Paper merchants and manufacturers alike are keeping one step ahead of technology developments. By Sasa Jankovic.

　　The popularity of digital printing is growing, with figures showing 70% of digital paper sold is cut size. Digital forecasts from Cap Ventures also predict that soon some 60% of all reels sold for digital printing will be coated.

　　With these figures in mind, M-real Digital Imaging and Zanders have formed a technology centre for specialities at Zanders' Gohrsmühle mill. It is led by Dr Papier, who says: "Paper characteristics have an important part to play in the quality of images produced on digital machines. People don't always realise that the technical requirements of papers for these machines are very complex, as each technology has different requirements."

　　This coincides with the launch of M-real Digital Imaging's Silver range comprising 27 papers for Indigo and Xeikon presses, laser printer/copiers, and large format and desktop professional inkjet printers. For Indigo and Xeikon there is Silver Digital, formerly Silverblade Digital, a premium quality, woodfree range available in sheets and reels. Silver Digital reels are for Xeikon and HP Indigo reelfed presses.

　　Ideal for cut size inkjet

　　For digital colour laser copier/printers, Silver Image woodfree papers have a surface treatment and are compatible with digital four-colour printers and copiers from Canon, Minolta, Ricoh, Sharp, Océ and Xerox. Silver Jet is ideal for cut size inkjet printers. Finally, for large format printers there is Silver Jet Pro, designed for use on large format inkjet printers.

　　MoDo Merchants also stocks the Silver range. Steve Warman, digital product manager, says: "We also have Indifilm Digital polyester, clear 100micron paper backed polyester guaranteed for Indigo, Fasson Digital reels, hi gloss white, MC white and vellum for Xeikon. We provide plentiful stocks and a variety of products, all available for a 24-hour delivery service and, in certain circumstances, same day delivery."

　　Outstanding reputation

　　ArjoWiggins Fine Papers also continues to broaden its digital offering. "A brand such as Conqueror has an outstanding reputation for quality which we protect at all times," says Lois Niessen, Conqueror Digital product manager.

　　The Conqueror Digital Indigo Sheets range, a selection of uncoated finishes for HP Indigo presses, has been approved by the Digital Academy for use on HP Indigo E-Print, Turbostream and Platinum sheetfed presses.

　　The Conqueror Digital reels range, available in 320mm and 500mm reel widths, also has 1A approval from Pira for Xeikon press technology.

　　The third part of Conqueror Digital is High Speed Laser, for fast output laser printers and guaranteed for pre-printing prior to lasering. Available in a reverse laid or wove texture, it is also guaranteed for colour and mono inkjet and laser desktop printers.

　　For Heidelberg's NexPress, Conqueror Connoisseur 100% Cotton 110gsm, Conqueror Smooth CX22 100g and Conqueror Texture Microlaid 100gsm have been tested and approved by NexPress in Kiel.

　　"People are hungry for colour," says Conqueror brand manager Sarah Flower. "Now that the technology is available and affordable, they won't settle for black and white images."

　　Available in A4 and A3 and a choice of weights, Conqueror Colour Solutions is suited for presentations and reports, newsletters and brochures, where colour and quality are important.

　　Over the past year, ArjoWiggins Coated Papers has seen an increase in demand for its Alterego digital range of gloss and silk papers, which create the appearance and touch of traditional offset print, combined with the flexibility of digital systems.

　　"Alterego is a versatile sheet that prints well on offset, laser and digital, giving printers the choice of printing by a single process or a combination," says Greg Jackson, technical manager. It is available in sheets and reels in gloss, and sheets in silk.

　　Premier Paper has been pleased with the reception for its Cypher total solution paper guaranteed for digital and litho printing, office printers and copiers.

　　Says Antony Paul, market development manager: "Although initially clients were ordering on the quality of the sheet, they are also now starting to appreciate its multifunctionality. Just having one stock that suits all processes is a great benefit."

　　With a smooth surface, Cypher has attained 1A approval for Xeikon digital presses and is suitable for use with new digital technologies such as Xerox Docucolor printers and the NexPress.

　　Available in 320mm and 500mm reels from 100-280gsm, it also comes in sheets of A4, A3, SRA3 and SRA2, in weights of 100-330gsm. It conforms to ISO 9706, making it suitable for archival use or acid free applications.

　　Curtis Fine Papers' Conservation Doc-IT is a recycled paper that performs like a non-recycled grade. As well as guarantees for monochrome and colour inkjet and laser printing, it is approved for use on Xeikon digital colour presses.

　　Commercial environment

　　Ken Thom, Curtis customer services manager, says: "Larger format reel fed digital printing presses are now taking the adaptability of desktop digital printing into a commercial environment."

　　Conservation Doc-IT is available in mini webs in 100gsm and 135gsm in brilliant white and ivory featuring the Conservation Doc-IT watermark.

　　Paper merchant Antalis has been committed to the digital market for many years. Sam Bickley, development and promotions manager, says: "We've been expanding our range of small and large format papers for machines such as HP, Encad, Epson Arizona, whilst keeping a close eye on the market as further technologies and demand grow. We've built up a comprehensive range of over 40 different papers for small format as well as large format inkjet rolls.

　　"Although the digital market hasn't grown in line with earlier predictions it is now a credible method of print production for many applications and will undoubtedly expand further with the technologies."

　　Revised range

　　UPM-Kymmene has established a new Digi Business and Competence Centre to focus on developing its digital papers and expanding the certification of existing grades. Its revised UPM Digi range includes woodfree and mechanical grades and is guaranteed for Xeikon, NexPress and Scitex digital presses.

　　Scott Barclay, UK digital manager of Howard Smith Paper, says: "Our Indigo range consists of 16 different products with over 70 items. We have four coated paper ranges, 4CC, Digital Zone, X9 and MultiDigital.

　　"Greencoat Digital is the first recycled coated grade to be stocked in the UK, and our GuardaPat 13 Digital has a soft ivory shade and a unique velvet feel. Digital Zone Greeting Card is the first greetings card board to be approved by Indigo.

　　"We also stock a range of self adhesive products including paper and synthetic face materials, as well as three uncoated products: Distinction, Modigliani and Replica Indigo. We believe this is by far the broadest range of stocks in the UK available to Indigo printers.

　　"We are also market leaders in the Xeikon market. All our products have been tested and approved by Xeikon, and we have eight products with over 110 items.

　　"Replica is the market leading uncoated stock in the UK and Burgo's Mizar is the market leading coated stock. We also stock 4CC, Folex PET film reels, X9 matt coated, Sihl transparent paper, Venicelux cast coated board and MacTac Imagin self adhesive reels. Again we believe this is the most comprehensive Xeikon stock range in the UK.

　　"For machines such as the DocuColor, IGen and NexPress we stock twelve products with over 50 items, including uncoated Replica Digital, coated 4CC Gloss and Silk, X9 matt, and self adhesive MacTac Imagin. All the products are tried and tested and wherever possible we sought the machine manufacturers' accreditation."

　　Robert Horne is set to launch the Dtec brand of papers and films within its M-Tronics range of digital print media.

　　Dtec has five categories, V.1 to V.5, in a bid to simplify product choice. It comprises a range of A4 and A3 75gsm white papers for high volume printing and copying, 80 and 90gsm papers in both A4 and A3 for high volume printing and copying and high quality cut size and matching folio sheets for high volume printing and copying. Dtec V.4 is the new offering for high volume full colour laser printing and copying. It is approved for Indigo and Xeikon presses by the Digital Academy and Pira and is guaranteed by Robert Horne. Dtec V.5, a range of wide format inkjet papers and films available in a variety of widths and grammages, has been on sale since December for applications including backlit displays and point of sale.

　　Clarity to confusion

　　The James McNaughton Group's digital portfolio includes Symbio, which comprises text, graphics and picture laser, as well as a portfolio of large format inkjet papers. Tony Porter, group marketing director, says: "The Digital Matters Division of the James McNaughton Group has brought clarity to the often confusing range of digital colour printing products with its Symbio range."

　　The range offers Symbio Text for office documents printed in black and white, Symbio Graphics for documents containing coloured graphics, and Symbio Picture Laser for high quality images. There is also Symbio wide format print media and finishing ranges and the Symbio Super Satin PE photopolymer coated micro porous grade. McNaughton has also expanded its mounting range as the distributor for Mactac's PP2018.

　　Fedrigoni is another supplier which has underlined its commitment to the digital printing market. Its Century Soho Indigo swatch shows digital papers in weights from 85-300gsm. Special surface treatment has been applied to give optimised results. All Century Soho Indigo papers are certified by the Digital Academy. Included are the Freelife ecological papers, Splendorgel Extra White uncoated, Acquerello and Tintoretto felt-marked papers and Ad Hoc Patty Gloss self adhesive, double-coated, high gloss paper.

　　Mick McDonagh, general manager, Fedrigoni UK, says: "The development of digital printing is the biggest change in the industry since the arrival of offset litho in the 1960s ousted letterpress. The market has changed, and will continue to evolve. Suppliers have to react positively, or die."

[时间：2004-03-15  作者：Bisenet  来源：Bisenet]