Recovered fiber collectors, processors, traders and consumers have a chance to network and the choice of a variety of informational sessions at the 2009 European Paper Recycling Conference (EPRC), to be held in Brussels, Nov. 16-17.
This year’s event is jointly sponsored and organized by United Kingdom-based Pira International and the Recycling Today Media Group, based in Richfield, Ohio.
The event has been taking place annually since 2005, drawing recyclers and traders from Europe and other parts of the world who wish to gain a sense of issues and trends affecting recovered fiber flows within Europe and beyond.
The conference’s organizers say the event adheres to its tradition of bringing together the supply and consuming sides of the recovered fiber business to discuss key issues as well as to explore trading opportunities.
Programming for the 2009 event has been designed to include panel discussions with prominent industry executives as well as presentations covering current business and operational trends affecting both the European and larger international secondary fiber industry.
The EPRC also includes a display area featuring equipment and service providers showcasing the latest products and technology offered to the market to improve production efficiency and quality and to increase capacity.
The 2009 conference is “a must-attend event for European paper recycling professionals looking to stay abreast of the latest industry trends and meet the challenges of the global marketplace,” according to a news release from Pira International.
KEEPING TRACK
For the first time in its history, the EPRC features more than one programming track. Instead of its traditional single programming track, the conference features three parallel tracks this year:
• Merchant/Trading;
• Recycling Plant Operations; and
• Mill Technical.
The conference’s overall programming, split nearly evenly between sessions Monday, Nov. 16, and Tuesday, Nov. 17, includes four combined or general sessions (two on each day), with 12 sessions (six on each day) that are part of the three tracks.
Monday morning’s keynote session offers an economic perspective that includes a macroeconomic look at the European Union and the global economy, followed by a general session titled “The Future of Paper Recycling.”
Tuesday morning’s keynote session is titled “Continued Investment in Paper Manufacturing,” examining investments made in the recovered fiber and paper manufacturing sectors in Europe during the past several years.
|
PAINTING A VIVID PICTURE |
| Organizers of the 2009 European Paper Recycling Conference have chosen a venue with distinctive character in the form of the Hotel Bloom! in Brussels. On its Web site (www.hotelbloom.com), the hotel’s owners describe the property as place where visitors “can have a brighter, more dynamic and more fun stay.” Foremost among the aspects that make the property unique is the inclusion of a fresco, or wall painting, in each guest room, as well as in the hotel’s shared spaces. According to its Web site, the managers of the Hotel Bloom! say they “wanted a unique way to illustrate [the Bloom! concept] right inside the spacious rooms. So we thought of painting them to illustrate the Bloom theme.” To move from concept to reality, according to the Web site, “We contacted ELIA (the European League of the Institutes of the Arts), a body that represents almost 350 art institutes across 47 countries and encompasses every creative art form.” ELIA addressed the project, says Hotel Bloom!, by “looking for trendy young European artists through member institutes, setting up a selection committee and selecting the artists based on specific criteria.” The Web site reads, “The result is a totally unique view inside the contemporary art world across Europe. All this [is] inside your Brussels hotel, providing both a fashionable touch to each hotel room and a stimulating environment for the visitor.” In addition to its trademark frescos, the property also includes what its managers call an “ultra-healthy” breakfast restaurant called OO! and a cozy living-room-motif restaurant and lounge called Smoods. |
It is followed by a general session offering a “Mill Buyers’ Perspective,” featuring a panel of buyers offering their views on fiber availability and quality.
Attendees get their first chance to break out into the separate tracks Monday afternoon. During that time, the Merchant/Trading track offers a session focusing on opportunities and challenges in Eastern Europe and another session offering market insight into Asia’s developing markets.
The Recycling Plant Operations track on Monday afternoon includes one session providing a look at new technologies being offered to the market and a second session consisting of presentations highlighting operational procedures and equipment that can reduce costs for recycling plant managers.
Monday afternoon’s Mill Technical track provides one session on current deinking challenges and another session on maximizing yield at mills that use recovered fiber feedstock.
The conference’s programming concludes with additional sessions in each track Tuesday afternoon. The Merchant/Trading track offers a session focusing on trends affecting high grade fiber, while a second session looks closely at packaging grades.
Tuesday’s Recycling Plant Operations sessions include one on logistics—from trucking to ocean shipping—and another on meeting mill specifications.
The Mill Technical track Tuesday offers one session titled “Managing Stickies,” which looks at the ongoing problems mills have with adhesives that are part of the recovered fiber stream. The second Tuesday session looks at energy-saving technologies being used by paper mills, including using residues as an alternative energy feedstock.
MORE TO DO
When sessions are not in progress, conference attendees have several opportunities to make new industry contacts or to conduct business with their established trading partners.
Monday morning, refreshments are served as the registration desk opens before the first session. After the two morning sessions, attendees and exhibitors alike dine together at a group lunch.
After Monday’s afternoon sessions, the exhibit area serves as the site of a cocktail reception that again allows attendees and exhibitors to network.
Tuesday’s EPRC programming again starts off with morning refreshments and features another group lunch at mid-day.
EPRC 2009 attendees can also take advantage of other recycling industry events taking place during the same week in Brussels. Monday evening, attendees have been invited to attend the annual dinner of Coberec (Confédération belge de la Récupération), the recycling federation of host nation Belgium. The Coberec dinner takes place in coordination with a Paper Week event being hosted in Brussels by CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries).
CEPI’s Paper Week, which takes place from Nov. 17 to 19, is designed to attract executives and managers from Europe’s paper making industry. More information on that event can be found at www.cepi.org.
Those seeking additional information on the EPRC event or wishing to register can visit www.PaperRecyclingEurope.com or contact Natalie King at Pira International at Natalie.king@pira-international.com.
The author is editor in chief of Recycling Today and can be contacted at btaylor@gie.net.