Sodra calls for partnership focus.

Sodra calls for partnership focus. Companies operating in the market pulp segment could see some dramatic changes in the way they do business over the coming years, according to the president of Sodra Cell, Leif Broden. Speaking at the group's Fiber in Focus conference in Switzerland, Broden noted that after the big environmental investments of the 1980s and 1990s, today the industry is focused more on investing in projects specifically aimed at integrating Sodra's operations with its customers and exploiting efficiency gains for mutual benefit. As a result, many of today's business norms would be superceded as pulp suppliers operate in much closer relationship with their customers.

Broden highlighted the trend by pointing to a range of process oriented initiatives the company is pursuing such as vendor managed inventory schemes. These and similar projects are driving R & D and investment trends in the sector, he said. "We want to spend less time discussing price and more time on creating value for our customers," Broden explained.