An uncoated fully bleached fresh fibre liner, Fusion Uncoated is targeted at the high-volume premium corrugated board sector.
It is based on the paper concept for the company’s existing Fusion Topliner but, in contrast to that product, has a natural, uncoated surface.
Sappi said the product is suitable for corrugated board and carton packaging that requires a high white appearance for the topliner, inner liner and fluting.
“Through our research and development, we saw that we could give a unique, holistic solution to our customers, so that they can buy the liner and fluting from us as well as the topliner,” said Sappi marketing communications specialist Ingo Kaiser.
The wood-free product is approved for direct food contact and is recommended for use when branded product manufacturers, designers and corrugated board processors require an alternative to brown liner papers.
Applications could include inner packaging, such as white corrugated board inserts for high-end perfume boxes, as well as food packaging and display and shelf-ready packaging.
Fusion Uncoated is produced at the Sappi plant in Stockstadt, Germany. Seven weights are currently available, ranging from 70gsm to 130gsm, in sheet and roll formats. Sappi said the low weights meet the rising demand for weight savings with corrugated board packaging.
Fusion Uncoated OF, an alternative version of this liner without the addition of optical brighteners, has also been developed for certain food packaging applications.
Both Fusion Uncoated and Fusion Uncoated OF are suitable for offset, flexo, screen and digital printing. Kaiser said the products are commercially available now and that pricing is “really competitive”.
Last month Sappi signed an agreement to acquire the speciality paper business of Cham Paper Group Holding. The transaction is expected to be completed during Q1 2018.
The company, which is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, has more than 12,000 employees, manufacturing facilities on three continents and customers in over 150 countries worldwide. The firm’s European headquarters are located in Brussels, Belgium.
