Kent-based speciality paper and cartonboard supplier, Chapelton, has revealed that sales levels from its co-operation with International Paper for its GC2 lightweight coated board product, Alaska Plus and leading GC1 coated paperboard product Arktika, have reached a new high during the last quarter, underlining the market’s positive response to the respective products. 

A further factor which has proved extremely beneficial to Chapelton’s customers has been International Paper’s quick service, ‘Kwidzyn X-Press’, which is provided by the Kwidzyn mill in Poland where both grades are manufactured. The service has enabled Chapelton to provide its customers with much quicker deliveries from their orders. The ‘Kwidzyn X-Press’ service allows for small order sizes from 1 tonne upwards to be sheeted within 4 days to bespoke sizes, thus corresponding to the small and fast orders from the market.

Commenting on the sales performance of both Alaska Plus and Arktika in the UK, Chapelton Business Development Director, Neil Skelton, stated, “Chapelton are delighted that sales have reached extremely good levels for both products, which has been particularly significant in the last quarter.”

Neil continued, “The high level of service provided by the mill has helped, and the addition of the ‘Kwidzyn X-Press’ service is proving to be extremely popular with customers, and is a great benefit to enable a fast turnaround on orders and deliveries.”

Chapelton were confirmed as a distributor for Alaska Plus, last year, following International Paper’s completion of its $60m modernisation project at the Kwidzyn mill, where the Alaska Plus product is produced.  

The partnership between Chapelton and International Paper was put in place to help 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 dry food packaging sectors.

Launched in July last year, Alaska Plus is a multiply virgin fibre coated board, with a double coating on the top side and an uncoated manila back-side. It is the lightweight version of International Paper’s Alaska GC2 coated board product.  Alaska Plus is 6-8% lighter weight than Alaska, whilst all the other outstanding quality aspects of Alaska remain, such as production efficiency, runnability and printability. Alaska Plus is available in the basis weights of 190, 205, 220, 235, 255, 270, 280, 305 and 330g/m².

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, or, producing more for the same cost, allowing more folding boxes to be produced for the same total cost and weight of the material. Cost savings are also made on transportation wastage is also reduced, thereby reducing the environmental impact of the product.

Also manufactured at the Kwidzyn mill is Arktika, a high quality, fully coated GC1 Folding Boxboard product with a coated reverse side, which is aimed primarily at the end user segments of cosmetics, pharmaceutical, greetings cards, publishing and commercial printing, along with higher quality packaging and graphical applications. Arktika is available in a wide range of basis weights and stock sizes: 200, 215, 230, 250, 275, 300, 325 and 350g/m².

Alaska Plus and Arktika are available as FSC® and PEFC certified and are produced only from virgin fibre to ensure a consistent quality of the board In addition, Arktika and Alaska Plus are ISEGA certified allowing for dry and fatty food applications, and PTS/FFPI certified for inkjet and laser coding on pharmaceutical packaging.

Renowned for high quality products, innovative materials and outstanding customer service, Chapelton are a leading independent paper and board supplier, servicing the UK and Irish print and packaging sectors and dealing with many of the major global paper and board manufacturers. 

With a 30-year trading history and operating from a facility in Aylesford, Kent, Chapelton is a privately-owned company with turnover of around £11m. Chapelton employs a team of experienced personnel to deal with its international manufacturing clients, and handle the array of cartonboard, paper and speciality products that it stocks.