NewPage Corp.

NewPage Corp.’s decision to close its Whiting mill rattled central Wisconsin’s paper industry, but it doesn't mean other papermakers in the area will make similar moves. “If you’re working in a paper mill, it does give you pause, but at the same time you have to realize the mills closing are producing certain products in certain markets that are challenged,” said Jeffrey Landin, president of the Wisconsin Paper Council, an advocate for the industry.

That (coated paper) market has continued to decline as magazine circulation and print advertising continues to decrease, Landin said. Domtar's Rothschild mill

The Whiting mill currently operates two paper machines, which produce approximately 250,000 tons annually of coated paper. Approximately 360 employees will be affected by the shutdown. “This remains a difficult time for the paper industry, for NewPage and for many of our customers,” said George Martin, NewPage president and CEO.

The Unisource Worldwide Matching Challenge Grant has resulted in $100,000 of new financial support from the industry, along with adding 15 new supporters to the council ranks. “This additional support will fund new initiatives as well as support the ongoing programs of The Print Council, such as the Print in the Mix clearinghouse of print market research and the successful Print Delivers seminars.”

One of the key drivers for the printing industry is going to be digital technology. Digital printing offers personalization, cost savings, improved output options and the ability to migrate traditional offset volume to a value added digital services business model.

This webinar explores emerging market opportunities driven by digital color printing (both toner based and inkjet) combined with the availability of an expanded array of substrates. You will hear from your peers in the industry about how they are tapping into direct mail market expansion, books on demand, photo merchandise and digital packaging by combining the right digital press with the right paper. 

Key areas that will be explored include:
1. Perspectives on the market growth areas for digital applications
2. Case histories from service providers that are building new business models around on demand publishing, packaging direct marketing and photo merchandise and critical requirements for success
3. Recommendations for participating in the market transition

To view this free webinar, click here!

REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) is a national outdoor retailer that provides quality outdoor gear and clothing. Entitled “Next Generation Environmental CSR,” REI’s program to create synergy between profit and planet is the result of a journey the company hopes others may learn from.

The NewPage “Paper Sells More Product” program uses industry studies and lifestyle imagery to demonstrate the selling power of print. Trekk’s entry was chosen from almost 5,000 submissions. The MarCom Awards are administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals.

Appleton Coated LLC, NewPage Corp., and Sappi Fine Paper North America, together with the United Steelworkers (USW), welcomed the U.S. International Trade Commission's (ITC) finding today that imports of coated paper from China and Indonesia are causing material injury to U.S. producers and workers.

If you’ve been following the coated paper anti-dumping case, the final determination by the International Trade Commission (ITC) is due tomorrow, Oct. 19. The ITC has to decide whether the dumping and subsidies have “materially injured” the domestic market. Unfortunately, material injury is not well defined.

The Commerce Department (DOC) has issued final anti-dumping and countervailing duty margins on coated paper imports from China and Indonesia. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will hold a final vote this month to ultimately determine whether domestic paper producers were harmed by the subject imports.

WASHINGTON, DC—The Commerce Department (DOC) has issued final anti-dumping and countervailing duty margins on coated paper imports from China and Indonesia, providing a victory for domestic paper producers that may be short lived.