Dufaylite, the UK’s leading manufacturer of recycled paper honeycomb, has added a new Anti-Slip board to its expanding Envirolite range that is designed to meet retailer and supplier demand for improved, secure transit packaging.

Created using the brand’s signature honeycomb technology, the Anti-Slip board features a simple yet effective coating which forms a film on the surface of paper, allowing for slip angles of up to 45°.

Ideal for layer pads used in FMCG transit pallet packaging, the Anti-Slip board will help to improve the shipment process for many companies and suppliers by offering a more secure base to maintain product integrity during transit.

As well as providing a strong, durable and secure packaging solution, the brand new Envirolite product also offers the eco-friendly benefits that are synonymous with the range. The Anti-Slip board is fully recyclable through traditional cardboard waste streams.

Ashley Moscrop, Group Director at Dufaylite, said: “Slipping and movement of layer pads in FMCG pallet packaging proves to be a daily challenge for suppliers and contractors in the industry, so we’re thrilled to be able to launch the Anti-Slip board, which is a more secure transit alternative.” 

Catalyst Paper (TSX:CYT) recorded adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for the second quarter of $7.1 million compared to $25.7 million in the previous quarter.  Strong operating performance was overshadowed by a planned maintenance outage at the Crofton pulp mill, higher power costs due to a hydroelectricity rate increase, a stronger Canadian dollar and lower transaction prices for pulp and all paper grades.  Sales of $283.5 million exceeded the prior quarter by $9.6 million and reflected higher paper sales due in part to the delivery of shipments delayed by the Q1 container truck driver strike at Port Metro Vancouver.

Catalyst recorded a net loss of $6.3 million ($0.43 per common share) and a net loss before specific items of $13.6 in Q2.  This compared to a net loss of $3.8 million ($0.26 per common share) and net earnings before specific items of $6.5 million the previous quarter.  Free cash flow for the quarter was negative $8.6 million.  Liquidity decreased $37.5 million from the prior quarter due to a lower borrowing base, debt redemption and buybacks in the quarter, the impact of the Crofton maintenance shut, and a scheduled interest payment.

Paper production volumes for the quarter were 3.5% higher than average production in 2013 and 2% higher than the first quarter of 2014 due to improved paper productivity.  Two major debottlenecking initiatives were completed on the pulp mill during the scheduled maintenance outage to increase future pulp production.

"Our operating results were hampered by the cost and production impact of the recovery boiler shut, the hydroelectricity rate increase, and the strengthening Canadian dollar," said Catalyst President and CEO Joe Nemeth.  "On the upside, we achieved a new record in paper productivity in the quarter, we're already seeing improved pulp production as a result of the debottlenecking work completed on the pulp mill, and our program to identify and implement opportunities for improvement is on track to realize significant benefits in 2014 and beyond."

Quarter Highlights

On July 24, 2014, the Ministry of Energy and Mines and BC Hydro introduced a new energy efficiency program that provides a three-year funding injection of $100 million, with $45 million allocated to Catalyst Paper.  The BC Hydro Power Smart program is aimed at reducing the energy intensity and improving the energy efficiency of thermal-mechanical pulping facilities in British Columbia.  The program will benefit Catalyst Paper's three mills located in Crofton, Port Alberni and Powell River by funding 75% of the required capital investment on projects that will improve the energy efficiency of these mills.  The first project at the Powell River mill is in the advanced stages of planning, has an expected cost of $25 million of which 75% will be covered by Power Smart funding, and will reduce the company's annual energy costs by approximately $5 million.

Catalyst redeemed the US$19.4 million outstanding balance on the Floating Rate Senior Secured Notes due 2016.  The company repurchased US$5.0 million of its PIK Toggle Senior Secured Notes due 2017 on the open market.

Market Conditions

North American demand decreased from the second quarter of 2013 for all paper grades except uncoated paper.  Benchmark prices for coated and uncoated paper declined from the previous quarter while remaining flat for directory and newsprint.  For NBSK pulp, the benchmark price decreased by 3.1% compared to Q1 due to short-term destocking in the quarter.

Outlook

The decline in demand for coated and uncoated mechanical paper is expected to continue for the remainder of the year.  Demand for directory paper will continue to decrease due to electronic substitution.  While newsprint demand is expected to continue to contract as circulation and page counts fall, the North American market is expected to remain stable due to pending newsprint machine conversions.

Global pulp inventories are very low and this may put upward pressure on future pulp pricing.  However, China's seasonally low demand and tight monetary policy are expected to negatively impact the softwood pulp market.  Pulp is therefore expected to trade in a narrow range for the balance of the year.

The Power Smart Program will result in improved energy efficiency and will partly mitigate the impact of energy cost rate increases.  Discussions will continue with key stakeholders on a suite of potential initiatives to further mitigate the impact of energy rate escalation.

Third quarter earnings will reflect a scheduled total mill outage at Powell River and power boiler shuts at all three mills.

SOURCE: Catalyst Paper Corporation

FiberMark (www.fibermark.com), a global leader in manufacturing innovative paperboards, fiber-based specialty covering materials and print media for world-leading brands, and niche products for industrial and technical specialty applications is pleased to announce that it has acquired the assets of Crocker Technical Papers, based in Fitchburg, MA.

Founded in 1972, Crocker provides custom engineered multi-layered papers and boards, uniquely designed and tailored to meet specific customer-specified performance criteria.  Its products can be found in items that protect priceless heirlooms and historical artifacts as well as being critical components of items that assist in reliable delivery of electrical energy to homes and industry.   

Crocker will become a part of FiberMark’s technical specialties and performance boards business in which FiberMark will adopt the Crocker brand name. FiberMark will continue to serve the industrial markets with electrical insulation specialties, archival quality paper and boards, photographic packaging, specialty coating base and other industrial specialties. Larry Gelsomini, the President and CEO of Crocker Technical Papers, will join FiberMark as General Manager of the Fitchburg plant. 

“The Crocker Technical mill is a terrific addition to the FiberMark family.” said Anthony MacLaurin, CEO at FiberMark. “Crocker dramatically broadens our capabilities and product offerings enabling us to deliver added value to our customers. The Crocker acquisition will grow the FiberMark family of brands and is a key part of FiberMark’s overall growth strategy.”

“Crocker Technical enjoys a select, diverse and imaginative set of customers who continue to entrust us with their requirements. FiberMark’s technical skills, and global marketing and sale’s channels, bodes well for the growth of Crocker’s technical products and its customers.” said Larry Gelsomini, the President of Crocker. 

The deal is expected to close in August.

Voith has successfully completed the modernization of the pulp drying machine (PDM) at BSC – Bahia Specialty Cellulose, located in Camaçari, state of Bahia (Brazil). Voith’s solutions were installed in mid-March, during a total machine turnaround that lasted seven days.

The main goal of the modernization was to improve quality and increase the value added to BSC's acetate cellulose. Voith's technical team installed a new shoe press with tilt control and other equipment to upgrade various systems at BSC.

For BSC, the main benefit of the modernization will be the improved pulp quality, which will enable the company to serve its existing customers better and to open up new markets. “Now BSC will be able to rely on a greater array of tools to adjust quality of the final product. And because Voith was able to install all of the required components during the total machine turnaround, the company's production was not affected. It was a great challenge, and we were able to complete it successfully", points out Leunis Teixeira Rocha, Project Manager at Voith Paper.

BSC – Bahia Specialty Cellulose

Bahia Specialty Cellulose is Latin America's only manufacturer of soluble pulp derived from eucalyptus wood, and currently ranks as a world-class player in its segment. The company basically manufactures two types of soluble pulp: the “rayon-grades” and the “specialty-grades”, the latter of which are converted in the food, cosmetics, cigarettes, pharmaceuticals and tires industries, to name a few. Of its total production, which in 2012 amounted to 435,000 metric tons, 97% were exported to countries in Asia, Europe and the US. The remaining produce is sold to Brazilian manufacturers.

In April 2013, after announcing a massive expansion plan which included investing over 260 mln US dollars in Taiwanese and Chinese plants, Yuen Foong Yu corporation has placed an order for four (4) new PMP Intelli-Tissue® 1600 machines. After delivering three (3) TMs in the past for YFY Beijing and Yangzhou mills, PMP Group has been chosen again to support YFY’s development. Taking all projects into consideration, the new order have made a total amount of seven (7) complete, new PMP Group machines in the YFY fleet. Therefore, it is our pleasure to announce that on July 3rd, at 5:40 PM local time, the first from four Intelli-Tissue® 1600 machines has been brought on stream as planned.

The new 2.8 m width CF tissue machine (PM#7) of operating speed 1600 mpm and daily capacity of 75 t, has been delivered to the Yangzhou mill in China. The machine produces virgin fiber-based tissue in the basis weight range at reel from 13-31.3 gsm for conversion into facial tissue, toilet rolls and kitchen towels. The scope of supply covers stock preparation, entire tissue machine (Intelli-Jet V® headbox, Intelli-Former® Crescent Former, Intelli-Press® with 16’’ steel YD and high efficiency steam hood and Intelli-Reel®) including also auxiliary systems like mechanical drives, lubrication system, steam & condensate, dust removal system, as well as controls and start-up services.  

This was the first out of four start-up’s that are scheduled for 2014/2015. Both PMP Group and YFY team effort resulted once more in an exquisitely fast start-up and a first Jumbo Roll that was reeled without any paper breaks. Experience gathered during the PM#7 start-up allows to anticipate that the following ones will be equally successful and will continue a fruitful partnership based cooperation between PMP and YFY.

James Cropper is merging its two paper divisions, Speciality Paper and Converting, into one business to simplify and optimise customer service.

James Cropper is the new, simplified name for the speciality paper and converting business of James Cropper PLC, operating from the company’s traditional manufacturing and administration base in Burneside, Cumbria. Led by Commercial Director, Chris Brown, the move sees the sales and marketing teams merged into one, allowing more cross selling of the products and capabilities of those divisions. 

The combined division grew sales by 7% to £71.5m in the year to March 2014, with operating profit of £2.5m, a 20% increase on the year before.

The merger of the two divisions coincides with a complete rebrand, stressing the company’s heritage and its commitment to innovation and customer service. The combination of the two allows the specialist paper product portfolio to combine the specialist colours, embossings, and surface enhancements with mount-boards, high-quality inkjet papers, display board and luxury packaging.

Chris Brown says: “By combining the converting and paper businesses under one brand, we invite our existing and future customers to task us with completing the most challenging production requests, from sales to delivery, on just one manufacturing site. Our mill has an unrivalled reputation for colour and scientific research into new paper finishes. The ambition is to offer customers a seamless service.”

James Cropper PLC also incorporates Technical Fibre Products (TFP), suppliers of nonwoven, speciality fibre products to industries including aerospace, automotive and electronics markets. TFP remains a standalone business as it operates in very different market niches.

The Valmet-supplied containerboard base paper machine at Propapier PM2 GmbH in Eisenhüttenstadt, Germany, set a 24-hour world speed record of 1,704 m/min on April 24, 2014. During the record run, the 10.85 m-wide PM2 produced corrugating medium at basis weight of 70g/m2 with a total efficiency of 96%. The Propapier PM2 was originally started up in March 2010. 

The trophy was handed over to Peter Resvanis (on the right) and some of his team members by Jürgen Heindl, CEO of Progroup AG (2nd from the left), and Robert Mohr, Vice President, Sales Central Europe North, Valmet (3rd from the left).

This was already the fourth 24-hour world speed record set by Propapier PM2. On November 25, 2010, the machine set a record of 1,620 m/min at a basis weight of 90 g/m2 becoming the world's first containerboard machine to exceed the 1,600 m/min speed level. The next world record followed in April, 2011 when the machine reached the speed of 1,650 m/min at a basis weight of 80 g/m2. On February 23, 2012, the machine set yet another 24-hour world speed record of 1,675 m/min at a basis weight of 80 g/m2, thus breaking the 100 km/h milestone.

"Our PM2 has now produced four consecutive world records. This is a proof that our people and the technology fit together in an optimal way, because being successful once or a few times might be by accident or good luck but being successful over and over again requires true competence and diligent work. I am confident that this was not our last world record", says Jürgen Heindl, CEO of Progroup AG.

The PM2 is an OptiConcept paper machine featuring Valmet's modern paper making technology from the stock preparation plant all the way through the paper machine. The design speed of the machine is 1,900 m/min.

Information about Propapier PM2 GmbH

Propapier PM2 is part of Progroup AG. A young and innovative company which is specialized in the production of corrugated board base papers and corrugated board sheets and is divided into five business units: Propapier with two paper factories, Prowell with seven corrugated sheetboard plants, Prologistik (a logistics company), Proservice offering marketing and IT services, and Profund (a financial services provider). With 12 production plants in the heart of Europe and 880 employees, the company generated consolidated sales of approx. 650 million euros in 2014. The unusually successful development of this company is based on innovations, consistent network management, on e-commerce and a consistent supply chain strategy.

Following successful modernization of the pulp drying line by international technology Group ANDRITZ, Altri Celbi increased its production capacity from an average of 2,000 tons per day (air dry metric tons) to a peak value of 2,150 tons per day at the Leirosa mill, Portugal, on July 7, 2014. In terms of specific drying capacity, Celbi was thus able to break its own world record of 421 tons per day and meter of working width, established in May 2013 also with ANDRITZ technology, by achieving 440 tons per day and meter of working width on the 4.88 meter wide sheet drying plant.

Pulp drying line from ANDRITZ PULP & PAPER | PHOTO:ANDRITZ

Based on these peak values to be achieved over periods of several days, Celbi will achieve average daily production of around 2,100 tons and a specific drying capacity of approximately 425 tons per day and meter of working width.

After extensive upgrade work by ANDRITZ (including an upgrade of the pressure screening plant and the Twin Wire Former, and modification to the bale finishing area), the Celbi plant was started up again in February 2014 following a scheduled annual shutdown. In a next upgrade stage (installation of a new, second shoe press, dryer upgrade) during the first half of 2015, ANDRITZ will increase the capacity of the drying line for bleached eucalyptus kraft pulp to peak values of more than 2,300 tons per day and thus the specific drying capacity to over 470 tons per day and meter of working width.

Xerium Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:XRM), a leading global provider of industrial consumable products and services, has issued an investor update.

Q2 2014 Financial Results

The company plans to file its results for Q2 2014 after the close of trading on Tuesday, August 5, 2014.

Q2 2014 Presentation and Conference Call

The company plans to make a public presentation and conduct a public conference call regarding its results on August 6, 2014 at 9:00 am ET.

To participate on the call, please dial in at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start. 

Presentation viewing details:

A live audio webcast and replay of the call, in addition to the materials used in the presentation, will be available in the investor relations section of the company's website at www.xerium.com/investorrelations. Please click on the earnings call event link that will appear on the IR homepage.

Jefferies 2014 Global Industrials Conference

Xerium will be presenting at the Jefferies 2014 Global Industrials Conference in New York and conducting one-on-one meetings with interested investors. Harold Bevis, President and CEO, Cliff Pietrafitta, Executive Vice President and CFO, and Dave Pretty, President of North America and Europe, will be the company's attendees and will be presenting at the conference at 9:00 am ET on Thursday, August 14, 2014.

This presentation will also be webcast live at www.xerium.com/investorrelations. Please click on the event link that will appear on the IR homepage. A replay of the presentation and a copy of the materials used in the presentation will also be available on Xerium's investor relations website. 

The company will also be available to meet one-on-one with investors the day before and the day of the presentation. If you have interest in one of these sessions please contact Isabel Zakoscielny at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Q2 2014 Preliminary Results and Full Year 2014 Remain on Forecast

Q2 2014 preliminary results indicate the company's performance was in-line with previous guidance. Sales for Q2 2014 were approximately $139.7 million, which was an increase of 1.0% over Q2 2013 and an increase of 4.7% over Q1 2014. Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 2014 was approximately $29.4 million and net income for the quarter was approximately $0.8 million. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below.

These results are preliminary and subject to change upon completion and review of Xerium's 2014 second quarter financial statements in conjunction with the company's 2014 second quarter Form 10-Q filing.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes measures of performance that differ from the company's financial results as reported under generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). The company uses supplementary non-GAAP measures, including EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, currency effects on Net Sales and Trade Working Capital to assist in evaluating its liquidity and financial performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are specifically used in evaluating the ability to service indebtedness and to fund ongoing capital expenditures. Neither Adjusted EBITDA nor EBITDA should be considered in isolation or as a substitute for income (loss) or cash flows from operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP).

For additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation of such measures to the most comparable financial measures under GAAP, please see our Selected Financial Data below.

ABOUT XERIUM TECHNOLOGIES

Xerium Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:XRM) is a leading global provider of industrial consumable products and services. Xerium, which operates around the world under a variety of brand names, utilizes a broad portfolio of patented and proprietary technologies to provide customers with tailored solutions and products integral to production, all designed to optimize performance and reduce operational costs. With 27 manufacturing facilities in 12 countries around the world, Xerium has approximately 3,200 employees.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "goals," variations of such words, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that the statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may vary materially from the results expressed or implied in such statements. Differences may result from actions taken by us, as well as from risks and uncertainties beyond our control.These risks and uncertainties include the following items: (1) our final sales, net income and Adjusted EBITDA results for the second quarter of 2014 may be different than the preliminary results we announced today; (2) we may not realize the full year Adjusted EBITDA performance we have forecast; (3) our expected sales performance and our backlog of sales may not be fully realized; (4) our cost reduction efforts, including our restructuring activities, may not have the positive impacts we anticipate; (5) we are subject to execution risk related to the startup of our proposed new facility in China; (6) our plans to develop and market new products, enhance operational efficiencies and reduce costs may not be successful; (7) market improvement in our industry may occur more slowly than we anticipate, may stall or may not occur at all; (8) variations in demand for our products, including our new products, could negatively affect our revenues and profitability; (9) our manufacturing facilities may be required to quickly increase or decrease production, which could negatively affect our production facilities, customer order lead time, product quality, labor relations or gross margin; and (10) the other risks and uncertainties discussed elsewhere in this press release, our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 filed on March 4, 2014 and our other SEC filings. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from what we projected. Any forward-looking statement in this press release reflects our current views with respect to future events. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. As discussed above, we are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties related to current economic conditions, and we encourage investors to refer to our SEC filings for additional information. Copies of these filings are available from the SEC and in the investor relations section of our website at www.xerium.com.

Selected Financial Data

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Non-GAAP Measures

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in our credit facility) as supplementary non-GAAP liquidity measures to assist us in evaluating our liquidity and financial performance, specifically our ability to service indebtedness and to fund ongoing capital expenditures. Neither EBITDA nor Adjusted EBITDA should be considered in isolation or as a substitute for income (loss) or cash flows from operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP).

EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) before interest expense, income tax provision (benefit) and depreciation (including non-cash impairment charges) and amortization.

"Adjusted EBITDA" means, with respect to any period, the total of (A) the consolidated net income for such period, plus (B) without duplication, to the extent that any of the following were deducted in computing such consolidated net income for such period: (i) provision for taxes based on income or profits, including, without limitation, federal, state, provincial, franchise and similar taxes, including any penalties and interest relating to any tax examinations, (ii) consolidated interest expense, (iii) consolidated depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) reserves for inventory in connection with plant closures, (v) consolidated operational restructuring costs, subject to annual limitations provided for in our credit facility, (vi) noncash charges resulting from the application of purchase accounting, including push-down accounting, (vii) non-cash expenses resulting from the granting of common stock, stock options, restricted stock or restricted stock unit awards under equity compensation programs solely with respect to common stock, and cash expenses for compensation mandatorily applied to purchase common stock, (viii) non-cash items relating to a change in or adoption of accounting policies, (ix) non-cash expenses relating to pension or benefit arrangements, (x) expenses incurred as a result of the repurchase, redemption or retention of common stock earned under equity compensation programs solely in order to make withholding tax payments, (xi) amortization or write-offs of deferred financing costs, (xii) any non-cash losses resulting from mark to market hedging obligations (to the extent the cash impact resulting from such loss has not been realized in such period) and (xiii) other non-cash losses or charges (excluding, however, any non-cash loss or charge which represents an accrual of, or a reserve for, a cash disbursement in a future period), minus (C) without duplication, to the extent any of the following were included in computing consolidated net income for such period, (i) non-cash gains with respect to the items described in clauses (vi), (vii), (ix), (xi), (xii) and (xiii) (other than, in the case of clause (xiii), any such gain to the extent that it represents a reversal of an accrual of, or reserve for, a cash disbursement in a future period) of clause (B) above and (ii) provisions for tax benefits based on income or profits. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Adjusted EBITDA, as defined in the credit facility and calculated below, may not be comparable to similarly titled measurements used by other companies.

Consolidated net income is defined as net income (loss) determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that the following, without duplication, shall be excluded in determining consolidated net income: (i) any net after-tax extraordinary or non-recurring gains, losses or expenses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto), (ii) the cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles, (iii) any fees and expenses incurred during such period in connection with the issuance or repayment of indebtedness, any refinancing transaction or amendment or modification of any debt instrument, in each case, as permitted under the credit facility and (iv) any cancellation of indebtedness income.

The following table provides reconciliation from net income and operating cash flows, which are the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (dollars in thousands).

Preparing for the 2014 Poppy Appeal, while poignantly commemorating the lives lost during World War One, the production of the red paper for 40 million Remembrance Poppies is set in motion by a veteran.

Every year 250 kilometres of red paper is produced at James Cropper in Cumbria, destined for the Poppy Factory in Kent where it is turned into millions of Remembrance Poppies. This year holds special significance as the 100^th anniversary of the start of the First World War and to mark the occasion Mr David Horsman, a former weapons engineer and ships diver in The Royal Navy,symbolically kick-started the paper production process.

Invited by the paper making firm to tip the all-important red dye into a new batch of poppy paper, Mr Horsman, from Kendal, saw the concentrated red colourant gradually turn the swirling container of paper pulp deep crimson, helping to celebrate and raise-awareness of The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal. After serving on vessels including HMS Liverpool between 1979 and 1987, Mr Horsman called on the help of the Royal British Legion for financial assistance. Now a successful businessman, he gives thanks for the support offered to him by giving his time as a Poppy Appeal Organiser.

Although poppies are manufactured nearly every day of the year at facilities in Aylesford, Kent and Richmond, Greater London to meet overwhelming public demand, James Cropper contacted charity representatives earlier in the year to arrange the symbolic start of production celebration and invite their special guest. There was an opportunity for reflection once the dye had worked its magic and the mill swung into action to turn the pulp into paper.

Phil Wild, Chief Executive of James Cropper, said: “Although we are involved each year in the production of papers for Remembrance Poppies, we don’t take it for granted what the poppy means to so many families and the country as a whole. Everyone at both James Cropper Paper and Technical Fibre Products are proud to be able to arrange this special gesture of remembrance and support for the Poppy Appeal and are grateful to Mr Horsfield for his service, fundraising contributions and time to mark the occasion with us.”

Since 1978, James Cropper has produced the red paper for Remembrance Poppies. A British company overseen by the sixth generation of the Cropper family as Chairman, they are renowned for bespoke papers and laboratory technicians have taken colour samples from real poppy petals to ensure the paper is the closest possible colour match to the real thing.

Marcus Hawthorn, Area Manager for Cumbria at The Royal British Legion, said: “It’s a pleasure to witness the start of the poppy journey at James Cropper. The red paper will be transformed into millions of poppies, which enables the Legion to continue providing practical help and support to the whole Armed Forces community. In this poignant year which marks the centenary of the First World War we encourage the nation to reflect on the sacrifices made by all Service men and women who fought for the freedom we enjoy today.”

From Cumbria, the paper makes the 300 mile trip to the South East, where Poppy Factories produce more than 40 million Remembrance Poppies, 500,000 poppies of other types, 5 million Remembrance petals, 100,000 wreaths and sprays, 750,000 Remembrance Crosses and other Remembrance items.

Dave Watson, Chief Operations Officer of James Cropper, joined the guest of honour at the event and commented:  “We are very proud of our longstanding involvement in the production of the paper poppy, and it must be said that there is more to this iconic emblem than at first meets the eye – the paper colour does not run in the rain or rub off onto clothing, it retains its vibrant colour and holds its shape.   The diverse technical chemistry required to achieve this ensures the paper poppy is worn with confidence the world over as a symbol of respect and remembrance.” 

For more information about the Poppy Appeal visit http://www.britishlegion.org.uk