Paper, Nonwoven and Film News for July 13, 2026

PaperAge reported that Valmet will deliver a full containerboard production line, automation and lifecycle support for Sun Paper's Nanning mill in China. The project targets higher containerboard capacity, energy-efficient operation and stable production, with start-up scheduled for fall 2027.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: New board capacity creates future demand for downstream slitting, sheeting, rewinding and roll handling, while energy-efficient production still requires converters to validate web flatness, moisture and roll build on commercial grades.

Source: PaperAge on Valmet and Sun Paper Nanning

PaperAge reported that International Paper temporarily suspended operations at its Pine Hill, Alabama containerboard mill after weather damaged a critical roof. The company expects manufacturing to resume in August and said it is working with customers on potential impacts.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Temporary supply interruptions can move orders between mills and converters, so plants need flexible scheduling, reliable grade-change setup and traceable finished-roll output to keep customers supplied.

Source: PaperAge on International Paper Pine Hill suspension

PaperAge covered a Comieco, Seda International Packaging and McDonald's Italy study showing 84% separate collection across seven restaurants and an 87% recycling rate for paper packaging. More than 88% of packaging and service items in the study were cellulose-based.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Higher confidence in paper packaging recovery supports more paper-based foodservice formats, but converters still need clean edges, low dust, stable coatings and consistent rolls for printing, folding and sealing.

Source: PaperAge on Comieco, Seda and McDonald's recycling study

PaperAge reported that Smurfit Westrock confirmed plans to close its SSK paper mill in Birmingham, UK, on July 27. The mill produces about 200,000 tonnes per year of fluting and liner, with capacity to be redistributed across the company's European network.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Packaging-network rationalization can change lead times, grades and supplier allocation; converters should prepare for faster material qualification, roll tracking and flexible slitting or rewinding plans.

Source: PaperAge on Smurfit Westrock SSK closure

PaperAge reported that Renova inaugurated an EUR 11 million biomass energy plant at Factory 2 in Torres Novas, Portugal. The project replaces most natural gas used for tissue-production thermal energy and is expected to avoid about 54,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Energy-cost and carbon projects can protect tissue competitiveness, but converters should still check basis-weight consistency, moisture, softness and roll density after mill process changes.

Source: PaperAge on Renova biomass energy project

Nonwovens News reported that IMA Teknoweb launched a new generation of high-speed wipes technology. The coverage points to faster wet-wipes converting and the continuing push for hygienic design and high-throughput production.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Higher wipes speed makes web tension, folding accuracy, perforation, lotion control, automatic roll change and sanitation access central equipment-selection criteria, not secondary options.

Source: Nonwovens News on IMA Teknoweb high-speed wipes technology

INDA said the 2026 World of Wipes conference brought the global wipes industry together for four days covering consumer trends, standards, sustainable substrates, flushable material design, manufacturing and converting innovation, packaging sustainability and EPR.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Those topics should flow directly into RFQs: buyers need to define substrate blends, flushability targets, packaging film, inspection data and changeover needs before finalizing machinery.

Source: INDA on the 2026 World of Wipes conference

Nonwovens News reported that DiloGroup received a U.S. order for a complete needlepunch nonwoven line for hygiene applications. The line covers fiber opening, carding and needling, and includes Temafa fiber-opening and filtration technology for dust and particle management.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: More hygiene nonwoven capacity increases demand for uniform parent rolls; converters should specify web guiding, dust control, clean slitting and inspection for soft or lofty hygiene materials.

Source: Nonwovens News on DiloGroup U.S. hygiene needlepunch line

Nonwovens News reported that Arbex, the USD 3.4 billion joint venture between Suzano and Kimberly-Clark, began independent operations with 22 manufacturing sites serving tissue and hygiene products in more than 70 markets.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Large multi-market hygiene businesses pressure suppliers to deliver consistent topsheet, acquisition-layer, backsheet and tissue rolls, making repeatable recipes and inspection records valuable for machine buyers.

Source: Nonwovens News on Arbex tissue and hygiene launch

ANDRITZ said Turkish yarn manufacturer Goliplik is entering the nonwovens market with a complete neXline 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 substrates need gentle low-tension unwinding, clean perforation, lint control and consistent roll hardness to avoid dispensing failures and web damage.

Source: ANDRITZ on the Goliplik Wetlace project

Packaging Digest reported that ExxonMobil Signature Polymers developed monomaterial polyethylene film solutions with up to 35% PCR for hygiene compression packaging. The films were validated through production, wicket converting and forming/sealing trials.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: PCR PE films can shift stiffness, COF, side cutting and sealing behavior, so converters should test slitting, punching, rewind stability and machine output at real line speed.

Source: Packaging Digest on ExxonMobil PCR PE films

PlasticsToday reported that PureCycle and Innovia trialed white cavitated BOPP film using recycled polypropylene, validating more than 40% PCR content for snacks, confectionery, frozen treats and roll-fed labels.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Higher-PCR BOPP needs controlled slitting, static management, print registration and winding density because recycled-content variation can narrow the processing window.

Source: PlasticsToday on PCR polypropylene for flexible packaging

Packaging Digest highlighted a current flexible-packaging innovation stream that includes polypropylene packet recycling tests, recyclable refill pouches, improved BOPP, cellulose films and PCR-powered PP flow-wrap packaging.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Converters are likely to face more trial materials in shorter cycles, making tension recipe libraries, inspection, fast changeovers and documented qualification runs more important.

Source: Packaging Digest on flexible packaging sustainability updates

Packaging Digest listed Plastipak's nylon-free O2Blox oxygen barrier technology as a July 10 sustainability story, noting that it maintains product protection while supporting PET recycling systems. Plastipak describes the technology as designed for clear and light-blue PET recycling streams.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Barrier changes in PET and film-adjacent packaging show the same buyer priority: material changes must protect shelf life while staying compatible with existing converting, labeling and recycling processes.

Source: Packaging Digest on Plastipak O2Blox barrier recycling

Packaging Insights reported from Interpack 2026 that PPWR is pushing flexible packaging toward mono-material PP and PE structures, with suppliers showing BOPE, mono-PP and downgauged films for demanding applications.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Mono-material and downgauged films are more sensitive to tension, heat, gauge profile and edge quality, so buyers should validate slitting, winding and sealing windows before replacing legacy laminates.

Source: Packaging Insights on Interpack 2026 mono-material flexibles