Paper, Nonwoven and Film News for July 2, 2026

Cascades is investing C$15 million in a new tissue converting line at Granby, Quebec. Installation will run for nine months, with production planned for the fourth quarter of 2026; the line is rated for three million cases and targets regular and multipack toilet-paper demand.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: The project links retail format growth directly to converting capacity, so buyers should size unwinding, perforation, log handling, packaging and warehouse flow as one balanced system.

Source: Cascades release on the Granby tissue converting line

UPM Pulp and ANDRITZ signed a multi-year agreement giving tissue producers access to pilot-scale trials at the PrimeLineTIAC center in Graz. The program combines UPM fiber expertise with dry-crepe, textured and through-air-dried tissue process testing before production-scale investment.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Pilot trials reduce the risk of buying around an unproven furnish; converters should carry the resulting bulk, stretch and strength data into embossing, perforation, tension and rewind acceptance tests.

Source: UPM on the ANDRITZ tissue innovation partnership

Essity opened a recycled-fiber processing facility at its Prudhoe tissue mill after an investment above GBP 30 million. The 4,150-square-meter plant lifts site capacity beyond 105,000 tonnes per year and is designed to process lower recovered-paper grades while separating more plastic contaminants.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: A wider furnish window can change dust, tensile profile and sheet consistency, increasing the value of web cleaning, inspection, edge control and winding recipes matched to each grade.

Source: PITA report on Essity's Prudhoe recycled-fiber start-up

Smurfit Westrock plans about EUR 600 million of investment across France over three to five years. Named projects include a EUR 40 million Epernay expansion, EUR 20 million at its Vernon corrugated facility and more than EUR 100 million across projects at the Facture paper mill.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Distributed mill and box-plant upgrades signal demand for higher throughput and consistent reels; equipment plans should include roll logistics, trim management and automation rather than isolated nameplate speed.

Source: Smurfit Westrock on its France investment program

Middle East Paper Company approved a SAR 345 million expansion at its King Abdullah Economic City tissue mill. The project is scheduled for commercial operation in the fourth quarter of 2026 and is intended to increase regional tissue production capacity.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: New parent-reel supply creates downstream opportunities only when converting, packing and roll storage scale together; local buyers should lock in reel specifications and finished-format demand before ordering equipment.

Source: MEPCO release on its tissue mill expansion

Lenzing highlighted market-ready biobased nonwoven solutions after INDEX 26, including its plastic-free DualWipe structure. The material combines an abrasive cleaning face with a soft absorbent face in one roll good, showing how converters may add function without laminating separate substrates.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Two-sided structures can behave differently through unwind, folding and liquid application, so trials should confirm surface orientation, edge cleanliness, tension stability and pack consistency.

Source: Lenzing newsroom on scalable biobased nonwoven solutions

EDANA published a report on absorbent hygiene products in adult incontinence care, covering user benefits, costs and environmental impact. The association links the category's importance to an aging population and the role of disposable products in mobility, skin protection and care delivery.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Adult-care growth favors flexible lines that can manage larger formats, multiple absorbent-core recipes, reliable elastic placement and inspection without long product-change stoppages.

Source: EDANA on its 2026 continence report

NHS Supply Chain said two Clinigo patient-wipe references are expected to resume supply in early July after post-recall manufacturing and testing. A third format was delisted, and buyers were directed to assess alternative plastic-free viscose wipes with clinical teams.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Returning a recalled product requires evidence, not output alone; hygienic design, lotion control, batch genealogy, sampling plans and quarantine logic should be specified with the converting line.

Source: NHS Supply Chain update on Clinigo wipes

Welsh guidance confirms that supplying consumer wet wipes containing plastic will be prohibited from December 18, 2026, with defined medical and business-to-business exemptions. Non-plastic wipes remain permitted, giving manufacturers a firm conversion deadline.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Moving from synthetic-rich webs to cellulosic substrates changes wet strength, lint, elongation and cut behavior, so substrate qualification and recipe-based tension control cannot wait until the legal deadline.

Source: Welsh Government guidance for wet-wipe suppliers

Aksan Kozmetik ordered a high-capacity ANDRITZ spunlace line to make its own wipes roll goods in Turkiye. Start-up is planned for the first quarter of 2027, with a 30-80 gsm basis-weight range and multiple fiber blends intended for local and Middle Eastern markets.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Vertical integration shortens supply risk but shifts responsibility for web uniformity upstream; converters should align card profile, hydroentanglement, slitting and finished-roll density specifications.

Source: ANDRITZ on Aksan's spunlace line order

The European Commission adopted a common method for calculating, verifying and reporting recycled plastic in single-use PET beverage bottles. The framework covers bottle bodies, caps, labels and sleeves, counts post-consumer material and requires supply-chain declarations and retained data.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Film, label and sleeve converters will be part of the evidence chain, so production systems should capture material lot, recipe, waste and finished-roll data in a form customers can audit.

Source: European Commission implementing decision

Oben Group signed for a 12-meter BOPP production line with about 94,000 tonnes of annual capacity for Brazil. The investment follows its integration of Terphane and Vitopel do Brasil and is intended to improve film supply, flexibility and service across Brazil and the Southern Cone.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: A large new line expands jumbo-roll supply, but downstream plants need slitters, rewinders and roll handling sized for wider webs, heavier rolls and faster order segmentation.

Source: Oben Group on its new Brazil BOPP line

Siegwerk launched CIRKIT OXYBAR WHITE, a printable layer combining white opacity with oxygen barrier below 5 cc per square meter per day at 50% relative humidity. It is designed for standard gravure and flexographic application and can replace separate barrier layers in suitable structures.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Removing a layer simplifies lamination but makes coating coverage and print quality functional parameters; converters need stable web tension, inspection and rewind quality to protect barrier performance.

Source: Siegwerk on CIRKIT OXYBAR WHITE

Mondi introduced re/loop FlowWrap, a mono-PP film for wet-wipe packaging with 35% post-consumer recycled content. Company and customer trials reported sealing, barrier and machinability comparable with virgin alternatives, including high-speed runs on IMA Ilapak equipment.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: PCR-rich film may pass packaging trials yet still vary between rolls; slitting and rewinding acceptance should include gauge, friction, sealing window, edge quality and roll-hardness checks.

Source: Mondi on re/loop FlowWrap for wet wipes

BASF expanded its ecovio grades for extrusion coating, film extrusion and lamination, with adjustable grease, liquid, oxygen and moisture barriers. The portfolio includes home-compostable options and supports very thin biaxially stretched films for food, personal-care and healthcare packs.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Compostable films can have narrower heat and tension windows than conventional polymers, so buyers should validate static, stretch, edge quality, sealing and storage behavior at commercial speed.

Source: BASF on its expanded ecovio flexible-packaging portfolio