The Catablog
Archive for the ‘Arandell Paper’ Category
Soft Touch UV Coating
A little softness can be the perfect look for your catalog design!!!!!
Now available at Arandell is soft Touch UV. It can be applied in either a spot or flood application.
In a spot application, it could be used to emphasis a texture on your cover.
The soft touch is a unique UV finish that delivers the feel and appearance of velvet on your project.
Catalog Printing Trends – High-quality
It used to be that most mail order catalogs were printed on cheap, drab newsprint. Not anymore — the most successful mail order companies are opting for high-quality 100-pound gloss text pages and even experimenting with 70-pound matte stock for a softer, more personal glow. Also, in an effort to identify with environmentally conscious customers, many companies are also printing their mail-order catalogs on recycled paper.
The mail-order catalogs remain as strong as ever, and it’s easy to see why the world’s biggest companies are employing mail-order marketing strategies to complement online campaigns. They’ve learned that the easiest way to make sales online is for the customer to know exactly what they want — and where to find it — before they even log on.
Arandell is already viewed as a leader in print quality. That quality can be seen on the printed page but what pushes Arandell above is everything that happens beyond that printed page. At Arandell, we do more. Contact us today to learn more. Click Here
NewPage files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection
In order to restructure their debt and better position themselves going forward, NewPage announced this morning that they have filed Chapter 11.
What does this mean for the users of their paper products? According to their press release this morning, it appears as though it is going to be business as usual. No changes.
A key quote from the release:
“The company expects to continue operating is US business as usual throughout this process with an undiminished focus on providing customers with high-quality paper and employees with a stable and safe working environment. To help ensure it has adequate liquidity to achieve these objectives and continue to operate and complete successfully throughout the restructuring, NewPage has obtained a commitment led by J.P. Morgan for up to $600 million in Debtor in Possession (DIP) financing.”
What does this mean for NewPage going forward? It is hard to tell. I would envision a smaller company (in terms of employees, facilities and production capacity) that would be free of a good portion of the debt that has burdened them over the past few years. There are a few private equity firms that might be interested in ownership of the company and perhaps a mill or two.
We will continue to monitor the situation and ensure that there will not be any disruptions. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. If you would like more information, NewPage has the information at the following link: NewPage Press Release
Thank you,
Blake Hutchison
Vice President, Procurement
866-810-7728
Paper Price Increases Announced
Over the past few days, the majority of paper mills in North America have announced a paper price increase of $1.50/cwt, or between 2.5 and 4% overall. These paper price increases will take effect with all new orders and any existing orders with ship dates of July 1st and after. They affect coated freesheet and groundwood grades, as well as some super calendared grades. All basis weights and finishes are affected.
The following mills have announced an increase:
- NewPage
- Verso
- West Linn
- Appleton Coated
- UPM
- Kruger
- AbitibiBowater
There are a few mills (most notably Sappi) that have yet to announce an increase. As long as a major mill like Sappi has not announced, there is hope that these announced increases will not hold. I do not see this happening, however, as mill after mill is citing increased input costs (especially pulp and those inputs that contain anything relating to resin or petroleum-based products) as a main driver for these announcements. I believe that the reason these few mills have not announced yet is that they are looking to further fill their backlog of orders and that they will announce an increase when they are full.
We at Arandell will be doing everything we can to mitigate these as much as possible. Should the situation change, we will be the first to let you all know.
If you have any questions, or if I can be of any help, please just let me know.
Thank you,
Blake Hutchison
Vice President, Procurement
866-810-7728
Paper Price Increases Announced
Over the past few days, the majority of paper mills in North America (as well as some in Europe) have announced paper price increases. On average, the increases amount to somewhere between 4% and 5% and are effective on or around April 1, 2011. These increases affect coated freesheet and groundwood grades, as well as some super calendared grades. All basis weights and finishes are affected.
Paper mills are citing increased input costs, especially those inputs that contain anything relating to resin or petroleum-based products.
Based upon the fact that all major and most (if not all of the minor) mills are announcing price increases at this time, I fully expect them to be implemented at their full amount. Should the situation change, we will be the first to let you all know.
If you have any questions, or if I can be of any help, please just let me know.
You can also reach Blake Hutchison, Vice President of Procurement, at 800-558-8724.
Update: NewPage Delays Paper Price Increase Announcement
NewPage has delayed this price increase announcement on web grades until the second quarter of 2011 (starting April 2011).
At this time, we have not received any other price increase announcements, but I would imagine that we may see some as the second quarter approaches. Stay tuned…
Contact Blake Hutchison:
800-558-8724
Unexpected NewPage Paper Price Increase
We didn’t see this one coming!
NewPage has announced a paper price increase on all of their coated and supercalendered grades, effective with confirmed delivery dates of 1/10/11 or later.
The increase is in the 2% – 4.5% range.
So far, no other paper mills have followed suit. Stay tuned…
If you have questions, please feel free to contact me at 800-558-8724, ext. 165 or BJHutchison@Arandell.com.
More Domestic Paper Price Increases Announced
The North American paper manufactures are at it again. Recently, a new wave of price increases have been announced. Here is what we are seeing from the likes of Verso Paper, NewPage, Sappi, AbitibiBowater, West Linn, etc:
Coated freesheet (CFS): 4 – 5% increase
Coated groundwood (CGW): 5.5 – 7% increase
Some grades, such as supercalendared (SC) will see increases as high as seven to 10%. Most of these announcements take effect with shipments on or after September 15, 2010. All brand extensions, basis weights and finishes are included in these announcements.
These latest increases come at a time where operating rates on CGW products are still very high and lead times are still six weeks for some products. Operating rates for CFS products at some mills are still high, although we are beginning to see a slowing of demand as the busy season for paper making begins to come to an end.
You may have also heard that some mills recently announced dramatically low second quarter earnings. Coincidence? I think not. The North American mills are still hurting from the loss of the Black Liquor tax credit and they are looking to make up that loss with high prices.
If you have questions about how your paper pricing will be affected by these increases, please feel free to contact me at 800-558-8724.
Things are getting tight!
Wow, what a difference a few price increase announcements make on demand! I think the mills got the desired effect they were looking for.
Lead times are increasing and increasing rapidly. Coated groundwood grades seem to be accelerating the quickest, with lead times already out 5 – 7 weeks. Coated freesheet, while not as bad, is still out 3 – 5 weeks.
The greatest factor in how quickly you can get paper is the basis weight. If you print on a heavier weight (70#, 80#, 100#) your lead times won’t be as long. 38# through 60# basis weights, both coated groundwood and coated freesheet, are in high demand and their lead times are accelerating faster than the heavier weights. 32# – 38# is a little better, but not by much.
My advice would be to get your paper situation figured out quickly and at least get an LDC date to work off of so that you can properly estimate how much time you are going to need.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me or call me at 800-558-8724
Thank you.
New Round of Paper Price Increases Announced and Lead Times Creeping Out
We have been bombarded the past few days with price increase announcements from our North American mill partners.
Below is a listing of which mills have announced, how much they are initially going to increase their prices, and when they will take effect:
Sappi:
Coated freesheet (CFS) web products (all finishes)
55# and up – $1.00/cwt
50# and below – $3.00/cwt
Effective immediately on new and unconfirmed orders
West Linn:
CFS products (all finishes) – $2.00/cwt
Effective with all orders placed on or after May 21st and on any existing orders shipping on or after June 1st
Appleton Coated:
CFS products (all finishes) – $2.00/cwt
Effective with orders shipping on or after June 1st
Verso Paper:
CFS products (all finishes) – $2.00/cwt
Coated Groundwood (CGW) products (all finishes) – $3.00/cwt
Effective with new orders entered and all existing orders shipping on or after June 1st
NewPage:
CFS products (all finishes) – $2.00/cwt
CGW products (all finishes) – $3.00/cwt
Effective with new orders entered and all existing orders shipping on or after June 1st
Evergreen:
CGW products (all finishes) – $3.00/cwt
Effective with new orders entered and all existing orders shipping on or after June 1st
AbitibiBowater:
CGW products (all finishes) – $3.00/cwt
Effective with new orders entered and all existing orders shipping on or after June 1st
Kruger:
CGW products (all finishes) – $3.00/cwt
Effective with new orders entered and all existing orders shipping on or after June 1st
UPM:
CGW products (all finishes) – $3.00/cwt
Effective with new orders entered and all existing orders shipping on or after June 1st
FutureMark:
CGW products (all finishes) – $3.00/cwt
Effective with new orders entered and all existing orders shipping on or after June 1st
Catalyst
CGW products (all finishes) – $3.00/cwt
Effective with new orders entered and all existing orders shipping on or after June 1st
In discussing these increases with our mill partners, one theme has been constant: they are raising prices to curb the continued pricing depression as well as alleviate pressures from rising input costs. Pulp prices have been rising, and there is no more money coming in from the Black Liquor tax credit. We will continue to be diligent and do everything we can to mitigate these increases as much as possible.
Lead times for both CFS and CGW grades are creeping out. CFS is out anywhere from three to five weeks, and some CGW grades are already out six weeks. I would encourage each and every one of our clients to get your paper orders in as quickly as possible to ensure availability.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me or call me at 800-558-8724
Thank you.
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