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Specialty Papers US

Thank you for a great 2022 event!
On-demand access still available!

Specialty Papers SpecPapersConf
On-demand Access Available

2022 On-demand Access Is Still Available!

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The 2022 event featured speakers from Starbucks, Nestle, American Forest & Paper Association, Pixelle, Foodservice Packaging Institute, Sustainable Fiber Technologies, Solenis, LLC, Eastman, Domtar, FiberLean Technologies, Kuraray Co., Ltd., Novolex, and more!

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Specialty Papers US is the premier event in North America dedicated to showcasing innovation in the specialty papers industry. This event provides a unique opportunity for experts to come together and drive conversation around market influencers, hear ideas and insights from different parts of the supply chain, and become knowledgeable about innovations and market insights that will improve their business. 

Learn More About This Industry-Leading Event

2023 Sponsors

BASF
Domtar
Kuraray
Pixelle
Sekisui Specialty Chemicals
UMV ¬ Coating Systems

BASF

BASF
https://www.basf.com/us/en/products/General-Business-Topics/dispersions.html

About BASF’s Dispersions & Resins Division

The Dispersions & Resins division of BASF develops, produces and markets a range of high-quality polymer dispersions, resins, additives and electronic materials worldwide. These raw materials are used in formulations for a number of industries, including coatings, construction, adhesives, printing and packaging, electronics and paper. With its comprehensive product portfolio and its extensive knowledge of the industry, the Dispersions & Resins division offers its customers innovative and sustainable solutions and helps them advance their formulations. For further information about the Dispersions & Resins division, please visit www.dispersions-resins.basf.com.

About BASF

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 16,700 employees in North America and had sales of $25.9 billion in 2021. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com/us.

@BASF_DR_NA

Domtar

Domtar
https://www.domtar.com/en

Domtar makes products that people around the world rely on every day. We design, manufacture, market and distribute a wide variety of communication, specialty and packaging papers, market pulp and airlaid nonwovens.

We are the largest integrated manufacturer and marketer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America, and one of the largest manufacturers of pulp in the world. 

Our network of 12 pulp and paper mills and 9 manufacturing and converting facilities gives us approximately 2.7 million tons of papermaking capacity and 1.5 million air-dried metric tons (ADMT) of market pulp capacity annually to help us to serve our customers, support our employees and strengthen our communities.

That’s how pulp and paper make life better every day.

Learn more by visiting https://www.domtar.com/en. 

Kuraray

Kuraray
https://www.kuraray-poval.com/
Kuraray’s polyvinyl alcohol portfolio consists of KURARAY POVAL ™, Elvanol ® and Exceval. These sustainable barrier coatings make products stronger and transform ordinary paper and paperboard products into exceptional products — from pulp to paper, glue to glass. Kuraray’s PVOH-derived resins are used in diverse applications across industries. For more information visit www.kuraray-poval.com.”

Pixelle

Pixelle
https://www.pixelle.com/?utm_term=pixelle&utm_campaign=General+Awareness+Brand&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=3789297541&hsa_cam=16248343812&hsa_grp=138709982612&hsa_ad=582616737255&hsa_src

Making Life Better Is Our Specialty

As the largest and fastest-growing manufacturer of specialty papers in North America, Pixelle Specialty Solutions® offers a comprehensive portfolio of products that make life look better every day. From the first cup of to-go coffee in the morning to the bestsellers we read at night, we improve life through innovation, quality and expertise. Our high-performance solutions help customers achieve superior converting results for products that boost brand appeal, improve user experience and support sustainability goals. Let’s work together to make life a little better.

Sekisui Specialty Chemicals

Sekisui Specialty Chemicals
https://www.sekisui-sc.com/

Sekisui Specialty Chemical’s mission is to be a leading innovative polymer solutions provider, utilizing its prominent technologies and dedicated associates to create sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, and healthier life for people everywhere.

In June of 2009, Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. acquired Celanese’s PVOH (polyvinyl alcohol) business, taking control of facilities in Calvert City, KY; Pasadena, TX; one unit within a complex in Tarragona, Spain; as well as resources in the company’s Houston Technology Center. The Celanese acquisition resulted in Sekisui Specialty Chemicals establishing entities in the United States, Europe, and Mexico. Through these three entities, Sekisui Specialty Chemicals endeavors to expand on new applications for polyvinyl alcohol products, delivering consistent quality and service to our customers worldwide.

In 2018, Sekisui Specialty Chemicals also began representing 3 new brands: Durastream CPVC compound and resins, Advancell thermo-expandable microspheres, and SLEC BK polyvinyl acetal resins. These new products come with the decades of Sekisui Chemical Group experience and worldwide support in each industry. SSC represents these products globally, and we are ready to collaborate with customers to create tomorrow’s essential products.

Sekisui Specialty Chemicals part of the multibillion-dollar, multinational company SEKISUI CHEMICAL Group. SSC is one of 11 subsidiaries of Sekisui America Corporation and one of 9 subsidiaries in of Sekisui in Europe. Sekisui Chemical Group is a global company that delivers a wide range of products and services to enrich people’s lives. Sekisui has been striving to ‘produce a better world with creative technologies’ since its formation in 1947. The company is comprised of core businesses and technologies in housing, social infrastructure, and chemical solutions.

UMV ¬ Coating Systems

UMV ¬ Coating Systems
https://www.umv.com/en/home/
With a strong customer focus and a business DNA built on innovation and reliability, UMV ­Coating Systems has become the global technology leader in the development and supply of surface ­treatment technology to the coated ­paper and board industries.

The UMV Coating Systems range of products and services ­includes all of the equipment and know-how necessary for ­complete coating solutions.
In addition to advanced equipment for single or double-sided ­surface sizing, pigmenting and coating, UMV Coating ­Systems takes responsibility for complete ­coating ­sections, including pre-study, design, manufacture, ­installation supervision, training, startup and continuous improvement.
INVO® Coater and INVO® Tip are the latest of many unique ­products from UMV Coating Systems.
Benchmark coating profiles are the result of the ABC™ Profiling System that fits in any coater. TWIN ABC™ is compact and coats two sides ­simultaneously – and now INVO® Tip, the energy-­saving and production-boosting metering element for excellent fiber ­coverage, print quality coverage and barrier properties.
UMV Coating Systems has world-leading expertise within ­Coating and Sizing for the Board and Paper ­Industry. This comes from more than 50 years of global experience with over 600 ­installations. We serve ­demanding customers with ­innovative and cost-saving technologies, consumables and machinery. At our cutting-edge Pilot Plant our crew is at your disposal.
 

Advisory Board

View all 8 board members
Steve Ottone - Omya Inc.

Steve Ottone

Technical Service Manager at Omya Inc.
Omya Inc.
Paige Goff - Domtar

Paige Goff

Vice President of Sustainability and Communications at Domtar
Domtar
Lisa Stephens - TAPPI

Lisa Stephens

Division Manager, Pulp & Paper and Nanotechnology at TAPPI
TAPPI
Graham Moore - Smithers

Graham Moore

Strategic Consultant at Smithers
Smithers
Adam Heffner - Technick Products

Adam Heffner

Business Development and Sales Professional at Technick Products
Technick Products
Scott McNutt - Nextep Partners LLC

Scott McNutt

Consultant at Nextep Partners LLC
Nextep Partners LLC

Steve Ottone

Steve Ottone
Omya Inc.
Technical Service Manager at Omya Inc.

Steve Ottone is the holder of a BS and MS in Wood Science from the Pennsylvania State University. His career started in the paper industry with work for Container Corporation of America, St. Regis Paper, and Champion International. He then moved to the supplier side, working in latex supply to the paper industry for Reichhold, Inc., Dow Reichhold Specialty Latex, and Mallard Creek Polymers. His current job is with Omya, Inc., a supplier of specialty coatings and rheology modifiers for a broad range of applications. His area of emphasis is polymer and rheology modifier solutions to barrier coatings needs.

Paige Goff

Paige Goff
Domtar
Vice President of Sustainability and Communications at Domtar

Paige Goff is Vice-President of Sustainability and Communications at Domtar, the largest integrated marketer and manufacturer of business and office copy paper in North America. In this role, she is responsible for communicating Domtar’s pulp and paper initiatives, identifying and leveraging the latest sustainability trends and strategies for the business, as well as developing and managing partnerships with environmental non-governmental organizations (NGO) and customers.

Goff has 17 years of experience in the forest products industry and joined Domtar in 2004. In her previous Domtar roles, she was also the Senior Manager, Brand and Advertising Operations as well as a Product Packaging Manager. Prior to joining Domtar, Goff was a marketing analyst and planner at Resolute, a North American paper industry supplier. She has a Master of Business Administration degree.

Lisa Stephens

Lisa Stephens
TAPPI
Division Manager, Pulp & Paper and Nanotechnology at TAPPI

Lisa Stephens is Division Manager, Pulp & Paper and Nanotechnology at TAPPI. TAPPI is not for profit, volunteer-led association focusing on emerging technologies and driving innovation for the paper and packaging industry. Their growing international membership include bioenergy and biofuels, renewable chemicals, sustainability, and nanotechnology areas.

Stephens has been with TAPPI since 1990. In her previous roles, she was also the PRESS Operations Manager, E-publishing Team Lead and TAPPI Journal Publisher, as well as positions supporting Information Services and Executive Team Management. She attended Clayton State College.

Graham Moore

Graham Moore
Smithers
Strategic Consultant at Smithers

Graham Moore has over thirty years’ experience of the global paper and board industry that has focused on process and product knowledge, recycling, wet end chemistry and product performance research. His recent focus has been directed towards the specialty paper sector where he has assisted a number of paper companies to successfully develop and exploit new specialty products and markets. He has been a regular presenter, chairman and advisory board member for Smithers US Specialty Paper conference held annually in conjunction with TAPPI. In addition to specialty paper, he has undertaken strategic futures based research that has examined the issues and technology trends that affect the papermaking supply chain and co-authored the TAPPI Futurist’s report ‘Postcards of the Future’. He is a member and Fellow of TAPPI, member, non-executive director and Deputy Chairman of PITA (UK), and member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK).

Adam Heffner

Adam Heffner
Technick Products
Business Development and Sales Professional at Technick Products

Adam Heffner holds a BS in Mathematics from The Ohio State University. He is a Business Development and Sales Professional at Technick Products. Technick Products is bringing the next generation of barrier coatings to the paper industry and Adam is leading this development on the commercial side. He brings his positive energy, tenacity, and fresh look to help us all move the industry ahead.

Scott McNutt

Scott McNutt
Nextep Partners LLC
Consultant at Nextep Partners LLC

Scott McNutt has over 40 years of experience in the paper industry, with a focus on process and product knowledge in the disciplines of papermaking, quality, engineering, operations management, Lean/Six Sigma, product development and innovation. He is well-versed in the downstream converting processes and end use requirements for cut sheet, QSR, flexible packaging, and technical specialty grades.
He started his career in specialty paper at Dunn Paper, serving in roles process engineering, quality management, and product dev. He transitioned to Fine Paper with Willamette and was part of the effort to infuse state-of-the-art papermaking technology into the fine paper industry in the US. He then managed the production operations for Wausau Papers, returning to his specialty paper roots. To bring his career full circle, he returned to Dunn Paper in Port Huron to drive operations success and innovation.

He has toured a vast number of pulp and paper mills in the US and abroad, exploring new technology. Scott has been a member of TAPPI since 1985, attending numerous events at the local Chapters as well as annual Conferences. In addition, he has been active in the Smithers Specialty Papers Conferences in Europe and North America. He is currently active in the TAPPI Mentor program and recently joined the Tappi Nanotechnology subcommittee.

His primary focus now with Nextep Partners LLC Consulting is on paper innovations for sustainable packaging applications.

2022 Speakers

View all 39 speakers
Dean Benjamin - Pixelle

Dean Benjamin

Director of New Product Development at Pixelle
Pixelle
Jeff Keithline - Keller and Heckman LLP

Jeff Keithline

Partner at Keller and Heckman LLP
Keller and Heckman LLP
Steve Ottone - Omya Inc.

Steve Ottone

Technical Service Manager at Omya Inc.
Omya Inc.
Bill Rojack - Midland

Bill Rojack

VP at Midland
Midland
Lori Gobris - Michelman

Lori Gobris

Global Marketing Manager, Printing & Packaging at Michelman
Michelman
Michael Schatzschneider - Creapaper

Michael Schatzschneider

CFO at Creapaper
Creapaper

Dean Benjamin

Dean Benjamin
Pixelle
Director of New Product Development at Pixelle

Dean Benjamin received a B.S. degree in Paper Science and Engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point and then went on to earn a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. While at Minnesota, he studied computational and experimental fluid mechanics of the roll coating process under Professor L.E. Scriven.

Upon graduation, Dean joined Avery Dennison as a Research Engineer at the Avery Research Center in Pasadena, CA where he led projects to develop coating processes for the production of pressure sensitive labels and tapes.

Dean then joined Consolidated Papers, Inc. as a Senior Research Engineer at their R&D facility in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. His research focused on developing new coating and finishing equipment and he eventually became the manager of the Coater Research & Engineering Department. He also worked in the areas of coating color preparation, paper finishing technology, high-speed coaters, fountain applications, corrosion engineering, kraft chemical recovery systems and product development. Dean then became the manager of the Product Development - Publication Papers where he worked on a variety of product developments including high bulk paper, alternative finish paper and high brightness, carbonate based paper coatings, and later was appointed as Director of Research for NewPage.

Jeff Keithline

Jeff Keithline
Keller and Heckman LLP
Partner at Keller and Heckman LLP

Mr. Keithline assists companies in establishing the suitable regulatory status of their products under the requirements of various federal agencies including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Mr. Keithline also assists clients with compliance issues under state and local requirements relating to the manufacture, labeling and disposal of products and packaging, including toxics in packaging, legislation and various state right-to-know acts. In addition, Mr. Keithline advises clients regarding the requirements for these products throughout the world, especially in Canada, Mexico, the European Union, Central and South America, and the Pacific Rim.

Prior to law school, Mr. Keithline served as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy aboard the USS West Virginia (SSBN 736), a nuclear submarine.Mr. Keithline earned his law degree from Washington and Lee University where he served as the editor-in-chief of the Washington and Lee Law Review.

Steve Ottone

Steve Ottone
Omya Inc.
Technical Service Manager at Omya Inc.

Steve Ottone is the holder of a BS and MS in Wood Science from the Pennsylvania State University. His career started in the paper industry with work for Container Corporation of America, St. Regis Paper, and Champion International. He then moved to the supplier side, working in latex supply to the paper industry for Reichhold, Inc., Dow Reichhold Specialty Latex, and Mallard Creek Polymers. His current job is with Omya, Inc., a supplier of specialty coatings and rheology modifiers for a broad range of applications. His area of emphasis is polymer and rheology modifier solutions to barrier coatings needs.

Bill Rojack

Bill Rojack
Midland
VP at Midland

Paper procurement and distribution consultant. Environmental impact expertise, product development focus. Strong knowledge of book publishing and book manufacturing. Loyal. Caring. Collaborative. Enthusiastic. Hardworking. Meticulous. Imaginative. Meyers Briggs "Defender" - a universal helper.

Lori Gobris

Lori Gobris
Michelman
Global Marketing Manager, Printing & Packaging at Michelman

Gobris will lead Michelman’s efforts to continue to expand and broaden solutions in the sustainable packaging market space in both fiber based and film-based solutions. She brings with her nearly 30 years of paper and flexible packaging experience, most recently as a Senior Marketing Manager at Amcor, leading segments across multiple flexible packaging market applications. Before that, she held various technical and marketing roles at Coating Excellence and International Paper.

Michael Schatzschneider

Michael Schatzschneider
Creapaper
CFO at Creapaper

20+ years of banking and corporate finance, ECM/DCM, M&A. investment research & valuation;
former Director of Euronext, Paris, and of Commerzbank, Frankfurt

2022 Agenda

View Full Agenda
Workshop: Tuesday, October 4, 2022 (Add-on) (Speaker presenting virtually) Welcome Reception: Tuesday, October 4, 2022 (Included) Conference Day 1: Wednesday, October 5, 2022 Conference Day 2: Thursday, October 6, 2022
1:00pm
Specialty Papers 2022 Workshop (Speaker Presenting Virtually)
6:00pm
Welcome Reception
7:30am
Opening Remarks
8:40am
Session I: The Specialty Paper Sector – Present & Future
10:15am
Session II: Important Updates in Regulations & Legislations
11:15am
Session III: Innovations in Coatings & Alternative Fibers
3:45pm
Session IV: Technologies & Testing to Push the Industry Forward
5:00pm
Session V: SPUS Student Pitching Hour & Poster Session
5:25pm
Networking Reception Sponsored by Archroma
8:00am
Opening Remarks
8:30am
Session VI: Paper Chemistries & Processing Advancements
10:00am
Session VII: Thinking Outside the Box: Packaging Design & Materials
1:00pm
Session VIII: Focus on Logistics & Supply Chain within the Industry
2:00pm
Session IX: The Importance of Sustainability, Recyclability, & Composting
3:30pm
Closing Remarks

"Specialty Papers conference always provides excellent insight into the near and future paper market. We find it especially helpful when considering medium to long term direction for our development program." AquaSol Corporation



"The speakers are very insightful and the conference covered . . . a wide range of topics on the US packaging market, which helped our company that is just starting to penetrate into it." Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.


Who Attends Specialty Papers?

MEET PAST ATTENDEES

"The Specialty Papers conference is unique in having a cross-section of participants from suppliers, to mills, to end users of paper. Its format allows for a great deal of both learning and networking." Crable Engineering LLC


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