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« Previous EntriesThe Mentoring programme 2010!
Thursday, October 21st, 2010 by admin
Matti Aarnio wrote:
It was early September 2009 when I first got an e-mail about mentoring programme organized by Paper Engineers’ Association (PI). During that time, I wrote my master’s thesis and I was already thinking the work life after the thesis. Truthfully, I wasn’t so sure about my decision to become a plant design expert and I was eager to learn more about the plant design career. Therefore, the mentoring programme was exactly what I was looking for in that September. I decided to apply immediately and wrote an application to PI that I would like to have a mentor who has made career in plant design side.
The first meeting with mentors and students was in January 2010. When I first met my mentor in lobby before the meeting I already got very positive image of him. In the end of the meeting I found out that the mentor is much more than I expected. He was definitely an expert on the field of plant design, he had lived in all over the world and what was the most important, it was easy to talk with him, no need to be nervous. Later on, I learned that my mentor had started his impressive career in similar way that I’m thinking to start mine and this gave an excellent starting point to our chats after the first meeting.
What did we then talk about with my mentor and how often did we meet? We had about two hours meeting every one and a half months and in addition we changed e-mails and talked in the phone. Every meeting had its own topic which we had agreed in the previous meeting or via e-mail. We talked about career paths, the job of process engineer today and in the past, living abroad, working in different cultures, entrepreneurship etc. We also had one meeting with another mentor pair and one other meeting where my mentor had asked few of his colleagues to attend.
Overall, the meetings with my mentor were very interesting and useful for my future. Especially, I remember the pair meeting when we had a great chat about working abroad. I have thought long time that working abroad would be nice but it would have its challenges, but after having the discussion with mentors I know how to cope with the challenges and make the time enjoyable.
I warmly recommend taking part to the next years mentoring programme!
Matti Aarnio
Winter in Brazil, working at Cenibra
Monday, July 19th, 2010 by adminDuring the Finnish summer Brazil is freezing cold. When the temperature drops below +20 degrees Celsius, the news is all about how you should dress warmly. So, mostly the cold has not been a problem for a Finn, you could even say that the weather is pleasant, during daytime even hot at times.
Brazilian people are great, and even more so after they learn that you are not an American even though you speak English. Cenibra pulp mill is situated in a small town Belo Oriente in the state of Minas Gerais and the nearest city is Ipatinga. Ipatinga has more residents than Turku in Finland but still it is considered a minor city in Brazil. The people around here are very friendly and curious about strangers (and yes, I apparently really look that different from them so that they can tell much before I open my mouth to speak) but the problem is that there are not many people who speak English and I only know a few words of Portuguese so it takes a while sometimes to get the message across.
At Cenibra people have been nothing but helpful. They are very friendly; practically my first week here my name shortened from Anna-Maria to Anna and that is what everybody is calling me now. The project I am working with is about fines and vessels and it is interesting. What frustrates me though is that there have been some problems at the mill that have delayed my project and changed the schedule. Also, when these delays happen, sometimes it is boring to wait around for busy people to take time out of their own work to help me find something to do. I think that experiencing the international workplace and doing research in my field of study will give me much to offer to my future employers. In the future there hopefully will be some interesting doors and windows open to me on my career.
Work takes the weekdays including nights for me because I am staying at Casa de hospedés of Cenibra, the guest house, from Monday to Friday. Weekends are my free time and I move to a hotel to Ipatinga as the guest house only has service on weekdays. One of the high points of my stay in Brazil has been when I traveled to Rio de Janeiro with my fellow trainees from Finland who are in two other pulp mills in Brazil. We all took a bus from our respective cities and met in Rio. The time there was great and I really want to go back there. One weekend is not long enough to spend there.
I am looking forward to hopefully traveling at least to Vitoriá and Ouro Preto at least before I leave. The time is flying when having fun.
Reporting from Belo Oriente, Minas Gerais,
Over and out,
Anna-Maria
PulPaper 2010 was a great success
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010 by adminThe three day exhibition and conference event came through with flying colours. Considering the last few years difficult times for the industry, the PulPaper exhibition and conference were regarded a great success. During the three days, 12018 visitors from 63 countries attended the event and 625 companies from 30 countries exhibited in 210 stands. Over 350 delegates attended the Opening and Conference.
The technical conference, on the theme ‘Implementing the new rise’, was very well received. A number of internationally renowned speakers inspired the delegates on the subjects of Sustainable solutions, Bioenergy, Winning change and Nanotechnology making sure that PulPaper once again proved to be one of the most high level paper conferences in the world.
PI with AEL, Adforum and Finnish Fairs thanks all participants and sponsors for making this event a real success and the event of year.
Welcome to PulPaper 2010!
Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 by admin
Mikko Jokio and Pirkko Molkentin-Matilainen wrote:
Welcome to Helsinki and the year’s biggest international paper industry/bioforest industry event in the world – PulPaper 2010.
The global operating environment of the paper industry is changing rapidly. In this dynamic setting, innovative products and new operating models are crucial in the sector’s bid to maintain and improve its competitive ability.
Implementing a new rise – the theme of PulPaper 2010 Conference – will cover the hottest issues in the bioforest industry today. The focus will centre on sustainable solutions, forest bioenergy, resource efficiency and the latest forest industry breakthroughs in bio and nanotechnology, complete with results from initial demonstrations and pilot plants.
In addition to the high-level conference programme, the event will feature the biggest forest industry cluster exhibition set to take place in 2010. Suppliers from all over the world will be on hand to present their new technology innovations and know-how.
Don’t forget that alongside the conference and exhibition, PulPaper 2010 offers its participants a terrific opportunity to NETWORK with old and new colleagues. This is one gathering of the industry’s movers and shakers that you won’t want to miss!
On behalf of Paper Engineers’ Association we warmly welcome you to join us at the pulp and paper industry’s greatest event of the year – PulPaper 2010!
We look forward to seeing you in Helsinki this June!
More detailed conference programme here: www.pulpaper2010.com.
Mikko Jokio
Chairman
Pirkko Molkentin-Matilainen
President & CEO
Student seeking the truth about South American forest industries
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 by admin
I was one of the lucky ones chosen to travel to ABTCP-PI 2009 congress with other PI’s student members on October 2009. For me the congress in Brazil was just the beginning of my journey to explore South American forest industries. After beaches in Rio de Janeiro I took a flight to Chile. The highlight of my trip was to participate to ExpoCorma 2009 which was held in the city of Concepción in middle Chile from 11th to 14th of November.
ExpoCorma is organized every other year by Corma which is association of Chilean forest industry corporations. ExpoCorma is mostly about forestry so naturally there were also Finnish companies like Ponsse, ProSilva, Saalasti and BENET representation. Canada was the star of foreign actors in ExpoCorma. Canadian government had its own exhibition building where many Canadian companies could have come with government support money. This kind of protectionism seemed to be a bit unfair towards other actors.
Only 1,2 % of all energy produced was produced with biomass in Chile in 2008 while in Finland the same number was around 20 % so possibilities to utilize forest biomass for production of energy are searched very actively in Chile. For example Metso has made a few very big contracts to supply biomass fired boilers to Chile in year 2009 and 2010. Among other thing this has opened possibilities for other Finnish companies to come to Chile. Also a biomass seminar, similar to Johan Gullichsen Colloquium, was organized during ExpoCorma. In ExpoCorma’s biomass seminar companies like ProSilva, Saalasti, BENET and Metso presented real business possibilities concerning exploitation of forest biomass in Chile.
For me, as a soon graduating student, this South American trip taught following things: To operate in South America you need to speak Portuguese or Spanish. You will also need very good personal connections. Chile is maybe the best country to start because it has an open economy and it is fairly safe country.
Finally I would like to thank Heta Pyhälahti, Head of the Finpro Santiago de Chile, and Pasi Gullsten, Junior Market Analysis of Finpro, for making my visit to Chile and ExpoCorma possible and for giving me the privilege to follow how they help Finnish companies in Chile.
For more information: Don’t hesitate to comment the blog! I will answer all comments and questions.
Figure: I was posing on CMPC’s stand. CMPC and Arauco are two largest pulp producers in Chile.
A Group of Finnish students travel to see and experience Brazil – It’s forrest industry and the beaches
Friday, November 27th, 2009 by admin
Juhana Heino wrote:
It was a cold and miserable morning, the fall was steadily turning into winter and we seldom saw the sun anymore. It was also the time, when 16 Finnish paper, pulp and process technology students met at Helsinki-Vantaa airport with an intention to travel all the way to Brazil. Surprisingly, not only to escape the weather.
PI had assembled the group amongst its own student members and the association was also sponsoring the students on their trip fees. The mission for the trip was to attend the joint ABTCP-PI Pulp and Paper congress and exposition in São Paulo, check out the exposition and to meet up with some Brazilian students and have a small seminar with them and then in the end of the trip to spend a few days in Rio de Janeiro. Read the rest of this entry »
Brazilian trainees’ summer in Finland
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 by admin
Fabiana Gomes:
I am Fabiana Gomes from Brazil. I have been working in pulp and paper field since my graduation, I just got my master’s degree in Forest Resources Technology from University of São Paulo (Brazil) one week before arriving in Finland.
This exchange experience between Finland and Brazil is a great opportunity for many students, which can obtain much knowledge, thus contributing to pulp and paper companies.
My life in Finland has been wonderful and I really like my job in Sappi company. I am learning so much here, everybody is very nice to me, and helps me in everything that I need. Besides my work, I am enjoying the summer time in Finland. The weather is very nice and nature in Finland is incredible, many trees and lakes make a beautiful view. I am living in Lohja, which is a small city, but very comfortable and also near Helsinki, which is an interesting city. Its architecture is very beautiful and some islands around the city are good places to relax and enjoy summer time. Living in Finland is a good experience for me. I get to know a different culture, food, and to learn some Finnish words, but it is not so easy!
I would like to thank ABTCP and PI for promoting this student exchange every year, and for all attention they gave me. I would like to thank Sappi Finland Oy for taking me here as a trainee. If someone needs to contact me, my e-mail is: fag_gomes(at)yahoo.com.br
Mauro Manfredi:
My name is Mauro Manfredi and I’m a master student of Pulp and Paper Technology in Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil. Two months ago I arrived in Finland to experience this fantastic period abroad. Working as a trainee at Stora Enso Kaukopää Imatra is an important happening in my life. ABTCP-PI student trainee exchange programme is a great opportunity, which I hope keeps continuing for a long time giving this professional and personal experience to many Brazilian and Finnish students.
In the beginning it was quite hard to get used to the language, food and long solar light period. Now I have made some new friends and I know where I can eat smoked salmon. So I enjoy a lot being here. I was warmly welcomed to Finland. I hope that in the future someone gets similar opportunity than I had.
My e-mail is mauro.manfredi(at)ufv.br. I’ll be happy to help you if you need some information about Brazil. Don’t hesitate to contact me.
Innovations – are they needed for the Finnish paper industry?
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009 by admin
Pentti Sierilä, Jouni Huuskonen and Jaakko Palsanen wrote: (Suomenkielinen blogi löytyy blogisivulta englanninkielisen perästä.)
Today, according to the public discussion, the Finnish paper industry is labelled by doom and gloom. Mills are being shut and competent and experienced personnel find themselves forced to admit that it is the end of the road. Persons who regard themselves as experts try to prove that the paper industry in Finland has no future any more. This is a sad message for the senior papermakers. Has the prosperous, high quality paper industry, which was built by past generations, been undermined? Has the national backbone of the Finnish economy been dilapidated? Read the rest of this entry »
New entrepreneurs’ group in Paper Engineers’ Association will be established: Are you interested?
Thursday, November 27th, 2008 by admin
Juhani Lehtonen wrote:
I’m challenging all the people who are entrepreneurs in our business to join an informal group to meet and discuss in practical terms about how to increase our innovation and entrepreneurial fleur! I want to create a network that would have more power and influence than individuals or small companies when working separately. This idea came to my mind at the latest Association’s board meeting: everyone seems to want something like this.
Thoughts on climate change and energy
Monday, October 13th, 2008 by admin
Johan Gullichsen wrote:
Energy generation based on renewable fuels is currently a hot topic. How long would the world’s forest resources last if used for the production of bioenergy? Most likely far into the future, if not forever, if only effective management of forest resources could be secured at global political level.
For example, according to calculations, the raw material needs of the global forest industry today could supplied from a forest area of about 50 million hectares, if it were situated in a subtropical region, such as Africa or South America. Read the rest of this entry »
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