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Paper

Paper

Great opportunities exist in the paper business to use chemistry for competitive advantage. On the cost side, this includes fiber substitution where strength aids and binders allow the use of cheaper fibers and fillers. In operations, cleaner machine water systems can reduce breaks, increase uptime and saleable tons. And to meet the fast-developing ‘Future of Paper’, new binder, coating, and strength chemistries support developments such as digital, 3-D and on-demand printing.

Improved cost-efficiency

Cost-efficiency gains and production increases are easily within your grasp via actions as simple as cleaner water systems around your paper machine. We have extensive experience in enabling better machine stability, resulting in more saleable tons and lower cost per ton.

Substitution of expensive softwood fibers with cheaper hardwood, mechanical, or recycled grades is also an area where money is often left on the table. Use of new strength aids and binder chemistries allows you to use cheaper fibers or higher levels of fillers, without negative impact on quality.

Dewatering and strength enhancement via functional chemicals has also been proven to save big money by reducing both refining energy and steam needed for drying.

Kemira Total Chemistry Management (TCM) offers a holistic approach for operational efficiency, sharpened competitive edge, and reduced costs. Within the TCM program, we can supply everything your mill needs, from products to know-how and smart process management.

Improved cost-efficiency

New grade development

As a papermaker, you can create significant new value by taking an existing grade and developing its usefulness to the market. Chemistry plays a key role here. For example, with graphical and printing papers, our binder replacement concept can lower costs, while giving printers better ink setting and faster drying times, which means they can be more productive in printing both sides.

For label papers, high surface strength is a key property, but that needs to be balanced with good ink setting, drying, and printability. New optimized coating formulations allow this, and can even work on previously-difficult cast-coated papers and varnished grades.

Moving up the value chain, recent opportunities in decor papers have been created by inkjet, 3-D and on-demand printing. For example, counter-tops or flooring can be custom made. Inkjet has special needs, due to water-based inks. We address this with a special pigment that keeps the inks on the surface and enhances color reproduction and brightness – even on uncoated papers.

There are lots of opportunities for profitable growth in specialty paper grades. Let’s explore them together.

New grade development

Future opportunities

Digital printing represents a key driver for profitable market growth in the future. So far, we have barely scratched the surface of this new potential.

Inkjet will gain more momentum, and progressive companies are already working hard on areas it opens up like 3-D and on-demand, tailor-made printing. But inkjet presents challenges and special needs, due to water-based inks. For this, we have developed a special pigment that keeps the inks on the surface. It greatly enhances color reproduction and brightness in inkjet printing – even on uncoated papers.

As the line between printing and converting becomes less visible, the integration of these previously discrete operations means new paper properties are in demand. Chemistry can play a key role in building all the desired properties for printing, varnishing and laminating into your sheet, with good cost effectiveness but without quality trade-offs.

It’s not simple, but it’s doable. And it can give you a head-start as the market evolves. To stay ahead tomorrow, get in touch with us today.

Future opportunities

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