In the morning, students attended three very interesting presentations. Johan Gott, an executive with A. T. Kearney management consulting firm, kicked the day off by discussing the world macro-economic trends supporting the definition of analyses and strategic planning scenarios. Michael Rushton, Chief Operating Officer at Lignol Innovations, followed by explaining the possible biorefining options for the pulp and paper industry, and the importance that lignin may play as a base product. France Rochette, who works in business development with E. I. DuPont Canada, spoke about the progress DuPont has made in the realm of biofuels and bioproducts.

In the afternoon, the roles were reversed. The 16 students, including four master's students and 10 doctoral students, presented their respective posters, unveiling the first results of their case studies on forest biorefining. "The students have created tailored models to solve industrial problems that businesses face. I often have fun saying that the students' laboratories are the factories themselves," says Paul Stuart, Chairholder and professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal. The cutting-edge student-led research on the various aspects of process and product design provides major benefits to the paper industry, particularly thanks to the development of profitable green-energy designs and the definition of multidisciplinary evaluation criteria for strategic decision-making. It is possible to maximize revenues while preserving core production by using raw materials in a more efficient way.

To find out more about the NSERC Chair in Environmental Design Engineering

When it was created in 2000, the Chair dealt mainly with process integration in the paper industry. Its second mandate, a logical follow-up to the work already accomplished, essentially aims to implement forest biorefining -- without question the most promising change on the horizon for the Canadian pulp and paper industry.

Forest biorefining, defined as the complete use of biomass and other raw materials, including energy, to simultaneously produce pulp and paper, green energy and numerous bioproducts, is a path toward strategic diversification. By integrating this into their traditional activities, pulp and paper mills can considerably increase not only their revenues, but also their markets, while maintaining their traditional production. Also, they will contribute significantly to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The partners, which have committed until March 31, 2013, are the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Kruger inc., Papier Masson Ltée (a division of White Birch Paper), NewPage Corporation, Norampac (a division of Cascades Canada inc.), Domtar, FPInnovations, Lignol Innovations and West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.

To find out more about Professor Stuart

Professor Stuart's main research contribution is in the development and application of process integration tools for systems analysis and, more specifically, the solving of critical design problems for the paper industry. Professor Stuart joined Polytechnique in 2000 as holder of the NSERC Chair in Environmental Design Engineering, the first design chair in Canada.

To read about  Professor Stuart's expertise, click here.

Website for the NSERC Chair in Environmental Design Engineering:
http://www.polymtl.ca/pate-papier/en/index.php

Polytechnique is proud to be the first university in Canada to hold a design chair, and would like to recognize Professor Stuart's important involvement!