Industry Archives - U Maine Pulp and Paper Foundation

What a Co-op Really Is, and Why It Matters So Much

Ask a few engineers when their careers really came into focus, and you will hear the same answer more often than you might expect. It was a co-op. Not a class. Not a lecture. A co-op. A stretch of real, paid work in industry that they took on while they were still...

From Curiosity to Career: How to Inspire the Next Generation of Pulp and Paper Engineers

Industry

The pulp and paper industry is evolving rapidly, with advancements in sustainable packaging, bio-based materials, and innovative manufacturing. But the future of the field depends on something simpler: curiosity. When students begin asking questions like “How is...

The Art + Science of Papermaking: A Living Legacy of Innovation

Industry

When most people think about paper, they don’t imagine rocket ships, nail polish, or ice cream. They certainly don’t think about artificial intelligence or carbon capture. But the story of paper — what it is, where it comes from, and how it’s used — is one of the most...

What’s A Co-op?

Get A Real Job, Industry

You’ve probably heard of internships, but have you heard of co-ops? If you’re an engineering student at the University of Maine, or thinking about becoming one, then it’s a term you’ll probably want to become familiar with. First Things First: What Is It? A co-op...

Fibers Fueling Real-World Change: A Chemical Engineer’s Career Story

Chemical Engineering, Industry

When you think of chemical engineering, do you picture someone in a lab coat mixing chemicals? Jessica Vigneault, a 2006 graduate of the University of Maine Pulp and Paper Foundation (UMPPF), is here to change that perception. As the operations manager at TimberHP,...

Pulp, Paper, and… Packaging?

Environmental Impact, Industry

Though we often refer to it simply as the pulp and paper industry, the words “pulp and paper” barely scratch the surface of what this innovative, forward-thinking industry entails. It’s not just the traditional image of manufacturing paper products, but it’s a dynamic...