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Journal articles
Case Study: Transforming Demand Planning for a Medium-Sized Tissue Manufacturer
A European tissue manufacturer transformed its demand planning operations through cloud-based S&OP platform implementation, achieving remarkable operational excellence. The comprehensive initiative addressed forecasting accuracy challenges across a diverse product portfolio and high promotional activity. Results included 20% improvement in forecast accuracy (from 57% to 72% at SKU level), 50% reduction in demand planning effort through automation, reduced inventory costs, and improved on-time delivery rates. This digital transformation demonstrates best practices for supply chain optimization in manufacturing, showcasing how modern planning technologies and collaborative processes drive sustainable competitive advantage and operational resilience.
INFLUENCE OF INK CHEMISTRY AND UNCOATED PAPER SURFACE ENERGY ON SETTING AND TRANSFER OF WATER-BASED FLEXOGRAPHIC INKS, PaperCon 2010 Conference
INFLUENCE OF INK CHEMISTRY AND UNCOATED PAPER SURFACE ENERGY ON SETTING AND TRANSFER OF WATER-BASED FLEXOGRAPHIC INKS, PaperCon 2010 Conference
Journal articles
Paper360°’s 2025 Power List
Paper360's 2025 Power List identifies 50 influential leaders, innovators, and technologies driving transformation across the pulp, paper, packaging, and tissue industry. The comprehensive ranking features C-suite executives from major companies like Smurfit WestRock, International Paper, and Suzano, alongside emerging young professionals and breakthrough supplier innovations. Key highlights include sustainable biomaterials development, advanced manufacturing technologies, and strategic industry partnerships that are reshaping operations and market dynamics. For mid-career professionals seeking advanced technical insights and leadership benchmarking, this annual analysis provides essential intelligence on industry direction, emerging opportunities, and the power players driving operational excellence and innovation across global markets.
News
What Does China’s Capacity Surge Mean for Global Competitiveness?
"China’s build-out is reshaping competitive dynamics across nearly every major pulp and paper grade. As Chinese output grows... exporters in North America and Europe are increasingly challenged in markets they once dominated." —RESOURCEWISE
News
From beaker to reel: How papercraft presses meaning into every sheet
Genevieve Dowson, senior technical specialist at James Cropper Paper, received a Highly Commended certificate in the Operational Excellence category in the 2026 Future Trailblazer Awards. The award was announced at Packaging Innovations & Empack this past February in Birmingham, UK. To celebrate her award, Dowson penned the following, which James Cropper shared as press information. It is re-shared her for Ahead of the Curve readers interested in the perspectives of a rising young leader.
News
'We Came Back with Action Items': The TAPPICon Experience for Liberty Paper
Liberty Paper's facility in Becker, MN, sent 24 mill folks to TAPPICon 2025. One year later, we catch up to ask: was it worth it? This article is an excerpt from an interviewing appearing in the upcoming March/April issue of Paper360°, and is being shared here as a special "sneak peek" for Ahead of the Curve readers.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Three-dimensional visualization and characterization of paper machine felts and their relationship to their properties and dewatering performance, TAPPI Journal July 2021
ABSTRACT: Polymeric felts are commonly used in the papermaking process on the paper machine wet end, in the press section, and in the dryer section. They provide an important function during paper manufacturing, including as a carrier or support; as a filter media assisting with water removal on the paper machine; in retention of fibers, fines, and fillers; and in some applications, such as tissue and towel, to impart key structural features to the web. These felts can have highly interwoven complex internal structures comprised of machine direction and cross-machine direction yarns of varying sizes and chemical compositions. Here, we present a non-intrusive three-dimensional (3D) image visualization method using advanced X-ray computed tomography (XRCT). This method was used to characterize the complex 3D felt structure and determine the water removal characteristics of some commonly used paper machine felts. The structural features analyzed include porosity; specific pore-yarn interfacial surface area; 3D pore size distribution; 3D fiber or yarn-size distribution; and their variations through the thickness direction. The top, middle, and bottom layers of the felt have very different structures to assist with water removal and impart paper properties. The size distribution of the yarns, as well as the pores in the different layers of the felt, are also inherently different. These structural features were non-intrusively quantified. In addition, variation in the structural characteristics through the thickness of the felts and its potential role in papermaking is explored. In addition to the 3D structural characteristics, permeability characteristics and water removal characteristics, including rewetting of select felt samples, have also been experimentally determined. It is interesting to observe the relationship between key structural features and permeability and water removal characteristics. These relationships can provide additional insights into press felt design, as well as ways to improve product properties and the dewatering efficiency and productivity of the paper machine.
Journal articles
The Age of Acceleration: Navigating Digital Transformation and the AI Revolution
Tissue industry leaders are navigating digital transformation challenges as AI and emerging technologies reshape manufacturing operations. Jarmo Ropponen from Tietoevry reveals that AI investments can deliver $3.50 returns per dollar spent, with ROI realized within 14 months. Organizations face three critical barriers: lack of AI vision, expertise gaps, and scaling challenges. Success requires strategic implementation focusing on data quality, Manufacturing Execution Systems like TIPS MES, and partnering with technology providers. Five key steps accelerate digital transformation: defining clear objectives, adopting agile mindsets, investing in workforce culture, leveraging AI analytics, and collaborating with industry experts to maximize operational efficiency and competitive advantage.
Journal articles
Navigating the Future of the Pulp, Paper, and Packaging Industry
Paper and packaging industry at a crossroads.
Journal articles
Private vs. Public: How US Tissue Capacity Is Shifting
Private companies have steadily grown their share of the market, eventually rivaling and even surpassing their public counterparts.