Substrate Options Continue to Expand

Many factors are accelerating the pace of transition from offset to digital printing – and the availability of optimized substrates is one of them.  

Paper manufacturers are also introducing new substrates for digital equipment - including coated papers for inkjet platforms. Mainly demanded as reels, high-speed inkjet papers are increasingly requested in folio sheets, especially for printing and packaging applications.

Also in demand are hybrid printing papers suited for different printing technologies, including offset printing and digital laser, and high-speed inkjet printing.

Addressing the need for flexibility

Substrate flexibility is obviously important. Printers can achieve high printing quality with the same paper on different printing presses – without considering the printing technology. Not only does this allow print shops to use their paper stock flexibly, but being able to use the same paper for different printing devices also answers the inventory issue.  

As printers looking to speed up the offset production process, low-energy (LE) UV offset printing has lately established itself among printing houses, says Johannes Klumpp, marketing & sales director, Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper.

LE UV technology, which enables instant drying of print colors, allows the printer to immediately continue to process printed sheets such as further printing or finishing. Furthermore, the printers can achieve excellent print results with highest color brilliance on uncoated papers.

Sourcing coated papers for many of the high-speed inkjet platforms has been a challenge. Drying is a challenge with coated papers and inkjet inks; however, many OEMs are now introducing new models that perform better with coated papers.

The newer generations of high-speed inkjet presses, including the HP PageWide, Kodak Prosper, Screen TruePress 520HD, and Ricoh VC60000, for instance, can run various coated papers, including Appleton Coated’s Utopia Inkjet. For presses that are not equipped for coated papers, Appleton Coated’s Ethos Enhanced Inkjet, provides an uncoated option for those applications requiring enhanced image quality and superior color intensity, says Ann Whalen, senior vice president, marketing & customer services, Appleton Coated LLC.

Ethos Enhanced Inkjet product, recently introduced by Appleton Coated, performs on all high-speed inkjet platforms with either dye or pigment inks. “It’s an uncoated, inkjet-optimized product that has a silky coated feel, enhanced image quality, and superior color intensity when compared to traditional uncoated inkjet products,” says Whalen.

The high brightness product includes basis weights ranging from 45# text to 9pt. cover and includes a stock offering for fast and easy availability. “Ethos Enhanced Inkjet is unique in that it combines the superior image quality of a coated substrate with the press performance of an uncoated paper,” Whalen adds.

Mondi’s professional print portfolio featuring hybrid printing papers allows flexibility in the printing technology used, while being of a high quality, says Klumpp: “We are strongly committed to continuously developing our portfolio serving our customers’ needs. At the same time, we adapt our papers to the technology developments in the professional printing industry.”

Under the slogan “one quality, one mill, one look”, Mondi Neusiedler is designed to guarantee high quality for hybrid offset, preprint, and laser printing. According to Klumpp, professional printers, creative agencies, and end users will benefit from consistent print quality and one shade from 50 – 400 g/m² with DNS premium, MAESTRO extra, and IQ premium.

NEUJET represents Mondi’s next generation of high-speed inkjet papers; the portfolio is optimized for medium- to heavy-color direct mail, graphic arts, and book printing applications. Offered in two quality levels (standard and premium) and two surface finishes (matte and silk), NEUJET is intended to close the gap to coated offset printing. NEUJET silk premium is manufactured to allow professional printers to bridge the gap between high-speed inkjet printing and offset printing, while giving printers the benefit from greater flexibility and cost efficiency because the same paper can be used with both print technologies. “The large color gamut of NEUJET silk premium makes it easy to adjust both printing techniques to each other ensuring excellent printing results,” says Klumpp.

Appleton Coated continues to increase the range of coated and uncoated papers available for high-speed inkjet platforms, as well as the availability. Responding to a need for a higher-caliper product, Appleton Coated recently introduced Utopia Inkjet Dull 11Pt. Cover. This product has the added stiffness customers want for direct mail or insert applications. And for brand owners that want to demonstrate their commitment to the environment, Appleton recently introduced a range of high recycled content uncoated inkjet products, including a 100% recycled option. Appleton Coated’s Ethos Uncoated Inkjet with ColorPRO Technology is available with 30% or 100% post-consumer recycled fiber (PCRF), and is available in a wide range of basis weights, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification comes standard with the 100% PCRF product and is available for the 30% option.

In line with printers’ needs for flexibility, Mondi’s portfolio of high-speed inkjet papers are selectively available in folio formats for sheet feeding. At drupa, several high-speed inkjet printing press producers introduced sheetfed printing presses. Mondi works closely with these producers to offer papers adapted to the new printing trends, showcasing at drupa a range of papers that were printed live on Canon Océ, Hewlett Packard, and Xerox printing presses.

Mondi’s portfolio also includes papers specifically suited for offset printing. IQ PRINT is an uncoated, wood-free offset paper with excellent surface properties and smoothness for problem-free print runs, says Klumpp. IQ PRINT's wide range of formats (70-400 g/m²) makes it a highly flexible option for many offset printing requirements.

Helping customers differentiate their brands

In the offset market, the specialty substrate market is still hot, as print providers continue to look for ways to help their customers differentiate their brands.

GPA’s specialty substrates for conventional and UV offset presses include Stop-Lite boards, Mirri foil boards, and Magnum Magnetics flexible magnet material, designed for a large suite of applications such as playing and game cards, two-way window signage, premium packaging, POP display graphics, high-end marketing collateral for cosmetics and luxury goods, save-the-dates, photographs, calendars, and art reprints.

GPA also offers substrates and solutions for HP Indigo and digital presses, including PaperTyger Durable Papers for HP Indigo and digital presses, and Folex Pressure Sensitive and Non-Adhesive Synthetics. In March, the company introduced a new swatchbook specifically for dry toner printing that features a range of new papers and synthetics for that platform. This offering includes papers with pearlescent shimmers, opulent textures, and translucent options to help print service providers with toner digital press equipment create applications that truly stand out.

PaperTyger is manufactured to print like traditional papers with the added durability of synthetics. Its manufacturing process laminates two paper layers to a PET core, so PaperTyger looks, feels, and performs like paper with added resistance to tearing, moisture, and greasy substances. These specialty papers are designed for any application that calls for durability at a cost-effective price point, and are especially suited for rugged maps, menus, manuals, instruction guides, ID cards, banners, posters, and packaging.

Mohawk, meanwhile, has 17 new specialty digital items designed for dry toner digital presses and are promoted to deliver new applications to digital print service providers. The new products include eight new synthetic premium polyester colors; five smooth-edge, peel off dimensional premium polyester items; a high energy magnet designed for limited use outdoors on automobiles; pressure-sensitive kisscut Item for two-sided, temporary window signage; synthetic durable textile for runners’ bibs, and synthetic MetaliK silver board for signage and packaging.

In March, the company launched its new Curious Collection Papers Digital with i-Tone, expanding its digital fine paper portfolio. Manufactured by Arjowiggins Creative Papers, the new products feature Mohawk’s proprietary i-Tone surface chemistry that’s engineered to enhance ink/toner adhesion and improve run-ability on digital presses.

The new Curious Collection Papers Digital with i-Tone are designed to provide saturated color, unique appearance or unusual texture. The lineup comprises: Metallics Digital with i-Tone (with a distinctive texture to enhance shimmer and appearance); Matter Digital with i-Tone, manufactured with upcycled potato starch, a byproduct of food industry (featuring rich saturated shades featuring a grainy texture); Skin Digital with i-Tone (matte surface and saturated, vibrant colors that invite touch and feel); and Translucent Digital with i-Tone, composed of 100% cellulose fiber and FDA-compliant for food contact (naturally translucent, for design layering or show through).

Last fall, Glatfelter announced its Pixelle line of high-speed inkjet papers was now qualified for use on the Ricoh Pro VC60000 continuous-feed inkjet printer, joining other OEMS including Canon, HP, Kodak, Screen, and Xerox. Glatfelter introduced a brand refresh, including a new website, for its Pixelle line in 2015, and now features more than 30 treated, untreated and coated papers for high-speed inkjet.

"Engineered to meet the demands of today's production inkjet presses, Pixelle provides the print quality and problem-free runnability that printers demand, while offering a diverse product portfolio to help optimize speed, print quality and ink consumption,” says Mark Comensoli, general sales manager at Glatfelter. 

Research for impact

No matter whether you print digitally or offset, or both, your substrate options are continuing to expand. We’ve touched on a just a few of the options available to your shop here – there are myriad papers and substrates to choose from. Establish what performance needs your customers and projects have, and then explore supplier rosters for which substrates are available for your current machines (or machines or you’re likely to add in the future). With a little research, you can help your clients’ projects achieve the impact they’re looking for.