Consumables-Paper - Offset

Vendors offer an increasing variety of media for wide-format ink-jet printers. Find out which factors you should consider before buying. Picking the right paper for a wide-format ink-jet job can be a daunting prospect. Your choices include economy papers, water-resistant stock, self-adhesives, matte, glossy and satin finishes, canvas, silky polyester and vinyl. Films come in clear, white, reverse-print backlit or front-print backlit, erasable media, double-coated, Mylar and more. You have to consider the printer and ink combination, whether the application is indoor or outdoor, how color-saturated the print will be, the quality you want, how long the print needs to last,

Gather around the old water cooler—or in this case the office copier or laser printer—and find out about the latest paper offerings for the office environment. OFFICE Papers must provide users with consistent performance. To ensure runnability, major paper mills work closely with office equipment manufacturers on product and equipment issues, notes Dick Thomas, business and converting papers manager for Willamette Industries. This is done particularly when new copiers or printers are in development to make sure work can be produced smoothly. The result, Thomas says, has been the addition of more reliable papers to the market. Recent manufacturing enhancements have helped Beckett develop

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

Advances in technology have brought new products into the paper market, giving you more choices than ever. Today's market is flooded with numerous grades and types of papers. Some work better with digital printing equipment, some with offset presses. Many of these new products are produced using little or no natural fibers. Along with changes in the way synthetic and recycled grades are produced come changes in the way paper has to be handled. This brings new challenges to the in-plant manager. Synthetic Grades One factor to consider is the durability of the paper you select. According to Michael Cafiero, national marketing manager

As in-plants demand more just-in-time delivery, paper companies are upgrading their warehouses and inventory tracking systems to serve them. When your in-plant has a job to do, you need to have the right paper—and the right quantities of it—available. And since many in-plants rely on paper vendors for just-in-time delivery, what goes on behind the scenes at your supplier's facility can directly affect you. To get orders filled and delivered quickly, suppliers rely on strategically placed warehouses, and detailed inventory tracking and order management systems. They often must ship in advance of orders, too, to make sure supplies arrive on time. Georgia-Pacific Communication Papers

Why is paper smoothness so important? How do manufacturers test and control paper curl? Is multi-purpose paper really good for everything? IPG gets to the bottom of it all. Once upon a time, paper was made of fibers from hemp, rags and mulberry bark, and it wasn't until 1850 that using wood fibers for paper became common practice. Now, at the end of the twentieth century, the paper industry has exploded into a supplier of over 725 pounds of paper and paperboard annually for every man, woman and child in the country. What does this little history lesson mean for in-plant managers?

Your demands are being heard. Vendors are altering paper content to keep pace with printing technology changes. As an in-plant manager, do you take your paper for granted? Do you follow the trends, or stay with what has worked in the past? If you're an efficient manager, you're always looking for ways to improve. And today's papers can improve the quality of your printing quite a bit. The advent of print-on-demand technology and the increase in color copying and printing have altered the types of paper printers want. Customers now look for brighter, whiter sheets to ensure sufficient contrast with various colors. Manufacturers are

According to in-plant managers, quality service from their paper vendors is as important as a quality product. How paper vendors service their customers is just as important as the grade, stock and quality of the paper they sell. At least that's what managers told In-Plant Graphics during several recent interviews. Morton McGovern, supervisor of printing and office machines at Allendale Insurance in Johnston, R.I., says his vendor is so flexible that he can call anytime and get what he needs. "If I need a sample really quick they'll send it to me without a problem," he says. But not all managers

You want your paper delivered now. But what goes on behind the scenes to get it there so fast? Ordering paper used to be much easier—back before there were so many choices. "It used to be one size fits all," remarks Doug Cole, sales manager with Champion International. "With the expansion of product lines and the addition of value-added items, we've really had to change our approach." Paper vendors haven't had it easy in recent years. Customers are ordering smaller shipments and more product varieties—and they want them right away. Just-in-time delivery—where the paper vendor stores the paper and delivers to the customer just