Capital Argument$
A trademark of Paperitalo Publications
Published on the 15th of every month
September  2013
Horizontal PM
Horizontal PL II
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Keeping up with environmental law 


A recent situation brought home to me how rapidly environmental law is changing--and how it can impact project schedules.  Caution--I do not pretend to be any sort of environmental expert, hence this column shall be short and serve only as a warning.

Apparently recent law promulgated in the United States makes new air emissions stacks, particularly those related to combustion, quite onerous to permit.  Not only are elaborate modeling exercises required, there may, in some cases, be requirements that limit your ability to specify and purchase equipment before the permit is issued. 

Obviously, such restrictions can put a severe strain on your schedule.  A word to the wise, keep yourself up to date on environmental permitting requirements.  It just may be you need to start now on capital projects not planned to be fully funded for several years. 
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Current Patent Activity is available here.
 
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Capital Arguments Engineering Manager of the Year
Hall of Fame

CA LogoSince its inception, Capital Arguments has believed extraordinary projects are possible.  They can be done safely, responsibly and offer a great advantage to their mills with lower capital costs and saved downtime. We established this award in 2008 to recognize those people and companies that follow this philosophy. This award is given once per year somewhere in the world.  We honor our inductees permanently here.



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Ed Kersey--Engineering Manager of the Year 2011

Jim presents Ed with the Engineering Manager of the Year for 2011.  (L - R) Matt Nilsen, Jim Thompson, Ed Kersey and Wayne South.  Nilsen is Account Manager and South is Business Development Manager for Kadant Black Clawson, underwriter of this year's award.  Ed Managed the construction of Pratt Industries Mill in Shreveport, Lousiana which took 13 months from piling to paper on the reel.  His reward?  they made him mill manager!

Peter Flynn and Steve Roush

Kadant Black Clawson was a major sponsor of the 2011 Award.  Here, on the left,  Peter Flynn, President of Kadant Black Clawson, receives the company's duplicate of Ed's Award from Steve Roush, Publisher and Editor, Paperitalo Publications. 
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Not Awarded 2010

You have to be really good to get this award.  We did not receive any qualified nominees in 2010.

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Dean Abrams--Engineering Manager of the Year 2009

Now retired, Dean was an engineer at Corrugated Services, Forney, Texas, USA in the summer of 2009 when he completed his award winning project.  Dean managed a team that installed a secondary headbox in 11 hours, 30 minutes, paper-to-paper.  The experts had said it would take at least 3 days.  In April 2010, we presented the award to Dean in the presence of a number of his colleagues.

Dean Abrams Award 
 
Here is the award we presented to Dean:

Deans Plaque























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Mike Ahcan--Engineering Manager of the Year 2008

Mike works at the UPM Blandin Mill in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, USA. In 2008, the mill's sole effluent pipe, running outside a building, almost in the Mississippi River, was determined to be in a state of imminent collapse.  The experts said it would take a week of total mill downtime to replace it.  Additionally, there was a danger of leakage into the river.  Mike and his team went to work and replaced the pipe without any downtime and with no spillage.  We had a banquet in Grand Rapids for him in July 2009.

OpTest Official Solid Background









And here is Mike's award:

OpTest Official Solid Background













We normally accept nominations in the November-December time frame.  They can be sent to jthompson@taii.com with "EMOY Nomination" in the subject line. 
 
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Please write when we tickle your brain cells!  Email jthompson@taii.com

Process Labs 8th year

Phila Mixing 2012


2nd Bright Button


Essco 2012


RMR







LGMI Design Practices 162
Gizom Plans
Master Series Coating


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Currently in 3rd printing. Almost 500 copies in the field since 2006!

LPE