Biofibre News

Södra's new electric wood chip truck goes into operation

In 2024, Södra decided to invest in an electric, heavy-duty truck to be integrated into the company's logistics chain. The vehicle is now being put into operation within the production activities, and its use will be evaluated under real conditions over two years. This initiative will reduce the environmental footprint of wood chip transports and represents an important step on Södra's path towards climate neutrality.

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Mistra-Autex, Estonia, orders new needlepunch line from Andritz

Mistra-Autex AS has awarded Andritz an order to supply a complete needlepunch line for its plant in Raasiku, Estonia. The new line will produce various types of nonwovens for surface applications, 3D molding, and other technical materials, primarily for the automotive industry. Start-up is scheduled for the end of the third quarter of 2026. The value of the order will not be disclosed. It is included in Andritz’s order intake for the first quarter of 2025.

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Södra invests in Kinda for long-term competitiveness

In line with its strategy to make more of every tree and to strengthen the long-term competitiveness of family forestry, Södra has decided to invest more than a billion SEK in its sawmill in Kisa, southern Östergötland. This investment is crucial for the future of the sawmill and will contribute significantly to the growing need for timber construction in the green transition.

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Gesalife's Andritz spunlace line fully operational and performing strongly

Hubei Gesalife Industry Co., Ltd. and international technology group Andritz have successfully commissioned Gesalife’s first Andritz neXline spunlace production line in a crosslapped configuration. Li Jun, Chairman of Gesalife, stated: “This new spunlace production line and the cooperation with Andritz marks a major leap forward for Gesalife. We look forward to leveraging this technology to support future innovation and growth.”

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European Bioplastics relocates to brussels and welcomes new secretary general

European Bioplastics (EUBP), the association representing the interests of the bioplastics industry in Europe, has officially relocated its main operations to Brussels. The move reinforces the organisation’s commitment to advocacy and engagement with EU institutions, as well as expanding its network and enhancing its presence within the EU policy landscape.

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Research on carbon alance receives nearly SEK 9 Million from Södra’s Research Foundation

With the goal of strengthening the forest’s role in climate transition, Södra’s Research Foundation is investing SEK 8.75 million in seven research projects. The projects range from soil and growing forests to innovative solutions contributing to the green transition. The theme of this spring’s call was carbon balance, referring to the relationship between how much carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere versus how much is absorbed and stored in, for example, forests, soil, and wood products. It is a critical area in efforts to combat climate change. To reduce emissions and increase carbon uptake, more knowledge is needed about how carbon flows through both natural and human-made systems.

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Paper & Tissue Show 2026 in Abu Dhabi

The 11th edition of the Paper & Tissue Show will take place at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi, from 31 March to 2 April 2026. Recognized as one of the MENA region’s most comprehensive B2B events, the show connects 400+ global exhibitors with 16,000+ trade professionals from over 140 countries.

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5 key questions on PPWR

Johan Ericson, Director Sustainability & Public Affairs at Billerud, has deep knowledge of PPWR and its implications for the packaging industry. With new regulations shaping the future of packaging, businesses need to understand how to adapt. We asked him five questions about what to expect and how to prepare.

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Andritz spunlace line successfully started up in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

International technology group Andritz has successfully started up a complete neXline spunlace line for International Paper LLC Uzbek at its plant in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The new production line enables International Paper LLC to produce high-quality spunlace wipes, both under its own brand and for other converters. This expansion opens new market opportunities, addressing the growing demand for spunlace wipes in Uzbekistan and neighboring countries. Additionally, the project aligns with the company’s sustainability goals by reducing its carbon footprint through minimized intercontinental shipments and boosting local employment in the Tashkent area.

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Södra acquires Dutch sales company Smartt

Södra has reached an agreement with Robert Jan de Waard and Ronald Rijswijk to acquire all shares in the Dutch company Smartt Timber B.V. Södra previously held partial ownership in Smartt, which has served as a successful sales channel for Södra Wood in the Netherlands and Belgium for many years. The Netherlands is a strategically important market for Södra, where the company has maintained a strong position for a long time. By the acquisition, Södra shows its long-term commitment to the market and elevates its business to the next level, enhancing the customer offer even further.

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Andritz to supply three spunlace lines to Alear Silk Road New Materials, China

International technology group Andritz has received an order from the Chinese nonwovens company Alear Silk Road New Materials Co., Ltd. to deliver three complete neXline aXcess spunlace crosslapped lines for the production of nonwovens. This investment represents an important step in the company’s expansion and the development of the nonwovens industry in the Alear area of Xinjiang province.

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Research project discovers ways to convert forest industry’s carbon dioxide emissions into raw material for plastics

VTT Technical research centre of Finland and LUT University have completed a three-year research project on carbon capture and utilisation. The project investigated different technologies for producing renewable plastic raw materials from carbon dioxide and green hydrogen. Renewable energy, hydrogen economy and forest industry’s biogenic carbon dioxide emissions present significant opportunities for new sustainable industries.

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