Launching its range of coated release liners at America's premier speciality papers exhibition is how Stora Enso Speciality Papers is marking its entry onto the world scene.

"The launch of the LumiSil range of coated release liners at one of our sector's main events shows our determination to offer customers premium products at competitive prices," says Keith Damarell, Business Development Manager with world-wide responsibility for speciality papers.

The Stora Enso Speciality Papers group was formed in 2002 to market and develop technical, flexible packaging and label papers. The Group is part of the Packaging Boards division, one of five business divisions within Stora Enso's overall forest products business. We are already the second largest player in Speciality Papers world-wide, says Damarell.

Challenge to traditional products
LumiSil has been developed to challenge traditional release liners known as super calendared kraft, SCK. Such products are used in the pressure sensitive industry for high speed laminating to produce self adhesive label products. The new range should allow customers to consume less silicone than SCK during the silicone coating process. Other benefits include improved appearance, reverse side printability, excellent smoothness, good process ability and die cut properties, explains Damarell.

LumiSil is available in three grades and covers a basic weight range from 57-130g/m2. The standard grade is a versatile, SCK alternative at a competitive price. The Office grade is for critical lay-flat liner applications such as cut-size laminates for laser printer use, while the Stamp grade is specifically for pressure-sensitive postage stamp applications.

Investment in modern production
Considerable investment has been made at the production facilities, in the U.S., Finland and Germany. At its Stevens Point mill in central Wisconsin, investment there alone, has exceeded USD 400 million in recent years. "This reflects our determination to offer customers products manufactured on some of the world's most advanced paper machines, strategically located around the world," says Damarell. The group has a combined production capacity of 450,000 tonnes annually.

The group's products are sold through its own, specialised sales outlets in the 40 countries in which Stora Enso operates. Extensive sales force training has been carried out since the beginning of the year. The aim is to ensure that speciality papers continue to be an expanding part of a forestry products group, which employs more than 43,000 people world-wide and has total sales exceeding EUR 13.5 billion.



For more information contact:

(USA, Canada:)
Stora Enso Speciality Papers
Mr Keith Damarell, Business Development Manager
707 Arlington Place
Stevens Point, WI 54481-0227
USA
Tel: +1 715 345 8782
Fax: +1 715 345 8001
E-mail: keith.damarell@storaenso.com

(Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Italy):
Stora Enso Deutschland GmbH
Ms Inge Leonards
Feldmühleplatz 1
D-40545 Düsseldorf
GERMANY
Tel: +49 211 581 2185
Fax: +49 211 581 2549
E-mail: inge.leonards@storaenso.com

(Australia, New Zealand:)
Stora Enso Singapore Pte Ltd
Mr Tero Vikkula
Block 154-2-11, Kompleks Maluri
Jalan Jejaka, Taman Maluri
55100 Kuala Lumpur
WEST MALAYSIA
Tel: +603 981 8122
Fax: +603 987 3122
E-mail: tero.vikkula@storaenso.com

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