ATLANTA, Ga. – TAPPI is pleased to announce that Douglas F. Sweet, president of Doug Sweet & Associates, is the recipient of the 2015 Engineering Division Technical Award and Beloit Prize. The award recognizes Sweet’s outstanding contributions, which have advanced the industry's technology.

“Any award or recognition is most meaningful if it is a surprise. I appreciate being able to apply technology and theory to practical uses,” said Sweet. “Being recognized with the Engineering Division Award from TAPPI and my friends just adds to personal satisfaction that I am in the right career.”

Sweet received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Florida. Following graduation, he was a maintenance engineer at Procter & Gamble tissue mill, then shifted to design and sales of paper machine vacuum systems with Clark & Vicario, which was later purchased by The Nash Engineering Company. 

With more than 35 years in the pulp, paper, and containerboard industry, Sweet has visited over 300 paper mills in 12 countries and observed more than 600 paper machines. He has two US patents for papermaking equipment, has published articles in several US and Canadian trade journals and is a frequent speaker at paper industry conferences.

Since 2001, Sweet has been an independent consultant specializing in paper machine vacuum system optimization and energy reduction projects and has completed over 250 system audits. His top 10 energy efficiency projects have a combined annual electrical energy savings of 32,200 megawatt-hours or enough energy savings to power more than 2,000 homes each year. In 2011 Doug was appointed as Co-Chair of Alabama’s Legislative Subcommittee on Energy Efficiency and Conservation.

TAPPI congratulates Mr. Sweet and will honor him at the PaperCon Awards Dinner on April 21 in Atlanta.