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Press Releases & Other News

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August 2006

WMU to hold October Barrier Coating Symposium

KALAMAZOO --Paper technology specialists at Western Michigan University will act as hosts to the University's fourth Barrier Coating Symposium Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 9 and 10, at the engineering college and Fetzer Center on the WMU campus.

The informative symposium offers a full program that will provide papermakers, suppliers, and converters with information about new technologies and a look at cutting-edge research being developed to address the issues faced by the barrier coating markets.

It has been two years since the last symposium so this year's program is packed full of new materials and methods for producing barrier coated products. Highlights in the symposium include product sector roundtables and presentations on barriers ith engineered pigments, aqueous based barrier coatings, biobased polymer films and case studies of building barrier properties on and off the paper machine. Continue your stay in Kalamazoo through the 11 th and attend the National Science Foundation (NSF) meeting for the organization of a NSF center between WMU and Michigan State University devoted to barrier coatings research for the packaging industry.

Early registration benefits end Sept. 29. For a look at the complete symposium program and registration information visit the symposium Web site

August 2006

Paper tech meeting will round out week of paper industry events

KALAMAZOO-- The Paper Technology Foundation at Western Michigan University will holds its 47th annual meeting Thursday and Friday, Oct. 12-13, rounding out a week of high-level paper industry activities on the WMU campus.

About 40 top paper industry executives will travel to Kalamazoo from across the nation to take part in the annual meeting of the foundation. Some will arrive early to attend such events as a barrier coating symposium and an organizational meeting for a new research center involving WMU and Michigan State University . Also arriving early will be members of the PTF Board of Trustees who, along with other industry executives, will be conducting a mini-workshop for WMU students preparing for careers in the paper industry.

Highlights of the foundation's meeting, which will be held at WMU's Fetzer Center, will include:

>> The PTF's annual Scholarship Luncheon honoring students who have been awarded some $100,000 in fall 2006 scholarships by the foundation;

>> A keynote speech by. Mark A. Suwyn, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors of NewPage Corp. and NewPage Holding Corp; and

>> A Friday morning briefing by WMU students who traveled to China as a part of a University-sponsored international immersion trip.

Speaker Suwyn is the former chairman and CEO of Louisiana-Pacific Corp. and a former executive with International Paper Co. and E.I. Dupont. He earned a doctoral degree in inorganic chemistry from Washington State University and is co-chairman of that university's foundation.

For further information or for a copy of the registration brochure, visit the foundation's Web site or, call Jennifer Johnson at (269) 276-3964.

The Paper Technology Foundation, established in 1958, supports and enhances the internationally known paper programs offered by WMU's Department of Paper Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Imaging. Foundation members include many of the leading figures in the nation's paper industry.

Kicking off the week of paper-related events will be WMU's 4th Barrier Coating Symposium, Monday evening and all day Tuesday, October 9 and 10. When it was last held in 2004, this biennial event attracted more than 100 professionals working in the area of barrier coatings. The symposium offers a full program that will provide papermakers, suppliers, and converters with information about new technologies and a look at cutting-edge research being developed to address the issues faced by the barrier coating markets.

On Wednesday, Oct. 11, WMU's Department of Paper Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Imaging, in conjunction with Michigan State University's School of Packaging, will hold an organizational meeting to take advantage of a planning grant recently awarded by the National Science Foundation. The purpose of this grant is to determine corporate interest in establishing a center for research and development in barrier coatings. The award was made through NSF's prestigious Industry/University Cooperative Research Program.

The purpose of the proposed center is to discover and evaluate barrier coatings that have commercial applications. The NSF identified barrier coatings as being of significant, widespread commercial interest, and WMU and MSU as having the faculty expertise and facilities to carry out the work

All research will be pre-competitive. However, there will be provisions for securing intellectual property rights for individual companies. Proprietary research may also be contracted.

For information regarding the Barrier Coating Symposium, contact Dr. Margaret Joyce at margaret.joyce@wmich.edu or (269) 276-3514. Inquiries regarding the NSF meeting should be directed to Dr. Thomas Joyce at thomas.joyce@wmich.edu or 269-276-3515.

June 2006

WMU offers printing course Mastering Flexographic Principles in August

KALAMAZOO-Building on its long tradition and national reputation in graphic arts education, Western Michigan University has developed a flexo course with a unique bent that is not offered anywhere else in North America.

Targeted at customer service and sales representatives, quality control manages and new production supervisors working in packaging, the two-day course is designed to provide those professionals with the tools they need to ensure their pressrooms can deliver the promised results.

Classroom learning and hands-on press time will provide participants with:

• Understanding of the components and common variables of the flexographic printing process;
• Knowledge of the limitations and potential of the process;
• Experience in how to manage color for economy, quality and consistency;
• Exposure to best practices in the industry; and
• Ability to better communicate with suppliers to achieve improved quality and efficiencies.
  

The course is being held Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 23-24, 2006, at WMU’s main campus, located in Kalamazoo, Mich. Enrollment is limited to 20 attendees. For more information visit www.wmuprinting.com .

February 2006

WMU's 2006 Barrier Coating Symposium issues call for presenters

KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan University will host its Fourth Barrier Coating Symposium, Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 10 and 11, in Kalamazoo , Mich. , USA .

Last held in 2004, this biannual event attracted over 100 professionals working in the area of barrier coatings. Both research and practical applications of new technology were presented. Attendees benefited from the presentations, and the event received high marks for the networking opportunities it provided to both papermakers and suppliers.

In preparation for this year's symposium, the 2006 design committee is seeking papers and presentations related to barrier coatings on paper substrates. Possible subject areas include:

• Coatings for gas, water, water vapor and grease barriers;
• Recycling and other environmental pressures;
• Nanotechnology applications in barrier coatings;
• Converting and printing new barrier products;
• Application methods--pros and cons;
• Testing protocols;
• Multi layered barriers--same material or combinations; and
• Market needs--packaging trends and innovations--where products used.
   

Authors interested in presenting on these or related topics should submit an outline or abstract on the subject to Dr. Margaret Joyce at margaret.joyce@wmich.edu by June 16. The symposium design committee will provided feedback to authors by July 14.

For further information, please contact Dr. Joyce, the symposium program chair, at +1 269-276-3514. Check WMU's Web site for details and the tentative conference program at www.wmucoating.com .

WMU's Paper Coating Course in June
 

KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan University , a leader in the field of paper coating research and applications as well as a leading provider of undergraduate and graduate engineers and scientists, is offering its famed paper coating course in June.

Hundreds of papermakers and suppliers have taken WMU's coating course since its inception. The course features classroom instruction, laboratory workshops and pilot coater evaluations.

This course is designed for the newcomer to the paper coating industry, as well as those with experience who wish to broaden and update their knowledge and understanding. The course is being held from Monday through Thursday, June 19-22, at Western's new engineering college, located in Kalamazoo , Mich. Early registration fee benefits end May 17. For more information visit www.wmucoating.com .

November 2005

Longtime printing professional to direct WMU Printing Pilot Plant

KALAMAZOO --A professional with more than 20 years of experience in the printing industry has been appointed director of Western Michigan University 's Printing Pilot Plant.

John D. Meyer took the reins of the plant this fall. As director, he oversees research and operations in the facility, which includes production-scale gravure, flexo and offset printing presses as well as a staff of full-time professionals who do print testing for the industry on a contract basis.

Meyer brings more than 20 years of converting and printing experience to Western. Prior to joining the WMU staff, he worked in printing plants, and for the past fifteen years, he has worked at Sun Chemical in ink production and quality control. His role with that firm also included providing technical service to ink customers working with a variety of packaging and publication printers and converters.

"John knows the printers and their concerns, and he is now a valuable resource for our pilot plant clients," says Jan Walter, general manager of WMU's pilot plants. The University also operates pilot plants for research and testing in the areas of recycling, papermaking and paper coating.

For more information on the WMU recycle, coating and papermaking pilot plants, visit the pilot plants Web site at www.wmupilotplant.com. For specific information about the Printing Pilot Plant, call Meyer at (269) 387-2929 or (269) 569-0060, or e-mail him at john.d.meyer@wmich.edu.

October 2005
WMU offers recyclability protocol for wax replacement boxes

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KALAMAZOO--Manufacturers of water barrier coatings, liner, medium and corrugated boxes can now turn to Western Michigan University to test the repulpability and recyclability of their products.

WMU is a qualified facility for a new voluntary standard test protocol released Oct. 4 by the Fiber Box Association and the AF&PA joint committee. It is available at WMU as the protocol of choice.

Passing this protocol allows a manufacturer to self-certify products with the recycle certification marking. This certification is the indication that materials can join untreated old corrugated containers (OCC) into the recycle waste stream. These boxes offer an alternative to wax-treated boxes that could not be recycled. For more information contact Rick Reames at (269) 387-2786 or richard.reames@wmich.edu.

March 2005

July 18-21, 2005

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This course is designed for the newcomer to the paper coating industry, as well as those with experience who wish to broaden and update their knowledge and understanding. The course will be offered July 18-21, 2005 at Western's new engineering college located in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

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More information click here.

May 2004

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		Glen Tracy heads Paper Foundation. Technology A Western Michigan University alumnus with a long track record in the paper and energy industries has been named the executive director of WMU's Paper Technology Foundation.
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April 2004

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WMU receives paper technology patents from Kimberly-Clark
Release #0304-328; April 1, 2004--Contact: Cheryl Roland (269) 387-8412

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KALAMAZOO--Patented technology that could turn paper-mill sludge into viable consumer products and boost the usefulness of recycled paper will be developed by Western Michigan University, thanks to an April 1 technology transfer made to WMU's Paper Technology Foundation by consumer giant Kimberly-Clark.

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January 2004

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THIRD WMU BARRIER COATING SYMPOSIUM ISSUES CALL FOR PAPERS
Release #0304-special; Jan. 9, 2004--Contact: Cheryl Roland (269) 387-8412

KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University's Center for Coating Research and Development and its Barrier Coating Consortium Working Group have issued a request for papers to be presented at a fall symposium.

To be considered, papers should be related to new research, coating applications or improvements, coating chemistries, converting challenges, and test methods for barrier coatings. The business aspects of barrier coatings and the future of barrier coatings also are topics that will be covered at the symposium.

The WMU Barrier Coating Symposium will be held Oct. 12-13, 2004, at WMU's new campus for its College of Engineering and Applied Sciences in Kalamazoo, Mich., USA.
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November 2003

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New book examines color management principles for photos—Release #0304; Nov. 19, 2003--Contact: Cheryl Roland (269) 387-8412

KALAMAZOO--A Western Michigan University printing specialist has published a new book aimed at helping both amateur and professional photographers and graphics specialists manage the color quality of digital photos destined for print or Web use.
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New impregnator installed at Western Michigan University—Release #0304-XXX; Nov. 19, 2003--Contact: Cheryl Roland (269) 387-8412

KALAMAZOO-- The paper, paperboard and converting industries now have access to a new impregnator installed at Western Michigan University's pilot plants that can be used to study how the addition of water-based solutions can enhance the performance of paper and paperboard packaging.
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September 2003

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WMU Paper and Chemical Engineering programs receive accreditation

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KALAMAZOO, MI - The Department of Paper Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Imaging at Western Michigan University has just received word from the American Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) that both Chemical Engineering and Paper Engineering programs have been accredited. The accreditation is retroactive from October, 2001.

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August 23, 2002

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WMU Paper Coating Pilot Plant building opening announced.
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August 4, 2003

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An executive from North America's leading manufacturer of coated fine papers will deliver the keynote address at the Oct. 9-10 annual meeting of Western Michigan University's Paper Technology Foundation.
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April 10, 2003

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Joel Kendrick has been named operations manager of Western Michigan University's newly completed pilot coater, which is now fully operational.
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The newly installed pilot coater on the campus of Western Michigan University is fully operational and ready to serve customers.
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October 11, 2002

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WMU opened a new 50,000-square-foot Paper Coating Pilot Plant housing a modern, high-speed paper coater. The coater is the only such equipment in North America that is not affiliated with a private company.
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Summer 2002 -Foundation Paper Trail newsletter

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Trade Fair to spotlight coater supporters
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November 2, 2001

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A veteran print and paper industry professional has been appointed to oversee the Western Michigan University Printing Pilot Plant.
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April 7, 2001

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Barrier Coating Consortium Newsletter
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February 28, 2001

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WMU Forms research consortium to focus on development of barrier-coated paper and paperboard products
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