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It wasn’t long ago that digital papers were seen as specialised and somewhat inflexible. Now, they are very much part of the mainstream print environment. Paper makers claim the ‘fear factor’ surrounding digital is a thing of the past as printers experiment with a wider variety of grades and stocks than ever before.

"There has been a degree of de-mystifying surrounding digital," says Dean Glew, sales manager for office papers and uncoated sheets at Stora Enso. "Certainly within the uncoated and woodfree market in which we specialise, printers are no longer frightened about using digital papers."

This has been partly down to a "blurring" between digital and non-digital papers, particularly in the office and low-end graphical markets, says Glew. "There are only small differences between a DocuTech and a high-end colour laser these days, and substrates are easily able to cross between the two."

Greener grades
As the digital paper market has matured, demand for more recycled grades has increased.

Arjowiggins Graphic is just one paper maker that has been working hard to develop specialised recycled products in the past year. Its Satimat Green and Maine Gloss green coated papers are now 75% post-consumer FSC certified recycled and virgin fibre. Cocoon Preprint, meanwhile, is now 100% FSC certified recycled fibre.

"The wide range of products available means printers can be sure to meet the demands of the client while keeping a green message," says Arjowiggins Graphic operational marketing manager Angela De Vorchik.

In spite of new FSC-certified grades appearing on the market all the time, the National Association of Paper Merchants (NAPM) claimed earlier this month that UK stocks of recycled materials were at their lowest ever, running on average 40% below the same time last year. NAPM director Tim Bowler claimed the shortage was due to mill closures and the fact that manufacturers outside of Europe were currently not prepared to supply previous volume levels into the UK.

"There seems to be less FSC paper in particular around at the moment," says Glew. "In some countries it is proving very difficult to get forests FSC-certified, because of who may own them. This is impacting on supply as well."

As a result, there has been a greater interest in PEFC papers – another credible certification scheme, says Glew.

With all the obvious benefits of digital printing, including shorter runs, faster turnarounds, growing demand for print-on-demand and variable-data applications, digital papers are set for a bright future.

"In what has clearly been a challenging year for the paper industry, the digital paper sector has been a ray of light," says Glew. "Expect that to continue as more and more printers embrace the technology."

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WHAT'S NEW IN... DIGITAL PAPERS
• The National Association of Paper Merchants (NAPM) made sustainability a key target at its annual forum last month. Entitled Sustainability of the UK Print Industry – Paper Consumption Growth, Stability or Further Decline, the forum looked at the decline in paper consumption and discussed where the market would be in five years’ time
• Research from Arjowiggins in June found that companies should do more to create a low-carbon economy. Through its Conqueror brand, the paper manufacturer undertook the research at the world’s first global youth leadership summit, One Young World. It found delegates, all of whom were 25 or under, wanted companies to be more transparent about their actions and impact on the environment
• Paper merchant A1 Paper fell into administrative receivership in September following the appointment of insolvency practitioners Grant Thornton. A1 Paper is an independent business formed 40 years ago. The company is a member of the Associated Independent Merchant Stockists (AIMS)
• Around 3,000 white-collar paper workers across Finland staged a four day strike at the end of October. Union ICEM said the strike was called due to the Finnish Forest Industries Federation’s "intractable position" over awarding overtime pay and compensation on business travel when done outside business hours