Paper Progressions

As printing technology continues to change, paper companies are producing products to keep up with the times.

In-plants aren't the only ones affected by the onslaught of new digital printing devices. Paper manufacturers have been busy modifying their products to keep up with the evolution.

"We understand the importance of harnessing the potential of new and emerging technologies in order to develop products that offer value-added features," says Mary Jo Francis, marketing manager for Mead Carbonless Sheets. "The evolution of Mead Transcopy is an example of our commitment to achieving this goal."

Mead Transcopy has been developed to run smooth and jam-free through the complex paper paths of high-speed copiers. Other improvements include a whiter coated back, a new coating technology that results in a more stable sheet before and after copying.

Cheryl Shepard, marketing director for Sappi Fine Papers, says her company has also worked to give printers more options. More and more Sappi customers are using coated paper with digital equipment. Sappi is working to keep up with the demanding high-speed copier environment. Printers can now use paper originally designed for offset work in a digital environment.

Sappi has modified the surface of its coated cut-sized papers to run smoothly through digital equipment. Shepard says it was a challenge to eliminate jamming in the digital devices. She adds that advances in paper recycling methods have lowered the amount of clumping in a recycled sheet, which causes jamming.

"Consistent maintenance of precise moisture levels throughout the manufacturing process prevents the form from curling during the heat-intensive xerography process," adds Francis, of Mead Carbonless.

Smoothness of the paper surface is also a necessity to ensure quality printing from your digital devices.

"The premium laser paper products have extremely smooth surfaces that are necessary for the equipment to achieve high-quality print resolution and to compete against process color offset printing," explains Bob Hieronymus, marketing manager for Georgia-Pacific Imaging Papers. "These papers have also trended to higher whiteness and brightness levels to improve the quality of the printed output."

International Paper also is manufacturing papers specifically for these digital applications. Edward Spangler, marketing manager of the Merchant Office Papers division says these grades of papers are smoother, have better formation, less moisture content and a high brightness for better image contrast.

"Many printers want the convenience and cost savings of using one product for multiple uses," Spangler says. "However, they may not achieve optimal print quality if the paper was not specifically formulated for that particular equipment use."

New Printers, New Paper

Hieronymus, of Georgia-Pacific, says that the release of products such as the Xerox DocuColor 40 and Canon CLC 1000 have driven up the demand for "premium laser papers." Also, the introduction of the Xeikon engine and the Indigo digital press has resulted in new paper products.

"To support Indigo printing needs, most existing paper grades in the U.S. have to be sapphire-coated," Hieronymus notes. "Similarly, paper for use on the Xeikon digital color presses requires 'qualification' to establish 'script files' which identify the initial centerline settings for over 20 critical press variables."

The script file gives the press operator a good starting point when using a specific paper grade, minimizing waste in getting the press set up for a job, Hieronymus adds. The scripting process has resulted in the modification of paper products, creating paper grades to support only Xeikon presses.

Current Trends

Hieronymus says the major paper trends Georgia-Pacific has seen emerging in the digital printing market over the past two years are:

• The growth of premium laser papers to support color digital output.

• The emergence of "digital laser opaques" to support high-volume digital monochrome printing of books, manuals and catalogues. Many of these documents need higher opacity paper to minimize show-through. This opaque feature allows long documents to be printed on lower basis weight papers to reduce thickness of the piece, or to lower mailing costs.

• The emergence of new cut sheet sizes to support new equipment applications. The new color printers are capable of full bleed 11x17˝ printing, creating the demand for a 12x18˝ paper size. The use of DocuTechs for book publishing has created a demand for 9x12˝ and 9x14˝ size cut sheets.

• The emergence of roll-feed devices to support high-volume sheetfed monochrome printers, like the DocuTech. Similarly, laser printing devices that have traditionally required tractor feed holes are now moving to pinless technology. These equipment innovations are significantly increasing the demand for digital papers to be supplied in roll formats.