Paper, Nonwoven and Film News for July 6, 2026

Domtar began installing a high-speed tissue converting line at its Calhoun, Tennessee site to raise output, efficiency and scalability. The mill is also expanding parent-roll warehouse space so storage and converting capacity grow together.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: The project shows that a faster line needs matching parent-roll logistics; buyers should model reel storage, roll handling, packaging and finished-goods flow before fixing line speed.

Source: Domtar on the Calhoun converting-line installation

Sofidel finalised a USD 775 million expansion at Inola, Oklahoma, including a 75,000-tonne-per-year TAD tissue machine, converting lines with matching capacity, larger parent-reel storage and an automated 100,000-pallet finished-goods warehouse.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Matching paper, converting and warehouse capacity reduces bottlenecks; plants planning expansion should calculate saleable formats, changeovers and pallet flow rather than buying on nominal tonnes alone.

Source: Sofidel on its Inola expansion

The Navigator Company approved EUR 115 million for a new tissue paper machine at its Aveiro industrial complex in Portugal. The investment strengthens European tissue supply and adds another source of parent reels for consumer and professional formats.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: New parent-roll capacity can shift regional availability and pricing, but downstream plants need slitting, rewinding, perforating and packaging capacity sized to the grade mix they intend to sell.

Source: Navigator release on the Aveiro tissue investment

Voith will rebuild Aquakraft's PM2 stock preparation and paper machine in Turkey, targeting about 60% more capacity, basis weights from 80 to 200 g/m2 and speeds up to 1,200 m/min. Startup is planned for the fourth quarter of 2027.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Broader grade and basis-weight ranges increase downstream recipe complexity; slitters and rewinders need repeatable tension, knife setup and roll-hardness control across lightweight and heavier board.

Source: Voith on the Aquakraft PM2 rebuild

Valmet will supply web monitoring and web inspection systems for PM35 at Metsa Tissue's Mariestad mill. High-resolution area cameras are intended to detect defects at fast tissue-machine speeds and improve line efficiency and product quality.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Better defect mapping upstream can reduce downstream waste only if reel and defect data remain traceable through slitting; buyers should require roll-level data integration and reject handling.

Source: Valmet on the Mariestad inspection order

ATCO Hygienics ordered an ANDRITZ baby diaper production line for its Tashkent plant, expanding local capacity for absorbent hygiene products. The order adds a complete line rather than a single converting station.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Complete diaper lines require synchronised feeding of fluff pulp, SAP, nonwoven and backsheet film; buyers should evaluate dosing accuracy, inspection, waste extraction and changeover time as one system.

Source: ANDRITZ nonwoven newsroom on the ATCO order

Kruger Nonwovens ordered a complete ANDRITZ Wetlace hybrid line for its Wayagamack mill in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. The investment moves the company into roll goods for sustainable wipes using combined wetlaid and drylaid processing.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: A new North American source of cellulosic wipes webs creates supply options, but converters should qualify elongation, moisture, lint, cut quality and rewind firmness before commercial runs.

Source: ANDRITZ nonwoven newsroom on the Kruger Wetlace order

Sanitex ordered two baby diaper lines and one sanitary napkin line from ANDRITZ for its facilities in Maluku, Kinshasa. The project expands local production across two hygiene categories with different absorbent-core and format requirements.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Multi-category plants benefit from shared utilities and training, but need disciplined raw-material storage, recipe control, inspection and spare-parts planning to avoid complexity-driven downtime.

Source: ANDRITZ nonwoven newsroom on the Sanitex order

CJ Biomaterials and Yuhan-Kimberly launched a reusable nonwoven paper towel made from cellulose, PLA and amorphous PHA. The spunbond product is 100% biobased, washable for repeated use and designed not to leave persistent microplastics.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: New polymer-fibre blends can change heat response, stretch and cutting behaviour; converters should test unwind tension, blade selection, embossing and finished-roll compression on production-width material.

Source: CJ Biomaterials release on the reusable towel

EDANA published a report on absorbent hygiene products for adult urinary incontinence, highlighting ageing-driven demand and continued product lightweighting through advanced superabsorbent polymers while maintaining skin safety and performance.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Thinner adult-care products raise the importance of accurate SAP dosing, stable nonwoven feeding, core placement and online inspection; output speed alone is not a sufficient buying metric.

Source: EDANA on its continence report

Balcan Innovations commissioned new W&H and Bandera extrusion lines at Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, increasing five-layer film capacity for shrink film, shipping sacks and protective packaging. The assets are part of a three-year USD 200 million programme and support higher PCR use.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: More multilayer PE supply broadens sourcing, but each structure needs trials for gauge profile, friction, curl, knife life and rewind hardness before converters commit to throughput targets.

Source: Balcan Innovations on the new extrusion lines

Henkel upgraded its Packaging Competence Center with production-condition testing, five flexible application trolleys, gearless flexo coating and expanded digital data collection for plastic and paper substrates.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Production-scale trials reduce risk when new coatings change friction, seal response or web stiffness; machine buyers should use trial data to define tension zones, drying needs and inspection limits.

Source: Henkel on the upgraded competence centre

UFlex introduced F-HSS, a heat-sealable mono-material PET film for flexible packaging. The film is designed to replace mixed-material sealant structures while retaining the processing and barrier attributes needed for demanding packs.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Mono-PET structures can require different sealing windows, tension and slitting settings than PE-based laminates; buyers should validate edge quality, heat exposure and rewind density together.

Source: UFlex 2026 press notes on F-HSS film

J.J. Darboven is converting its COCAYA cocoa range to metallised PE mono-laminate bags rated 98% recyclable. The 1 kg structure maintains the moisture and oxygen barrier needed for cocoa while replacing inseparable mixed-polymer laminates.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Metallised mono-PE can be more stretch-sensitive than legacy laminates, so converters should verify low-tension handling, print registration, slit-edge integrity and telescoping resistance.

Source: J.J. Darboven on the COCAYA film conversion

Mondi and Dreco launched a re/loop PillowBag for powder detergent containing 50% mechanically recycled PCR plastic. The pack retains moisture protection and print quality, is designed for polyolefin recycling and is already on German retail shelves.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: High PCR can increase property variation; converters need closed-loop tension, defect inspection, traceable batches and stable sealing or winding recipes to hold commercial quality.

Source: Mondi on the 50% PCR detergent pack