UPM Pulp Matters 2024

CUTTING EDGE

TEXT: TIMO NYKÄNEN PHOTOS: NED RISSKY

Turning pulp into performance In charge of UPM Pulp’s technical marketing and services in North America, Monique Claverie wants to help customers unleash the full potential of pulp.

Monique Claverie examining tissue samples with Roberto Mirande, Director, Technical Marketing and Services at UPM Pulp.

M onique Claverie , Senior Manager, Technical Marketing and Services for UPM Pulp in North America, joined the team in UPM’s newest market area in May 2024. With a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Maine, and previous experience within the paper industry – particularly as quality manager for a tissue producer – she is the perfect fit for the new role.

I n her new role Claverie is looking forward most to creating relationships with customers and utilising her technical background in helping them be successful in their own businesses. “I think it’s extremely important to have a technical link between customers’ technical teams and our

production facilities. Relationship building and getting to meet many of our customers in person is one of my main tasks in the beginning, as well as visiting all our pulp mills. I suppose I’m an extrovert among engineers as I enjoy that part of my job the most,” she laughs. Claverie adds that only by gaining a deep understanding of customers and their products is she able to accurately find the pulp product best suited to specific needs. “We’re somewhat unique in the North American market because UPM offers both hardwood and softwood pulps, and that also provides us with a certain flexibility for optimising our offering. So, my job –

“IT’S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A TECHNICAL LINK BETWEEN THE CUSTOMERS’ TECHNICAL TEAMS AND OUR PRODUCTION FACILITIES”, SAYS MONIQUE CLAVERIE.

“For the past six years I’ve been working for a tissue paper manufacturer. Besides handling in house quality at the plant, I worked closely with customers on product development and making sure they had exactly the right grade of tissue for their needs. I think it’s useful to have been a pulp consumer on the other side of the table – especially considering a large part of UPM’s pulp volume in North America goes to the tissue industry,” Claverie says. She adds that North America differs from other market areas in how a uniquely large share of tissue products are manufactured utilising TAD (Through Air Drying) technology. This involves using hot air to dry tissue sheets, resulting in softer and bulkier products compared to conventional methods.

by utilising our R&D facilities and the extensive know how of our global team – is to find the perfect fit for that customer’s end use from our broad portfolio.”

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PULP MATTERS 02/2023