Sappi expands sublimation paper mill, prepares new label and silicone paper range for Labelexpo

02 Mar 2022 --- Sappi is investing a sum in the low double-digit millions over the next two years to expand its Centre of Excellence for specialty papers at its facility in Carmignano, northern Italy. The woodfiber products and solutions provider is also gearing up to showcase its new range of high-quality label and silicone base papers at Labelexpo Europe in Brussels in April.

The company plans to increase production capacity at its Centre of Excellence to support further growth in the existing dye sublimation business, combined with improved first-class service and lead times. The conversion is scheduled for completion by the end of 2023.

Digital transfer printing
In 2018, Sappi recognized the importance of sublimation paper for digital transfer printing. It took over the specialty paper business of Cham Paper Group, a Swiss group of companies internationally active in specialty papers with high-performance mills in Carmignano and Condino, Italy.

The opening of the Digital Solutions Centre in Carmignano a year later supported the launch of additional product innovations in the field of sublimation printing, for example, the Transjet Tacky Industrial and the Transjet Drive.

“Our sublimation papers are ideal for various products in the fashion, home textile, sportswear, soft signage and hard substrate sectors. They perform exceptionally well with maximum ink transfer and minimum ink consumption. Over the next five years, we see a significant increase in demand for these papers,” comments Luis Mata, sales director for packaging and digital solutions at Sappi.”
Sappi will showcase its new range of high-quality label and silicone base papers at Labelexpo Europe in April.

“By expanding our mill in Carmignano, we can offer a complete in-house solution for sublimation papers from development and production, through conversion to shipment. This [conversion] will enable us to keep the highest quality standards in all the production steps and offer a world-class service to our customers while positively impacting our CO2 emissions,” adds Pierluigi Masi, paper mill director in Carmignano.

Self-adhesive labels
Meanwhile, the packaging and specialty papers supplier will be introducing its extensive range of facestock papers and silicone base papers and wet-glue label papers at the upcoming Labelexpo Europe.

As an independent paper manufacturer, Sappi offers its customers in the self-adhesive label sector all papers from a single source, including:

• Enhanced formulation of glassine papers from the Silco product family
• New Sol CN and Sol LF CCK papers with excellent flatness
• The new semi-gloss Parade Label SG facestock paper
• Parade Label Pro for non-wet-strength wet-glue labels
• High availability and fast delivery of label papers due to portfolio expansion at the Gratkorn, Austria, site.

Silicone base papers
Sappi’s Glassine and CCK silicone base papers offer “exceptional” siliconization properties and easy and efficient processing. They are used as release liners for various self-adhesive applications such as self-adhesive labels, graphic applications, adhesive tapes and office supplies. 

The supplier recently improved the entire glassine paper formulations of its Silco product family. These products include the supercalendered Silco Label and Silco Tape BS papers and Silco Process Liner BS, produced for decades at Sappi’s Condino mill in Italy. 

Sappi will be introducing two new CCK papers to complement the Sol product family at Labelexpo Europe. With Sol CN, Sappi is presenting a one-side double-coated CCK paper designed for office materials such as self-adhesive labels or adhesive tapes. The paper is available in a grammage of 55 g/m2. It features characteristics such as high strength, a smooth surface and low silicone consumption, and cost-efficient handling and “excellent” lay-flat properties. Sappi’s new Parade Label SG facestock is ideal for disposable bottles and containers.

The second CCK launch at Labelexpo is the Sol LF paper for “extraordinary” flatness. Available in 120 and 135 g/m2 basis weights, this paper features high strength, low silicone consumption, a smooth surface and cost-efficient processability. Moreover, its lay-flat properties with almost imperceptible dimensional change in the cross direction make an ideal material for self-adhesive films in the graphic arts sector.

Label papers
The new Parade Label SG facestock paper boasts first-class printing and finishing properties. Launched in autumn 2021, this one-side coated, semi-gloss paper for self-adhesive label applications excels with its “outstanding” printability, opacity and stiffness and “excellent” further processing capabilities. It is ideally suited as a self-adhesive label for general packaging, transport packaging, disposable bottles and containers.

Meanwhile, Sappi says Parade Label Pro, launched in mid-2021, has been “very well received” by the market. The glossy, one-side double-coated wet-glue label paper features an “exceptionally” smooth surface and a high degree of whiteness while ensuring “excellent” printing and finishing results.

“Visitors to Labelexpo will experience the paper – designed for challenging labels in the food, beverage and consumer goods sectors – as the perfect choice to achieve distinctive visual impact and product differentiation in retail environments. Selected references from around the world will be presented to visitors at the stand,” the company confirms.

By Joshua Poole