Palo Alto, CA – HP today announced a program involving Appleton Coated LLC in the development of new coated papers for the HP T300 Color Inkjet Web Press.

Appleton Coated, a leading producer of premium coated printing papers, will manufacture papers with matte and dull finishes designed for use in textbooks and other publications, direct mail and additional commercial printing applications. The papers from Appleton Coated are scheduled for mid-2010 availability in North America.

HP and Appleton Coated customized new papers for use with the HP T300 Color Inkjet Web Press, based on a new HP-developed coating technology. The technology, which Appleton Coated uses in its Combined Locks, Wis., papermaking facility, makes water-based pigment inks adhere to the surface of coated media during high-speed production printing operations.

“HP chose to work with Appleton Coated because it is a respected supplier that has a high level of paper manufacturing and go-to-market expertise, especially in important publishing and direct-mail applications,” said Aurelio Maruggi, vice president and general manager, Inkjet High-speed Production Solutions, HP. “By working together, HP and Appleton Coated will help continue the industry’s accelerated adoption of digital printing.”
At present, HP and Appleton Coated are running production trials and testing the media to measure performance in various product applications while finalizing product specifications.

“Appleton Coated believes the new HP T300 high-speed inkjet web press and the new coated papers we are launching provide printers a unique combination of offset comparable quality and personalization, at much higher speeds than traditional digital presses,” said Ann Whalen, senior vice president, Marketing and Customer Services, Appleton Coated. “Our new inkjet coated papers will provide a promising solution for textbook publishing, direct mail, and other commercial printing applications.”