Paper, Nonwoven and Film News for July 1, 2026

Valmet reports that a targeted rebuild at JK Paper's PM5 added automated web handling, more reliable tail threading and precise caliper profiling. The project improved runnability, reduced downtime and delivered more consistent board quality without requiring a complete line replacement.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Stable caliper and fewer upstream web-handling disturbances improve downstream slit and rewind quality, showing why focused automation upgrades can be a lower-risk route to usable capacity.

Source: Valmet on the JK Paper PM5 targeted rebuild

Smurfit Westrock confirmed that its SSK mill in Birmingham will stop production on July 27. The site supplies about 200,000 tonnes per year of fluting and liner to UK and Irish corrugated markets, with output to be redistributed across the company's wider European mill network.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Corrugated producers should review grade availability, lead times and roll logistics before the transition, while mills receiving redistributed volume may need extra slitting, rewinding and roll-handling capacity.

Source: Smurfit Westrock on the SSK mill closure

Voith launched its PluraMaze refiner filling after customer installations reported more than 25% lower no-load energy. Progroup recorded a reduction above 30% with more stable processing and consistent paper quality, while other trials showed longer service life or improved refining results.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Lower energy cost matters most when fiber treatment also stabilizes the reel; converters should link upstream refining changes to tensile profile, dust, edge quality and winding waste.

Source: Voith on PluraMaze customer results

Valmet introduced Advantage NTTe technology for premium tissue with a textured, fabric-like appearance. The company says higher bulk can reduce fiber use while maintaining softness and strength, with lower energy demand than conventional processes and a less capital-intensive route to ultra-premium grades.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Higher-bulk textured tissue changes web stretch, embossing response and roll build, so perforation, tension and winding recipes should be proven on production-grade parent reels.

Source: Valmet on Advantage NTTe tissue technology

Stora Enso will invest EUR 19 million at its Skutskar mill in Sweden to improve fluff-pulp stability, efficiency and quality and raise capacity by about 10%. Completion is expected in the fourth quarter of 2027, bringing annual fluff-pulp capacity to 440,000 tonnes.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: More regional fluff supply supports diaper and hygiene growth, but converting lines still need precise pulp dosing, SAP distribution, inspection and recipe control to translate raw-material capacity into saleable output.

Source: Stora Enso on its Skutskar fluff-pulp investment

Turkish yarn producer Goliplik is preparing to enter nonwovens with an ANDRITZ neXline wetlace line for biobased, flushable-wipe roll goods. Installation and commissioning are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, supported by operator training in France and on site.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: New regional roll-goods supply creates converting opportunities, but buyers should validate wet strength, dispersibility, slit cleanliness, rewind density and line-speed stability before fixing capacity assumptions.

Source: ANDRITZ on Goliplik's Wetlace line preparation

Target recalled multiple Up & Up baby-wipe formats after customer discoloration complaints and FDA testing identified Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli. The affected products were supplier-manufactured and covered several pouch counts and production-code ranges.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Wipes lines need hygienic design, controlled lotion delivery, cleanable contact surfaces, lot traceability and inspection systems that can contain a defect before it crosses multiple pack sizes.

Source: Target on the Up & Up baby wipes recall

Ahlstrom launched glass microfiber HVAC media made without intentionally added PFAS. The Turin-made platform delivers up to 20% lower initial pressure drop than standard glass media and is designed for stable pleating and converting across ePM1 65% to ePM1 80% efficiency grades.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Fragile microfiber webs require low-tension unwinding, clean slitting, dust control and defect inspection; PFAS-free qualification should also include pleatability and moisture-resistance trials.

Source: Ahlstrom on its PFAS-free HVAC media platform

P&G removed fragrance from all Pampers Swaddlers sizes while keeping the absorbent core and stated performance unchanged. The change follows parent demand for fragrance-free products and requires a packaging transition while old references are phased out.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: A seemingly small formulation change still demands controlled changeover, lot separation, packaging-code accuracy and verification that absorbency, softness and leak performance remain within specification.

Source: P&G on fragrance-free Pampers Swaddlers

The Global Nonwovens Alliance, founded by EDANA and INDA, launched online courses covering raw materials, web formation, bonding and manufacturing concepts, with finishing modules planned for summer 2026. The program is designed for consistent onboarding across technical and commercial teams.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: New machinery reaches target output faster when operators share a common process vocabulary; training should be built into commissioning, recipe ownership, troubleshooting and preventive-maintenance plans.

Source: EDANA on the Global Nonwovens Alliance training initiative

Coveris acquired the business and assets of German CPP producer GEFO, adding capacity beyond its fully utilized Kufstein extrusion site. The expansion targets recyclable mono-material structures for retort, lidding, bakery, medical and other technical packaging applications.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: More CPP supply and a wider application mix increase gauge, friction and barrier variability, making fast recipe changes, accurate edge guiding and controlled rewind hardness more valuable.

Source: Coveris on its GEFO CPP film acquisition

Innovia Films produced and evaluated white cavitated BOPP containing more than 40% post-consumer recycled polypropylene. Trial material delivered processing, mechanical, barrier and sealing results comparable to commercial virgin-PP films for snack, confectionery and roll-fed label applications.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Comparable resin processing does not eliminate roll-level variation; converters should verify slit-edge strength, print registration, static, tension and seal performance across PCR lots.

Source: Innovia Films on the high-PCR cavitated BOPP trial

Amcor obtained RecyClass EN 15343 traceability certification for PCR-containing FFS, flat, shrink and stretch-hood films made at three UK sites. The move prepares customers for the April 2027 UK Plastic Packaging Tax change that will exclude pre-consumer recycled material from the 30% threshold.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Buyers will need material genealogy as well as machine performance, so slitting and rewinding systems should retain lot, recipe, waste and finished-roll records that support audited PCR claims.

Source: Amcor on RecyClass certification for PCR films

The Flexible Plastic Fund launched FlexCircular to assess investment and technology needed for the UK to recycle up to 400,000 tonnes of post-consumer flexible packaging by 2030, with particular attention to returning material into food-contact packaging. Findings are due late in 2026.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: New recycling capacity will widen PCR availability and quality ranges, increasing the value of tension isolation, defect inspection, recipe traceability and controlled roll build.

Source: Flexible Plastic Fund release on FlexCircular

CEFLEX estimates Europe will need about 2.5 million tonnes of flexible-packaging-derived PCR in 2030 to meet PPWR recycled-content targets, compared with a 1.5 million-tonne 2025 baseline. It says 5.9 million tonnes will need viable end markets by 2035 as recycling scales.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Rapid PCR growth will not arrive as one stable grade; equipment should handle broader contamination, friction and stretch windows without sacrificing edge quality, roll density or traceable output.

Source: CEFLEX on flexible-packaging PCR end markets