Paper, Nonwoven and Film News for June 28, 2026

Valmet launched Advantage NTTe, a tissue process designed to produce fabric-like softness and texture while reducing fiber and energy use. The company said the concept uses new belt materials, a ViscoNip press and pilot-tested converting performance to support premium tissue grades.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Textured, high-bulk tissue changes caliper, softness and roll build, so embossing, perforation, rewinding and packaging equipment must be qualified for the new grade rather than assumed to run at legacy settings.

Source: Valmet on Advantage NTTe tissue technology

Voith introduced PluraMaze refiner fillings after customer trials showed more than 25% lower no-load energy. Progroup reported a reduction above 30% together with more stable processing and more consistent paper quality; other trials showed longer service life or improved refining efficiency.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: More consistent fiber treatment can improve reel uniformity upstream, while energy savings free capital for downstream automation, inspection and winding upgrades that remove converting bottlenecks.

Source: Voith on PluraMaze refining performance

Cascades is installing a tissue converting line at its Granby, Quebec facility. The nine-month, $15 million project is expected to add about 3 million cases of annual capacity and begin production in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: The project shows that finished-product output depends on converting-floor balance, including parent-roll handling, perforation, rewinding, log cutting and packaging integration.

Source: PaperAge on Cascades tissue converting investment

Stora Enso will invest EUR 19 million at its Skutskar mill in Sweden to improve production stability, efficiency and quality while lifting fluff pulp capacity by about 10%. The work also prepares the mill for future fiber blends used in absorbent products.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: More fluff pulp supports diapers, feminine care, adult incontinence and airlaid demand, increasing the need for stable unwind, slitting and web-control performance across absorbent-material rolls.

Source: PaperAge on Stora Enso fluff pulp investment

Greif announced a $60-per-short-ton increase for uncoated recycled paperboard and a minimum 6.5% increase for tube, core and protective packaging products effective with July shipments. The company cited input, adhesive, transportation and demand pressure.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Core cost is part of every rewinding calculation, so buyers should lock down core sizes, finished-roll diameter, changeover time and waste targets before comparing machine economics.

Source: PaperAge on Greif board and core pricing

Supreme Nonwoven will invest $25.8 million in a more than 200,000-square-foot facility in Lexington, North Carolina, creating 50 jobs. The plant will serve apparel, automotive, filtration and industrial customers with locally manufactured nonwoven materials.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Regional supply reduces lead time but raises expectations for responsive slitting, inspection records and flexible rewinding close to customers with different technical specifications.

Source: North Carolina Governor's Office on Supreme Nonwoven

ANDRITZ said Turkish yarn producer Goliplik is preparing to enter nonwovens with a Wetlace line for bio-based flushable wipes. Erection and commissioning are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Pulp-rich flushable webs require low, stable tension, clean slitting and controlled rewind density to avoid lint, telescoping and dispensing failures.

Source: ANDRITZ on the Goliplik Wetlace project

ANDRITZ received an order from Dalian Ruiguang for another Wetlace line producing flushable-wipes roll goods. Start-up is planned for the end of 2026, supporting an increase in total annual capacity to 40,000 tons.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: New parent-roll capacity creates demand for downstream slitters, perforators and rewinders that maintain roll geometry without damaging dispersible material.

Source: ANDRITZ on Dalian Ruiguang Wetlace capacity

Wangjin Holdings signed for a Pulp X Spunlace production line from Trutzschler, its tenth line from the supplier. The project targets sustainable roll goods for wipes, medical and hygiene applications.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Pulp-spunlace growth increases demand for equipment that can control soft, variable-basis-weight webs while meeting wipes and medical inspection requirements.

Source: Kohan Textile Journal on Wangjin and Trutzschler

ANDRITZ received an order from Turkish wipes converter Aksan Kozmetik for a high-capacity spunlace line producing 30-80 gsm roll goods. The investment brings parent-roll production into Aksan's own converting operation.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Vertical integration changes the material window and quality-control responsibility, so slitting, rewinding and inspection equipment must be validated against internally produced rolls.

Source: ANDRITZ on Aksan Kozmetik spunlace investment

The Flexible Plastic Fund launched FlexCircular to determine the facilities and investment needed for the UK to recycle up to 400,000 tonnes of post-consumer flexible packaging by 2030. The project has a specific focus on returning food-contact packaging to food-contact use.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Infrastructure plans will translate into more recycled PE and PP grades, requiring production lines that can document and control gauge, friction, edge quality and winding behavior.

Source: Sustainable Packaging News on FlexCircular

Nestle, the Danish Technological Institute and 14 partners launched the InFact project to turn household plastic waste into flexible packaging, including food-safe material. The program aims to demonstrate films with 30-35% recycled content at commercial scale.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Food-grade PCR programs need traceable trials and stable roll quality, so inspection, slitting and rewinding settings must accommodate changing resin behavior without creating edge or sealing defects.

Source: Packaging Insights on the InFact project

A CEFLEX analysis estimates that EU PPWR targets will require about 2.5 million metric tons of flexible-packaging-derived PCR by 2030. It identifies quality, scale and reliable markets for recycled PE, PP and mixed polyolefins as critical gaps.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Higher PCR use will widen material variation, making recipe control, inline inspection and repeatable winding essential for compliance and customer acceptance.

Source: Packaging Insights on CEFLEX PCR demand

Dow and Walki developed a mono-material MDO-PE pouch with a matte finish for frozen and dry foods. Dow supplied low-temperature sealing technology while Walki handled printing, lamination and finishing.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: MDO-PE can be heat- and tension-sensitive, so buyers should validate slitting temperature, unwind control, roll flatness and downstream sealing windows before scale-up.

Source: Packaging Insights on Dow and Walki MDO-PE

PureCycle and Innovia Films produced and tested white cavitated BOPP containing more than 40% post-consumer recycled polypropylene. Reported results showed processing, mechanical, barrier and sealing performance comparable with virgin PP film.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Higher-PCR BOPP can narrow the operating window, increasing the value of clean slitting, static control, defect inspection and controlled roll hardness.

Source: Packaging Insights on recycled BOPP trials