Paper, Nonwoven and Film News for June 18, 2026

The Navigator Company introduced gCELL as a dedicated identity for its eucalyptus pulp portfolio, covering tissue, packaging paper, decor and specialty-paper applications. The move gives buyers a clearer commercial reference point as pulp suppliers compete more directly on runnability, softness, bulk and dust control.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: When mills reposition pulp grades, converters may see furnish changes that alter winding behavior, slit cleanliness and finished-roll quality.

Source: METissue on Navigator's gCELL pulp launch

Golden Eagle Group signed for six Baotuo high-speed Crescent Former tissue machines for Vinda's Hubei project, adding another major block of Asian tissue capacity. A build-out at this scale points to more jumbo-roll output and more downstream demand for converting, packing and roll logistics.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Large tissue-machine projects usually create follow-on demand for rewinders, slitters, embossing support and automated parent-roll handling.

Source: METissue on Vinda's Hubei tissue-machine order

Jani Sales commissioned PM3 at Sarigam, Gujarat, adding 80 tonnes per day and lifting total annual capacity to about 82,000 tonnes. The Baosuo line is aimed at premium virgin-fiber tissue grades for both domestic sales and export markets.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: New premium-tissue output can increase demand for higher-speed converting lines that preserve softness, roll build and finish quality.

Source: METissue on Jani Sales' PM3 startup

Sofidel officially broke ground on its $775 million Oklahoma expansion, centered on a 75,000-tonne-per-year TAD tissue machine, matching converting lines, extra reel and pulp storage, and an automated finished-goods warehouse. The project signals continued North American appetite for premium tissue output and more automated mill logistics.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Higher premium-tissue capacity raises the bar for downstream rewinding, packaging and internal roll transport systems that must run fast with low defect rates.

Source: METissue on Sofidel's Port of Inola expansion

Stora Enso said it plans to close softwood pulp production on fiberline 3 at Skutskar and focus the site more tightly on fluff pulp. The company cited weak European softwood-pulp economics and said further fluff-pulp expansion is being investigated.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Any shift in fluff-pulp supply matters for diaper and hygiene producers whose absorbent-core performance depends on stable input quality and repeatable web handling.

Source: METissue on Stora Enso's Skutskar fluff-pulp shift

Turkish yarn producer Goliplik said it is preparing to enter the nonwovens market for sustainable wipes with a complete ANDRITZ neXline Wetlace line. The line will produce bio-based, flushable roll goods, with erection and commissioning set to start in the last quarter of 2026.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Flushable wipe webs are less tolerant of weak tension control, dusty slitting and unstable rewind density than conventional wipe substrates.

Source: ANDRITZ on Goliplik's Wetlace project

Aksan Kozmetik awarded ANDRITZ an order for a complete high-capacity spunlace line to manufacture 30 to 80 gsm wipes materials in-house. The investment is designed to give the Turkish wipes converter more control over roll-goods quality, fiber blends and supply security.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: When converters backward-integrate into spunlace, they typically also tighten expectations on slitting accuracy, parent-roll consistency and automation between web production and finishing.

Source: ANDRITZ on Aksan Kozmetik's spunlace investment

Kruger Nonwovens ordered a complete Wetlace hybrid line from ANDRITZ for Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, to produce plastic-free and chemical-free wipe materials. The line is the first of its kind in Canada and is scheduled to start production in 2028.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Pulp-rich wipe substrates can be harder to slit and rewind cleanly, increasing the value of dust control, stable web tension and gentle roll handling.

Source: ANDRITZ on Kruger Nonwovens' Wetlace hybrid line

Dalian Ruiguang ordered another ANDRITZ Wetlace line for premium flushable wipes, lifting planned annual capacity to 40,000 tons. The line is aimed at pulp-based wipe materials that meet IWSFG and JIS flushability standards.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Standards-driven flushable products reward converters that can hold web stability, perforation behavior and roll build inside a much tighter process window.

Source: ANDRITZ on Dalian Ruiguang's new Wetlace line

Sanitex in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ordered two baby diaper lines and one sanitary napkin line from ANDRITZ, including SAP dosing, web-tension control, inspection and integrated packaging. Start-up is scheduled for the third quarter of 2026.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: More advanced hygiene output increases pressure on upstream roll suppliers to deliver cleaner cuts, better winding and more repeatable material feed into high-speed lines.

Source: ANDRITZ on Sanitex's hygiene-line order

Amcor secured RecyClass traceability certification across a range of UK-made flexible products, including FFS films, shrink films, stretch hood films and flat films with PCR content. The move is timed ahead of tighter UK tax treatment for recycled-content claims.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Verified PCR packaging raises demand for equipment that can keep winding, sealing and gauge performance stable even when resin behavior changes.

Source: Amcor on RecyClass-certified PCR films

Innovia Films and PureCycle said they successfully produced white cavitated BOPP film containing more than 40% post-consumer recycled polypropylene. The result targets demanding snack, confectionery and roll-fed label applications where opacity, stiffness and printability still matter.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Higher recycled content in cavitated BOPP can narrow the safe process window for slitting, winding and registration, especially at high speed.

Source: Innovia Films on recycled-content white cavitated BOPP

Mondi launched re/loop FlowWrap, a mono-PP wet-wipes pack structure with 35% post-consumer recycled content that the company says remains compatible with existing recycling streams and current line operation. Wet-wipes packaging is a useful benchmark because seal consistency and reel behavior are unforgiving in that application.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Recycled-content wipe packs make stable unwind, clean slitting and dependable seal performance more critical across film-converting and packing lines.

Source: Mondi on re/loop FlowWrap for wet wipes

Coveris used the International Cheese & Dairy EXPO to spotlight MonoFlexBE lidding films and PolyFlex thermoforming formats positioned for upcoming UK recycling rules. The company emphasized validated shelf-life performance alongside mono-material or mixed-polyolefin structures that are easier to recover.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Recycle-ready food films often tighten sealing, slip and roll-formation tolerances, which lifts the value of consistent tension control and inspection.

Source: Coveris on recycle-ready cheese and dairy packaging films

Reifenhauser introduced its EVO GEN3 blown film line generation for Chinaplas 2026, citing output up to 1,050 kg/h, new die-head and cooling technology, and more automation for flatter film and faster restart after changes. The company also highlighted market-ready mono-material pouch examples built on the new platform.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Higher film-line output only pays off when downstream slitters and rewinders can hold flatness, edge quality and roll build at the same pace.

Source: Reifenhauser on the EVO GEN3 line generation