Thursday February 12, 2026 / Detailed program

PaperWeek Detailed Program

10:30 – 12:30

PAPERMAKING – Advances in Papermaking Technology – I

Session Chair: Frédéric Parent, FPInnovations

10:30 “Advancing OCC Line Performance: Technologies for High-quality Recycled Fibre and Energy-efficient Board Production”, Mika Körkkö, Valmet Technologies
10:55 “DynamicNip Loading”, Jake Zwart, Spectrum Technologies 
11:20 “More Sheet Breaks per Week Could be Very Good News”, Vincent Béchard, Différence GCS
11:45 “Valmet Performance Centre Supporting Performance & Reliability”, Ville Pätäri, Valmet Technologies
12:10 “Paper Making Optimization through Innovations in Refining and Refiner Plate Designs”, Al Zumpano & Alex Harvey, Andritz

12:30 – 14:00

Mills for Mills – Reality Check, Industrialize, Leave With a Plan

Session Chair : Jean Fahmy & Sean Terriah, Kruger

The difference between AI demos and durable production value: why pilots drift, why models underdeliver, and why adoption stalls when workflows, ownership, and data context are not engineered from day one. How to define scope, success measures, and operational decision flows; how to manage exceptions; and how to avoid common traps that slow delivery. This session will give a practical path from idea to production—plus a repeatable method to scale AI and automation across mills and corporate processes.

14:00 – 15:45

TISSUE – Tissue Production and Savings

Session Chair: Session Chair : Jessica Carette, Cascades Tissue

14:00 “Reduce Energy and CO2 Emissions Using available Waste Heat to Iimprove Pressing Performance and Boost Production”, Alfredo Sarli, Valmet
14:25 “How Advanced Process Control Including Digital Twin Technology Can Improve Tissue Stock Preparation”, Richard Van Fleet, Andritz Pulp and Paper – Automation and Digitization
14:50 “Thermocompressors for Tissue Machines and How They Can Save Energy”, Mike Soucy, Kadant
15:15 “From Online Measurements to Predictive Maintenance and Process Control”, John Feola, 3FB Consulting

15:30 – 17:00

BLEACHING

Session Chair : Mona Henderson, Valmet

15:30 “Lower Environmental Impact During and ECF Bleaching Sequence”, Auphélia Burnet, Centre Technique du Papier, Grenoble, France
16:00 “Control Loop Management”, John O’Donnell, Domtar & Nathaniel Normandeau, BTG
16:30 “Bleach plant survey Update”, Phil Sekerak, ERCO

15:30 – 17:00

PAPERMAKING – Barrier Coating II – Innovation & Market Positioning

Session Chairs : Louis Morimanno, LRM Enviro-Solutions & Shaune Hanley, Domtar

15:30 “Outlook for Fibre-based Packaging with Advanced Properties”, Soile Kilpi, AFRY
16:00 “Hard Nip Sizing with curtain application ”, Antti Räisänen & Henri  Vaittinen, Valmet
16:30 “Influence of Base Sheet Properties on Barrier Coating Performance”, Dustin Burton, Alan Piwowar, & Greg Welsch, Trinseo LLC

*Please note all schedule is set on Eastern Time
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BIOFOR Detailed Program

08:00 – 10:30

Federal Government Initiatives in Support of Transforming Canada’s Forest Products Industry

Session Chair: Bruno Gagnon, Canadian Forest Service – Natural Resources Canada

8:00 Keynote Presentation

“New federal support for the transformation of Canada’s forest products industry”, Joyce Henry, Director General – Trade, Economics and Industry, Canadian Forest Service – Natural Resources Canada

 

9:00 Presentations

“BDO Zones: Unlocking Global Diversification for Canada’s Forest Economy”, Jordan Solomon, President and CEO – Ecostrat Inc.
“IFIT Success Stories : Accelerating Innovation at Kruger”, Maxime Cossette, Senior Vice President, Fiber Supply and Strategic Initiatives – Kruger
“From mill to market : the last innovation marathon milestone for residential biofibre insulation”, Marco Veilleux, General Manager – Papier Masson White Birch
“Enabling the Next Wave of CNC Applications Through New Product Platforms”, Sébastien Corbeil, President and CEO – Celluforce

11:00 – 12:30

Funding for the Pulp & Paper Industry

Session Chair: Davis Chiu, Deloitte

Canada’s pulp and paper sector sits at a pivotal moment, facing intensifying competitive pressures, shifting global trade dynamics, and escalating demands for decarbonization and innovation. As geopolitical tensions reshape markets and domestic fibre constraints challenge mill viability, policy tools—both tax and non‑tax—are emerging as essential levers to sustain competitiveness and stimulate long‑term investment.

This panel will explore the evolving landscape of federal and provincial measures—from Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credits supporting process innovation, to emerging clean technology investment tax credits and strategic non‑tax programs such as direct grants, low‑interest financing, and workforce supports. Recent federal initiatives aimed at trade‑exposed industries demonstrate growing recognition of the sector’s strategic importance, particularly in strengthening biomass adoption, supporting mill modernization, and bolstering resilience across the value chain.

Panelists:

Louis Boivin, Partner Global Investment and Innovation Incentives and National Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit Leader
Dom Tremblay, Director Global Investment and Innovation Incentives
Vito Italia, Senior Manager Global Investment and Innovation Incentives
Davis Chiu, Partner Global Investment and Innovation Incentives and National Forest Sector Leader

13:30 – 15:00

Carbon Capture Storage/Utilizing Financing: What are private/public investors looking for in these products?

Session Chair: Hooman Rezaei, Domtar

This session will explore what it takes to make CCUS projects financially viable and attractive to investors. Drawing on insights from financial institutions, industry leaders, and consultation groups, we will address key questions on this topic.

13:30 Keynote Presentation

“The Business Case for Carbon Capture & Storage in the Pulp & Paper Sector, and How to Get Projects Financed”, Don Roberts, Nawitka Captial Advisors

“Options and criteria for financing CCS projects at pulp and paper mills: A project developer’s perspective”, Jonathan Rhone, CO280
“Unlocking the CCUS Investment Tax Credit for Canada’s Pulp & Paper Industry”, Yara Bossé-Viola, KPMG

15:30 – 17:00

Derisking CCS/CCU across the Project Lifecycle:
A Blueprint for Success

Session Chair: Hooman Rezaei, Domtar

The successful deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon capture and utilization (CCU) projects depends on access to financing and the ability to anticipate and mitigate risks across every stage of project development. From feasibility and permitting to long-term operations and carbon credit generation, risk management, and appropriate technical, business, and product due diligence are central to ensuring the project’s successful implementation. This panel session will bring together key project stakeholders to discuss lessons and approaches to de-risking CCUS implementation.

Panelists:

Jamie Stephen, Managing Director, TorchLight Bioresources
Jonah Margulis, Head of Commercialization for North America, SLB Capturi 
Craig Hall, Vice President of Project Development, Vault 44.01 
Ian Kuwahara, Director of Energy and Industrial Innovation, Verra
Maryam Mkhani, Director, CCUS Technology Integration, Worley

*Please note all schedule is set on Eastern Time
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