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First partnership of its kind in the fine paper industry
Two world-class paper manufacturers to share manufacturing facilities,
expertise and proprietary technologies

Mohawk, North America’s largest privately-owned manufacturer of fine papers, envelopes and specialty substrates for commercial and digital printing, and Arjowiggins Creative Papers, the world’s leading manufacturer of creative and technical papers with manufacturing facilities in Europe and Asia, have announced a unique and exclusive alliance, effective May 12, 2015. Through this exclusive arrangement, Mohawk and Arjowiggins Creative Papers will share best-in-class manufacturing capabilities, facilities, technologies, sales and marketing resources and expertise.

The alliance is unprecedented in the paper industry, especially for two brands which previously acted as competitors. Arjowiggins and Mohawk are like-minded fine paper manufacturers with legendary brands that have driven the premium paper segment for over a century. The companies share core values of heritage, innovation, operational excellence, craftsmanship, safety-focused manufacturing, environmental commitment and social responsibility.

A mutually beneficial exchange of expertise in manufacturing, sales and marketing

Under the terms of the agreement, Mohawk will have exclusive rights to manufacture Arjowiggins Creative Papers’ luxury packaging products, Delos and Butterfly, as well as rights to license, market and distribute these and other select Arjowiggins Creative Papers luxury packaging products to design, packaging and print professionals in North America. 

Delos is a recognized leader in its field in Europe and, together with Butterfly, it is used in the luxury packaging market by well-known global luxury brands where the highest standards of quality, cleanliness and foldability are demanded. The innovative and traditional characteristics of these Arjowiggins Creative Papers products attract these very demanding brands, which do not ever compromise on quality.

Likewise, Arjowiggins Creative Papers will have exclusive rights to manufacture Mohawk Superfine with iTone®, as well as rights to license, market and distribute the product through selected merchants.

Mohawk Superfine, developed in the late 1940s, has long been the fine paper of choice selected by the world’s leading brands, graphic designers, and fashion houses. World-renowned brands including Tiffany, Herman Miller, Aveda, Honda, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdales and the world’s best graphic designers specify Mohawk Superfine for high-end communications, premium envelopes, fine stationery and luxury packaging.

Mohawk has, over the years, been a key player in the digital printing market with its proprietary i-Tone® technology. The specially formulated treatment has a unique affinity for both wet and dry toners resulting in consistent, high fidelity image quality and consistent tone for digital printing presses. Mohawk Superfine with iTone®has earned the reputation in the digital printing world for delivering superior print results and high performance.

According to Thomas D. O’Connor, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Mohawk, “Today’s business climate requires successful companies to exhibit flexibility, agility and adaptability to remain competitive and profitable.  There’s been a considerable amount of consolidation in the North American and European paper industries, but there’s never been a collaborative effort like this on an international level.”

O’Connor added that, “Mohawk’s alliance with Arjowiggins Creative Papers is a groundbreaking move to grow our businesses through better utilization of our respective sales, operational, marketing and manufacturing assets, without requiring a lot of additional investment. Arjowiggins has long been a respected leader in the fine paper and luxury packaging markets, and this exciting collaboration will celebrate our companies’ unique strengths and allow sharing of best practices and technologies. Ultimately, this union creates the largest premium paper and luxury packaging manufacturing entity in the world.”

Arjowiggins Creative Papers will share unique capabilities and paper manufacturing equipment with Mohawk, including a twin wire machine capable of sophisticated processes resulting in ultra-heavy weight papers with variable finishes. Mohawk will provide manufacturing expertise and will grant Arjowiggins Creative Papers exclusive rights to manufacture the legendary Superfine grade and proprietary i-Tone® surface treatment.

For Jonathan Mitchell, Managing Director at Arjowiggins Creative Papers, “This unprecedented ‘transatlantic’ alliance is a real exchange of expertise in fine papermaking between two well established paper manufacturers. Mohawk’s i-Tone is arguably the world’s best technology for digital presses, so we are delighted to be able to offer this technology in our product portfolio, starting with Superfine. We are happy as well to develop our very strong packaging brands in the US market through this alliance with Mohawk. A worldwide collaboration on this scale will bring unique and far-reaching benefits, not only for our customers, but also for our companies.”

Innovative Technologies and Best-in-Class Manufacturing

Arjowiggins and Mohawk are committed to manufacturing excellence, the heritage of fine paper and a culture of innovation. Sharing best in class manufacturing practices and technologies will allow each company to expand into new markets with the most diverse offering of fine papers in the world.

A Shared Commitment to Environmental & Social Responsibility

In addition to a shared heritage of craftsmanship and fine papermaking, Mohawk and Arjowiggins also share a deep commitment to environmental and social causes. This commitment will only be reinforced with this very promising and groundbreaking strategic alliance.

ABOUT ARJOWIGGINS CREATIVE PAPERS

With a history of fine paper making dating back to the 18th century, Arjowiggins Creative Papers is a well-known and established name in the paper industry.

Today, Arjowiggins Creative Papers is one of the world’s leading fine and technical papers manufacturers, offering a very wide range of papers for various applications. Products in the Arjowiggins Creative Papers portfolio continually achieve best-in-category performance for paper capability and print performance. Some of its most prestigious brands include Conqueror, Opale and Inuit for brand communication; Curious Collection, Keaykolour, Pop’Set Rives for luxury applications; Guarro Casas and Delos, specially developed for binding and luxury packaging, and most recently, POWERCOAT®, specially adapted for Printed Electronics.

The company has sites in the UK, France, Spain and China. All mills are FSC certified and ISO14001 accredited. The AWCP portfolio of global brands is available in 116 countries worldwide giving them unrivalled international presence.  AWCP products are sold through the paper merchanting network to local printers. 90% of markets are serviced via AWCP's sister company Antalis - the world’s second largest merchant group and first in Europe, while a network of local, independent merchants supply printers in the remaining markets.

Clients, including distilleries in Scotland, exclusive international cosmetics brands, leading fashion houses from the catwalks of Milan and Paris, high-end French perfume brands, Swiss watchmakers, French Champagne houses and Europe’s leading purveyors of fine jewellery all choose these beautifully crafted papers to reflect the quality and tradition of their world famous brands.

Innovation and respect for people, for tradition and for nature are the main driving forces behind the company. Arjowiggins Creative Papers is known for some of the most innovative and unique creative papers in the market, for example it explores the use of alternative materials, such as fast-growing and renewable bamboo fibres or by-products from the food industry, to create the most interesting textures.

One of the company’s missions is to offer the highest-quality and most environmentally–friendly papers available. Since June 2008, the entire range of Creative Papers – including Conqueror, Keaykolour, Opale, Curious Collection, Inuit, Pop’Set, Rives and Sensation – has been FSC-certified.  Recycled versions of some Creative Papers products are also available. The range uses the whitest, cleanest FSC-certified de-inked pulp. Arjowiggins Creative Papers also intends to reduce the carbon footprint of its papers, and launched carbon-neutral versions of its Conqueror papers in the UK in 2007, and Germany in 2008.

For more information, please visit www.arjowigginscreativepapers.com

ABOUT MOHAWK

Mohawk was founded in 1931 in upstate New York, where the Hudson and Mohawk rivers converge. The company began when George O’Connor acquired the Frank Gilbert Paper Company at the beginning of the Great Depression, and subsequent generations of papermakers have honed their craft manufacturing fine papers in the company’s two New York State paper mills.

Mohawk is a fourth-generation, family-owned and operated business based in Cohoes, New York, with global sales and operations located throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

Today, the company is a thriving business with a global presence and expanding markets. Mohawk serves customers in over 60 countries worldwide, with international sales offices located in Europe and Asia.  With a culture of innovation, the company is well positioned to grow in an industry undergoing dramatic change by expanding into businesses and markets beyond paper manufacturing to seize new opportunities.

Mohawk is North America’s largest privately-owned manufacturer of fine papers and envelopes which are preferred for commercial and digital printing, photo specialties and high-end direct mail. Mohawk fine papers and envelopes include the signature brands Mohawk Superfine® and Strathmore®, as well as proprietary treatments Inxwell® and i-Tone®. With a culture of innovation, Mohawk’s business model now extends beyond paper manufacturing into major areas of growth, including digital substrates.

Environmental commitment, social responsibility and corporate stewardship are woven into the fabric of Mohawk’s culture and business practices. As a leader in environmentally and socially responsible business practices, Mohawk was the first U.S. manufacturer of commercial printing papers to match 100% of its electricity with wind power renewable energy credits and the first U.S. premium paper mill to shift toward carbon neutral production. Mohawk’s portfolio of recycled papers is certified by Green Seal and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Mohawk takes pride in the company’s numerous environmental partnerships and certifications, including longstanding alliances with: the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Power Partnership, The EPA SmartWay Transport Partnership, Center for Resource Solutions Green-e Marketplace, Green Seal, andThe Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). 

For more information, please visit www.mohawkconnects.com.

During tough economic times it is tempting to reduce quality control to cut costs in maintaining rollers for papermaking, printing and converting. However Dolph Beyer, an engineer with Mohawk Fine Papers, asserts doing this is actually counterproductive. He has determined using Pressurex® pressure indicating sensor film as a quality control tool to aid in alignment and diagnose the condition of his rollers actually decreases costs and significantly improves product quality.

"By taking nip impressions with pressure indicating film every couple of weeks, we are able to extend roll life by a few months in many cases," says Mr. Beyer." By examining the roll nip impressions we can more accurately determine where we are in the life cycle of some of our rolls. This helps to pinpoint more accurately when rolls need to be changed and may indicate needed roll grind improvements or cover material changes to help extend roll run life cycles. Extended run cycles reduce the re-grind frequencies and therefore extend the cover life." This quality control measure not only lowers costs for the replacement of these covers, but also minimizes equipment downtime."

Pressurex® reveals pressure from 2 - 43,200 PSI (0.14 - 3,000 kg/cm2).
When placed between contacting rollers, the sensor film instantaneously and permanently changes color directly proportional to the actual pressure applied. Precise pressure magnitude is then easily determined by comparing color variation results to a color correlation chart (conceptually similar to interpreting Litmus paper). Variations in pressure that lead to defects in papermaking, converting and printing can be quickly and accurately detected and corrected -- improving yield, decreasing scrap, and increasing productivity.

By examining pressure variations in the nip, corrections in alignment and crown profiles can be made. The film is effective on virtually all roller compositions and surfaces. A visual pressure mapping profile of an engraved pattern or drilled roll can be effortlessly produced that exposes minute surface defects and other imperfections.

Pressure indicating sensor film is cited by Mr. Beyer as being especially helpful with calendar rolls, which are swim rolls that have mechanisms to allow the center of the rollers to exert a different level of pressure. "Similar to crown rolls, swim rolls need to be carefully monitored to ensure even and exacting pressure is being applied to achieve optimum nip conditions," says Mr. Beyer. "We use the film to create just the right nip and improve the roll shape and crown to deliver better sheet uniformity.

Mohawk Fine Papers uses Pressurex® to take static nip impressions on their press section and dynamic nip impressions on their calendars. Dynamic nip impressions are inspected for uniformity and static nip impressions for uniformity and nip pressure. Image results of Pressurex® are archived and used as a control to compare tools and processes.

Pressurex® is extremely thin (4 to 8 mils) and flexible, which allows it to conform to curved surfaces. It is ideal for invasive intolerant environments and tight spaces not accessible to conventional electronic transducers. While recommended for tests in non-operating conditions, the sensor film can be used at temperatures exceeding 200 Fº (93 Cº) for brief intervals.

For a free sample of Pressurex® in your desired range, contact Sensor Products Inc. at 1.973.884.1755 (USA), email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.sensorprod.com/sample.

Mohawk has acquired LabPrints, a leader in workflow integration for professional photographers and photo labs. While continuing to develop its existing customer base, LabPrints joins Mohawk's growing list of marketing partners developing products and solutions for the converging worlds of print, photography, and graphic design.

LabPrints is a highly regarded solutions provider to photo labs and professional photographers, offering an integrated toolset that links labs and photographers with lab orders through online storefronts and the fulfillment of printed products. Best known for its design and workflow tools, thousands of professional photographers depend on LabPrints to simplify their workflow and increase their sales.

"Since our founding in 2002, LabPrints has been dedicated to creating innovative workflow solutions to help photographers and their labs focus on shooting and selling their prints," says LabPrints CEO, Bill Gamble. "As our photo lab partners embrace digital printing presses, they find that integrating LabPrints software allows them to seamlessly offer a much broader range of products and services. Mohawk is a powerful player in digital printing. Aligning with Mohawk will expand our opportunity space and allow us greater scope for future innovation."

Mohawk's best-selling i-Tone® papers for the HP Indigo are the first choice for creators, publishers, digital printers, and other producers of photo specialties. With the addition of LabPrints, Mohawk is poised to expand its product and service offering to this rapidly growing market.