An uptick in projects and an increasing demand for its solutions has prompted Ampelmann, the Dutch offshore access provider, to mobilise two new L-type systems to the Middle East.

The company has long been the preferred choice for both national and international oil companies (NOCs and IOCs) in the region, enabling Walk to Work (W2W) operations with the highest standard of safety and efficiency in the industry. The addition of the L-types to the current fleet will expand Ampelmann’s local offering and further improve its response time to new demand in the region.

The addition of the L-types to the current fleet will expand Ampelmann’s local offering and further improve its response time to new demand in the region. Photo: Ampelmann

An electric system for safe offshore access

Ampelmann has been active in the Middle East for close to a decade now, enabling W2W operations with both its A- and L-type gangway systems. The A-type is the company’s flagship system, and it has been supporting key players in the local market, including several vessel owners and operators in Azerbaijan and Qatar, to gain safer and more efficient access to their offshore assets.

The L-type, on the other hand, is Ampelmann’s smaller, fully electric system, which is particularly well suited to daily crew change operations or supporting EPC scopes, such as installation and hook-up and commissioning. It provides continuous access for personnel from a vessel to an offshore platform, making it faster and easier for clients to perform work on their assets.

The system has already enabled various scopes of work in Qatar and Oman and the success of those has sparked further interest in the gangway. The two L-types are newly assembled and coming directly from Ampelmann’s production facility in the Netherlands. They will be ready for operation in the region as of the end of September 2021.

Strengthening an already strong track record

To date, the L-type has supported two shutdown campaigns, one of which in Oman, as well as several offshore construction projects in Qatar. As a result, it has safely transferred close to 10,000 offshore workers onto Oil & Gas platforms and back.

For the shutdown support in Oman, the system provided 100% operability, allowing crucial well-related work to be performed on time. This reduced the risk of delayed start-up for the client. For the construction projects, the L-type provided flexibility, a fast response to the client’s needs as well as the ability to transfer a large number of personnel quickly and according to the highest safety standards.  

These – and any upcoming campaigns with the L-type – are adding to Ampelmann’s already strong track record in the local market. Last year, the company completed its 1 millionth safe personnel transfer in the region in less than 10 years of operation. Key to reaching this milestone has been Ampelmann’s presence in the Middle East. The company has a fully operational office in Doha, Qatar, which provides 24/7, in-country and regional support to clients. In 2018, it also opened an office Dubai in a move to be even closer to the local market and its needs.

Going forward, the company is looking to meet the demand for safe offshore access with its two new L-type systems, and to further expand its offering for the local market. Unlike many regions, the Middle East is still seeing exponential growth and currently, with offices both in Doha and Dubai, Ampelmann is best placed to support its clients locally.

A radar level transmitter ideal for powders and dusty atmospheres

KROHNE, a world-leading manufacturer and supplier of solutions in industrial process instrumentation, announces its new Optiwave 6500C, a radar level transmitter for powders and dusty atmospheres.

KROHNE’s Optiwave 6500C delivers continuous high measurement in silos, hoppers, and containers. The Optiwave 6500C is an optimal product for bulk storage in mining, minerals, chemicals, power, paper, food and beverage industries. The radar offers several advanced technological features, including an 80 GHz (FMCW) band width radar and a 70mm lens antenna, making it ideal for environments with low-reflective media. With a measuring range extending over 100 meters, the Optiwave 6500C is a perfect choice for uneven surfaces or tanks with obstacles.

Other advanced features include PEEK Lens antennas with both concave and convex lenses for distances up to 100 meters and a large backlit LCD screen with a 4-button keypad, ensuring flexibility for different radar usage. While alternative solar radars are cheap and low-performing, the Optiwave 6500C guarantees perfect results for a discounted price with limited-time special sales offers as low as almost 60% off and a guaranteed 3-year warranty, establishing itself as the most cost-efficient and productive option. The Optiwave 6500C is indispensable in both animal food production and cerials storage, already serving nearly fifty production facilities in Germany alone.

Contact us for special pricing information at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About KROHNE

KROHNE is a worldwide technological leader in the development, manufacture and distribution of accurate, reliable and cost-effective measuring instruments for the process industries. KROHNE focuses on forming partnerships with its customers to provide them with the most reliable and innovative solutions available in the marketplace. For more information about KROHNE’s complete line of measuring instrumentation for the process industries, contact KROHNE at 1-800-FLOWING (978-535-6060 in MA); fax: (978) 535-1720, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or visit www.us.krohne.com.

~ If craft brewers did software ~

Britain’s brewing industry has expanded from a modest 1,218 breweries in 2012 to a colossal 3,018 in 2020 – with small and microbreweries accounting for over 80 per cent of this figure. With the industry reaching a saturation point, Martyn Williams, managing director of COPA-DATA UK explains how digital tools can help small brewers compete in a bubbling market.

Small breweries face many challenges that reinforce their tendency to stay small — one of which is consistency. As with any consumable product, brewers must ensure there’s an accurate audit trail, ingredients are traceable, and that recipe management ensures every batch is the same.

Then, there is the challenge of achieving high enough throughput to yield a profit. According to data from Statistics Canada, a nation that has seen comparable growth to the UK’s craft beer explosion, just 50 per cent of Canadian breweries actually make a profit.

Automation is an obvious option to help small brewers raise their bar. However, unlike the AB InBev’s of the brewing world, most smaller brands cannot invest in expensive digitalization tools — or at least, they aren’t aware of the options accessible to them.

Process control
Brewers taking their first steps into larger volume brewing do not need an all bells and whistles automation tool. Fundamentally, small brewers want to improve operations to a point at which profit becomes inevitable. To achieve this, process control is crucial.

Take the lautering process as an example. Before fermentation begins, the lauter tun is used to separate liquid from spent grain. The vessel continually filters the mash through a bed of malt grist, runs it through a sieve and, in some breweries, rotating blades cut through the grist to loosen it. The ultimate output of this process is the wort, the liquid that determines the taste of the beer — something that must remain consistent to keep quality checkers, buyers and ultimately, beer drinkers happy.

To control this process, digital software can be deployed across equipment to monitor its performance. Providing the software can communicate across several protocols — as are often present in brewing facilities — the operator can keep an eye on the operations of the sieve, blades and peripheral equipment, ensuring there are no discrepancies.

Advantages of automation
COPA-DATA’s zenon for small brewers can make this possible without the hefty investment typically associated with brewing software. The tool allows operators to visualize brewing and know what’s happening at all times. Using this system, they can react to emergencies and prevent errors before they occur. What’s more, this isn’t just possible on a single machine, but can be scaled across the entire brewery to ensure all aspects are controlled effectively, including timings, temperatures, and quantities.

Collecting real-time data not only allows brewers to create a historical record of production, but can also provide a tamper proof audit trail. In zenon, the module known as the Process Recorder allows operators to ‘play back’ a live process and identify errors, enabling them to identify root causes of issues and adjust processes accordingly. The ISA-88 complaint zenon batch module assists small brewers to meet the standards demanded for consistency and quality. These features also support small brewers achieve regulatory compliance, such as the Weights and Measures Regulations.

zenon is already used by many breweries, large and small. However, with many of Britain’s small and micro brewers taking their first steps into automation, how can they ensure investment is low risk, high reward?

Keep it scalable
Automation is met with some tension in the small brewing world. This is somewhat related to the romanticism associated with brewing, but often there’s a misunderstanding of the degree of automation required to improve profitability.

Small breweries needn’t overhaul their existing processes or invest extensively to achieve good results. Instead, software can provide a way for brewers to dip their toes into automation in a scalable way. For instance, this might begin with automating the management of one production line and eventually scale to multi-line, energy management or even vertical integration with other areas of a facility, such as enterprise systems.

Like small breweries themselves, software for brewing processes should be able to expand and develop over time. However, to enable growth from the 15,000^th barrel to the 150,000^th — and to compete with the other 2,414 small and microbreweries in the UK — beginning the journey into automation is key.

About COPA-DATA
COPA-DATA is an independent software manufacturer that specializes in digitalization for the manufacturing industry and energy sector. Its zenon® software platform enables users worldwide to automate, manage, monitor, integrate and optimize machines, equipment, buildings and power grids. COPA-DATA combines decades of experience in automation with the potential of digital transformation. In this way, the company supports its customers to achieve their objectives more easily, faster and more efficiently.
The family-owned business was founded by Thomas Punzenberger in 1987 in Salzburg, Austria. In 2020, with more than 300 employees worldwide, it generated revenue of EUR 54 million.

Irish materials handling specialist Combilift has officially launched its latest product, the Combi-XLE, as a further addition to its impressive range of electric models. In line with the growing demand for electric powered equipment, this multidirectional forklift with up to 5-ton lift capacity, combines emission-free operation with powerful performance for a wide range of industries and applications.

The original engine powered XL C-Series model was developed to address the requirements of tough working environments such as those in the timber, concrete and steel sectors. The new Combi-XLE incorporates the same key design features as its earlier counterpart such as high ground clearance, large cushioned front and rear tyres and a spacious cab, allowing smooth operation on semi rough terrain whilst offering a high level of driver comfort.

With sustainability ever higher on the agenda, Combilift further helps its customers achieve their environmental goals with its versatile “3 forklifts in 1” models, which work inside and out, reducing fleet size and thereby their carbon footprint. A hallmark of all Combilift products is the ability to increase storage capacity without expanding the size of a facility, resulting in lower energy usage and associated costs such as heating, lighting and maintenance, which is of significant benefit to the environment and the workforce. Noise pollution and carbon emissions, which can impact on the health and well-being of people as well as wildlife, is also no longer an issue thanks to electric power. Drivers, employees and visitors on site appreciate the quiet operation, as do neighbouring residents and businesses, particularly in urban areas.

The Combi-XLE incorporates up-to-the-minute technology such as the patented all-wheel traction that reduces tyre wear, load swing and enhances braking. Also included is a newly developed, patented Eco-Steer System which provides a smaller turning radius and improved user experience. Since Electric powered trucks do not have traditional combustion engines, or hydraulic transmissions, there is no longer any need to check and top up engine fluids / lubricants, resulting in longer intervals between services, ultimately saving costs. The use of toughened, eco-friendly water-based paint also dramatically reduces the amount of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) during build.

“The technology we have incorporated into the Combi-XLE means that its performance is equally on a par with diesel or LPG powered forklifts when it comes to handling very bulky and heavy loads, whilst of course offering a greener operation,” said Combilift CEO and Co-Founder Martin McVicar. “We made our first electric C-Series over 18yrs ago, and now over 60% of the trucks we manufacture are electric, with availability in almost all models across our range. As more and more of our customers are opting for electric power it is obvious that they are as committed to sustainability and a circular economy as we are.”

At Combilift’s own manufacturing facility, features such as daylighting technology - LED lights with individual PIR sensors, solar panel energy and rainwater harvesting are all aimed at conserving natural resources and decreasing energy consumption. 92% of all components used in the truck assembly are 100% recyclable and the company is also on track to save over 473 tons of CO2 by using carbon neutral wood chip instead of gas for heating within the factory.

ABB will deliver automation, electrification, quality control systems, motors and drives for Renewcell’s new industrial textile recycling production line in Sundsvall, Sweden. Renewcell is a fast-growing Swedish sustaintech company specializing in textile-to-textile recycling.

• ABB wins large-scale order for automation, electrification, quality control systems, motors and drives at world’s first commercial-scale textile recycling plant
• Innovative approach can help save some 90 billion liters of fresh water per year, equivalent to 36,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools
• Pulp drying techniques applied to clothing to avoid landfill and make fashion more sustainable

With ABB technology, a former SCA paper mill will be transformed into the world’s first commercial-scale recycling plant for cellulosic textiles – created by dissolving natural materials such as cellulose which is then regenerated to create a wide range of fabrics. Renewcell is already working with several fashion manufacturers, and in 2020, the company and H&M Group entered a multi-year partnership to replace virgin fibers with recycled textiles in clothing.

The contract between ABB and Renewcell marks an important milestone for the fashion industry, as it has a major impact on the environment due to the production of raw materials that are made into clothing. According to Renewcell’s preliminary calculations, textile fibers made from its recycled raw material use approximately 50 liters of fresh water per kg in production, compared to around 1,600 liters for cotton and 90 liters for non-cotton cellulosic material viscose. With a maximum production capacity of 60,000 tons per year Renewcell’s innovative approach could help to preserve around 90 billion liters of fresh water, the equivalent of 36,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The process also lowers waste, plastic pollution and both CO₂ and chemical emissions. The use of recycled fabric can help brands deliver on their promises to reduce their negative impact.

“The ABB team proved their unique ability to deliver a complete automation and electrification solution based on their products and services,” said Patrik Lundström, CEO at Renewcell. “They have the knowledge, presence and experience that we need to keep this project on track, both in terms of budget and schedule. We also share a joint vision when it comes to resource efficiency, circular economy and sustainability so are pleased to be working closely with them on this exciting project.”

“As a technology company, we at ABB believe that electrification and automation technologies can play a key role in transforming industries and reducing their environmental footprint,” said Theodor Swedjemark, ABB’s Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer. “We are honored to support Renewcell in their exciting journey towards increased circularity of the fashion industry – an ambition that is fully aligned with our own efforts to systematically improve circularity across ABB’s supply chain as part of our 2030 sustainability strategy.”

Joachim Braun, Division President, Process Industries, ABB said: “This contract allows us to apply our deep pulp and paper expertise and project experience to help Renewcell reduce its emissions and preserve resources, and ultimately change fashion for the better. Until now, less than one percent of textiles were recycled because the technology to recycle and create new textiles did not exist. This is a significant development for the industry and we’re proud to apply our quality control processes to the sustainable fashion movement.”

The process for clothing recycling is similar to pulp drying, breaking down cellulose in cotton and viscose textiles to recycle into new raw materials. This similarity enables Renewcell to use the existing infrastructure, including buildings and the supply and processing of raw water, waste water, compressed air and electricity at the SCA mill. This will be coupled with ABB’s paper and automation expertise, to manufacture recycled textiles that might otherwise have gone to landfill or incineration.

ABB brings its domain expertise from the pulp and paper industry, for example with specific technology to control the pulp dryer – a piece of equipment that was previously in use to dry raw wood pulp for paper and packaging – and quality control knowledge specific to the process. The customer requested weight and moisture measurement based on testing on a pilot machine.

Among the ABB technology that will be installed in the new plant is the market-leading process control system ABB Ability™ System 800xA that will provide operators with wide visibility and precise control from a central command center to ensure that production is as resource efficient as possible, with less material consumption and reduced waste. In addition, ABB’s PMC800 drive systems will reduce the cost of ownership over the automation lifecycle and improve energy efficiency during production. ABB will also supply ACS880 variable speed drives (VSDs) and IE4 super premium efficient motors, an efficiency level above the IE3 standard mandated by EU Ecodesign regulations. Combining high-efficiency motors with VSDs can typically reduce energy consumption in flow-controlled pulp and paper applications by 30 percent or more.

ABB is committed to helping its customers reduce their emissions and preserve resources. Last year, ABB released its Sustainability Strategy 2030 which focuses on the areas where the company can make the biggest impact – reducing carbon emissions, preserving resources and promoting social progress.

ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 105,000 talented employees in over 100 countries. www.abb.com

ABB’s Process Automation business is a leader in automation, electrification and digitalization for the process and hybrid industries. We serve our customers with a broad portfolio of products, systems, and end-to-end solutions, including our #1 distributed control system, software, and lifecycle services, industry-specific products as well as measurement and analytics, marine and turbocharging offerings. As the global #2 in the market, we build on our deep domain expertise, diverse team and global footprint, and are dedicated to helping our customers increase competitiveness, improve their return on investment and run safe, smart, and sustainable operations.

Lhyfe, renewable hydrogen producer and supplier has signed a partnership with Aquaterra Energy, a leader in global offshore engineering solutions, and offshore drilling contractor Borr Drilling to develop an innovative concept for offshore green hydrogen production in the North Sea.

The organisations behind Project Haldane, will develop an industrial scale offshore green hydrogen production concept, through the deployment of an electrolyser system on a converted jack-up rig.

Reliable winds far out in the North Sea are an exceptional renewable resource, yet remote locations create challenges around grid connectivity and intermittency of supply. This unique, flexible solution will solve this issue by providing an off take for the electricity produced in the immediate vicinity of the windfarm and aims to use existing platforms, pipelines, terminal infrastructure, and offshore equipment leveraging the existing infrastructure to reduce costs.

With governments pushing net zero initiatives forward, this concept offers an alternative deployment of existing assets that provides both a source of green hydrogen and enhances the commercial feasibility of remote offshore wind projects.

"With our expertise in complex offshore operations and fleet management, Borr Drilling will leverage its core capabilities to evaluate the adoption of this alternative energy source in an environment with a large untapped potential. While we will continue to work in our traditional drilling market, this project reinforces our ambition to continuously improve the sustainability of our activities and align our service offering with the changing expectations of our customers and stakeholders." says Darren Sutherland, Director of Operations at Borr Drilling.

"Lhyfe is already producing renewable hydrogen in industrial quantities onshore, with a direct connection to renewable energy, pumping sea water and purifying it to feed the electrolysis process. This is hence a production process already considering offshore harsh conditions. Over the last few years, we have also been working on different projects to deploy our production process offshore. Offshore wind offers the greatest potential for sustainable hydrogen production because of the cost effectiveness that can be achieved through scalability and technological innovation. The market is yet to deliver a flexible solution that benefits from the existing infrastructure in the North Sea and Lhyfe wants to be at the forefront of this change by creating a world-first green hydrogen production of this kind," says Matthieu Guesné, CEO at Lhyfe.

"With years of experience in successful delivery of complicated offshore jack up operations, complex structural projects and offshore process systems we are excited to be the interface that brings together the interest of Lhyfe in offshore markets and expands on Borr Drilling's expertise in jack-up rig equipment. Our unique value here is that we are multilingual in terms of the engineering and operational needs of oil and gas assets, and green energy processing systems. We're looking forward to taking this from concept to reality," says James Larnder, Managing Director at Aquaterra Energy.

While the concept is still in its early stages, the consortium welcomes any interested parties to submit enquiries.

About Lhyfe

Lhyfe was founded in France in 2017. The company produces and supplies renewable hydrogen for transport and industry. Its production sites provide access to renewable hydrogen in industrial quantities and give rise to a virtuous energy model geared towards environmental benefits. Lhyfe is also present in Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands and Spain.

www.lhyfe.com

About Aquaterra Energy

Aquaterra Energy is a provider of equipment and solutions to the global offshore energy industry, helping clients drive efficient and sustainable offshore operations from drilling and field development, to decommissioning, carbon capture and storage, renewable and hydrogen projects. The company provides services across the seabed-to-surface value chain, and specialises in riser systems and design analysis, tools and products needed during the first days of a well's operation, and components for offshore structures, including the Sea Swift platform, which provides a technologically superior and more cost-effective alternative for projects in shallow waters. Many of Aquaterra Energy's most popular tools and products are available on either a rental or purchase basis.

The company was founded in 2005, and has supported customers in the North Sea, South East Asia, West Africa, the Caribbean and Australia. Aquaterra Energy is headquartered in Norwich, UK, and has additional offices in the UK, Norway, Perth and Egypt.

www.aquaterraenergy.com

About Borr Drilling

Borr Drilling Limited is an international drilling contractor incorporated in Bermuda in 2016 and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange from August 30, 2017 and New York Stock Exchange from July 31, 2019 under the ticker BORR. The company owns and operates jack-up rigs of modern and high-specification designs providing drilling services to the oil and gas exploration and production industry worldwide in water depths up to approximately 400 feet.

With a low-cost base, a strong and experienced organisational culture, combined with a unique capital structure, Borr Drilling is built to make a difference. www.borrdrilling.com  

Konecranes has received a Gold rating from EcoVadis for its ambitious sustainability work, its highest-ever placing. The company’s actions, policies and reporting put it in the top 4% of all rated companies globally, and it is in the top 1% of its general-purpose machinery peers.

Konecranes’ rating improved from 2020 thanks to the implementation of additional policies, increased transparency and additional certifications, business sustainability rating provider EcoVadis said, declaring the company’s overall sustainability performance to be on an advanced level in activities related to the environment, labor and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement.

Since the 2020 survey, Konecranes has committed to set science-based climate targets, its digital services received information security certification (ISO 27001), it started third-party supplier sustainability audits and it reported on its human rights risks and ways to mitigate them. Please see Konecranes’ 2020 Sustainability Report for an overview of its activities.

“Sustainability is at the core of our business. We strive to make a positive impact on society and the environment, and are making excellent progress on a number of fronts: EcoVadis Gold follows the CDP climate change performance leadership rating we received last year, and we plan to publish our science-based carbon reduction targets by end of the 2021. We will not stop in our drive to improve our performance even further,” said Konecranes President and CEO Rob Smith.

Konecranes has five sustainability cornerstones: Climate action and resource efficiency; eco-optimized offering and circularity; a safe workplace and products; a diverse, inclusive and engaging workplace; and responsible business conduct.

Together with its customers and business partners, Konecranes makes lifting and material flows more productive and sustainable. Our culture is rooted on uncompromised safety, high ethics and diversity and inclusion. We work for a decarbonized and circular world for customers and society.

Konecranes is a world-leading group of Lifting Businesses™, serving a broad range of customers, including manufacturing and process industries, shipyards, ports and terminals. Konecranes provides productivity enhancing lifting solutions as well as services for lifting equipment of all makes. In 2020, Group sales totaled EUR 3.2 billion. The Group has around 16,500 employees in 50 countries. Konecranes shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki (symbol: KCR).

Metso Outotec has signed an engineering and technology contract to deliver a raw water treatment plant for a gold plant project in the Middle East. The order value exceeds EUR 10 million, and it has been booked in Minerals’ Q3/2021 orders received.

The raw water treatment plant, which represents one of Metso Outotec’s many Planet Positive technologies, will help ensure the gold plant’s process performance and efficiency. Cleaned municipal waste water is used as the raw water source for the new raw water treatment plant.

Metso Outotec has delivered over 30 water treatment plants for the minerals processing industry around the world.

More information on Metso Outotec Water Treatment Systems is available on our website.

Metso Outotec is a frontrunner in sustainable technologies, end-to-end solutions and services for the aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries globally. By improving our customers’ energy and water efficiency, increasing their productivity, and reducing environmental risks with our product and process expertise, we are the partner for positive change.  

Metso Outotec is committed to limiting global warming to 1.5°C with Science Based Targets. We ranked 8th on the 2021 Global 100 list of the world’s most sustainable companies.

Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Metso Outotec employs over 15,000 people in more than 50 countries and its sales for 2020 were about EUR 3.9 billion. The company is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki. mogroup.com

Mitsubishi HiTec Paper produces recyclable barrier papers with water-based coatings for food and non-food packaging under the brand name barricote®. In the EU, the so-called SUPD (Single Use Plastic Directive) has created a great deal of uncertainty for this innovative and sustainable packaging material, on which we would like to take a position, as follows.

By July 3, 2021, two years after the Single Use Plastic Directive (EU) 2019/904 came into force in the European Union, the member states had to transpose the directive into national law. We expressly support the goal of avoiding and reducing littering and pollution through single-use plastic.

The intention of the guidelines published at the end of May 2021 was to provide clarity about the interpretation of the terms used in the directive. Unfortunately, the opposite is the case, because the conceptual definitions in the guidelines have created a great deal of uncertainty in paper production and processing. In particular, this concerns the statements about what is to be understood by a “main structural component” and by a “plastic coating”. It is true that the regulation and guideline underline the fact that paper can function as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic items. At the same time, however, it is stated: "If, however, a plastic coating [...] is applied to the surface of a material made of paper or cardboard or another material in order to offer protection against water or grease, the end product is considered to be a composite article, [...] and [falls] [...] within the scope of the directive."

Barricote products are often used as wrapping paper for food

In this context, we expressly point out that the application of aqueous dispersions to the paper surface used by us for the production of our barricote barrier papers cannot be equated with a "plastic coating" - as so-called in the guidelines. No separate plastic layer is produced, but instead the natural and synthetic materials selectively protect the underlying paper against external influences, without creating a structure-giving or separable plastic layer.

These contradicting and ambiguous definitions of terms lead to great uncertainty in future product design. In the packaging sector, this inhibits the development of innovative biogenic and paper-based materials that are developed with the aim of achieving the best possible recyclability and biodegradability.

We therefore support the demands of the PTS (Papiertechnische Stiftung) and the DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE e.V. association to the legislative bodies to create clarity in the interpretation of the directive and laws in the interests of the companies subject to them, and to expressly exclude papers with water-based dispersion coatings from the scope of the directive.

Further explanations of our point of view:

For over six years we have been making a valuable contribution to the actual goal of SUPD with our innovative barricote barrier papers, namely the reduction of pollution and littering of the environment with single-use plastics. Because our barrier papers are fully recyclable in the waste paper cycle, confirmed by PTS and cyclos-HTP, and replace classis plastic products.

Today ensuring full protection of packaged goods is still not possible without polymer-containing barrier products. But the proportion of plastic can already be significantly reduced and the product can thus be produced in a recyclable manner. We are intensively researching on completely plastic-free solutions and expect the first results within the next few years. We also believe that the use of bio-based and biodegradable plastics in combination with paper as a carrier material should continue to be an important component of alternative barrier products. Many of the substances used are approved in everyday products and food and have been shown to pose no health risk.

Aqueous dispersions themselves are not dimensionally stable without a carrier material. They do not represent a separable and stand-alone component and therefore, in our opinion, do not fall under the SUPD. Coatings made from aqueous plastic dispersions are to be regarded as paints, varnishes and adhesives (bonding agents, adhesion promoters, etc.). They do not form an independent structural element that can stand alone, but are only stable in connection with a carrier material as the actual component.

Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Europe GmbH is a German subsidiary of Mitsubishi Paper Mills Ltd., Japan, one of the world's leading manufacturers of specialty paper. The roughly 770 employees at Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Europe produce high-quality direct thermal, inkjet, carbonless, label and barrier papers for flexible packaging at two tradition-rich locations in Bielefeld and Flensburg. Each factory stands out for own base paper production, state-of-the-art production machinery and innovative coating technologies. Through its dense global sales network, Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Europe supplies a full range of specialty papers for many applications and printing technologies – and is a highly capable partner whenever customized coated paper solutions are required.

www.mitsubishi-paper.com

SCA and St1 have entered a joint venture to produce and sell liquid biofuels. SCA will supply tall oil to the joint venture and will invest approximately SEK 0.6 billion in the company. SCA and St1 will be equal shareholders of the joint venture, which will itself have a 50% share in the St1 Gothenburg Biorefinery, which is now making an investment in a biorefinery with total capacity of 200,000 tonnes of liquid biofuels, estimated to a total investment cost of SEK 2.5 billion. The new biorefinery will be operational in Q2 2023.

“Partnership with SCA is a key element in the implementation of our renewable fuels investment program and it secures the supply of renewable feedstock materials to meet the ambitious Nordic climate targets for 2030”, says Henrikki Talvitie, CEO of St1 Nordic Oy.

“In line with our communicated long term strategy, we will now with the joint venture with St1 go from being a supplier of tall oil to the chemical and fuel industries to becoming active in the further refining of our renewable raw materials”, says Ulf Larsson, President and CEO of SCA. “We will continue to develop the business potential of the renewable by-products we have from our forests and industries in order to further develop our value chain and to contribute to the EU’s ambitious climate strategy.”

The new biorefinery is under construction on the St1 refinery site in Gothenburg and will have a total capacity of 200,000 tonnes of liquid biofuels. It is designed to optimize production of renewable HVO diesel and biojet fuel and to use tall oil-based feedstock. The joint venture will have access to SCA’s tall oil, a by-product from the kraft pulp production at SCA’s mills in Östrand, Obbola and Munksund. The biorefinery will also be capable of using a wide range of other feedstocks and is expected to be operational in Q2 2023.

As part of the agreement, St1  also becomes a 50% owner of SCA Östrand Biorefinery. The Östrand biorefinery project has recently received environmental permits for the production of 300,000 tonnes of liquid biofuels based on black liquor (a by-product from kraft pulp production) and solid biomass (such as sawdust or bark). The biorefinery in Östrand is a development project where a number of technological challenges remain to be solved before a project design can be finalized.

St1 Nordic Oy is a Nordic energy group whose vision is to be the leading producer and seller of CO2-aware energy. The Group researches and develops economically viable, environmentally sustainable energy solutions. St1 focuses on fuels marketing activities, oil refining and renewable energy solutions such as waste-based advanced ethanol fuels and industrial wind power. The Group has 1250 St1 and Shell branded retail stations in Finland, Sweden and Norway. Headquartered in Helsinki, St1 employs currently more than 1000 people. www.st1.com

The core of SCA’s business is the growing forest, Europe’s largest private forest holding. Around this unique resource, SCA have built a well-developed value chain based on renewable raw material from the company’s own and others’ forests. SCA offer packaging paper, pulp, wood products, renewable energy, services for forest owners and efficient transport solutions. 2020 the forest products company SCA had approximately 4,000 employees and sales amounted to approximately SEK 18.4 bn (EUR 1.8 bn). SCA was founded in 1929 and has its headquarters in Sundsvall, Sweden. For more information, visit w.sca.com