• Proud to Celebrate 25 years of Serving the Pulp & Paper Industry
• Pulp You Eat
• What's New at Econotech
• Econotech at this Year's CPPA
• Success is a Journey, Not a Destination!
• Under the Microscope
• Patience and Consistency: The Story of Lori Granger
• Fiber Properties of Douglas Fir
• Matchmaking at Econotech
• Heather Goes Hollywood
• Preparing for the Future
• Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Wood Chemistry

Since its inception, Econotech has grown to be one of the largest independent pulp and paper testing laboratories in the world. It is with great pride that we are celebrating our twenty-fifth anniversary and my 40th year in the pulp and paper industry. The strength of our enterprise is built on the expertise and dedication of our people. Accurate, rapid and reliable results are key to the substantial expansion of our company.

Our initial team of eleven experts has grown to include over fifty researchers with expertise in chip testing, pulping, bleaching, pulp and paper testing, dissolving pulp evaluation, microscopy, environmental analysis, and testing of process samples and liquors.

Our working environment is characterized by the freedom to express ideas, creativity, teamwork and a willingness to challenge accepted norms. The continuous improvement of service is also a key factor in our success. Clients' expectations of value and excellence in products and services are the driving forces of Econotech. Our competitive edge is determined by the extent to which these expectations are met in a timely manner.

Within a single 19,000 square foot facility, Econotech can perform over 400 analytical tests on everything from wood to finished product, 100 tests on pulp and paper products and over 50 different microscopy tests.

In addition to providing unbiased, independent and confidential evaluations of new processes or chemicals, Econotech assists in the development of new equipment, the design of new mills and the evaluation of chemical costs involved in mill modernization. Our lab is certified for specific parameters with CAEAL (equivalent to ISO 25) and the Standards Council of Canada.

Our twenty-five years in the business have given us the ability to provide intelligent analysis, backed by experience and insight, and we do it with speed and accuracy that today's world commands.

We are looking forward to another 25 years of success!

While most bleached pulp goes into paper and related products, some of it ends up in the food we eat. A zealous manufacturer of cellulose ethers once said that these materials make up 0.5% of every product on earth. Methyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose (also called cellulose gum or CMC) show up as edible surfactants, thickeners, stabilizers and film formers. Don't worry, they are completely nontoxic and add valuable fiber to your diet.

In baked goods which are low in gluten, such as rice, corn and rye breads, methyl cellulose contributes to cell structure and reduces crumbling. The clarity and sheen of pie fillings are improved when hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose is added. You may also find them in the dipping batter for deep fried breaded foods, in dehydrated fruits and vegetables and in dietic foods.

The water-binding ability of CMC prevents undesirable ice crystal growth in ice cream. It keeps icings, meringues, jellies and puddings gelled and prevents the oil and water from separating in salad dressings. Even your dog eats CMC in his Gravy Train.

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is manufactured either by grinding wood pulp into very small particles or by hydrolyzing the cellulose with acid. The powder is used in most pills as an inert carrier for the active ingredient.

Econotech has developed a method for evaluating the CMC properties of pulp. If you are developing a CMC pulp, give us a call. In the meantime, conduct your own label-reading survey and find out where wood pulp is used.

We are quite pleased with the performance of the new AA as well as its ease of operation and data handling features. Coupled with our meticulous laboratory technique for sample preparation, the significantly improved precision this instrument delivers gives better, more reliable analytical data that are so important for your critical applications.

by Eleanor Oriel, Technologist - Analytical (Pulp and Liquor)
The Elemental Analyzer can determine the carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen content of dewatered samples. After drying, the samples are combusted at high temperatures and the resulting gases are measured by gas chromatography.

This analysis is particularly useful for determining the material balance in samples, such as black liquor. It is also useful for estimating chemical formulas in polymers and deposit samples. For example, this test can determine the sulfur content in a small deposit. Only a tiny amount of sample is required, as little as 2-3 mg.

This year we unveiled our new trade show booth at the CPPA-Western Branch Fall Conference in Prince George, BC. Our representatives at the conference received many favorable comments about our booth, but even more comments about the popcorn we handed out. We analyzed the paper bag that we were using the for popcorn and placed a sticker on the bag listing the wood species composition.

Almost 50% of those in attendance were pulp mill personnel. The presentation by Winnifred Kessler from UNBC was one of the highlights. She emphasized the need to look at the forests from economic and social, as well as ecological aspects. Her research will help ensure that the forests are productive well into the next millennium.

When I started at Econotech I had no idea I would be driving to the same place for twenty-five years. Our location has not changed but the procedures differ considerably from those at the beginning.

The business has grown steadily, but there have been peaks and valleys along the way. At one point we had over sixty employees. The building also adapted to the growth as walls went up or came down to accommodate new equipment, procedures or people.

I can remember in the first few years that there were a lot of people going on field trips. We did more outdoor sampling, while currently, most of the work is done in our laboratory. However, we are still available to gather samples, perform tests or consult at your location.

You can't capture twenty-five years in one statement, however, when I started here I had a full head of hair!

The cornerstone of pulp and paper microscopy is species identification. We take a pulp, paper or wood sample and break it up into fibers using a Waring Blendor. These fibers are then put onto a microscope slide and the slide is scanned to identify the species of tree from which each fiber originated.

The photomicrograph to the right shows Douglas fir fibers. Many analysts consider them the easiest to identify because of the distinctive spiral thickening along the inner wall of the fiber. The Douglas fir fiber also has slash-like pits occurring in groups along its length.

For information on species testing call Heather or Graham in the Microscopy Department.

Lori's ability as one of the bleaching group's Senior Technologists has been enhanced over the last thirteen years by her patience. It takes patience to wait the required 180 minutes for the completion of a chlorine dioxide stage. The temptation is to say, "What difference can five minutes make?" But Lori is patient and consistent and her results show it - bleach after bleach. Her brightness development curves show a precision that pleases customers.

Her patience and diligence are of great value to her in her leisure activities too. In her spare time Lori has taken up fly fishing. In BC, it is so easy to catch fish with baited hooks that Lori had to look for something more challenging; hence, fly fishing. Not only does it take more skill, but it also takes more patience. The presentation of the fly must be just right, but there is an incredible thrill when a large trout rises to your fly and takes it in. The simple reel gives the fish a fighting chance, enhances the battle and increases the excitement of actually landing the fish. But most of the fun comes from just enjoying the company of your companions and the beautiful surroundings.

Over the years, Econotech has collected data on the fiber properties of various species from around the world. In this newsletter, we feature Douglas fir. The coastal species is Pseudotsuga menziesii and the interior species is Pseudotsuga glauca. The coastal species tends to have longer and coarser fibers. The yields from wood and the specific gravity of the chips are about the same for the two species. Douglas fir fiber imparts higher tear to any paper to which it is added. Look at the table below to see how your furnish compares to Douglas fir.

Sandra has a long-term relationship with Annacis Island. At age sixteen, Sandra's father would bring her to Annacis Island to teach her how to drive. At that time, the island had very little traffic and was perfect for practicing parallel parking.

Years later, after graduating from BCIT with a diploma in Biological Studies, Sandra began looking for full-time employment and applied to an ad in the paper. She found herself back at Annacis Island for an interview at Econotech. Even though Sandra had no experience in the pulp and paper industry, she was very excited about starting a new career, and now, fifteen years later, she is the Supervisor or the Pulp and Paper Testing Department.

In the fall of 1989, the department that Sandra worked in hired a recent high school graduate, whom not unlike herself in the beginning, had no experience with pulp and paper. His name was Rick Fodor and he worked part-time over a five year period while attending BCIT's Chemical Science Program, Pulp and Paper Technology option. During this time, Sandra and Rick developed a relationship and in November 1995, they were married. In January 1997, after beating some drastic odds, Sandra and Rick were blessed with twin girls, Ashley and Claire. Our many congratulations to both of you.

Heather worked in the analytical department of Econotech for four years before taking time off to fulfill a dream of going to film-making school. She spent a glorious year loading and running cameras, organizing film crews, setting up lighting equipment and directing actors. She wrote and directed the still un-famous short film "Helpful", seen only by an exclusive audience of 15 (the other students in her class). She decided the starving artist life wasn't for her and was fortunate enough to find an opening the microscopy department of Econotech, where she has been working for the past eight years. Heather hopes to some day buy equipment and software to produce computer animated short films in a home studio.

The year 2000 is quickly approaching and a new millennium is upon us. Econotech has been positioning itself to become a dominant force on an international level. As a niche player on the North American continent, Econotech is aggressively establishing itself in the global economy.

We are a "listening" company. When our clients make suggestions, we listen. Our future success will continue to be based on our ability to meet the needs of our clients. Strong relationships with both our clients and vendors will allow us the opportunity to be at the cutting edge of technology and processes.

It is my belief that the success of our company is largely due to the professionalism of our employees. Our staff are some of the best trained technical people in the world. They strive to provide excellence in service and testing results. Econotech has undergone significant corporate optimization and will continue to embrace technology to achieve its goals.

I believe the future holds promise and great opportunities for those who are prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. There is nothing as constant as change in our economic environment. It is the handling of this change that will determine the success of any company. With our loyal client base and our great staff we are prepared for the future.

1. What are the major chemical components of wood?
2. What is the sugar molecule common to maltose, lactose, sucrose, honey, starch and cellulose?
3. Which contains more hemi-cellulose, hardwood or softwood?
4. What is a class of polymers containing five different sugars: glucose, mannose, galactose, xylose or arabinose?
5. Which contains more xylan, hardwood or softwood?
6. Which amorphous substance, together with cellulose, forms the woody cell wall of a tree?
7. What group of extractives is not removed with the tall oil in kraft pulping?