Hingham, MA – GMG (www.gmgcolor.com), the leading developer of high-end color management solutions, announces that it is a Gold Sponsor, exhibiting at the Printing United Alliance COLOR22 conference, January 22-25 at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines near San Diego Airport, CA. Attendees will have the opportunity to have face-to-face opportunities to discuss all facets of color management with GMG color experts.

COLOR22 features 25+ dynamic sessions presented by top color experts that will help attendees take their color skills and knowledge to a new level. GMG will actively participate in the conference’s program. Birgit Plautz, Manager of Technical Services for GMG Americas, will be participating in Standards Today and Tomorrow a panel on Monday, January 24, from 3:30 to 4:20pm. Much work goes into the development of color standards for the industry. However, not everyone agrees on which are most important, how they are best implemented, or when they need to be implemented. In this panel discussion, panelists will discuss today’s trends, technologies, standards development, and how it will affect color management in the future.

Marc Levine, GMG Americas Director of Business Development, will be presenting How to Accurately Communicate Brand Color Specifications and Tolerances Visually Across All Types of Print with GMG Color, Sunday, January 23, on the main stage during the COLOR Tools Breakout Track.

During break-out one-on-one conversations, GMG will focus on products that assure that the color specified is the color that is reproduced no matter the print process. For example, GMG ColorServer allows printers to both optimize color for different kinds of print, and match color across different print technologies. The suite of GMG ColorServer bundles are tailored specifically for different customer applications: GMG ColorServer Digital, GMG ColorServer Conventional, GMG ColorServer Hybrid and GMG ColorServer Multicolor. The different solutions offer focused features and benefits for digital printing with both CMYK and multicolor presses, conventional printing, and people who print cross-process using spot colors – especially for packaging.

In addition, GMG will demonstrate a number of newer and time-proven technologies, including:

• GMG ColorBook: It’s easier to specify the right color when you can see an accurate sample directly from the press. GMG ColorBook allows print providers to create digitally printed color simulations in a familiar color guide format. GMG ColorBook is a solution for creating color simulations and custom brand colors based on a precise set of real print conditions. It delivers the real expected color of a printer’s own press, in its production print condition, using production inks on the production substrate. It can be used internal for quality checks, shared with the print buyer to set color expectations, and can even be used upstream in the design process to aid color selection.

• GMG ColorCard produces ‘digital ink drawdowns’, which offer an accurate visualization of a spot ink on a production substrate. Unlike traditional analog drawdowns, color cards are printed digitally, making them fast, accurate, and repeatable. GMG ColorCard allows users to create digital drawdowns in less than three minutes, saving up to 90% of the time that is currently required by conventional drawdown production. It is an InterTech Technology Award recipient and a Label Industry Global Award for Innovation winner.

• GMG ColorProof has been the preferred solution for efficient and safe contract proofing for years. GMG OpenColor is also a past InterTech Technology award recipient. With the increasing use of multi-color printing and different combinations of inks, substrates, screening and other variables, GMG OpenColor can precisely predict the interplay between them.

“Color specification is the cornerstone of accurate color management. To be successful, print providers must accurately predict and reproduce the colors that brands specify,: comments Marc Levine, GMG Americas Director of Business Development. “Color22 is the color management event of the year, attended by those who regard color production extremely crucial. It gives GMG an excellent opportunity to discuss color reproduction in a group environment and assist during one-one-one conversations. We look forward to helping printers and print buyers assure that every requested color is printed to specification.”

For more information about GMG, please visit www.gmgcolor.com. Those interested in registering to attend COLOR22 can visit https://color.printing.org/.

About GMG: GMG is the leading developer of high-end color management solutions. The company was founded 1984 in Tübingen, near Stuttgart, Germany, where its headquarter is still located today. With more than 35 years of experience in managing color, GMG is a pioneer in its field and literally setting the standard in color management. GMG’s focus is on delivering complete solutions to standardize color management workflows across various printing methods and varying substrates. GMG has more than 12,000 color management system installations globally. GMG’s clients range from creative agencies, prepress companies, offset-, flexo- packaging and digital- as well as gravure- and large format-printers to name just a few. GMG is available globally through its subsidiaries and a network of partners.

© 2022 GMG GmbH & Co. KG. GMG, the GMG logo and specific product names are registered trademarks of GMG GmbH & Co. KG. All other descriptions and products named are registered trademarks of the respective companies. GMG reserves the right to make changes, technical or otherwise, at any time.

Pantone is a trademark of Pantone LLC and is registered in the United States and/or other countries.

For more information, please visit www.gmgcolor.com, www.facebook.com/gmgcolor.en,

http://twitter.com/gmgcolor, www.linkedin.com/company/gmg

Flint Group, including all business units within its Packaging and its Commercial Publication & Web divisions, has achieved a Silver status from EcoVadis, the world’s largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings with a global network of over 85,000 rated companies.

The company was considered to be in the top 21% of companies rated by EcoVadis in the manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, including printing inks. It was rated in the top 9% of companies in the Sustainable Procurement category, as well as in the top 7% for Ethics.

Steve Dryden, Chief Executive Officer for Flint Group, said: “This is a tremendous achievement for our business around the world. It reflects the hard work and commitment our teams are making in driving toward our 2030 sustainability vision – to be recognised by our customers, employees, and shareholders as an ethical company, supplying sustainable products and services to the packaging and printing industries. This vision supports long-term value creation and growth for our customers, employees, and shareholders.”

Flint Group employs a diligent sustainability framework covering ecological, social, and governance aspects of the business’ activities and, in 2020, became a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact. This commitment aligns the company’s operations with the UN’s universal principles on human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption in addition to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Doug Aldred, Chief Commercial Officer for Flint Group, said: “EcoVadis provides the leading solution for monitoring sustainability in global supply chains. The business uses its innovative technology and sustainability expertise to support Flint Group in adopting sustainable practices and we were delighted to secure Silver status; a 10-point improvement over our 2020 score.”

To find out more about Flint Group and its sustainability strategy, please visit flintgrp.com or email Deanna.klemesrud@flintgrp.com.

About Flint Group
Flint Group is dedicated to serving the needs of the global Flexible Packaging, Paper & Board, Narrow Web and Publication industries, both conventional and digitally printed. The company develops, manufactures and markets an extensive portfolio of printing consumables and equipment, including: a vast range of conventional and energy curable inks, coatings and additives for Flexographic, Gravure & Offset applications; pressroom chemicals and printing blankets. Furthermore, Flint Group designs and manufacturers digital printing presses for labels, corrugated packaging, document and commercial applications. The company is a leader in colour management solutions which are supported by a Global Colour Centre to ensure colour consistency and standardisation. Flint Group strives to support its customers through a relentless focus on developing: innovative products, exceptional levels of service and the security of supply. Headquartered in Luxembourg, Flint Group employs some 5,600 people. Revenues for 2020 were €1.5 billion. On a worldwide basis, the company is the number one or number two supplier in every major market segment it serves. For more information, please visit www.flintgrp.com

Faced with challenges from COVID-19 and new national labour laws, Hansung P&I of South Korea has acquired a new Nilpeter FB-Line to expand production capacity.

Hansung P&I, located in Dae Gu, is one of the largest total printing solutions providers in South Korea. For more than 5 decades, Hansung has provided printing solutions from gravure, offset, letterpress, and flexo across multiple industries.

The Perfect Choice
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and faced with new Korean labour laws limiting weekly working hours, Hansung faced a challenge to expand their production capacity in flexo and continue serving some of the world’s leading logistics companies.

“These specific jobs require a complicated system integration and are unique in its kind. Nilpeter were able meet these requirements, and for that reason the Nilpeter FB-Line was a perfect choice for us,” explains Mr. Choi Youngchul, CEO of the Hansung Group.

Excited for the Future
“In addition, Nilpeter’s application team really came through” says Mr. Jung Won Joong, Managing Director of Hansung and its subsidiary company Dong Yang. “We are looking forward to expanding with similar Nilpeter presses in the near future, and we are excited as well about possibly adding a Nilpeter FA-Line in our FMCG division,” continues Mr. Joong.

The Hansung Group already has more than 50 printing presses and is on route to further expansions into new territories over the next few years. Nilpeter, as one of their new premium partners, will play a significant role within these expansion plans, claims Mr. Choi.

Sophisticated Workhorse
The Nilpeter FB-Line is a sophisticated workhorse offering high ease of operation and superior printing quality. Designed to deliver maximum flexibility at an affordable price, the FB-Line can be customised with innovative automation features according to requirements, and combined with value-added features such as lamination, cold foil, hot foil, gravure, and screen printing.

www.nilpeter.com

Appleton, WI – For nearly 115 years, Appvion has created value for customers by developing and applying proprietary coating technologies. The Company has a long history of prioritizing the sustainability of both the products made and how they make them. In 2021, Appvion released its first sustainability report, highlighting many outstanding achievements, and now the Company is proud to launch its 2030 sustainability strategy and goals.

“Going into 2022, we set sail for our new 2030 sustainability ambitions to Create a Better Tomorrow and our team worked diligently last year to start implementing them across our businesses,” said Michelle Miller, Chief Sustainability Officer, Appvion. “We play an important role in our customers’ sustainability efforts, and the choices we make directly impact our role as a trusted partner. Sustainability is at the forefront of our operations, value chain, and products.”

In alignment with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Create a Better Tomorrow requires a strong focus on science and technology, a culture of innovation, and critical thinking in Appvion’s areas of expertise. Appvion identified key areas where they can have the most significant impact, and the approach rests on three clear objectives, supported by challenging yet credible and achievable targets:

1.  Work Smarter: We are responsible for using as few resources as possible, as efficiently as possible. That’s why we are focused on using less energy, cutting carbon emissions, and diverting waste from landfills.

2.  Act Responsibly: Acting responsibly is a cornerstone of our culture. We will drive continuous improvement in working safely, focus on engagement, and become a more diverse company.

3.  Optimize Design: We will reduce waste and do more with less. We are committed to using more renewable materials, closing the loop, and taking every opportunity to make our solutions recyclable.

“As we reflect on our journey and our impact, there are many things to be proud of and even more ahead to challenge and excite us. What began with a focus on resource efficiency quickly expanded to designing and manufacturing products with differentiated sustainability attributes,” continues Miller. “Since then, we have collaborated with customers and suppliers for an even more significant impact and broadened our scope to include safety, wellness, community engagement, inclusion and diversity, and most recently, a circular economy with our packaging solutions.”

By working smarter, acting responsibly, and optimizing the design of its products, Appvion believes they are doing their part to make a positive impact long-term. Click to read Appvion’s 2030 commitments and watch a video highlighting the kick-off of its new ambitions.

About Appvion
Appvion was founded in 1907 as a specialty and high-performance coatings business pioneer. Appvion, headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, develops innovative, water-based, and environmentally responsible coating solutions for consumers’ everyday life. A leading manufacturer in North America, Appvion applies functional coating solutions to various flexible substrates, including products from an FDA-compliant facility. Appvion’s primary offerings include direct thermal paper and film products and renewable, fiber-based solutions for consumer and industrial packaging. Connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn to learn more.

Ghent, Belgium – Version 7.5 of PACKZ, HYBRID Software’s native PDF editor, delivers the next generation of prepress software for labels and packaging. STEPZ 7.5 is being released concurrently for digital printing applications. Both tools provide bespoke solutions for prepress experts who require high efficiency, quality, and performance in preparing packaging files for conventional or digital printing.

Production jobs in the packaging industry have been increasing and as a result, many package printers and converters are converting to data-driven production. Pactions 7.5, the automated toolset in PACKZ and STEPZ with parameterized action lists, responds to the needs of these customers for advanced automation. This powerful tool decreases the amount of operator time needed to get a new package design edited, approved, and printed and connects seamlessly to packaging RIPs, workflows, and Digital Front Ends (DFEs). Pactions can also be used for barcode generation, including the GS1 Digital Link Datamatrix code.

In-App Solution Store

PACKZ and STEPZ now offer a direct link to HYBRID Software’s online store, allowing customers to download ready-made templates, dynamic marks, and metadata export filters quickly as required for new production methods or job types.

Key Improvements 7.5 Versions

Both PACKZ and STEPZ 7.5 support the newest M1 processors from Apple for real-time editing.

Complex layered artwork can be viewed in color and wired mode simultaneously, and object-based screenings can be inspected per separation. Enhancements to the Smart Flattener guarantee artwork quality and consistency, professionally managing spot color and transparency interactions as well as press gamut conversions. 

PACKZ 7.5 automatically tags artwork elements with Processing Steps defined in the ISO 19593 standard, while the Analyze and Fix technology checks incoming files for compliance.

HYBRID Software continues to champion innovation on behalf of label and packaging printers and tradeshops to surpass their requirements for accuracy, cost reduction, process automation, and faster turnaround times. 

About HYBRID Software
With offices in Belgium, Germany, Italy, UK, China and the US plus a global partner network, HYBRID Software is a software development company focused on innovative productivity tools for the graphic arts industry.

HYBRID Software’s CLOUDFLOW workflow, PACKZ and STEPZ editor as well as integration products offer a unique set of advantages that include native PDF workflows, vendor-independent solutions based on industry standards, scalable technology and low cost of ownership. These products are used by more than a thousand customers worldwide in all areas of prepress and print, including labels and packaging, folding cartons, corrugated, wide format and digital printing. HYBRID Software is a subsidiary of Hybrid Software Group PLC.

www.hybridsoftware.com

Leading global manufacturer of print and packaging technologies, BOBST has revealed a brand-new addition to its machine line-up, the NOVAFOLD. This addition solidifies the brand’s folder-gluer range as one the of most diverse and high performance available to today’s packaging printers and converters.

Designed to help packaging companies boost capacity and end-product quality, the new NOVAFOLD 50, 80 and 110 folder-gluer models offer a powerful blend of reliability, precision and versatility. The machines can produce a wide variety of box styles across a range of substrates, at speeds of up to 300 meters per minute.

Available to customers from January 2022, the addition of NOVAFOLD underpins BOBST’s leading offering to the folding carton industry folder-gluers. This range includes VISIONFOLD 50-110, EXPERTFOLD 50-110 and MASTERFOLD 75-110, which can be equipped with dedicated devices or peripherals to enhance further their performance.

Pierre Binggeli, Product Line Director Folder-gluers at BOBST, comments: “At BOBST, we’re proud to put our customer needs at the forefront. By identifying the actual real-world needs of the industry and using that to inform our product development, we are delivering solutions that make a true commercial difference.

“NOVAFOLD is an example of this approach in practice, and we’re proud to launch this new machine to BOBST customers. The folder-gluer has the essential range of efficient and reliable features, from highly steady feeder through to blank aligner, accurateprebreaker, flexible crash-lock module and 4 & 6-corner device. Its technology allows to produce easily all standard packaging, opening the way towards diversification for printers and converters looking to expand their capabilities.”

The new machine range also benefits from rapid setup on all types, and most sizes, of 4 and 6-cornered boxes, produced at speeds of up to 18,000 boxes per hour. The Human Machine Interface (HMI) allows settings to be saved, with automated positioning and remote control for precision and faster job changes.

The NOVAFOLD can also be equipped with the ACCUEJECT complementary device, which provides enhanced quality assurance. Operating in conjunction with all commonly used glue application systems, ACCUEJECT automatically ejects boxes which do not meet the quality control specifications. The device guarantees 100% ejection of faulty boxes at full speed and enables to deliver consistent, high-quality finished products.

Mr. Binggeli adds: “There is huge market appetite for solid, dependable machines that deliver a combination of quality and efficiency alongside the robust design needed to deliver time and again. That’s precisely what converters get with BOBST machines. With pure reliability and performance in one package, NOVAFOLD truly is the essence of BOBST expertise; user-friendly ergonomics, waste reduction and superior quality performance.”

BOBST is hosting both on-site and virtual demonstrations of the machine and its capabilities, which can be booked through the BOBST website. To learn more about NOVAFOLD and the impressive BOBST range, please visit www.bobst.com.

About BOBST
We are one of the world’s leading suppliers of substrate processing, printing and converting equipment and services for the label, flexible packaging, folding carton and corrugated board industries.

Founded in 1890 by Joseph Bobst in Lausanne, Switzerland, BOBST has a presence in more than 50 countries, runs 19 production facilities in 11 countries and employs more than 5 600 people around the world. The firm recorded a consolidated turnover of CHF 1.372 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Radebeul, Germany and Cicero, Il., USA – The Royal Group (TRG), one of the largest independent corrugated box and display manufacturers in the U.S., with more than 30 locations nationwide, has invested in a Delta SPC 130 Automatic single-pass press from Koenig & Bauer Durst to provide mass customization and high-volume, fully automated digital production to its customers.

The six-color press, now installed at TRG’s Mid-Atlantic Packaging site near Philadelphia, gives customers the flexibility to print unique versions of high-quality graphics for brands and brand extensions, allowing for mass customization at a large scale.

It’s one of many TRG solutions, which range in scope from industrial packaging and brown box shipping containers to high-end graphic packaging, ecommerce, in-store displays and shelf-ready packaging. These products serve a diverse array of markets, including retail, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, health and beauty, agriculture, tech and home goods, among others.

The Delta SPC 130 Automatic, with its sustainable food grade certified water-based ink technology, provides specific solutions for the food and retail packaging and display industry. The new single-pass press reduces lead times and provides excellent print quality, equivalent to flexo and offset production. Transferring work from traditional to digital production will empower TRG to meet customer needs as the demand for both corrugated packaging and speed to market grow. The printer’s expanded color range, adding orange and purple to the CMYK color wheel, allows it to achieve more than 90% of the 3,000+ Pantone colors, including spot coloration for specific brands.

“As both a producer and a converter of corrugated packaging, The Royal Group has made significant investments to acquire the best machinery available in the industry,” said TRG’s Chief Executive Officer Bob McIlvaine. “The investment in the Delta SPC 130 for our Mid-Atlantic site underpins our commitment to process improvement. It will enable us to provide highly automated, world-class printing capabilities at speed while remaining as flexible as possible for our clients as we continue to grow our business. Digital packaging is the future — and we aim to satisfy our customers and meet their needs with innovative solutions.”

“Successful companies such as TRG embrace trends and offer high-impact solutions for their customers,” said Koenig & Bauer Durst Managing Director Robert Stabler. Brand owners want shorter lead times, sustainable manufacturing practices and products that stand out. The Delta SPC 130 Automatic meets all those needs while providing customers with the latest, most reliable, and cost-effective production method available. We’re happy to deliver a solution that gives both TRG and its customers the capability and competency to mass customize without compromising quality.”

About TRG

TRG, founded almost 100 years ago in Cicero, Ill., is among the nation’s largest independent corrugated box and display manufacturers, with over 30 locations nationwide. Since its start, TRG has grown its offerings from packaging to a wide assortment of products and services including big box, protective packaging, retail-ready packaging, displays, co-packing, fulfillment, and shipping supplies. TRG is committed to fulfilling its mission is to provide value added solutions to the most demanding customers.

For more information about TRG visit www.teamtrg.com or contact Melanie Knowles, Marketing Director at TRG

About Koenig & Bauer Durst

Koenig & Bauer Durst is a young company in the digital printing systems market. The two parent companies Koenig & Bauer and Durst Group each hold 50 percent of the shares in the joint venture founded in 2019. The company develops, manufactures and markets single-pass digital printing presses for folding box and corrugated board production. It brings together the technological focus and market expertise of the two parent companies – both in the development of digital printing systems and in mechanical and plant engineering. The company is integrated into the service and sales structures of Koenig & Bauer and Durst Group and employs its own staff.

More information on www.koenig-bauer-durst.com

ColorWorks C4000 Offers Businesses an Easy Solution for Adding Color to Labeling and Eliminating the Cost, Hassle and Lead Time of Pre-Printed Color Labels

Los Alamitos, CA – In fast-paced environments where things shift on the fly, businesses demand dynamic label printing solutions to help maximize the mobility and efficiency of operations. Epson today announced a new addition to its ColorWorks® on-demand color label printer portfolio – the ColorWorks C4000. The compact ColorWorks C4000 offers expanded connectivity and compatibility, improved image quality, remote management tools, and increased ink capacity. The new model is engineered for markets that require high-resolution image quality, durable color labels and easy connectivity, such as food and beverage, retail, healthcare, and pharmaceutical.

“The ColorWorks C4000 brings a comprehensive suite of features and tools into a compact, easy-to-use label printer. This new model is a dynamic solution for a range of labeling applications, from product or packaging labels to barcode and shipping labels,” said Bonny Rindahl, product manager, Commercial Label Printers, Epson America, Inc. “It is designed to integrate seamlessly into a variety of workflows and produce high-quality, durable labels at a competitive price point to existing thermal transfer printers.1”

The ColorWorks C4000 is compatible with the gamut of major middleware programs as well as ZPL II, SAP, Windows®, Mac® and Linux, allowing smooth integration with virtually any existing workflow. Plus, it has optional Wi-Fi connectivity.2 To ensure labels have scannable barcodes, legible text and meet branding requirements, the ColorWorks C4000 delivers exceptionally crisp, photo-quality images and barcodes and up to 1200 dpi resolution with variable droplet sizes. Its durable high-quality labels meet BS-5609 certification.3 It is dust- and water-resistant and engineered to withstand the pressures of high-duty-cycle and commercial environments, with a compact design to also suit small workspaces.

With reliability and productivity at the forefront, the ColorWorks C4000 is engineered with PrecisionCore® technology to deliver a fast time to first label and speeds up to 4-inches per second,4 eliminating the need for pre-printed labels. Designed to be easy to operate and easy to manage, the new model has optional Wi-Fi connectivity2 to print from compatible devices5 and remote printer management via Epson Device Admin for managing large fleets over the network.

Availability

The new ColorWorks C4000 on-demand color label printer will be available in gloss and matte versions in Spring 2022 through Epson’s vast network of authorized partners. For additional information, visit www.epson.com/colorworks. A short video overview of the new ColorWorks C4000 is available here.

About Epson

Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to co-creating sustainability and enriching communities by leveraging its efficient, compact, and precision technologies and digital technologies to connect people, things, and information. The company is focused on solving societal issues through innovations in home and office printing, commercial and industrial printing, manufacturing, visual and lifestyle. Epson’s goal is to become carbon negative and eliminate use of exhaustible underground resources such as oil and metal by 2050.

Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the worldwide Epson Group generates annual sales of around JPY 1 trillion. global.epson.com/

Epson America, Inc., based in Los Alamitos, Calif., is Epson’s regional headquarters for the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. To learn more about Epson, please visit: epson.com. You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (facebook.com/Epson), Twitter (twitter.com/EpsonAmerica), YouTube (youtube.com/epsonamerica), and Instagram (instagram.com/EpsonAmerica).

1 Printers and consumable costs are similar when comparing similarly featured leading brand thermal transfer printers and supplies for similar high-durability images on similar media.

2 Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™; level of performance subject to the range of the router being used. 

3 ColorWorks CW-C4000 inkjet printer with UltraChrome® DL pigment ink, used in combination with Neenah Kimdura® poly media, has been BS-5609 certified.

4 Printing in Max Speed Mode, 300 × 600 dpi resolution, 4” (101.6 mm) print width. Print speeds are based on the print engine speed only. Total throughput time for any label depends on factors including label size, file size, print resolution, speed of data transmission, etc.

5 Most features require an Internet connection to the printer, as well as an Internet- and/or email-enabled device. For a list of Epson Connect™ enabled printers and compatible devices and apps, visit www.epson.com/connect

EPSON, ColorWorks, PrecisionCore and UltraChrome are registered trademarks, EPSON Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark and Epson Connect is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. Mac is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Android is a trademark of Google LLC. Windows is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Wi-Fi® is a registered trademark and Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ is a trademark of Wi-Fi Alliance®. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks. Copyright 2022 Epson America, Inc.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö has successfully completed the acquisition of a 60% stake in Chinese decor paper producer Minglian New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. and forms a joint venture which comprises a state-of-the-art plant in the city of Xingtai, Hebei Province, China. A non-binding letter of intent with the majority shareholders was initially signed in November 2019 but the Covid-19 pandemic delayed the negotiations and closing of the transaction.

By combining Minglian with its existing Decor business, Ahlstrom-Munksjö creates a global leader in decor papers with improved cost competitiveness and strong presence in Europe, Americas and Asia. The business combination allows Ahlstrom-Munksjö to leverage its brand and capabilities in the large and growing high-end decor paper market in China. It will strengthen Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s ability to serve international customers both in the short- and long term. Ahlstrom-Munksjö will provide technical and operational expertise to Minglian and strengthen Minglian’s customer offering and service in the domestic medium and high-quality segments as well as adjacent export markets. Minglian provides cost competitive manufacturing to the combined Decor business platform and opportunities to optimize production and extend further decor paper manufacturing capacities. 

“Minglian is an excellent fit to our operating platform in Europe and South America. It will allow us to serve customers in China and its adjacent export markets as well as we do elsewhere. Together we create a strong global player in decor paper,” says Tomas Wulkan, Executive Vice President Decor Solutions business area.

“We are very pleased with the interest that customers have already shown in both the domestic Chinese market and nearby export markets. Now that we have completed the transaction, we look forward to implementing our ambitious plan to develop and grow the business,” adds Anders Falkeström, General Manager of Minglian.

Minglian in brief
Minglian New Materials was established in 2016 by a group of entrepreneurs with a background in the Chinese decor industry. The state-of-the-art greenfield investment in Xingtai, Hebei province, including an eight-foot paper machine equipped with best available technology, was completed in November 2018. The annual production capacity of approximately 50,000 tons is currently fully utilized. The plant site in Xingtai allows future capacity expansion. The current number of employees is 140.

About Decor Solutions business area
The Decor Solutions business area is one of Ahlstrom-Munksjö‘s five reporting segments. The Decor business produces paper in a wide range of colors, grades and grammages for decorative applications, mainly used in the production of laminated surface materials for furniture, flooring and other interior and exterior architectural panels. The production takes place at five plants: Unterkochen and Dettingen in Germany, Tolosa in Spain, Caieiras in Brazil and Arches in France. Annual production capacity is approximately 210,000 tons.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö in brief
Ahlstrom-Munksjö is a global leader in fiber-based materials, supplying innovative and sustainable solutions to its customers. Our mission is to expand the role of fiber-based solutions for sustainable everyday life. Our offering includes filter materials, release liners, food and beverage processing materials, decor papers, abrasive and tape backings, electrotechnical paper, glass fiber materials, medical fiber materials, diagnostics and energy storage solutions, as well as a range of specialty papers for industrial and consumer end-uses. Our annual net sales is about EUR 2.7 billion and we employ some 7,800 people.

Read more at www.ahlstrom-munksjo.com