschler while also marking the commissioning of another line at its Zhejiang Jinnuo Medical New Material subsidiary.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Multi-line expansion at one group usually means larger roll volumes, broader product mix and more need for robust finishing, rewinding and inspection capacity.

Source: MET Magazine on Wangjin and Trutzschler

Aksan Kozmetik in Turkey ordered a complete high-capacity spunlace line from ANDRITZ to bring nonwoven roll production in-house for its wipes business.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Vertical integration shows how converters are reducing dependence on outside parent-roll supply and investing upstream to control quality, cost and responsiveness.

Source: MET Magazine on the Aksan spunlace order

Mondi launched re/loop FlowWrap, a mono-PP wet wipes packaging film with 35% post-consumer recycled content that the company says can run on existing lines and has already passed external high-speed trials on IMA Ilapak equipment.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Buyers now need film structures that protect seals and barrier performance without sacrificing machinability, so line compatibility and stable web handling are becoming deciding factors.

Source: FlexoTech on Mondi re/loop FlowWrap

Packaging Dive reported that California SB 54 is pushing faster development of collection, processing and recycling systems for flexible and film packaging, where current recycling rates remain very low.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Regulation is forcing brand owners to redesign film structures sooner, which means converters will face more material changeovers, qualification work and requests for recyclable-ready processing.

Source: Packaging Dive on California film recycling pressure

Coveris said a new demonstration purification plant at its ReCover site in Louth is using supercritical CO2 extraction to clean post-consumer PE and PP film waste for higher-quality recycled resin, including food-grade ambitions.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Better recycled-film feedstock can speed adoption of PCR-rich structures, but those materials still demand disciplined slitting, winding and inspection to run consistently.

Source: FlexoTech on the Coveris purification plant

Innovia Films launched P2G, a clear mono-material BOPP flow-wrap film for fresh produce with gas transmission tuned to help manage shelf life while remaining recyclable in polypropylene streams.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Produce films combine seal sensitivity, puncture resistance and shelf-life control, so converting lines must keep edge quality and tension stable without damaging functional properties.

Source: FlexoTech on Innovia P2G film

Packaging Europe reported that RATTPACK developed a recyclable mono-PP high-barrier clip foil for retort uses such as stand-up pouches, flow packs and lidding films, replacing more complex mixed-material structures.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Retort-capable mono-material films widen the opportunity for recyclable packaging, but they also raise the bar for accurate slitting, roll hardness control and seal-window consistency.

Source: Packaging Europe on RATTPACK mono-PP clip foil