Brussels, Belgium – International Paper, the world’s largest paper and packaging company, has announced that Chapelton Board and Warren, will be stocking and distributing its new GC2 lightweight coated board product, Alaska Plus in the UK.

This move follows International Paper’s announcement earlier this year of the completion of the $60m modernisation project at its Kwidzyn mill in Poland, where the Alaska Plus grade is produced on its PM4 board machine.

Chapelton and Warren will act as distributors for Alaska Plus, with the product being stocked at Warren’s Midland’s warehouse distribution centre. Chapelton will provide the necessary stocking arrangement as individual contracts are developed.

The new partnership between International Paper and the two merchant distributors will help to forge and develop the new Alaska Plus product into the UK market, with the aim of developing sales of the product to the pharmaceutical, confectionery and healthcare luxury packaging sectors.

Both Chapelton and Warren have the necessary relationships, knowledge and knowhow in the respective sectors to ensure Alaska Plus is targeted at the correct area where its key characteristics can add value .With years of combined industry experience between them International Paper believes the two distribution partners will greatly enhance its ability to introduce and grow sales of its FBB products into the UK marketplace.

Customers wishing to trial the product will be able to contact either of the merchant partners direct, or International Paper’s Sales Manager for Coated Boards in the UK & Irish markets, Antony Mackie, who can arrange for trial samples to be sent direct from the Kwidzyn mill.

Launched in July this year, Alaska Plus is a multiply virgin fibre coated board, with a double coating on the top side and an uncoated manila back-side, and is the new lightweight version of International Paper’s Alaska GC2 coated board product, which has been developed following extensive research and development to produce a lighter basis weight product. 

Alaska Plus is an ideal packaging solution for use in printing applications for pharmaceutical healthcare and beauty care packaging, as well as confectionery product packaging. Alaska Plus is produced at the Kwidzyn mill in Poland and is available in grammage weights of 205gsm, 220gsm, 235gsm, 255gsm, 280gsm, 305gsm and 330gsm.

Alaska Plus has excellent features of great runnability, perfect printability, high brightness, gloss and smoothness together with an uncompromised strength.

Combining efficiency with perfect product protection, Alaska Plus has outstanding consistency, quality and stability, making it an easy choice and decision for luxury packaging applications.

Together with its improved performance, Alaska Plus provides both cost saving and environmental benefits, with the weight of the packaging being reduced for whatever packaging product is being produced. This enables end users to save money by either; paying less for the same amount of folding boxes as less material will be used, which will also weigh less and cost less, or, producing more for the same cost, allowing more folding boxes to be produced for the same total cost and weight of the material.

Additionally extensive cost savings can be achieved as fewer raw materials are used in its manufacturing process. With a lower material weight, savings are also made on waste disposal costs, thereby reducing the environmental impact of the product throughout its entire production life cycle, making Alaska Plus the perfect sustainable choice, with its great environmental attributes. Alaska Plus is FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) certified, with the Kwidzyn mill being FSC® Chain of Custody certified.

Chapelton Board Business Development Director, Neil Skelton, added, “Chapelton are delighted to be working with International Paper, and the stocking of Alaska Plus will fill a significant gap in our product portfolio.”

International Paper’s Sales Manager for Coated Boards Antony Mackie concluded, “We (International Paper) are extremely pleased to have partnered with two excellent merchant distributors such as Chapelton and Warren, who will assist us in developing the Alaska Plus  product in the UK and Irish markets. We look forward to working with them and establishing Alaska Plus as a recognized brand name when it comes to high-quality packaging applications.”