San Francisco, CA - Paperloop, the premier business and information exchange for the paper, printing and converting industries, is teaming with partners ABB, the global technology company, and SKYVA International to jointly deliver private, collaborative eBusiness solutions that enable paper producers, converters and distributors to conduct one-on-one online transactions with their customers in real-time. The new partnership will allow Paperloop to extend its services to the paper industry that leverages its visibility, information and e-storefront offerings with the back-end integration and supply chain optimization solutions of ABB and SKYVA. Paperloop will launch the first phase of the e-marketplace aspect of its web site in November, that will enable buyers and sellers to research and locate products and services, collaborate online and conduct transactions. Accessed through the company's web site – www.paperloop.com, paperloop will provide e-storefronts to companies interested in selling their products or services to the paper, printing and converting industries. E-storefront buyers will also be able to access paperloop's extensive industry audience and customer base, and also take advantage of paperloop's technical and Web hosting services. Key features of the e-storefronts include: a custom-built microsite, product catalogs, automated request for quotes (RFQ), company overviews, product information, procurement requests through the paperloop network, customer care, order entry, order status, order history, credit checking, and capability and availability to promise. The e-storefronts will also provide companies with a license to paperloop's extensive content, further enhancing their Web offerings. "This is the first in a suite of technologies that paperloop will be rolling out to the paper industry," said Tim Fazio, paperloop's CEO. "As the number one information and services portal, we've accomplished our initial goal of creating the industry's most robust information, solutions and transactional marketplace. Now, with this pioneering B-to-B technology from SKYVA and our transactional global implementation partner in ABB, our transactional strategy is greatly enhanced." "SKYVA's innovative software agent technology and ABB's participation is a significant event for the industry," said Dan Cahalane, Global eBusiness Director for ABB Pulp, Paper, Metals & Minerals. "Until now, industry eBusiness marketplaces have not had the technology flexibility or implementation partners necessary to integrate business into a truly collaborative marketplace." Joining ABB's expertise in plant-floor automation and Manufacturing Execution Systems with SKYVA's unique approach to building B2B solutions from the ground up will enhance paperloop's dominance as the premier pulp and paper information portal on the Web. Together, this team will create Web-enabled supply chain management services that will facilitate pulp and paper companies and their suppliers to conduct transactional exchanges and eBusiness on the Web, while reducing costs and streamlining supply-chain operations. ABB recently invested $130 million for a 53% stake in SKYVA International to enable Industrial Information Technology. ABB and SKYVA will collaborate with paperloop to connect industry players from the plant floor to the Web. SKYVA has created a new generation of software that turns physical business processes into software applications directly from individualized business process models, working within existing IT infrastructures and external sources. With SKYVA technology, companies now have a way to create B2B solutions with complete back-end fulfillment. "We are excited about the opportunity to work with the world's largest industrial IT provider in ABB and the world's most popular pulp and paper portal in paperloop," said Mike Orbach, Vice President of Sales and Alliances for SKYVA International. "This industry is looking for a solution that enables business managers to make decisions based on real-time information residing in process and business systems, and this alliance will provide a true, necessary back-end implementation for robust eBusiness and supply chain optimization."