SMI: Printing

An Evolution in Communicating Via the Printed Word

There is a global evolution occurring in terms of demands and expectations placed on quality paper and board. Paper and board manufacturers, publishers, and commercial printers rely on suppliers of strategic and fundamental resources like precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) from Specialty Minerals Inc. (SMI).

Shifting grade mix, quality improvements, environmental concerns, and economic factors within the paper industry are encouraging the increased consumption of mineral pigments.

Trends toward higher optical performance and improved print surfaces are occurring in every market, and are driving up the standards and expectations of printing. The properties of this improved paper and board have been achieved via the use of new, next-generation, coating mineral pigments.

Performance improvements achieved with SMI PCC include smoothness, opacity, brightness, and gloss. Our products and services can change the print characteristics of paper and increase the rate at which offset ink sets. Although growth opportunities exist for all mineral pigments, the greatest opportunities accrue to those incorporating superior technology that yields an optical/print performance balance.

In the publication arena, paper plays a dual role. It’s a physical structure that must survive conversion, shipping, handling, and storage. It’s also a substrate that must interact with ink to provide attractive and persuasive graphical information.

The first role requires properties like stiffness, fold resistance, color stability, brightness, gloss, opacity, and smoothness.
The second role requires porosity for ink acceptance, gloss, and uniform optical density at the scale of visual resolution.

In addition, today’s market economics demand that these properties be provided at the lowest possible weight and material cost.

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