Consumables-Paper - Offset

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA—11/12/07—Several international companies sensitive to the issues of sustainability have stepped up to do something about it. Kodak, Mohawk Papers, Quebecor World, and Xerox are initial sponsors of the upcoming sustainability conference at Cal Poly, titled “The Business of Green Media.” The conference, set for Jan. 24, will bring together leaders in the production of sustainable media. Sessions will focus on the business challenges and opportunities that face the graphic arts community and those involved in media production. This includes printers, publishers, packaging companies, advertising agencies, graphic designers, Web and Internet site developers, and equipment manufacturers and supply vendors, and educators. A reception

GRAPH EXPO returned to Chicago last month, bringing printers together from all over the globe. Despite its earlier than usual start the weekend after Labor Day, the four-day graphic arts trade show packed a decent crowd. Granted, opening day attendance thinned noticeably around NFL kickoff time (it was the season opener, after all), but by day two McCormick Place was jammed solid. An impressive 640 exhibitors (including 120+ new ones) spread out across 460,984 net square feet of exhibit space. In-plants interested in wide-format printing or in mailing/fulfillment could go to special sections of the show floor where such equipment was clustered.

NewPage Corp. and Stora Enso Oyj have signed a definitive agreement under which the former’s parent company, NewPage Holding Corp., will acquire Stora Enso’s paper manufacturing operations in North America. Stora Enso is to receive approximately $1.5 billion in cash, a $200 million note and a 19.9% equity interest in the new company. Consolidating the operations is expected to generate approximately $265 million in annualized cost savings. “These cost savings, combined with our increased scale, will enable us to make further high-return investments in lower cost capacity, increase supply chain efficiencies and product availability and enhance environmental leadership,” said Rick Willett, President and COO

Mohawk Fine Papers Inc. is now on two of the Environmental Protection Agency’s lists of most sustainable companies. Mohawk ranks 22nd on the EPA’s National Top 25 list of Green Power Partners, and is now on the list of 100% Green Power Purchasers. The National Top 25 List of Green Power Partners comprises companies that voluntarily purchase green power to reduce their environmental impact while promoting the development and use of renewable energy resources. In addition to Mohawk, companies included on this list are Wells Fargo & Company, U.S. Air Force, and Starbucks. The 100% Green Power Partners list includes all the EPA Partner organizations that

Xerox has unveiled a digital printing paper that reportedly uses half as many trees as traditional paper, while lowering the cost to mail printed material. Xerox High Yield Business Paper was developed by scientists and engineers at the Xerox Media and Compatibles Technology Center, a Webster, N.Y.-based lab devoted to paper innovation. The mechanical fiber paper reportedly overcomes operational problems, such as curling and dust, which can prevent mechanical fiber papers from being used with digital print devices. High Yield Business Paper uses 90 percent of the tree versus only 45 percent being used to create traditional digital printing paper. It requires less water and

International Paper has agreed to acquire Central Lewmar LLC, one of the largest privately held U.S. paper and packaging distributors, from Philadelphia-based private equity firm Chrysalis Capital Partners for approximately $185 million. International Paper’s distribution business, xpedx, will operate Central Lewmar as a business unit within its multiple brand strategy. xpedx is one of North America’s largest business-to-business distributors. Loveland, Ohio-based xpedx said that printers would not see any immediate changes, but the acquisition would enable both Central Lewmar and xpedx customers to continue to access a wide choice in supplies and services. Central Lewmar’s management team is to remain in place and all Central Lewmar

LOVELAND, OH—August 13, 2007—xpedx parent International Paper Co. today announced that xpedx will acquire Central Lewmar, Strategic Paper Co., and all other Central Lewmar companies. Privately held Central Lewmar is a large Newark, NJ-based distributor of printing and publishing papers with more than $900 million in 2006 revenues. It will become a division of xpedx. xpedx said that North America printers and publishers would not see any immediate changes following the close of the acquisition in about 30 days. The company said the planned acquisition would enable both Central Lewmar and xpedx customers to continue to access a wide choice in supplies

Xerox has unveiled a digital printing paper that reportedly uses half as many trees as traditional paper, while lowering the cost to mail printed material. Xerox High Yield Business Paper is a mechanical fiber paper that reportedly overcomes operational problems, such as curling and dust. It uses 90 percent of the tree versus only 45 percent being used to create traditional digital printing paper, it requires less water and chemicals and it is produced in a plant using hydroelectricity to partially power the pulping process. The lighter weight of High Yield Business Paper makes it ideal for transactional printers and direct mail centers seeking to reduce

BENNINGTON, NW—August 1, 2007—Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc. announces that all its Graphic Arts Printing and Packaging Papers are made using 100% renewable electrical energy and are manufactured carbon neutral. Monadnock is continuing its leadership in sustainable manufacturing by making significant investments to continue to reduce its carbon footprint and overall environmental impact. “In 2006, 49% of our electricity was self-generated”, says Michelle Hamm, Manager of Environmental Services. “Since 1904, Monadnock has derived much of its energy from mill owned and operated low-impact hydroelectric generation facilities, and Monadnock remains committed to the use of low-impact hydroelectric power.” Monadnock has made a considerable investment in Green-e

A digital print job is only as good as the paper used. To ensure you are getting the most out of your digital print jobs, IPG spoke with industry suppliers, who shared some important tips. Identifying Quality Paper Formation, which is the uniformity of fiber distribution, affects a paper’s strength, runnability, consistency in caliper and print performance. Hold a sheet of paper up to the light and observe the uniformity. Paper with poor formation will have an inconsistent, splotchy appearance. Copy paper should be lightweight with a degree of opacity so that it will move through the photocopier rollers easily, and neither curl nor become brittle