Ahead of the Curve Archive

Looking back and looking forward: Paper physics and the paper industry

05 Dec 2018 Editor's Note: This article is excerpted from a guest editorial that appeared in the October issue of TAPPI Journal, which is available free to TAPPI members, and is used with permission.

Women in Industry Division Focuses on Leadership

28 Nov 2018 Founded in 2015, the TAPPI/PIMA Women in Industry Division envisions a competitive, diverse and dynamic industry that offers long-term, fulfilling careers where women and men work in synergy. The group's mission is to inspire and support the development of women in the forest products, pulp, paper, tissue, packaging, and associated industries by serving as a resource for education and networking opportunities that result in more women leaders in the industry, fostering overall industry health.

Threads of Nanocellulose Stronger Than Spider Silk

28 Nov 2018 "Who would win in a fight between Spiderman and Groot?" RISE Researcher Karl Håkansson discussing his groundbreaking work in nanocellulose fibrils. That's the opening query of a presentation by Karl Håkansson, a scientist at the Swedish research organization RISE. According to an article in the recent RISE Newsletter, Håkansson has earned RISE the European Award Blue Sky Young Researchers Innovation Award for its pioneering research into how nanocellulose can answer this engaging question.

Inside Metsä Group's Äänekoski Bioproduct Mill

21 Nov 2018 Editor's note: This article is an excerpt from a feature in the forthcoming Nov/Dec 2018 issue of Paper360°. It is offered here as a "Sneak Peek" for Ahead of the Curve readers. Visit www.paper360.tappi.org for the complete issue.

Student Packaging Designers Shine

07 Nov 2018 Want to know what's ahead in innovative consumer packaging? Look no further. Tomorrow's industry design leaders can get a head start on their careers through the Student Design Challenge, which is sponsored by The Paperboard Packaging Alliance (PPA.)

Neenah Inc.'s Whiting Mill Gets 50001 Ready

24 Oct 2018 Does your mill need to improve its energy management system? The US Department of Energy (DOE) has established its 50001 Ready protocol to help mills create a structured energy program that can help facilities, including pulp and paper mills, reduce operational costs and improve risk management, among other benefits.

Will China's Recovered Paper Problem Become Your Problem?

17 Oct 2018 Note: This article appears in the Sep/Oct issue of Paper360° and is provided here for Ahead of the Curve readers who may have missed it. View the entire issue here in the magazine's mobile device-friendly format.

And the survey says…

10 Oct 2018 The benefits of print, paper, and packaging (especially when made from renewable forest products) seems obvious to AOTC readers and other industry professionals, but what about to consumers?

Manufacturing Day Can Help Tell Our Industry Story

03 Oct 2018 The forest products industry doesn't just play a role in American manufacturing—it gives a lead performance. According to the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), the forest products industry manufactures more than US$200 billion in products every year, and employs about 950,000 men and women, and forest products holds a spot among the "Top 10" manufacturing sector employers in 45 out of 50 states. In fact, the forest products industry accounts for approximately four percent of the total US manufacturing GDP. It also relies on a vital array of related manufacturers—of machinery, equipment, component parts, transport, and many other products—to keep its thousands of manufacturing sites humming.

Environmental Affairs: Everyone Has a Part to Play

19 Sep 2018 (Editor's note: the following article previews the forthcoming September/October issue of Paper360°, which includes a cover focus on air and water quality. This "sneak peek" is offered exclusively for AOTC readers.)