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Alberta-Pacific’s Ward will speak at TAPPI nanotechnology conference

Al Ward of Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries and Imerys FiberLean’s Per Swending will be keynote presenters at the TAPPI nanotechnology conference in Vancouver.

Al Ward of Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries and Imerys FiberLean’s Per Swending will be keynote presenters at the TAPPI nanotechnology conference in Vancouver.

The TAPPI International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials, held on June 23 – 26, 2014, explores how nanotechnology can transform biomaterials into high-value products.

“The science of nanotechnology in renewable materials continues to advance rapidly and our keynote speakers will provide an exciting update on the most recent developments in commercialization and research for improving cellulose based products,” notes Orlando Rojas of North Carolina State University, co-chair of the conference.

Ward president and CEO of Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries, and is involved with pulp and paper research on many levels. He is a past chairman and current board member of FPInnovations, a forest and pulp and paper research institute, and serves with the Forest Products Association of Canada, PAPTAC and TAPPI. He is currently chair of the Alberta steering committee for forest-sector related nano-technology research and a board member of Arboranano, the Canadian forest nano-products network.

Svending is one of the inventors of the Imerys’ FiberLean process and is currently heading up the commercialization efforts for this breakthrough technology. His presentation will cover a commercial break-through in microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) processing and the opportunities it offers to develop new differentiated products.

These two experts will provide “a thought-provoking kick-off to the conference and provide attendees insight into cutting edge nanotechnologies,” said Rojas.

For more details on the event, visit www.tappinano.org.