RISI Confirms BTG Group and StepChange Consulting as Sponsors for New PPI Awards Event

BRUSSELS - RISI is pleased to announce that the BTG Group and StepChange Consulting have signed on as sponsors of the 2009 Pulp & Paper International (PPI) Awards program. The PPI Awards will honor leadership, vision, innovation and strategic accomplishments of companies, mills and individuals within the pulp and paper industry. The PPI Awards are the only global awards dedicated to recognizing these achievements in the sector.

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StepChange Consulting have chosen to sponsor the “Global CEO of the Year” award while the BTG Group will be supporting the “Technical Innovation in Action” category. Metso has signed on as the headline sponsor for the event and is supporting the “Advanced Use of Biomass” and “Efficiency Improvements” awards. Additional category sponsorships and exclusive opportunities are available. Please visit the www.ppiawards.com website for more information.

Mark Rushton, Editor of Pulp & Paper International (PPI) and chairman of the jury for the PPI Awards, commented, “We are honored to have the leading suppliers in the industry Metso, BTG and StepChange as sponsors for our new Awards program. The reaction from the industry has been extremely positive so far and we have received numerous entries from across the globe for the different categories.”

Potential candidates can easily enter for the awards online at www.ppiawards.com and must submit entries before Friday, June 12, 2009. Twelve awards will cover a variety of business and technical categories: www.ppiawards.com/categories.html

A panel of expert judges will select four finalists in each category and will present 12 PPI Award trophies to the top performers in the industry. Confirmed judges include Rod Young, Chairman of RISI; Kari Vainio, former Executive Vice President, Communications at Stora Enso; Jim Keller, President of the International Corrugated Case Association; Duncan Pollard, Director, Conservation Practice & Policy, WWF International and many other internationally renowned experts.

The winners will be presented with their trophies at the 2009 PPI Awards ceremony on Wednesday, October 28 at the Hilton Munich Park Hotel in Munich, Germany. RISI will also be organizing a free half-day seminar on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 28. The Awards will commemorate the 50th anniversary of PPI magazine and will be held in conjunction with the Metso Pulp and Paper Technology Days on Thursday and Friday, October 29-30, 2009.

About Pulp & Paper International (PPI) magazine

For 50 years, the global pulp and paper industry has relied on the quality editorial found in Pulp & Paper International (PPI) magazine. That’s why it is the leading magazine for pulp, paper and paperboard manufacturers in Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. It offers the most comprehensive coverage in the industry and reaches more people around the globe than any other pulp and paper publication.

About RISI

RISI is the leading information provider for the global forest products industry. We work with clients in the pulp and paper, wood products, timber, tissue, nonwovens, printing and publishing industries to help them make better decisions. More information can be found at www.risiinfo.com

Contact: Jennifer Rahall RISI 4 Alfred Circle Bedford, MA 01730 USA Tel: +1-781-734-8949 jrahall@risiinfo.com

Source: RISI

Jennifer Rahall of RISI, +1-781-734-8949, jrahall at risiinfo.com. Logo: https://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080521/NEW122LOGO