Paper, Nonwoven and Film News for June 8, 2026

AF&PA's annual capacity and fiber survey said U.S. packaging paper production increased 1.7% in 2025, containerboard operating rates held at 91.9%, and tissue production remained near 7.8 million tons even as total paper and paperboard production fell 3.7%.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Buyers should read this as a steady-demand signal for tissue and paper converting, where uptime, fast reel handling and lower waste still matter more than speculative volume growth.

Source: AF&PA 66th Annual Paper Industry Capacity and Fiber Consumption Survey

Valmet said Faderco Group will install a third Advantage DCT 200TS tissue line at a new mill in Mostaganem, Algeria. The project is expected to add 65,000 tons per year, with a 5.6 meter machine, 2,200 m/min design speed and two Focus rewinders.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: When tissue output doubles, downstream demand usually follows for rewinding, embossing, log saw, packaging and jumbo-roll logistics equipment sized for faster and wider parent reels.

Source: Valmet on Faderco's third Advantage DCT tissue line

Valmet will deliver its new-generation IQ Web Monitoring System and IQ Web Inspection System to Metsä Tissue's Mariestad mill in Sweden to improve line efficiency and defect detection on tissue machine PM 35 with high-resolution imaging at fast web speeds.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Better online defect visibility upstream helps stabilize roll quality downstream, which reduces surprises in slitting, embossing and finished-roll inspection.

Source: Valmet on Mariestad tissue monitoring and inspection systems

Voith said Wuzhou Specialty Paper successfully started up the first commercial DuoCentri NipcoFlex press with center belt on PM 19. The design enables closed full-width web threading from the press into the drying section, reducing open-draw risk, breaks and mechanical stress.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Stable papermaking and fewer breaks upstream usually translate into more predictable reel quality, which matters for processors that need cleaner unwinds and fewer web handling disruptions.

Source: Voith on Wuzhou Specialty Paper's press start-up

ANDRITZ said Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper started a new 2,000 tons-per-day OCC line and reject treatment system at Karawang, processing mixed old corrugated containers into high-quality stock for testliner production with cleaning, sorting, dewatering and shredder systems.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: More recycled containerboard capacity can shift regional supply and quality consistency, making contamination control and roll variability a more important purchasing factor downstream.

Source: ANDRITZ on Indah Kiat's OCC line start-up

ANDRITZ will supply ATCO Hygienics in Tashkent with a new diaper line scheduled for commissioning at the end of 2026. The line will produce a broad range of premium PERLA baby diapers with a focus on efficiency, flexibility and user-friendly operation.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Diaper-line growth directly increases demand for stable upstream nonwoven, film and absorbent-material roll processing, especially where scrap control and roll consistency affect line yield.

Source: ANDRITZ on ATCO Hygienics' diaper line order

Kruger Nonwovens ordered a complete Wetlace hybrid line from ANDRITZ for the Wayagamack mill in Quebec. The first-of-its-kind Canadian line will target plastic-free, chemical-free wipes materials and is scheduled to start production in 2028.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Pulp-rich wipe substrates usually tighten tolerances for slitting cleanliness, tension control and finished-roll stability, so machinery selection has to account for less forgiving web behavior.

Source: ANDRITZ on Kruger's Wetlace hybrid line

Sanitex in Congo ordered two baby diaper lines and one sanitary napkin line from ANDRITZ. The scope includes absorbent-core forming, precise SAP dosing, advanced web tension control and quality inspection systems for higher productivity and more stable output.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: This kind of quality-focused hygiene expansion lifts expectations for upstream substrate uniformity, cut precision and roll-build repeatability across the whole supply chain.

Source: ANDRITZ on Sanitex's hygiene line order

Tatra Textil in Slovakia ordered an ANDRITZ batt forming line for a new plant producing thermal insulation materials. The line is designed for high fluffiness, fiber randomization and precise blending to create a uniform, voluminous and stable batt structure.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Even outside wipes and hygiene, buyers can see the same trend: more demand for engineered web uniformity and repeatable fiber distribution before downstream winding, cutting and packaging.

Source: ANDRITZ on Tatra Textil's batt forming line

ANDRITZ and Alar Silk Road New Materials commissioned three spunlace lines in Xinjiang for hygiene and medical nonwovens. The lines process viscose and cotton fibers, target high web uniformity and tensile performance, and use Profile crosslappers to lower operating cost through more even fiber distribution.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: More spunlace supply in hygiene and medical grades means converters should expect rising customer pressure on consistency, cleanliness and efficient large-roll handling.

Source: ANDRITZ on Alar Silk Road's spunlace start-up

Mondi introduced re/loop FlowWrap, a mono-PP form-fill-seal solution for wet wipes with 35% post-consumer recycled content. The company said performance is comparable to virgin alternatives based on internal tests and customer trials, and the format is designed for recycling.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Wipe-packaging customers increasingly want recycled content without sacrificing line speed, so film stability and sealing consistency are becoming harder procurement requirements.

Source: Mondi on re/loop FlowWrap for wet wipes

Amcor and DCM launched a recycle-ready mono-material PE film for fertilizer packs in Europe, replacing a previous multi-material structure. The new packs contain 35% PCR, cover sizes from 650 grams to 7 kilograms and are claimed to cut carbon footprint by 17%.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Higher-PCR mono-PE structures can change stiffness, seal behavior and winding feel, so converters need process windows that stay stable across material transitions.

Source: Amcor on mono-PE fertilizer packaging for DCM

Coveris and Nextek said their COtooCLEAN demonstration plant is now fully operational in the UK, using purification technology to convert post-consumer PE and PP film waste into recycled resin aimed at food-grade applications. Industrial-scale trials started in April 2026.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: If food-grade recycled film feedstock becomes more available, more customers will test high-PCR flexible structures that still require disciplined slitting, inspection and roll control.

Source: Coveris on the COtooCLEAN food-grade film recycling plant

At Interzoo 2026, Coveris said pet food producers are seeking recyclable monomaterial packaging that also meets PFAS-free design requirements before stricter EU food-contact limits apply on August 12, 2026. One highlighted format, MonoFlexE Opti weight bag, cuts material use while remaining fully recyclable.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Regulatory deadlines can force fast packaging redesigns, which means more material requalification, more changeovers and more value in machinery that handles new film structures without long downtime.

Source: Coveris on PFAS-free monomaterial pet food packaging

UFlex introduced F-HSS, a co-extruded transparent PET film with a sealant layer designed for mono-material PET packaging. The company said the film delivers seal strength above 1.5 kg/inch, strong machinability and compatibility with APET, RPET, CPET and PVDC applications.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Mono-PET structures give less room for poor sealing, uneven tension and rough slitting, so equipment capability needs to be checked before customers switch away from mixed-material laminates.

Source: UFlex on F-HSS mono-material PET film