Paper, Nonwoven and Film News for August 20, 2026

Domtar announced the indefinite idling of Howe Sound mill operations and the Bayview Fibre chipping facility in British Columbia. The company cited reduced Asian demand, weak pulp pricing and fibre-cost and supply challenges, and said the decision affects about 400 employees.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: A mill idle is a supply-chain signal rather than a machine specification, but it can change pulp and paper sourcing plans. Buyers should identify substitute grades early and re-run roll, moisture and tension trials before switching suppliers.

Source: Domtar press release

AF&PA reported that total U.S. printing-writing paper shipments decreased 9% in July compared with July 2025, while inventories increased 3% from June. The data contrasts with the steadier packaging-paper picture reported for the same month.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Converters serving both graphic and packaging grades should avoid one capacity assumption for all paper. Separate roll-width, dust, basis-weight and finished-roll requirements in the machine and tooling plan.

Source: AF&PA paper statistics page

The Pulp and Paper Times reported that Raghav Paper Mills commissioned a paper machine backed by an investment of about Rs. 75 crore. The machine is intended to produce MG poster, tissue, colour and light-GSM MG kraft grades.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: A multi-grade paper machine can create a wider qualification matrix downstream. Slitter-rewinder buyers should ask for the grade range, GSM window, roll dimensions, dust profile and the intended changeover frequency.

Source: The Pulp and Paper Times latest industry report

ThePackagingPortal reported that Logson Group appointed a new managing director for Challenge Packaging. Leadership changes are not a capacity announcement, but they can coincide with operating, customer-service or investment priorities in a converting business.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: When a supplier or customer changes operating priorities, buyers should keep machine acceptance criteria, spare-parts responsibilities and service contacts in writing rather than relying on informal handover assumptions.

Source: ThePackagingPortal industry-news archive

MM Board & Paper agreed to acquire the R.D.M. Arnsberg operating business in Germany, a site with a stated focus on recycled cartonboard and liner products. Closing remains subject to the required competition approvals.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Cartonboard customers should confirm whether product names, roll formats, cores or service contacts change after a mill transaction. A new parent-roll specification can affect knives, web tension and finished-roll handling.

Source: MM Group press release on the Arnsberg agreement

BASF's new Mumbai performance lab is designed to support superabsorbent-polymer evaluation and finished-diaper testing. The facility gives hygiene manufacturers a regional application resource for comparing absorbent structures and performance.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Testing can identify a better material, but the production release still needs a controlled web trial. Record the lot, width, tension, speed, cut edge, winding density and downstream conversion result.

Source: TEXtalks report on the BASF Mumbai lab

H.B. Fuller highlighted low-temperature application, high-mileage and bio-based adhesive options for hygiene products, alongside a core adhesive designed to help process short fibres. Its technical discussion links fibre bonding with core integrity and line efficiency.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: If an absorbent-core formulation changes, a converter should verify bond strength and product performance while also checking whether trim, roll hardness or storage behaviour changes on the web-converting equipment.

Source: H.B. Fuller INDEX 26 event information

The Nonwoven Tech Africa event runs from August 20 to 22 in Nairobi and covers nonwoven fabrics, hygiene technology, machinery, raw materials and finished products. The event profile includes medical, wipes, filtration and construction applications.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Regional growth brings new requirements for serviceability and material flexibility. Equipment buyers should define local operator skills, spare-parts access, roll-handling limits and the substrates expected after installation.

Source: Nonwoven Tech Africa event listing

Supply Chain Dive reported that Kimberly-Clark launched a natural-fibre programme using hesperaloe and is building a pilot facility in Yuma, Arizona, to evaluate the plant as a potential fibre source. The company said the work is still at an early stage and has not given a commercialisation timeline.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: New fibre sources can change web formation, moisture response and edge behaviour. Converters should treat pilot material as a separate grade and capture the complete trial record before it enters a standard recipe library.

Source: Supply Chain Dive report via Yahoo Finance

Cleaning Hygiene Today described the wipe as part of the cleanroom process rather than an interchangeable consumable. The application highlights how substrate choice, contamination control and handling discipline affect the final result.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: For medical or cleanroom nonwovens, the slitting and rewinding specification should cover cleanliness, packaging, roll identification, edge quality and operator handling—not just speed and width.

Source: Cleaning Hygiene Today cleanroom-wipe coverage

Industry coverage said ePac is marking its tenth year and expanding a network serving flexible-packaging customers. The company describes a model that combines shorter runs and on-demand production with larger-scale capacity and sustainable film options.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Shorter campaigns increase the value of repeatable setup and fast changeover. Slitter buyers should model roll changes, core handling, recipe recall, inspection and scrap by job size rather than only quoting maximum line speed.

Source: ePac expansion report

Packaging Insights reported that the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation entered its general application phase on August 12, covering packaging placed on the EU market. The framework increases attention on recyclability, material composition, reuse and supporting documentation.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: A film-converting project should define the evidence package with the material specification: resin and layer structure, recycled content, roll identification, inspection method and the conditions used in the production trial.

Source: Packaging Insights on PPWR implementation

The Food Packaging Forum summarised JRC findings that chemical recycling is not yet cost-competitive with virgin plastic, although policy-driven recycled-content demand may create a role for the technology. The distinction matters when a recycled resin is proposed for flexible film.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Ask whether the offered resin has been converted into the same film structure and tested for haze, coefficient of friction, tensile behaviour, sealing and winding. A recycling route alone does not prove slit or rewind performance.

Source: Food Packaging Forum on the JRC assessment

PureCycle and IPL Schoeller introduced a tamper-evident container described as containing 20% recycled polypropylene. The stated objective is to let brand owners adopt a recycled-content format without starting a fully custom packaging-development programme.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Standard formats still require a controlled incoming-material and forming specification. Film and sheet converters should keep recycled-content records tied to the roll, batch and finished inspection result.

Source: Packaging Europe on SnapPack Square EVO

PureCycle and Innovia reported trial production of white cavitated BOPP using recycled polypropylene for food, confectionery and roll-fed-label applications. The companies said the trial showed comparable processing and selected performance characteristics to virgin PP film.

Why it matters for converters and machine buyers: Before a recycled-content BOPP grade is released to production, compare roll density, slit edge, print registration, sealing and unwind behaviour against the approved virgin reference.

Source: PureCycle and Innovia announcement