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STFI-PACKFORSK AB & PFI AS ANNUAL REVIEW 2004

STFI-PACKFORSK AB & PFI AS ANNUAL REVIEW 2004

In 1905 Sweden and Norway split up their political union. A hundred years later we are very optimistic about a new union in research. Bringing Nordic expertise to the world is our common ambition.

Message from our President 2

The Divisons of STFI-Packforsk 4

Turning science into reality 8

Board of Directors 16

Graduations 2004 17

STFI-Packforsk Research Council 17

PFI AS 18

Financial statements 22

Contact information 24

ANNUAL REVIEW 20042

At a staff meeting in December 2003, I said, “Next year, 2004, is going to be a year

of consolidation. We will not start any radical projects for changing routines or the

organisation.” I could then hear a clear and deep sigh of relief. The preceding two years had

meant profound changes in the company, consisting of staff cut-backs, a new organisation, a

merger with two other research institutes, Packforsk and Framkom, the introduction of new

budgeting and accounting routines etc. In fact, all three research institutes involved in the

merger were in need of a turn-around at the time.

Major changes in the research and business worlds had changed the situation for a research

institute. A couple of years earlier, the basic public grants had been replaced by an invitation

to seek funding for specific projects in competition with other operating research bodies.

At the same time, industrial customers were in a period of not very prosperous market

conditions. They also began shifting their focus towards the end customer related matters,

which therefore required new questions to be addressed by a research institute.

MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT

ANNUAL REVIEW 2004 3

Looking back at 2004, it seems that we have largely succeeded, with respect to our major

aims. We have been able to achieve reasonable profitability for STFI-Packforsk AB, the

company that materialised from the series of mergers. The company has also successfully

carried out the research programme that was initiated in January, 2003. In fact, a couple of

very interesting industrial and technical ventures concerning, for example, a new process for

layered paper and an efficient process for lignin removal and utilisation, have already been

launched as a result of our research. The French Paper Makers Association, ATIP, bestowed a

fine innovation award, the Palme d´Or, on STFI-Packforsk for its layered paper process.

During 2004, we made two important exceptions to our rule of “No new radical changes”.

The first was the merger of STFI-Packforsk with PFI, Trondheim, Norway. This was a natural

step, since the two research institutes had worked closely together for many decades. The

work at PFI in 2004 can be seen in this annual report. The second exception was STFI-

Packforsk entering into a cooperative agreement with Acreo, a Swedish microelectronics

research institute. This has meant the transfer of an important Visual Interfaces Group into

the STFI-Packforsk organisation.

During 2004, the joint STFI-Packforsk and PFI venture has proved its competitiveness by

acquiring grants and funding for its research. The European Union framework programmes

for research are becoming more and more important. During the last few years, the

company has led forest-based sector related research bodies in their efforts to influence and

acquire funding from the sixth framework programme. In collaboration with universities,

industrial companies and research institutes from all over Europe, no less than three out of

three large Integrated Projects that were proposed have been selected to receive funding

from the European Union. The funding from the EU is in the range of over thirty million

euros. These projects provide a unique opportunity for the forest-based sector in Europe

to utilise cutting edge research for improving its competitiveness in global markets. STFI-

Packforsk was selected to co-ordinate two of the Integrated Projects. This will give the

company a unique overview of research activities going on in its fields of interest.

Last but not least, the joint STFI-Packforsk and PFI venture has proven its competitiveness

in its own international market, by attracting European companies and companies from

North and South America to take part in the research and to utilise our services in their own

product, process and production development. I think it is safe to say that 2004, the year of

consolidation, has shown that the turn-around, and the creation of a new research company,

has been successful.

Thomas Johannesson

ANNUAL REVIEW 20044

FIBRE, PULP & ENERGY

In the FRAM-programme, a mill trial on chip leaching confirmed all

expectations and lignin removal was shown to work successfully in

commercial equipment. The results from the lignin removal are so promising

that AssiDomän Cartonboard has decided to evaluate lignin removal as

one alternative for the future. Know-how gained from the NovaCell project

has been used in the conversion of an NSSC fluting mill to a sulphur-free

operation. The process will be further demonstrated with mill trials during

2005. Interest in the Biorefinery idea is growing. We have started projects

on the utilisation of bark components, hemicelluloses and lignin to value

added chemicals and black liquor gasification, directed at methanol/demethyl

ether. In our industrial research programme, we developed a technique

that can decouple the effects of chemistry and mechanical action on the

strength delivery of kraft fibre. We have also been able to detect changes

during kraft cooking in the cellulose aggregate size and pores, down to the

nanometre level. Altogether, this means that we have the unique tools for

solving the intriguing issue of the “strength delivery” of kraft pulp.

For further information, please contact

Peter Axegård, Director or Lennart Salmén, Deputy Director

PAPERMAKING

In the area of research, a lot of interesting research results have now started to emerge in the

ten clusters we are in charge of. As for the work we have done for many years on the material

modelling of paper and board, it is now beginning to be of practical use in our own research

activities and to our customers. SilviScan, our unique analysis instrument for the measurement of

fibre properties in wood, is being used in quite a few different research projects, both in-house

and for external customers around the world. The second phase of The Engineered Sheet

Structure Cluster, TESS II, recently started up, with eleven companies financing it. At the end

of the year, ECOTARGET started up. This is the second of the EU financed projects that STFI-

Packforsk co-ordinates. It is here that we work with many aspects of our world-leading, process

technology skills in the areas of forming, fractionation and stock chemistry, among other things.


Anders Pettersson, Director or Marie Bäckström, Deputy Director

Mill trials have shown that lignin can be separated from black liquor and refined into bio fuel, for example as compressed pellets.


EUROFEX

One of the keys to the world class EuroFEX contract work is that half of the EuroFEX resources are

used for cluster work while the other half is used for contract work with mills, suppliers and R&D

companies. The balanced activities in both arenas result in an important transfer of knowledge and

know-how from the basic research to the projects run on contract basis. During 2004, about twenty

different consultancy projects took place. All of them generated results that can be used either

directly in product or process development or as an essential step towards producing a commercial

product. In November 2004, the important role of EuroFEX in cluster research was strengthened by

the commencement of TESS II. The challenges for the division during 2005 include the start up of

a large fractionation and refining project, break-through research on linting using the newly installed

offset printing-unit and new consultancy assignments.


Torgny Persson, Director or Anna Wiberg, Deputy Director

In February, SilviScan-3 was inaugurated at STFI-Packforsk. With this new instrument, measurement of wood and fibre properties is carried out on wood samples.

In many ways, 2004 was an eventful year. One highlight was that, among keen competition, the TESS concept was conferred the French Innovation Award by ATIP.

PAPER AS AN INFORMATION MEDIUM

An Advisory Board in Print and Media was formed and two very

constructive meetings were held during 2004. The board consists

of members from the printing related industries and from the paper

industry. Their roles are to provide industrial input to our research in

various ways. In order to find a constructive form of cooperation, a

discussion was instigated with Acreo. The outcome of this discussion

was that three people from the Visual Interfaces Group actually moved

to STFI-Packforsk and thereby the Appearance and Imaging Group at

the division was added to. An agreement of cooperation was also signed

between Acreo and STFI-Packforsk with regard to four different areas.

During 2004, the bond between the division and Karlstad University

(KaU) was strengthened when Luciano Beghello, a professor at KaU, was

appointed part time as a senior advisor in the area of New Functions. His

contribution will primarily come from the vast experience he has had in

the security functions of paper.


Pia Wågberg, Director or Staffan Nyström, Deputy Director

PACKAGING & LOGISTICS

A decision about the final structure of the division, with regard to organisation and

geographic placement, was made during 2004. The Environmental Testing Laboratory for

the testing of products and packages, together with the development of packages is still in

Kista. SustainPack, our big EU project, had its kick-off in June and we will be working with

this for four years. Success in the area of renewable raw materials continued with two

new projects in the VINNOVA Green materials programme. Nanoforest, a roadmap for

the utilisation of nanotechnology with fibres was wound up. The Usability Laboratory was

merged with the Vision Laboratory to form a new Human Product Interaction Laboratory.

Consultancy services underwent a positive development during the year, with order intakes

and profitability on the increase. One striking project of mention is the involvement of the

division in rescuing the Vasa Ship as part of a joint venture.


Kennert Johansson, Director

ANNUAL REVIEW 20046

Subjective assessment of print quality is one part of the new Human Product Interaction Laboratory at STFI-Packforsk.

STRATEGIC INFORMATION

STFI-Packforsk assigned the Strategic Information Division the main responsibility for

composing its new graphics profile, for Beyond, its new customer magazine and for its

website. This has meant working intensively with the increasing involvement of the Company

to provide its customers and interested parties with up to date and easily accessible knowledge,

know-how and information. ChemSource®, a chemical database, has developed the web input

application for chemical suppliers to the pulp and paper industry. Suppliers are able to feed in

and update information about their products in the database, which means that this information

is always current and of real value to the users. ChemSource® is already prepared to fit in with

REACH, a new chemical EU-legislation that is expected to be in force in 2008.


Lisa Tiliander, Director or Carl Olsmats, Deputy Director


The main part of the Packaging & Logistics Division, for example the laboratory for testing barrier materials, is now located at the STFI-Packforsk head office in Stockholm.

The merger of STFI and Packforsk also involved merging two libraries into one. The STFI-Packforsk Information Centre offers a wide range of information services to customers worldwide and fast, efficient access via the Internet.

The graphic profile of the company has been changed. It includes a new logo that is

somewhat more colourful than the previous one. One can still recognise the schematic

glucose ring, characteristic of the cellulose fibre, even though it has been stylised and has

started to rotate. Like the logo, the company is now more vibrant and dynamic, gaining

strength in new areas of proficiency all along the length of the value chains, from the raw

material to the end product, from science to industrial applications.

Our more colourful, rotating logo is accompanied by a new motto:

“… turning science into reality …”

So, what does this mean?

It means a number of things. Firstly, it means that open research from the best research

groups all over the world is used as a basis for the creation of industrially relevant Knowledge

Platforms by our own application oriented research. It also means that we are going further

building Technology Platforms, where scientific and technical findings are complemented by

other kinds of data, allowing industrial companies to evaluate the knowledge for its business

values. A few such Technology Platforms are presented on these pages. In order to reach

“… into reality”, the new motto also means that we assist our customer companies in their

own development and implementation of new technology through single client contract

assignments. By their nature, such assignments are not openly presented.

“Into reality” not only means the reality of today, it also has our future reality as an aim. It

is a necessity for a research company to “know in advance”, in order to create the skills for

meeting future challenges. In co-operation with our customers, Foresight Studies are created

as a tool when forming our research programmes and as a platform for our marketing

discussions.

Thirdly, “… turning science into reality …” also requires us to understand the business and

operations of our customer companies. In order to be able to serve our customers even

better, we have added skills to our traditional areas of expertise over the last few years.

This has been achieved by our merging with no less than four other high quality research

institutes, all possessing complementary skills. Our collective basic areas of expertise now

cover three full value chains, ending in print and media, in packaging and the supply chain,

and in bio-based fuels, chemicals and materials, respectively. This broadening of our skills also

means that we can now attack problems with reference to a full value chain. One example

of this is the assessment of environmental effects. As we progress, we will carefully and

continually select areas in this large field of expertise, where we will develop special cutting

TURNING SCIENCE INTO REALITY

ANNUAL REVIEW 20048

edge scientific and technical activities of high potential value to the future of our customers.

In developing our research programmes and our key skills, we will collaborate closely

with our customers. Our long term customers, viz. our Partners, are intensely involved in

discussions concerning the direction of our research. They also take part in Advisory Boards,

advising us in the execution of the Research Programme. Many of our customers participate

in our Trade and Industry Groups on various themes, to analyse the situation and to identify

areas for research and development. These groupings allow us to have very deep and broad

contact with industries of interest. They are also efficient in making our customers aware at

an early stage of what is going on in R&D, worldwide.

Fourthly, the new motto requires us to have a global view of research as well as of industry.

In research, we collaborate with scientists from all over the world and, in the last few years,

our activities in the European Union framework programmes have been intensified. We are

now the co-ordinator of two of the large Integrated Projects that the European Commission

has awarded to the forest-based sector. As regards our customers, a number of companies

from Scandinavia, the rest of Europe and North and South America have chosen to use us

as their supplier of science based technical knowledge,

information and services.

After only a few years of development, STFI-Packforsk is

now a new company. At its core, the same high quality

standard of scientific expertise can still be found. However,

it now reaches even further into the scientific world and

into the world of business.

Thomas Johannesson


into realityturning science

RENEWABLE PACKAGES

There are several requirements that must be met for a new material to be interesting, from the point of

view of food-packaging. Among the most important demands are good barrier and mechanical properties,

together with low costs. Barrier properties are very important, since many foodstuffs have to be protected

from oxygen and moisture to maintain their good quality. Other food packages need appropriate barrier

materials to prevent the loss of moisture or protective gases in the package, to give just two examples.

Several different renewable materials have been studied for packaging applications, but only a few are

on the market today. The most commonly used renewable packaging material is cellulose pulp fibres in

corrugated board, paperboard and paper, for example. However, oxygen barrier properties are a necessity

when it comes to the packaging of oxygen sensitive foodstuffs, such as juices and sauces. Paper sheets and

paperboards are far too permeable without the presence of additional barrier layers.

MINT – ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS AND NETWORK FOR THE NEWSPAPER INDUSTRY

With the support of Tidningsutgivarna (Swedish Newspaper Publishers’ Association) and Nutek, work began

in 1998 at IMT/Framkom with developing environmental indicators

to describe environmental impact for different kinds of newspaper

industries. Significant environmental aspects were identified through

the carrying out of detailed inventories by the participating companies. A great deal of work was put into

producing common definitions for environmental impact measurements reflecting the significant aspects.

Environmental impact measurements were then related to measurements for utilities (e.g. tonnes of

products and turnover). After the research projects had come to an end, work with the environmental

indicators continued, through financing from the companies.

MOTTLING

When buying its first system in 1980, STFI became a pioneer in the forest industry, concerning computerised

Image Analysis. The dominating fields of application then became paper sheet structure and print quality.

Print mottle, i.e. unwanted patterns of varying reflectance in prints, was one important quality factor

for which an adequate measuring technique was lacking. On the other hand, STFI had a long tradition of

measuring local grammage variations in paper (formation). This constituted a basis when considering how

to best characterise the annoying unevenness in prints. The solution became a frequency based bandpassing

technique, which is able to bring out the specific size of patterns that a human viewer finds most disturbing.

This could not have been done without the perceptual studies of perceived print quality and knowledge of

the spatial sensitivity of our visual system.

ANNUAL REVIEW 200410

into reality


LIGNOBOOST – A PROFITABLE SEPARATION OF LIGNIN

A chemical pulp mill produces, as a by-product, large amounts of black liquor. Today, the black liquor is

normally incinerated in the mill in the recovery boiler with recovery of the heat content in the form of steam

and regenerated cooking chemicals. Modern market pulp mills have a steam surplus. The only realistic way

to use this excess steam is to produce electricity in condensing power turbines. The energy efficiency would

increase significantly if lignin could be separated from black liquor and refined into lignin bio fuel and/or

chemicals. In addition, the lignin separation would enable the mill to increase the production without heavy

investments in cases when the recovery boiler is limiting the pulp capacity.

We have recently shown that lignin can be separated very efficiently from black liquor in black liquor

evaporation by acid precipitation or directly from circulated cooking liquor by membrane separation.

RUNNABILITY IN THE PRINTING PRESS

Runnability is a key parameter for stable and high quality production in a printing press. It is desirable

for printers to have the vital data that can be correlated to the runnability. Today’s paper testing do not

characterize the interaction with water, which is an important oversight, due to the fact that water is

transferred to the paper web as part of the offset process. How a paper web interacts with water can

vary enormously and these are variations that can cause tremendous disturbances in the press. In order to

evaluate the runnability of different paper grades, the printer (or paper producer) is often obliged to carry

out full scale printing trials, which can prove to be both an expensive and somewhat complicated procedure.

Together with DNEX, a printing house in Akalla, Stockholm, STFI-Packforsk has developed a new way of

testing how runnability in an offset press is related to the properties of paper reels. This method provides

both printers and papermakers with significant information about how the paper will have an effect on the

printing press.

FIBERMASTER

From a long tradition of optical sensors for the characterisation of fibres in suspension (resulting in the

Marcus Wallenberg prize) at STFI-Packforsk, the idea was born to measure fibres in suspension using

image analysis. The idea for a feasible technical solution was developed from more basic research, based on

knowledge of the structure and behaviour of fibres in a flowing suspension. In close cooperation with several

interested companies – all large pulp and paper producers – the idea was developed into an industrially

functional prototype and, later on, to a durable, robust and easily-serviced on-line measurement system

for fibre length, fibre width and fibre curl. The manufacturing and marketing of the STFI FiberMaster was

eventually divorced from STFI-Packforsk. These activities were operated for several successful years by an

independent company, FiberTracker, before Lorentzen & Wettre purchased the company in 2002.

FIBERMASTER

The first STFI FiberMaster was sold and installed by FiberTracker in 1998.

To date (2004) a total of 29 instruments have been delivered. Of these, 15

have been delivered in Sweden, 11 in Europe and 3 to the rest of the world.

Seventeen of the FiberMasters are used on-line and 12 are used as laboratory

instruments.

The instruments are typically used for the monitoring and control of

variations in the pulp composition and for analysing changes on the fibre

morphology in the entire process line. The combination of fibre strength

and fibre morphology is essential for classifying pulp quality. One good

example is Södra Cell AB which has equipped its four mills with on-line STFI

FiberMasters for classifying their market pulp. For its customer service, Södra

Cell uses data from an STFI FiberMaster combined with measurements of the

fibre strength (zero-span) to advise its customers as to the best use of its products.

During the last 10 years, STFI-Packforsk has used STFI FiberMaster in different

projects, together with companies from the pulp and paper industry. As an

example, such research has increased understanding as to how fibre morphology is

affected in different processes and how fibre morphology is related to product quality.

LIGNOBOOST

Based upon the new technique tests were done in Bäckhammars Bruk 2004. The

results were so promising that a large scale industrial system from Larox was tested

in the Bäckhammar mill during the fall 2004. The trials verified all expectations. In

total about 8 tonnes of high quality lignin was produced. The lignin has been found

to be very suitable for making high density pellets. Careful technical and economical

analysis also show that, in case of a capacity limiting recovery boiler, the profitability

is attractive. The results from the lignin removal are so promising that AssiDomän

Cartonboard has decided to evaluate lignin removal as one alternative for the

future.

All results will be summarised during the summer of 2005. The future work will

focus on a large scale demonstration plant, upgrading of the lignin, use in different

types of furnaces, including the lime kiln, as well as feed-stock for

different chemicals in co-operation with the Biorefinery cluster.

RUNNABILITY

The new test method, which corresponds to the conditions that actually exist

in an offset printing press, has been developed on LINDA, a pilot machine at

STFI-Packforsk. With this new method, STFI-Packforsk is able to measure and

document the paper properties relevant for running a paper web.

Paper reels are delivered to STFI-Packforsk, mounted in LINDA and fed through

at the relevant speed and moisture application. When water is applied, paper

changes its dimensions in the longitudinal and lateral directions. Such changes in

the dimensions of the paper are recorded. In 2004, full-scale printing trials and

corresponding LINDA trials were performed with good agreement in observed

behaviour. The method is still under development and, in the near future, printers

and paper producers will have the great opportunity of testing paper runnability

in a rapid, standardised and pertinent process.

into reality FIBERMASTER

The first STFI FiberMaster was sold and installed by FiberTracker in 1998. To date

(2004) a total of 29 instruments have been delivered. Of these, 15 have been

delivered in Sweden, 11 in Europe and 3 to the rest of the world. Seventeen of the

FiberMasters are used on-line and 12 are used as laboratory instruments.

The instruments are typically used for the monitoring and control of variations in the

pulp composition and for analysing changes on the fibre morphology in the entire

process line. The combination of fibre strength and fibre morphology is essential

for classifying pulp quality. One good example is Södra Cell AB which has equipped

its four mills with on-line STFI FiberMasters for classifying their market pulp. For its

customer service, Södra Cell uses data from an STFI FiberMaster combined with

measurements of the fibre strength (zero-span) to advise its customers as to the best

use of its products.

During the last 10 years, STFI-Packforsk has used STFI FiberMaster in different

projects, together with companies from the pulp and paper industry. As an example,

such research has increased understanding as to how fibre morphology is affected in

different processes and how fibre morphology is related to product quality.

LIGNOBOOST

Based upon the new technique tests were done in Bäckhammars Bruk 2004. The

results were so promising that a large scale industrial system from Larox was tested

in the Bäckhammar mill during the fall 2004. The trials verified all expectations. In

total about 8 tonnes of high quality lignin was produced. The lignin has been found

to be very suitable for making high density pellets. Careful technical and economical

analysis also show that, in case of a capacity limiting recovery boiler, the profitability

is attractive. The results from the lignin removal are so promising that AssiDomän

Cartonboard has decided to evaluate lignin removal as one alternative for the

future.

All results will be summarised during the summer of 2005. The future work will

focus on a large scale demonstration plant, upgrading of the lignin, use in different

types of furnaces, including the lime kiln, as well as feed-stock for

different chemicals in co-operation with the Biorefinery cluster.

into reality

RENEWABLE PACKAGES

The research focuses on the packaging related properties of films or composites

made from chitosan, whey proteins and wheat gluten. The main reasons why

these materials have been chosen are their low oxygen permeability and the fact

that they can be extracted from low-cost industrial by-products. By combining

different renewable materials, new composite materials offering good packaging

properties can be developed.

Coatings of chitosan, wheat gluten and whey proteins have also been developed

to improve the gas barrier properties of paper or paperboard substrates.

Coatings of a beeswax compound, renewable alkyds and nitro-cellulose are also

being studied as water barriers. The packaging related mechanical and barrier

properties of compression moulded or extruded wheat gluten films, with regard

to plasticiser content, aging, plasticisation, dwell time and temperature, are

currently being investigated.

The ultimate aim is to introduce renewable barrier composites and production

methods for making these materials commercially interesting alternatives to the

materials commonly in use today.

MINT

STFI-Packforsk annually updates inventory and calculation tools and a database, as

well as scrutinising and compiling the inventory data. Mint comprises the common

environmental indicators of the trade and an environmental network for the news-

paper industry. At present 20 companies make an inventory each year.

The overall aim of Mint is to increase the staying power of individual newspaper

companies and to strengthen the environmental image of the specific company and

the trade. Environmental indicators provide knowledge about the companies’ own

operations; a knowledge that provides a basis for environmental improvements,

employee motivation and company image. Using benchmarking with mean values

for the different groups of companies and the company’s own values from year to

year, a company can easily identify its options for making improvements and mea-

suring the results of its environmental work. The environmental indicators describe

the aspects that have the most significance, from an environmental point of view

for the newspaper industry. As a result, they are suitable for communicating to

customers, the public, authorities and employees.

Mint was awarded an honourable mention by SIS (the Swedish Standards Institute)

Indicator Competition 2004 for the best environmental indicators in Sweden.

Can you see the difference?

MOTTLING

The result was an instrumental measurement of print mottle with an excellent correlation

with the visual appraisal. This method immediately proved to be a very useful tool for the

evaluation of test prints and it engendered a lot of interest from the papermakers who

had a need for such a tool for their development and production control systems. The real

spread of the technology, however, was initially hampered by the limiting capacity of earlier

computers, which meant that an analysis such as this was carried out only on dedicated

image processors that were available at R&D centres rather than in mill laboratories.

Besides its initial application for print mottle, the desk-top solution of today is also used for

other appearance aspects, such as patterns in white-top board and optical formation. The

ongoing R&D of the analysis system attempts to provide estimates of specific print mottle,

such as bands, streaks and colour variations that frequently appear in digital prints, for

example. The software is now used worldwide in different applications by STFI-Packforsk

customers for understanding the mottle phenomenon and to ensure product quality.

MINT

STFI-Packforsk annually updates inventory and calculation tools and a database, as

well as scrutinising and compiling the inventory data. Mint comprises the common

environmental indicators of the trade and an environmental network for the news-

paper industry. At present 20 companies make an inventory each year.

The overall aim of Mint is to increase the staying power of individual newspaper

companies and to strengthen the environmental image of the specific company and

the trade. Environmental indicators provide knowledge about the companies’ own

operations; a knowledge that provides a basis for environmental improvements,

employee motivation and company image. Using benchmarking with mean values

for the different groups of companies and the company’s own values from year to

year, a company can easily identify its options for making improvements and mea-

suring the results of its environmental work. The environmental indicators describe

the aspects that have the most significance, from an environmental point of view

for the newspaper industry. As a result, they are suitable for communicating to

customers, the public, authorities and employees.

Mint was awarded an honourable mention by SIS (the Swedish Standards Institute)

Indicator Competition 2004 for the best environmental indicators in Sweden.

Can you see the difference?


Per Lindberg, chairman (1)President, Billerud AB

Stina Blombäck (2)Mill Manager, Billerud Karlsborg AB

Peter Edwall (3) Manager, Technology & Environment, Mondi Packaging Dynäs AB

Staffan Erenmalm (4) Group Vice President, ABB Ltd.

Anders Flodström (5)President, KTH

Lars Gädda (6) Senior Vice President, Research and Development M-real Corporation

Yngve Stade (7) Senior Executive Vice President Corporate Support, Stora Enso Oyj, President, Stora Enso AB

Håkan Widmark (8) President IRECO Holding AB

Sven Wird (9)Senior Vice President, Group Technology, Holmen AB

DEPUTIESGeorg E Carlberg (10) Vice President Research and Development, Norske Skog

Karin Emilsson (11) R&D Director, Södra Cell Research and Development

Birgit Erngren Wohlin (12)Former Director General

Torbjörn Pettersson (13)Managing Director, Paper & Board, Kappa Packaging

PERSONNEL REPRESENTATIVESAnna Jacobs, CF (14)Pierre Ljungquist, SIF (15)

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

RESEARCH COUNCIL

Thomas Berglin Senior Vice President, Strategy and Technology, Eka Chemicals ABGunilla Jönson Professor, Lunds Tekniska Högskola Peter Gärdenfors Professor, Lunds Universitet Nils Enlund Professor, Kungl Tekniska Högskolan Bengt Kasemo Professor, Chalmers Björn Lindman Professor, Lunds Universitet Henrik Alfredsson Professor, Kungl Tekniska Högskolan Karl Åström Professor, Lunds Tekniska Högskola

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14 15


Jonas Bergström, Lic EngFiber suspension velocity measurements in a cylindrical through-flow hydrocyclone

Isabel Endres, Lic EngCompression uniformity measurements on coated and uncoated paper surfaces

Gustavo Gil Barros, Lic EngOptical topographical characterisation for flexographic printability assessment

Orlando Girlanda, Lic EngExperimental study and numerical simulation of delamination in multiply paperboard during offset printing

Mikael Gällstedt, PhDFilms and composites based on chitosan, wheat gluten or whey proteins – Their packaging related mechanical and barrier properties

Erik Hallberg, Lic Eng Print quality of post-printed corrugated board

Elisabet Horvath, Lic EngAppropriate conditions for polyelectrolyte titration to determine the charge of cellulosic fibers

Mikael Krook, PhDPackaging related properties of polymer nanocomposites and pulp fiber/polymer blends and laminates

Cecilia Land, Lic EngLaboratory method for the study of moisture-induced waviness in paper

Jan Lif, PhDAnalysis of the time and humidity-dependent mechanical behaviour of paper webs at offset printing press conditions

Siv Lindberg, PhDPerceptual determinants of print quality

GRADUATIONS 2004

Vinicius Lobosco, PhDOn the modelling of mechanical dewatering in papermaking

Martin Löfgren, Lic EngPackaging and customer value. A service perspective

Behudin Mesic, Lic EngPrintability of polymer-coated board

Cristian Neagu, Lic EngHygroelastic properties of wood fibres for composite applications

Per V Persson, PhDStrategies for cellulose fiber modification

Erik Svanholm, Lic EngAn experimental study of inkjet receptive coatings. Effects of poly(vinyl alcohol) and silica on printability.

Henrik Ullsten, Lic EngBarrier plastics, processing of wheat gluten and a new method to measure permeability

Magnus Viström, Lic EngCustomised information on packaging – driving forces and logistical aspects

Peter Åslund, Lic EngDynamic measurement of water-induced roughening in paper surfaces by a new optical method

PFI ASErik Lieng, PhD Analysis of structures and properties of fibre based materials using image analysis

Rune Holmstad, PhD Methods for paper structure characterisation by means of image analyses


I believe many people in the pulp and paper business

are familiar with the name PFI and some will perhaps say

that PFI stands for Papirindustriens Forskningsinstitutt,

an old acquaintance of STFI-Packforsk. What may have

gone unnoticed is the fact that PFI now stands for Papir-

og fiberinstituttet AS or the Paper and Fibre Research

Institute in English. The change of name has a bearing

on PFI’s new orientation.Wood fibres had become so

central to PFI’s core expertise that it had to be reflected

in the name. The great change, however, was that PFI

was reorganised from a Norwegian self-owned sectoral

institute to a private research company that is owned

95 % by STFI-Packforsk AB. The time had come to

operate on a Nordic basis and think globally.

PFI BECOMES A NORWEGIAN GROUP COMPANY OF STFI-PACKFORSK AB

For PFI the union meant concentration in certain

research areas where PFI’s expertise was ahead of or

supplementary to that of STFI-Packforsk. The idea was

to serve clients with the best technologies available from

Trondheim or Stockholm. In addition, expert teams

could easily be established with participation from

both institutes. STFI-Packforsk’s innovative research

programmes are arenas which will benefit PFI’s clients

scientifically as well as financially. This has involved PFI’s

researchers in joint work, and our vision is that together

we can become internationally leading.

2004 was a very productive year at the PFI. 24 people

created a profit of NOK 2.8 million, more than double


the budget. Our staff rolled up their sleeves to create a

new platform for PFI. Last, but not least, our Norwegian

industrial owners supported the reorganisation

by guaranteeing a considerable amount of work.

Nevertheless, PFI had to find new customers and look for

them in new markets.

It should not be forgotten that reorganising a company

is not easy. Some people had to leave PFI to secure a

sound financial basis for the new company. Cutting staff

is always painful, but the situation was eased by a good

dialogue between the parties and a satisfactory financial

compensation. The process reminded us of something that

is equally important for a successful relationship between

STFI-Packforsk and PFI. We need to communicate, often

and effectively. It is a great challenge to merge two

companies, in two nations, of different sizes and each with

their specific culture. I am pleased to state that in the case

of PFI and STFI-Packforsk the differences should not be a

problem. The will to adapt to each other and profit from

the differences has been felt from the very start.

The team-building began early in 2004, and both parties

agree that this first year was a very good start.

Co-operation has been established in several projects, and

ideas have been generated about what kind of research

should be carried out to meet new market trends.

Both the Norwegian and Swedish governments have

expressed the wish to support research-driven innovation.

Making science into reality is what it is all about. Our

challenge is to see the best opportunities with the

expertise that we have today and the type of expertise

that we will be able to develop in the near future. Three

words come to my mind regarding tomorrow’s products

and processes: functionality, materials technology and

sustainability.

Philip Reme

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Thomas Johannesson, chairman President STFI-Packforsk AB

Anders Pettersson, vice chairman Director Papermaking Division STFI-Packforsk AB

Georg E. Carlberg Vice President Research and Development Norske Skog

Karl Gustaf Ekfeldt CFO Finance & Human Resources, STFI-Packforsk AB

Per Arne Syrrist Vice President Purchasing and ContractsM. Peterson & Søn A/S

PERSONNEL REPRESENTATIVEIngvild Andersen JohnsenResearch Scientist


Wood-containing printing paper is PFI’s chief concern.

It is the dominating product of the Norwegian industry

with newsprint as the number one article. Thus,

paper physics and mechanical pulp are focus areas.

Print through, dimensional stability and linting are

three main areas that present a challenge both for the

manufacturers and us.

Focus on emerging markets such as in Asia and Latin

America requires knowledge about new tree species

for the production of mechanical pulp. Raw material

properties and the reduction of energy consumption

are both important challenges.

An area of increasing interest is novel materials. PFI’s

generic knowledge about wood fibre and wood

chemistry is the basis for our engagement into

composite materials where plastics and wood fibres

are combined. The emerging nano-technologies make it

possible to modify fibres in new ways and create novel

materials with qualities that had not been thought of.

Numerous applications are possible. Novel materials is

yet another way of making science into reality.

The right kind of surface

The surface of a material is what meets the eye and

what you can touch with your hands. For paper and

board, the surface is often the place to print on, and

pigment coating is then applied to obtain the desired

surface quality. Optimal coating is dependent on the

base paper, its pores and structure, the characteristics

of the coating pigments, the qualities of the binder, and

the interactions between them all.

Researchers at PFI have demonstrated how microscopy

and image analysis can be used to characterise

important coating structure details such as pore shape,

size and orientation. Osmium tetroxide was used to

stain the binder so that it was possible to study cross-

sections of the coating layer and its pore structure. A

routine for measuring the pigment particle orientation

has also been developed. So far, cross-section analysis

has not been achieved by other methods, and the new

techniques will help customise the coating to different

paper qualities. PFI researchers have also developed

methods for describing the surface topography details

and relate these to print quality.

Refining process and fibre quality

Reduction of the specific energy consumption in

refining, stable refiner operation, even pulp quality and

the development of suitable fibre properties are key

issues for producers of mechanical pulps. However,

neither the fundamental refining mechanisms nor

the role and significance of different mechanical pulp

components are fully understood today.

The research group at PFI and PhD students at the

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

have been working with issues such as in-refiner

measurements of pressure and temperature and the

role of extractives in refining. Another ongoing study is

focused on seasonal variations in pulp properties and

their effects on paper properties. Results point towards

a connection between the paper strength and the

composition of extractives.

High quality printing papers are increasing the demands

concerning surface and optical properties. Hence, the

effects of different mechanical pulp fractions and the

optimization of fibre furnish and z-directional paper

structure are the topics of yet another ongoing research

project.

Development of novel materials – it never stops

Wood fibres are the building blocks for a number of

products. New ways of treating wood fibres make

FOCUS AREAS IN PFI RESEARCH


it feasible to develop new materials and products.

Emerging nano-technologies are now being exploited

to develop novel materials based on wood fibres or

cellulose. For instance, wood fibres can be utilised to

reinforce plastics to achieve the excellent moulding

properties of plastics and the genuine qualities of wood.

Nanoparticles also appear capable of approaching the

goal to tailor the barrier properties of plastics.

This is particularly interesting for the food industry.

New packaging materials that will make the food stay

fresh longer, reduce the need for conservation agents and

produce less waste, are welcomed by producers, retailers

and consumers. PFI’s researchers are working on this.

Safe food packaging

Bacteria, fungi, toxic combinations or smell are not

unknown problems for the pulp and paper industry.

Packaging for the food industry is an important product,

and being able to prove chemical and biological purity is

a major concern.

PFI’s project on safe food packaging was started in

2000 with three main goals: to make a survey of the

hygienic standard of the participant’s various products,

to help pulp and paper manufacturers gain knowledge

about which conditions affect the hygienic standard of

their products, and finally, to familiarise producers with

European rules and regulations.

The project was a success. The survey showed that the

sanitary level was within existing standards, producers

got a better understanding of risk elements with regard

to the choice of raw materials, production processes

and storing. They were also introduced to the test

methods for materials in contact with foodstuffs.

The project was summarised in an open workshop,

confirming the evaluation of the participating companies.

As a result, they were much better prepared to meet

new and stricter European Commission regulations that

are on the way.

The campus of Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, Norway, where PFI is located. In June 2004, this campus was the centre of a successful conference. The Progress in Paper Physics Seminar (PPP 2004) was held in Trondheim 21 to 24 June and had 117 participants from 17 countries. The seminar discussed the latest developments in a wide range of paper physics themes. Within characterisation of paper structures and print quality, NTNU and PFI gave several presentations which attracted great interest. Photo: NTNU Info/FW Foto AS.


PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT GROUP 2004-01-01 2003-01-01 2004-12-31 2003-12-31

Operating incomeNet sales 262 776 230 131Changes in work on contract 7 476 1 722Other operating income 3 363 2 591

273 615 234 444Operating expensesRaw materials, consumables and subcontractors -669 -1 680Other external expenses -82 156 -76 701Personnel expenses -170 442 -150 826Depreciation -12 901 -14 706Other operating expenses -71 -Items affecting comparability - -2 130

Operating profit/loss 7 376 -11 599

Financial income and expenseOther interest income and similar revenues 1 384 5 388Interest expense and similar items -1 115 -1 368

Profit/loss after financial items 7 645 -7 579

Tax on profit for the year 61 1 581Minority interests in profit for the year -145 -

PROFIT/LOSS FOR THE YEAR 7 561 -5 998

BALANCE SHEET GROUP 2004-12-31 2003-12-31

ASSETS

Fixed assets

Tangible assetsBuildings 11 782 13 044Equipment, tools, fixtures and fittings 10 038 11 528Fixed assets in progress 2 272 4 831

24 092 29 403Financial fixed assetsTenant-owners right 5 249 5 249Other long-term receivables 3 581 2 743SPP-funds - 3 826

8 830 11 818Total fixed assets

Current assets

Inventories and work in progressSupplies and consumables - 68Work on contract - 573

0 641

m m

Turnover by business areas

Exploratory Research 28 %

Industrial Research 46 %

Consulting 26 %

Income

Operating profit


Current receivablesAccounts receivable 21 936 22 457Other receivables 12 695 47 616Prepaid expenses and accrued income 8 943 8 190

43 574 78 263

Short-term investments 9 000 -

Cash and bank balances ( limit SEK 20m ) 45 021 11 179

Total current assets 97 595 90 083

TOTAL ASSETS 130 517 131 304

SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY & LIABILITIES

Shareholders equity

Restricted equityShare capital 110 110Restricted reserves 50 861 50 861

50 971 50 971Unrestricted equityUnrestricted reserves -20 545 -14 547Profit/loss for the year 7 561 -5 998

-12 984 -20 545

Total shareholders equity 37 987 30 426

Minority interest 163 0

ProvisionsProvisions for pensions and similar liabilities 12 618 13 839Other provisions 653 -

13 271 13 839Long-term liabilitiesLiabilities to creditor 3 331 3 976The 1951 Donation 635 691Other long-term liabilities - 2 500

3 966 7 167Current liabilitiesAdvance payment from customers 2 500 -Work in progress 4 207 -Accounts payable 9 698 9 782Other short-term liabilities 25 883 22 214Accrued expenses and deferred income 32 842 47 876

75 130 79 872

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY & LIABILITIES 130 517 131 304

Provided guarantees 3 210 5 294Contingent liability guarantees 252 277


STFI-Packforsk AB

Head office

Box 5604

SE-114 86 STOCKHOLM

Sweden

Visit address: Drottning Kristinas väg 61

Phone: +46 8 676 70 00

Fax: +46 8 411 55 18

E-mail: [email protected]

Kista office

Box 9

SE-164 93 KISTA

Sweden

Visit address: Torshamnsgatan 24

Fax: +46 8 751 38 89

Örnsköldsvik office

c/o DPC Mittuniversitetet

SE-891 18 ÖRNSKÖLDSVIK

Sweden

Visit address: Järnvägsgatan 3

Fax: +46 660 578 60

PFI AS

Høgskoleringen 6b

NO-7491 TRONDHEIM

Norway

Phone: +47 73 55 09 00

Fax: +47 73 55 09 99

E-mail: [email protected]

www.stfi-packforsk.se

www.pfi.no

PFI AS

Established 8 October 2004, succeeding Norwegian

Pulp and Paper Research Institute (PFI), a research

foundation dating back to 1923.

From 1 February 2004, PFI AS is owned 95 % by

STFI-Packforsk AB, the rest by the industrial concerns

Norske Skog, M. Peterson & Søn, Borregaard and

Södra Cell with 1 % each. The old foundation,

Norwegian Pulp and Paper Research Institute, also

holds 1 % of the shares.

PFI is located on the campus of the Norwegian

University of Science and Technology in Trondheim,

Norway.

The company has 25 employees. 70 % of the

research scientists hold doctoral degrees.

For further information:

www.pfi.no

STFI-PACKFORSK AB

STFI-Packforsk is one of the world’s leading R&D

companies in the fields of pulp, paper, graphic

media, packaging and logistics. The activities range

from basic research to direct assignments along

three value chains: packaging, graphic media and

biobased energy and chemicals.

STFI-Packforsk is to 51 % owned by six nordic

companies: Billerud, Holmen, Korsnäs, M-real, Stora

Enso and Södra. 29 % is owned by the government

through IRECO Holding, 10 % by STFI’s Association

of Interested Parties, and 10 % by Private Owners

Association Packforsk.

STFI-Packforsk has 250 employees and is located in

Stockholm and Örnsköldsvik.

For further information: www.stfi-packforsk.se

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