As you may remember from last year’s newsletter, we came up with the grand idea of a garden behind Nelson Container to grow pumpkins for Halloween. We tilled up a beautiful 20 x 20 ft. garden… but the pumpkins did not grow. The lesson of “the birds and the bees” became apparent. No bees, no pumpkins! We are not willing to give up yet! We have tilled up our garden for the summer. We will wait to plant until Memorial Day Weekend. We are looking forward to tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, squash, peppers and radishes. Please feel free to share your gardening knowledge with us!
Posted in Nelson News |
We would like to invite our customers to help us design new printing for our promotional airplane. Just ask your sales representative or call Laura at 262-250-5017or email her at lnelson@nelsoncontainer.com and we will deliver a template to you. The winner will receive two tickets to the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Airventure in Oshkosh which runs July 26 through August 1. Our contest will run until June 30.
Posted in Nelson News |
The EPA announced new Clean Air Act rules. The EPA’s new Boiler Maximum Achievable Control Technology rule includes emission limits for industrial, commercial, and institutional boilers using fossil fuels and biomass. To achieve the limits established would require new installation pollution control devices that will conflict with other existing control requirements. These limits could impose tens of billions of dollars in capital costs at thousands of facilities across the country. According to the AF&PA President, both the American Forest & Paper Association and the American Wood Council are prepared to work with the EPA to protect public health and jobs by establishing technically sound and cost-effective options and emission limits.
Posted in National News |
According to “Official Board Markets”, OCC (Old Corrugated Containers) prices keep dropping, and now stand at $130 per ton in most parts of the U.S. Last year’s OCC prices were $45 per ton. Domestic markets are calm, with many mills possessing full OCC inventories. Some of this is a result of the price increases since the beginning of the year. Experienced buyers do not expect current prices to stay down. June and July are traditionally months that see generation fall off. OCC export prices rose slightly. Containerboard sales in China are slow, as some Chinese mills have started to take downtime to manage supply and inventory.
Posted in National News |
Containerboard producers have now pushed through this year’s second board increase. According to “Official Board Markets”, since as early as April 1, independent box makers throughout the country have been paying an additional $60 per ton more for Kraft linerboard and semi-chemical medium. Containerboard supply has been tight for a few months now. The American Forest & Paper Association reports that total (mill and box plants combined) containerboard inventories now stand at a low that has not been witnessed in decades. The price increase has been implemented because of strong demand coupled with tight supply. Due to the termination of the black liquor tax credit on Dec. 31, 2009, this second price increase becomes even more important to them. First quarter results for the top containerboard producers came out a month ago and most of these companies were back to losing money.
Posted in National News |
The major integrated producers of containerboard have announced an increase of $60 per ton for most grades effecctive in April. Members of the Association of Independent Corrugated Converters (AICC) challenge these increases when current box demand remains sluggish and the implementation of the $50/ton increase in January 1 has yet to be completed. AICC believes this increase is too much, too soon and too burdensome for independents and their customers to absorb.
Posted in National News |
With the dawn of a new year, it was time for Nelson Container Corporation to re-new our cellular phone contract. This activity brings about excitement as our old, well-used phones are replaced by bright shiny new ones. However, the question becomes, what to do with the old, well-used phones. This go around, we collected all the previously used cell phones and donated them to Cell Phones for Soldiers. The Cell Phones for Soldiers program was started in April 2004 by 13-year-old Brittany Bergquist and her 12-year-old brother, Robbie of Norwell, Massachusetts. Through generous donations and the recycling of used cell phones, Robbie and Brittany distribute calling cards to soldiers around the globe. On a side note: Nelson Container also donated thirty used computers to Goodwill. There are homes for used electronic equipment, consider donating them.
Posted in Nelson News |
The corrugated industry continues to lead the way in creating responsible, sustainable products.
* Forest products industry is a leading producer and user of carbon-neutral renewable biomass energy – generating 28.5 million megawatts annually, enough to power 2.7 million homes.
* Forest products industry has reduced consumption of fossil fuels by 56 percent between 1972 and 2006.
* The amount of standing timber in the U.S. as increased by 39 percent since 1952, and by 10 million acres between 1987 and 2002.
* More wood grows in our nation’s forests than is harvested (about 49 percent more), documenting wood fiber as a renewable resource. (USDA Forest Service)
* The Forest Products industry plants 1.7 million new trees each day, growing more than is harvested annually.
* The average box consisted of 43 percent recycled fiber in 2006.
* Corrugated is the single most recycled packaging material: 80.7 percent of corrugated produced in 2008 was recovered for recycling and almost all of that material was recycled into new products.
Posted in National News |
According to “Official Board Markets”, in late February International Paper announced a second board price increase of the year, effective with shipments on April 1. In addition, in the past week, more containerboard producers have told their customers that they are looking to get a $60 per ton price increase. Those board makers include Georgia-Pacific, Temple-Inland, Pratt Industries, and Longview Fiber Paper and Packaging.
Posted in National News |
OCC Demand
Demand for Old Corrugated Containers (OCC) is up sharply over the last four weeks. OCC is the primary material used in making recycled linerboard. As demand goes up, so does the price. Lack of OCC generation is the problem. While the economy has impacted generation, so has the weather. The snowstorms in the Northeast prevented many mills from receiving deliveries. Bad weather in the Southeast has caused problems getting timber out of the woods as mills substitute wood fiber for OCC. Even Chile’s earthquake in February could have an impact on production of recycled containerboard due to the inability to export pulp.
Posted in National News |
