Digital BW, The Print

Converting:
We get mill rolls of paper from the coating facility that are various widths and usually 40" outer diameter. We then either convert them into short rolls of widths from 13" to 44" or cut them into sheet sizes from 4"x6" to 35"x47". We owned a paper converting business in Holyoke MA before we started Hawk Mountain Papers
Our requirements:
We work with representatives from the paper mill to get the best mix to work as a base for a coated inkjet paper. We supply the specs we need such as fiber length, type, caliper, GSM, brightness, smoothness, opacity, cleanliness. Different cotton fiber lengths give different characteristics to the base paper. So to answer your question - we supply the recipe to the mill. The mills we work with make many different paper products - inkjet paper base is a very, very small part of their business.
Coatings:
Both. We have worked with chemists to develop our own coating formulations (from scratch - purchasing all the chemicals individually and having the coating mixed for us) and we have purchased premixed coatings to which we have added additional ingredients. The coating is then applied to the base paper.
Who does our production:
Paper mills - If I told you, I'd have to kill you <G>. They are in the USA. Coating facility - same thing (we rent time on a coating machine). Converting and packaging - we do in our facility in Shoemakersville PA.
While I couldn't be completely clear in answering all your questions, I hope I did help.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Steve Kale 
  To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Monday, December 12, 2005 5:41 PM
  Subject: Re: [Digital BW] QC of Hawk Mountain Papers?


  I hope the list won't mind a couple of follow-up questions to this:

  *  can you explain what you mean by "conversion".  I assume you simply mean
  cutting down sizes and not much more.

  *  when you say "manufactured to [your] requirements", how much input do you
  really have beyond selecting from the list that your paper mill provides?
  Do you research and design substrate structures and provide the "recipe" to
  the mill or would you say that they come and sell you THEIR list of
  products?

  *  when you say you have "developed several coatings", is this research
  conducted in-house or by, or in conjunction with, other firms?

  * who does your production?

  The paper manufacturing world is deliberately opaque.  It would be a breath
  of fresh air if a competitive company like Hawk Mountain could provide some
  visibility into this area.  I am sure such clarity can only promote their
  reputation in the eyes of the customer.

  Cheers

  Steve

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