Bookletmaking: Looking To Book In A Profit
A staple part of production for many print companies, Rob Fletcher takes a closer look at some of the latest developments in bookletmaking
From specialist finishes to sustainability, there is plenty to consider when it comes to picking the right paper to work with. Here, Print Monthly takes a look at some of the latest offerings available to the market
When it comes to the bread and butter of print, very little is more important than the paper you opt to work with. There is no universal solution with paper as the requirements of jobs can differ greatly, and this makes the whole process even trickier – especially for those that are producing a wide range of printed material.
The good news for print companies is that there is a regular supply of new paper solutions from manufacturers. Suppliers in this sector are very much on the ball in responding to changing trends and demands, and often adjust their offering to account for this and ensure they are providing their customers with the right sort of papers.
Print Monthly speaks with several providers in the paper market to find out about their new and most popular papers, as well as the benefits each of these products offer to print service providers (PSPs).
First up is EBB Paper, whose marketing manager, Clare Johnson, says there are many key factors in choosing paper for your print job, with the obvious ones being price, availability, and quality. However, in the modern market, printers are also looking at sustainability as a motivating factor when choosing paper.
“Recycled paper was the trend several years ago, which then moved onto carbon balanced/neutral paper,” Johnson says, adding: “Now the market is tending to take a more holistic view of ‘eco-friendly’ papers, looking at everything from the tree species used for the pulp, such as whether it is a fast-growing crop like eucalyptus, for example, that also has huge advantages in terms of bulk and whiteness.
“PSPs are also looking at the efficiency of the manufacturing mill; and are asking whether they are using biomass fuel instead of fossil fuels, and whether they can demonstrate circularity in their production processes and ensure the resources they are using are renewable and the energy clean. They're also asking, is the product manufactured in Europe or even the UK, therefore minimising shipping and reducing the environmental impact?
“All of these concepts can be promoted downstream to their customers as the demand from larger clients to small businesses is on promoting an all-round sustainability message.”
Another thing to consider, Johnson says, is sizes. At EBB, Johnson says the supplier tries to deliver a wide range of sizing options to suit every print job, so that printers can choose the optimum size for their job, producing 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 produce 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, vat-dyed, wood-free range and it’s available in both paper and board weights.”
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.
“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,” Savill says, adding: “This latest addition to the range, Image Magnet, is a versatile product suitable for such a wide range of internal applications – a quick and easy solution for printers.”
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
In a further show of support for customers, Antalis recently revealed a new swatch tool and finish for its popular Conqueror fine stationery brand that relaunched last year.
Available since August, the brand has reintroduced its most luxurious finish, Conqueror Connoisseur 100% Cotton. Manufactured on a mould cylinder paper machine, Antalis says this gives a new light and shadow watermark and provides single-layered boards in 300gsm and a new 600gsm. In addition, Conqueror Connoisseur is available in a new Connoisseur Rag, a strong felt-marked finish with a warm cotton touch.
Accompanying this is a new Conqueror swatch tool to support and guide creatives and decision-makers when selecting papers. The tool includes a black wrapper, embossed folder, and printed cards on Conqueror’s six shades of white and cream, showcasing various print effects such as CMYK offset, embossing, screen printing, transparent foil, and bitmap hot foil.
Rounding off our whip-round review of new paper solutions is Premier Paper Group, whose marketing manager, Brad Goldsmith, says that product versatility has been an increasingly important requirement within the market when it comes to selecting paper in any print job.
“Since the advent of digital print technology and the diversification of the market into these newer areas of print, there has been a significant increase in the print and finishing capabilities of many different paper products; enabling the production of high quality, short-run, and often personalised luxury packaging items, sales collateral, and communications,” he explains.
Since the advent of digital print technology and the diversification of the market into these newer areas of print, there has been a significant increase in the print and finishing capabilities of many different paper products
“There are several paper-based products available in the market now that offer easy-to-use solutions for the production of more specialist printed media [such as] lay flat photobooks, perforated reveal cards, and multi-depth business cards.”
Goldsmith leads on from this to pick up on a trend that is clearly apparent within the paper market: sustainability. Premier has seen an increased demand for sustainable products, with Goldsmith saying in the modern market, you would be hard-pressed to find a paper that does not conform to strict regulations and environmental credentials.
“Furthermore, many mills and merchants offer environmental initiatives to add further value to printers and their clients,” he says, adding: “Many products today have also started to rethink their packaging products, opting for or researching, friendlier transit packaging on their material.”
Turning attention to Premier and its latest products, Goldsmith highlights myCordenons, the new range of creative papers that has recently been added to its portfolio of materials. At present, Premier stocks myKingdom and myBohème, which Goldsmith describes as two excellent ranges of textured papers across a choice of white and off-white shades. Also within this collection is myLeatherlike, a range of leather embossed tinted papers and boards.
Factoid: Fast-growing crops like eucalyptus have advantages in terms of bulk and whiteness when used in paper manufacturing
Alongside this, Premier also stocks myNotturno, a range of deep black tinted sheets; myReef, a collection of tactile, tinted papers inspired by the ocean; and myFlora, a range of flecked and tinted papers, produced using recycled fibres.
“Premier stocks these six ranges and can deliver on a next-day basis, further myCordenons products are available from mill stocks, while we are able to provide samples of all papers to customers,” Goldsmith adds.
Of course, paper choice stretches across various products and markets, with packaging a key focus for many printers. Kirsty Plovie is the new product development technician at Parkside, a specialist in packaging solutions, and she says the technology driving paper packaging materials is moving at such a fast pace that there are incredible opportunities there for the taking.
“It’s clear that we’re moving ahead to a more circularity-focused market, particularly while the market is driven by regulatory changes such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the UK Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT),” Plovie says, adding: “Equally, companies that are already using paper in their packaging can access a new generation of paper substrates, providing fantastic barrier properties, heat sealability, and print quality.
With Parkside and Plovie recognising a clear demand from brands shifting from plastic to paper flexible packaging for many applications, this presents opportunities to printers. With this in mind, Parkside has developed Recoflex, a range of barrier papers designed with versatility in mind.
“Recoflex includes a variety of materials suitable for numerous applications, from translucent paper for salad bags to robust freezer-grade paper for the entire cold chain,” Plovie explains, continuing: “This freezer-grade paper, first used in an award-winning packaging solution for frozen seafood, offers excellent printability and sealability while remaining 100% recyclable.”
With the foundation technology for Recoflex having been “perfected”, Parkside has built on this with new innovations. For example, the Recoflex range now includes additional grades such as high barrier paper, metallised paper, and flow wrap material, with each solution offering full recyclability.
“It’s a showcase of how we blend innovation and sustainability to deliver versatile, high-performance paper packaging solutions,” Plovie adds.
It is safe to say the paper sector does not stand still. Manufacturers are constantly working on new products to provide printers with even more choice across all manner of projects. Speak with your supplier about your requirements for each job and they will help you to identify the best solution.
