Commencing on 1 January 2018, Papico will, among other products, distribute Lahnpaper’s specialised technical papers, which use plastic fibres as well as wood pulp and chemicals.
Taking over from Antalis UK, the West Yorkshire-based agent is aiming to operate in “niche, specialised markets” and expand Lahnpaper’s remit in the UK and Ireland.
“Lahnpaper knows that the potential size of the UK market is just as big as those they currently enjoy in Germany and France,” said Papico managing director Paul Johnston-Knight.
“They want that level of coverage in the UK and we believe we can double their current business, with our smaller team operating in specialist markets.
“We are very excited to begin this new venture with Lahnpaper as it will allow both of our companies to access a wider and more varied range of markets, many of which we have previously been unable to service.”
Lahnpaper’s stock is used in various durable products and Papico will also be handling sales of a range of its print products, which can be used for items such as outdoor banners, nautical maps, and tickets.
Papico will be selling a variety of Lahnpaper stock, including Pretext for durable manuals, maps and charts, Neobond for weather resistant signs, labels and manuals, and Cuturon for special technical applications.
Johnston-Knight said: “The Lahnpaper stock is used on things which need to be durable and used time and time again. For instance, when Germany had paper driving licences, they used Lahnpaper because the products needed to be folded and get wet without damage.”
Papico will also look after Lahnpaper’s industrial sector output, which provides paper aspects required for the likes of clothing and car manufacturing.
Founded in 1977, Papico has partnerships with the likes of Austria-based Lenzing Paper, who produces uncoated recycled paper, and Brigl & Bergmeister, who specialises in one-side coated label paper, as well as Slovenian technical paper manufacturer Goricane.
Papico’s eight-strong team operates in Allerton Bywater, near Leeds, and turns over £3.5m – with targets to increase the figure over the next year.
Founded in 1911 in Lahnstein, Germany, Lahnpaper has sales of around €45m (£40.2m).
