CMP Holdings, a subsidiary of Verso Paper Holdings, has completed the previously announced acquisition of International Paper’s coated and supercalendered papers business for approximately $1.4 billion. The coated and supercalendered business includes four paper mills, located in Jay, Maine; Bucksport, Maine; Quinnesec, Mich.; and Sartell, Minn. Verso Paper Holdings, an affiliate of Apollo Management L.P., is a leading supplier to the North American magazine publishing and catalog markets. The company annually produces approximately 1.7 million tons of coated groundwood, coated freesheet and supercalendered papers and had $1.6 billion in sales in 2005. Its brands include Advocate, Influence, Liberty, Savvy, Trilogy and Velocity. Headquartered
Consumables-Paper - Offset
All four of Wausau Paper’s Printing & Writing segment facilities are now certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). FSC certification recognizes products and processes that support the responsible management of the world’s forests and forest resources. Newly certified are the paper manufacturing and converting facilities in Brainerd, Minn., and Groveton, N.H., as well as a converting facility in Appleton, Wis. The Brokaw, Wis., paper manufacturing and converting location was certified previously.
YOUR CUSTOMERS are concerned about the environment. Many of them, in fact, would be happy to pay extra to read publications printed on recycled paper. According to a recent survey by the Green Press Initiative, Book Business magazine and Co-Op America, 80 percent of book/magazine purchasers said they would be willing to pay more for reading material printed on recycled stock. Paper manufacturers have been striving to address their customers’ environmental concerns by producing more papers with recycled content, and using pulp from sustainable, responsibly managed forests. They are also showing their environmental concern in other ways: by using wind-generated electricity for manufacturing
Laura Shore, SVP Communications with Mohawk Fine Papers, offers this advice for in-plants eager to improve the quality of their color copies: “The biggest recent change that we’ve seen in the in-plant world has been the rapid adoption of high-end color copier-printers. By running premium paper through these machines, in-plants can do more commercial-quality work; Mohawk Color Copy, for example, is now available in 100 cover and customers have been using it for business cards and report covers.” “In terms of premium paper, in-plants shouldn’t focus exclusively on the paper cost per pound, but on the performance cost. Paper jams eat up time and money,
THROUGHOUT HIS years as director of materials management for the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dean Gray has always used a mix of coated and uncoated paper. Recently, at the request of a designer, he switched the annual report—traditionally printed on coated paper—to uncoated paper. The results were pleasing. In fact, by printing on uncoated stock, the in-plant met the PCOM marketing department's goal of softening up the annual report's previously stiff and formal look. "It gives an air of less formality and stiffness," Gray notes. For years, using uncoated paper meant taking risks on quality. That is no longer the
Can in-plants advance the use of environmentally friendly papers? The answer is yes. These days, cost, quality and availability are all on your side. By Tyson Miller The paper industry has come a long way in cleaning up its act in terms of mill discharges into waterways, pollution prevention and energy efficiency. Many of these improvements have occurred as a result of laws and government regulations. Similar improvements in forest preservation, though, have yet to be made. The marketplace, not the government, will drive these changes. For that reason, in-plants can be a potent force for continued environmental improvements in paper. There is
Six things you should know before you decide. By Steven Frye and Noelle Skodzinski You may have heard a few things about synthetic paper: • It's more environmentally friendly because it's not made of trees and it is recyclable. • It has a long life span because it can handle a lot of stress without tearing. • It's waterproof and doesn't degrade in water because it lacks wood fiber. • It folds without cracking. Still, how do you know if your in-plant can utilize synthetic sheets to produce maps, manuals, menus, banners or other products for which such paper is well suited?
Are you getting the most out of your digital paper? Find out from the experts. By Kristen E. Monte DIGITAL PRINTING delivers a leap in technology—but make sure you don't stumble when it comes to the digital paper you use. In-Plant Graphics spoke with industry suppliers of digital paper to get some important runnability tips. Read on and take note. Identifying Quality Paper: • Quality paper should arrive well packaged and protected, be clean and not dusty when inspected, and feed evenly without major efforts. The paper weight is important because there are usually complex paths in digital presses, and there are
Paper companies have announced price hikes for most grades, with more on the way. We all knew the buyers' market wouldn't last forever. By Mark Smith THE END had to come sooner or later. Everyone knew the buyer's market for printing stocks simply couldn't last forever. Eventually, the adjustments made in papermaking capacity by suppliers and increasing demand fueled by the economic recovery had to bring price increases that would stick. Paper companies have announced or already implemented price hikes for most grades, and another round of increases may be in the offing before the end of the year. There's little reason to hope
As digital color printing increases, in-plants are demanding heavier sheets. Find out what other changes are coming to your paper. By Vincent De Franco Color documents are finding their way into people's hands more than ever before thanks to the tremendous rise in digital color printers and copiers. Not surprisingly, this digital phenomenon has greatly affected the demand for paper; suppliers have not only changed their offerings, they have altered the way they bring these products to market. "More than ever, technology is the main driver of trends in paper," remarks Vince Phelan, director of product management and marketing communications for Boise Paper Solutions'
