News

Connecticut Takes Steps To Require Use Of Alkaline Paper

The Connecticut General assembly has passed a resolution concerning "the use of alkaline paper for the printing of all State of Connecticut publications and official records." It starts out with 10 Whereases that summarize the need for and availability of alkaline paper, and the advocacy of its use by NISO, the Depository Library Council and the American Library Association. It then resolves "that this general assembly urges the state librarian's task force an the preservation of historical records to (1) research the feasibility of, and costs associated with, printing all state publications and official records an alkaline paper and (2) an or before February 1, 1989, report their findings, including recommendations for legislation, if any, to the general assembly concerning the use of alkaline paper." [From Abbey Newsletter 12(6), p. 117.1

Finland Is Nearly 100% Alkaline

In response to a letter of inquiry from the APA editor, two officials in the Fine Papers Division of Finnpapp (The Finnish Paper Mills' Association) sent the following letter in June:

The situation in Finland is that all new fine paper machines, which have started during the 1980s, are alkaline producing units. Veitsiluoto was the first paper mill in Finland starting the alkaline paper making on their 6.5 m machine late in 1979.
Today there is only one paper mill (middle size) in Finland producing freesheet paper by means of the acid process. All others use the alkaline process.
Our experience of alkaline papers is very positive. We have had no problems marketing our products due to this, nor producing paper of good quality.
We believe that all our customers appreciate the benefit of better permanency.
If you have questions about the Finnish fine paper industry, please do not hesitate to contact us.

The postal address is P.O. Box 380, SF-00101 Helsinki, Finland.

A 100% Alkaline Converter

The A. B. Dick Co. of Chicago sells its papers (duplicator, mimeograph, electrostatic, offset and bond) through branches and distributors, all nicely packaged for the consumer--and all of them are alkaline. To find out the nearest distribution point, call them at 312/763-1900.

Australians Promote Permanent/Durable Paper

In May 1987, the Library Association of Australia sponsored a seminar on the production and use of archival paper. It provided a forum for representatives from major archival and collecting institutions, manufacturers, suppliers and publishers. In August 1987 the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials (AICCM) established an Archival Paper Action Committee to pursue the development of Australian Standards for archival paper and to promote its appropriate use.

The Standards Association of Australia has made a commitment to develop locally applicable standards for permanence and durability for a range of papers and boards. The Archival Paper Action Committee is lobbying federal and state governments and politicians to encourage the routine use of archival paper for the documentation of official business.

The Archival Paper Action Committee has prepared a leaflet called "Here Today ... Gone Tomorrow" stating the problem and recommending action, and is currently conducting a survey of institutions to determine the amount of archival paper that is needed. The Committee's address is: AICCM, GPO Box 1638, Canberra A.C.T. 2601, Australia.

News Of The Companies

Weyerhaeuser Canada's new mill in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, is up and running with its alkaline system and onsite PCC plant. The first reel came off at 12:36 am on August 29. The mill makes nothing but fine paper; the first two rolls were sold to a company in New York.
In Australia, all three machines at APPM Shoalhaven, NSW, are now using alkaline sizing. Calcium carbonate is from nearby Berrima. This change will save an imported wood pulp, which now makes up less than half of the fiber furnish with most coming from cotton linters and recycled wastepaper.
Byron Weston Co., a subsidiary of Crane & Co., began making all of its papers alkaline as of July 15. All now conform to the highest ASTM standard.
Hammermill's Erie mill converted an May 26, making it the first wholly-owned Hammermill mill to do so. The other three white paper mills are expected to be alkaline by the End of 1989: Lock Haven, Pennsylvania; Oswego, New York; and Selma, Alabama. (Grays Harbor Paper Co., which converted in October 1986, is a subsidiary of both Hammermill and ITT Rayonier.)
Kerwin Paper Co., a subsidiary of Amricon Corp., has two new alkaline grades, a wallpaper and an outdoor paper.
Midtec Paper Corp., a Repap Enterprise, started up its new Machine No. 7 in September. M7 is one of three paper machines in the complex at Kimberly, Wisconsin, and is currently the only alkaline machine. Midtec is now one of the largest manufacturers of coated freesheet in North America.
On October 17, Miami Paper Corp. and Flambeau Paper Corp., both subsidiaries of Pentair, Inc., will be consolidated into a new firm, Crosse Pointe Paper Corp., in St. Paul, Minnesota. Robert V. Touchette, former vice president of specialty papers for Pentair, is the president of the new firm. Miami's papers are all alkaline, and Flambeau's are all acidic, so that decreases by one the number of 100%. alkaline companies in this country. The papers will keep their old names, but will be listed under Crosse Pointe in the catalogs. One Miami paper will be eliminated: Bellbrook Opaque.
James River Graphics Group's Design Products Division makes archival translucent papers for the engineering design market (for pen plotters, copiers and drafting). Translucency is not achieved by use of sulphuric acid, but by beating and application of a water-based transparentizing agent in the size press. Their 16-lb. and 20-lb. Vellum are 100%. cotton, alkaline sized and aqueously transparentized; their natural translucent paper (Nr-20) is manufactured in the neutral range and tests purple with the pH pen. The telephone in South Hadley, Massachusetts, is 413/536-7800.

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