78 September / October 2024 - Issue 350 duce a lighter-weight paper. On top of this, grain direction is another current topic of conversation. According to Johnson, research has shown that for paper weights short grain paper is advantageous on press and post-press finishing in terms of stability and increased performance. EBB has invested in a large range of short grain sizes in its main stock lines like Sappi Magno and Horizon to account for this. “Sappi Magno and Horizon are our most popular coated and uncoated brands and are exclusive to EBB in the UK and Ireland,” Johnson explains, continuing: “We have recently invested in new stock lines for both products, including short grain options, in order to give our customers a huge choice in sizes and weights. “Our latest tinted range of paper is Lessebo Colours – it was launched towards the end of 2023 as one of the most climate friendly papers in the world with the mill producing just 11kg of carbon per metric tonne of paper, well below the industry average. There are 48 colours in this uncoated, vatdyed, wood-free range and it’s available in both paper and board weights.” New Opportunities Elsewhere and Antalis has announced a series of new products and solutions in recent months, including some tailored to offer more sustainable choices to PSPs. One such option is KernowPrint Eco Pro Lite HEPP, a durable synthetic paper that is designed to run with HP Indigo digital presses and dry toner machines. Produced by Kernow Coatings, the product is available from 150gsm to 432gsm in a variety of sizes, complementing Antalis’ existing range of synthetic print products. KernowPrint Eco Pro Lite HEPP is a polypropylene sheet produced with up to 40% natural mineral content, which reduces the need for plastic in its manufacture and lowers the product’s overall carbon footprint, creating a more environmentally responsible solution. Boasting a category five recyclability rating, the paper is also waterproof, weatherproof, and chemical resistant, which Antalis says makes it ideal for hardwearing applications that cover a range of industry types and end-users including manufacturing, retail, leisure, hospitality, and education. Paul Savill, product manager at Antalis, comments: “The 40% mineral content and category five recyclability offer sustainable solutions for printers looking for new opportunities to create durable, attractive, and more environmentally responsible end-user applications.” Also new from Antalis is Image Magnet, a ready-to-use, pre-magnetised paper that can also be printed on HP Indigo and selected dry toner devices. Available in SRA3, SRA3+ and B2 sizes, the magnetised sheets come straight off the press, with no post-print magnetisation processes required. According to Antalis, Image Magnet’s grey backing sticks to any ferrous surface and delivers excellent print quality, making it ideal for quick end-use changes, leaving no residue. Such is this flexibility that Antalis says it opens opportunities for many applications in commercial print, direct mail, or photo/gifting, while it is also 100% customisable for a host of end uses such as takeaway menus, postcards, business cards, school photos, and servicing reminders. ducing less waste and getting the most for their money. This ties in with current trends, with Johnson and EBB having identified “lightweighting” as a bit of a buzzword at the moment. She says if you are using a bulkier paper, consider choosing a lighter weight, Where you might have used a 100gsm previously you could move to a 90gsm, still achieve the same finish but save money and also lighten the finished weight of the printed piece, which might help in terms of postage costs. There is also an environmental angle to this, less raw materials are used to prowww.printmonthly.co.uk We’re committed to evolving our digital specialities portfolio to offer our customers the best and most innovative substrates on the market to help them diversify, grow, and develop their businesses ◄EBB has identified “lightweighting” as a buzzword within the paper sector PAPER SOLUTIONS
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