Sappi said the product, which is available in weights ranging from 100gsm to 193gsm, is suitable for tickets, vouchers, labels and other thermal printing applications and is aimed at converters who add a thermal coating layer to its surface.

Text and images can be pre-printed on both sides of the substrate by applying a reverse side coating.

Sappi Speciality Papers marketing manager Kerstin Dietze said: “The Algro Thermo base paper for specialist thermal coating is an additional product we have developed for the niche market of on-demand tickets.

“It is well suited for a wide range of applications, including point-of-sale systems and vouchers as well as labels for shipping and product identification. This outstanding paper enables sharper text, a smoother surface and dimensional stability for the ticket and labels sectors.”

Algro Thermo is designed to be coated with a water-based thermal coating. An oil absorbing pre-coat layer enables the paper to show sharp text and images. Sappi said this provides a no-bleed effect from the dye and no residue on the thermal print heads.

“Sappi’s research has enabled the development of a very innovative paper in what has been a fairly static market with key quality enhancements designed to give the converter an easy-to-use, added-value high quality product with the benefit of efficiencies in production,” said Dietze. 

Sappi said a range of European companies, including one in the UK, are currently testing the paper for a variety of projects.

Sappi Europe recently pledged to develop at least one new speciality packaging substrate a year as it works to reposition itself as a packaging innovator.

It confirmed that the company has a number of products in development ready for 2016 and 2017 launches.

Sappi has 13,000 employees worldwide and recorded a turnover of just over $6bn ($3.9bn) in 2014.