Brussels, 28 May 2008 - Sappi, the world's leading producer of coated fine paper, is presenting its latest innovations and its range of internationally recognised high quality coated papers and boards at Drupa as part of the PrintCity Alliance's 'Connection of Competence' in Hall 6.

Sappi's stylish, ultra-modern high-tech stand (Hall 6-B40) has been specially designed to intrigue and inspire visitors, highlighting the company's new products, such as its revolutionary fast drying Tempo silk paper and its increasingly popular range of Algro Design packaging boards, the smoothest and whitest on the market. Sappi is also presenting differentiated graphic grades from Europe, North America and South Africa, as well as its Printers of the Year, Life with Print, and Ideas That Matter global marketing initiatives and its Knowledge Bank information service for printers. Extensive banks of fact sheets on the stand explain Sappi's variety of products and activities.

"Our message at Drupa is that, as the world's leading paper company, Sappi is committed to helping the entire communication industry chain," says Peter Tielemans, Marketing Communications and Business Development Manager at Sappi Fine Paper Europe. "We provide the finest coated graphic and speciality papers and offer services and solutions that create real value for our customers. At the same time, we are one of the leaders in our industry in our approach to the environment. Our proud, minimalist stand demonstrates our confidence in the print industry and is intended to project a friendly, welcoming image to visitors."

Sappi's presence at Drupa is one of more than 30 exhibits by members of PrintCity, the cross-industry alliance that fosters co-operation and integrates worldwide expertise among more than 40 independent companies within the graphic arts industry. Projects from PrintCity's activity groups form the basis of seven world-leading Competence Centres which focus on topical subjects concerning the printing, packaging and publishing industries.

"Sappi has established a trendsetting role as one of the few paper manufacturers promoting and focusing on the power of print and the vital role paper plays in the media mix," comments Tielemans. "We have devoted significant resources to researching the factors that make print-based communications an attractive and successful medium, while demonstrating what the paper and print sector has to offer in the future. At Drupa, we are also playing an active role in PrintCity's 'Value Added UV Printing' and 'Print Meets Electronics' Competence Centres, as well as in its Print+X research project. We will also be present in the 'Print4Life' lounge where print buyers, brand owners, designers and agencies, can see and discuss new print opportunities."

Value Added UV Printing (Hall 6-D28)

UV printing and coating is a core technique for adding value, offering a wide range of techniques and substrates to increase product differentiation. As member of PrintCity's Packaging, Commercial and Sheetfed Activity Group, Sappi is a major contributor to PrintCity's "Optimised Sheetfed UV Printing & Coating" best practice guide, which ensures maximum print quality and productivity. The updated guide focuses on the strategic and economic advantages of the UV process with sections on UV printing economics, choice of UV process, selection of equipment and consumables, and UV printing best practice.

Print Meets Electronics (Hall 6-C48)

Print and electronic technologies are already working alongside each other in the media mix and the next stage of development is the convergence of these technologies into new hybrid devices that combine the best attributes of both. Innovative applications include intelligent packaging, RFID, smart inks on printed publications and interactive communication links, such as a poster printed on Sappi paper from which music can be downloaded.

Print+X project

The joint project between PrintCity and f:mp (Fachverband MedienProduktioner) has researched the capabilities and benefits of value-added printing. Three virtual brands of lifestyle and electronics products were designed for the testing process, with value-added printing options evaluated by different university study groups. The Print+X presentation at Drupa precedes a roadshow to brand-owners, agencies and printer management on the findings of the studies, as well as the sample media used.

Print4Life lounge (Hall 6-C46) 

Although exhibitions such as Drupa primarily focus on technology, equipment and materials, brand owners, designers and print buyers decide where and how print is used. The Print4Life lounge provides the opportunity for them to meet with printers and their suppliers, such as Sappi. The lounge is dedicated to an exchange of views on how print can add value, with printed samples featuring new ideas for newspapers, packaging and commercial printing.

"Publishers, printers and major brand owners are increasingly looking to Sappi for trend-setting views on innovations in print-based communications and insights into print's viable role in the dynamic world of communications," adds Tielemans. "We look forward to meeting them at Drupa."

For further information on Sappi activities, visit the Sappi stand (Hall 6-B40).

Sappi is the world's leading producer of coated fine paper. Its brands include Magno, HannoArt, Tempo, Quatro and Royal graphic papers, as well as Algro, Leine and Parade speciality labelling and packaging papers and boards. Customers in more than 100 countries worldwide specify these for the highest quality publishing, promotional and packaging applications. The papers are produced in mills accredited with ISO 9001, 14001 and EMAS certification and Sappi is the first paper company in Europe to hold chain-of-custody certification for its entire European operations under both the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) schemes.