Tissue 101: Properties and Processes Course

Whether you’re new to the Tissue industry or a seasoned professional, including engineers, sales staff or management, TAPPI’s Tissue 101: Properties and Processes Course is the perfect introduction or refresher course.

The curriculum is structured to provide participants with a solid understanding of tissue properties and how they are impacted by manufacturing processes, helping them to effectively achieve production goals and objectives.

COURSE CHAIR: BRUCE W. JANDA- INNOVASPEC

Bruce Janda, co-founder and principal of InnovaSpec, LLC, has over 39 years of experience in the paper and nonwoven industry, specializing in tissue and towel processes and products.  Bruce held positions in the tissue industry at Georgia-Pacific, Kimberly-Clark and others with roles in product development, engineering, and manufacturing.  He worked on the supplier side at AstenJohnson as the product manager for TAD and forming fabrics in addition to leading serving as the North American product business leader and global innovation leader for forming.   
Bruce has extensive applications experience on world class, high speed tissue and TAD machines in North America and Europe both as a producer and supplier.  He had the opportunity to participate in three new tissue machine projects as process design leader, construction supervisor, and checkout/start up leader.  Bruce has a BS in chemical engineering from Michigan Technological University, MBA from University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, Executive Scholar Certificate from the Kellogg School of Northwestern University, and Lean Sigma Black Belt certification from AstenJohnson.  He has 17 US patents issued and two pending, all related to tissue and papermaking.  One of his key product development projects was leadership of the eMotion® electronic towel dispenser and TAD towel from concept through manufacturing and commercialization. This now represents a $1 billion/year sales brand for Georgia-Pacific. 

COURSE CO-CHAIR: JEFF PETERS - BTG AMERICAS 

Jeff graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Chemical Engineering.  He started his career with Hercules Incorporated.  Over his 23 year career he spent time in field sales, Global Tissue Applications, Tissue Business Management and Global Tissue Marketing.  Jeff left the paper industry for a few years to test his entrepreneurial spirit.  Four years ago, he joined BTG Americas as the organization's Tissue Applications Manager. 

Lucyna Pawlowska is a tissue process application specialist with Kemira North America.  She interfaces closely with Kemira’s sales and research and development, as well as the mill production staff, to facilitate product development and market introduction. Prior to her current position, she worked in paper chemicals R&D for 18 years, developing new products such as retention aids, temporary wet strength resin, dry strength resins, internal and surface sizing agents, emulsifiers for sizing agents, softener and tissue creping aids. 

Lucyna has a B.S. degree in chemistry from the Charter Oak State College, Newington, CT and a Master’s of commodities engineering from the University of Economy, Krakow, Poland.  She relocated from Poland to the US in 1988 and gained her US citizenship in 1993.  In 1991 she started her career in the paper chemicals industry with American Cyanamid. Due to a series of spin offs and acquisitions in the paper chemicals industry, she has worked for Cytec Industries, Bayer, Bayer Chemicals and Lanxess. She joined Kemira Chemicals Inc. in April 2006 following the acquisition of Lanxess. 

CALVIN HAYDEN- VOITH PAPER FABRICS & ROLL SYSTEMS, INC. Application and Process Specialist -Tissue, Voith Paper Fabrics & Roll Systems, Inc. Calvin has 31 years of experience in the industry.  He started in paper mill production supervision.   For the last 22 years he has held design and application roles for paper machine clothing.  The last 20 years have been as a Tissue press fabric specialist and product manager. In this role Calvin coordinates the optimization of tissue press fabrics at customer mill sites, the felt manufacturing site and works with R&D to bring new tissue papermaking technologies to market.  
He received his degree in Paper Science from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point.  Calvin has 2 US and European patents in seamed and endless tissue press fabrics. 

Dr. Vladimir Grigoriev - Kemira. Dr. Vladimir Grigoriev currently leads Kemira’s P&HS Application Excellence team, responsible for the Americas region. Throughout his 20+-year career, Vladimir worked in the USA and Europe in various technical and leadership roles, supporting tissue and paper applications. Vladimir earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. His technical expertise lies in the areas of tissue production, tissue chemicals, strength resins and wet end management. He is a co-inventor of over 20 patents and a co-author of multiple publications in paper industry magazines and academic journals.

Minneapolis Convention Center
1301 Second Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55403

Hilton Minneapolis - Host Hotel

Room Rate: $209.00
Cut-Off Date: April 11, 2025

Address: 1001 Marquette Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone: (612) 376-1000

Book Your Stay

 

Hyatt Regency Minneapolis

Room Rate: $219.00
Cut-Off Date:  April 11, 2025

Address: 1300 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone: (612) 370-1234

Book Your Stay

2026 Tissue Course Bookstore

TAPPI Press is known as an industry leader for publishing reliable and practical publications and training products created and peer reviewed by industry experts for professionals and students alike.

TAPPI offers a 15% discount on select TAPPI Press publications for Tissue Course attendees. By purchasing with registration, you pick-up onsite and save on shipping!

Below are the resources selected for this event.

Guidelines for Safe Assessment & Operation of Yankee Dryers     

A project of the Yankee Dryer Safety & Reliability Committee, this new edition provides updated guidelines relative to steel Yankee dryers, as well as new learnings and recommendations for cast iron Yankee dryers. Its contents are categorized into Engineering and Design, Maintenance and Repair, Operating Guidelines, and Personnel Safety. If you are a Yankee Responsible Person (YRP), a municipal official that makes onsite inspections, or an insurance carrier that covers Yankee dryers, this is your must have resource.  

Discounted Member Price:  $84.00

Discounted List Price:  $110.00

Guidelines for the Safe Operation of Steam Heated Paper Machine Dryers

This is a guide to the safe operation and maintenance of steam heated paper machine dryers. The report includes details on dryer construction, operation, and safety guidelines. It also features a glossary, a reference list, and conversion factors for SI units.  This report was prepared by the Steam Heated Dryer Subcommittee of the TAPPI Engineering Division’s Maintenance and Mechanical Engineering Committee.  

Discounted Member Price:  $37.00

Discounted List Price:  $54.00

Guidelines for the Buying and Selling of Used Corrugated Machinery

Practical advice for corrugated box plant and sheet plant managers when buying or selling used corrugated machinery. It outlines logical steps to follow when dealing with equipment changes and contains checklists for inspection of the following equipment: flexo folder gluer; flexo rotary diecutters; diecut stacker; printer slotters; press stacker; and single facers.

Discounted Member Price:  $24.00

Discounted List Price:  $34.00

**Visit our bookstore.   www.tappi.org/bookstore**