Ahead of the Curve Archive

TAPPI Reaccredited as ANSI Standards Developer

07 Mar 2018 TAPPI has again been reaccredited as an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standards Developer. ANSI is the United States’ representative to the International Standards Organization (ISO). As an ANSI Standards Developer, TAPPI Standards can become American National Standards, which can, in turn, be elevated to ISO Standards.

Vision Quest: What You Get is Rarely What You Need

28 Feb 2018 Have you ever been a part of a visioning exercise? If the answer is yes, then raise your hand. I am sure a whole bunch of hands went up. If you have been part of an organization, work system, or department for longer than a year the real answer to this question is—everyone. Why is this done? What is the reason?

Tissue paper sensors show promise for health care, entertainment, robotics

21 Feb 2018 University of Washington engineers have turned tissue paper—similar to toilet tissue—into a new kind of wearable sensor that can detect a pulse, a blink of an eye and other human movement. The sensor is light, flexible, and inexpensive, with potential applications in health care, entertainment, and robotics.

Leadership in Reliability & Maintenance: The Operations and Maintenance Partnership

14 Feb 2018 Editor’s note: This article is from the inaugural edition of the new Reliability & Maintenance section of Paper360°, created in partnership with IDCON. TAPPI and IDCON will be expanding this partnership to also deliver a free newsletter, online communities, events, and this dedicated R&M website with valuable additional content.

Newest Directors on Addressing TAPPI’s Critical Needs

07 Feb 2018 n February 2018, TAPPI welcomes three new board members to its roster. Each year, a nominating committee nominates three incoming Directors to serve three-year terms. (see sidebar). We asked these three newest directors to provide insight into the critical needs of the association, and how they hope to address that need in their leadership position on TAPPI’s Board. Their answers below provide a look into a dynamic and growing association.

Innovation Breeds Disruption

31 Jan 2018 The annual PEERS Conference was held in Norfolk, VA, in early November. Opening keynote speaker Robert Tiede, executive vice president and COO of Sonoco, set the stage early for an excellent conference with a thought-provoking talk about disruption.

The Credibility of Print: An interview with Phil Riebel

24 Jan 2018 While the digital revolution is changing the way people learn, work, pay and play, print is still a preferred choice for many aspects of American life. New research shows that the perception of information credibility increases with print, and that people find reading on paper more enjoyable than reading on digital devices.

The Chinese ban on recovered paper imports: An international disruption

17 Jan 2018 Mountains of paper grow on the docks of Hong Kong, waiting to enter China. Elderly paper collectors in Hong Kong lose income because they cannot find buyers for their baskets full of used boxes. A German shipper no longer accepts paper shipments bound for China. Old corrugated cardboard (OCC) prices in Arkansas drop by US$50/ton. From New Zealand to Great Britain, and everywhere in between, the disruption of fiber flow into China continues to shake the world of recovered paper.

What are the benefits of a forest-based bioeconomy?

11 Jan 2018 According to a January 4, 2018 press release from Science|Business (a European network of universities, companies, and research and policy organizations), the benefits of a forest-based bioeconomy are wide-reaching—and in the EU, ongoing research will drive innovation and markets.

Pulp in a Frenzy

03 Jan 2018 Growth, inflation and uncertainly mark the industry’s global outlook; but markets should loosen in early 2018, according to this article from the forthcoming January/February issue of Paper360°. The article is excerpted here as a “sneak peek” for Ahead of the Curve readers.