Appvion (formerly Appleton Papers) is a thINK founding partner and a Platinum sponsor of thINK 2016. We sat down with Jeff Luehring, Business Team Leader and Connie Evers, Brand Manager of the company’s inkjet team to hear their inkjet perspectives.

How important is the inkjet market for Appvion?
The inkjet market is highly important to us. It’s one of few paper markets that’s growing and it’s growing double digits. The segment is attractive to us not only because of the size of its growth rate but also because it uses a lot of specialized papers, which is one of our core strengths. It is also important for us to bring new products and growth opportunities to our customers.  We view our customers as partners, and  we understand that to assist in their success, we need to help fill any gaps they may have.  

How long have you been developing papers for inkjet?
Appvion has developed and produced inkjet papers for almost 15 years.  In fact, we’ve been a specialty coated paper maker since 1907, that’s over 100 years of experience. Just this year, we’ve launched three major high-speed inkjet grade lines, each with four to five specific products. We also make custom-made high-speed inkjet products by request.

Are there any new inkjet papers in the works? 
Yes. We work closely with John Crumbaugh and the Canon Solutions America team to certify our papers for the Océ VarioPrint i300. We just recently completed testing and certification of a 9 pt. coated matte. In fact, John and his team are designating it as one of the house sheets for Canon, so we’re very excited about that.

Why are you such a strong supporter of thINK? 
We put a lot of confidence and credence into where Canon Solutions America is going and the customer base they have developed. We view both the company and its customers as industry leaders. We feel they are going in same direction as we are. We believe in what they’re doing. And as a partner, we want to be sure we are supporting them.

What do you think are the biggest challenges for printers starting out in inkjet?
We see two typical challenges.  First, printers have told us they’re challenged with the ROI. Some people analyze it and analyze it and can sometimes be confused by the choices – the different printer types, the different ink types, and the different papers. They need a strong business case to switch from what they are doing. We believe that there’s a great business case for inkjet.  Secondly, we believe printers are challenged with making the right inkjet paper choices.  There is a wide variety of papers out there ranging from uncoated/ untreated to treated to coated.  Oftentimes the orientation is to the lowest priced paper, while opportunities are missed to save ink, enhance print quality, and upgrade the printed piece feel.  Treated and coated papers offer these added benefits, but are not consistently articulated through the channel to the printer.

What are the biggest paper challenges you’re hearing from customers?
The ones we hear about most are availability and quality. Many papers are from foreign mills and not readily available in the U.S. On the quality side, we hear that it’s sometimes it’s difficult to get sheeted product that’s cut square, so it can be a challenge to run it. The VarioPrint i300 has precise requirements, so it’s vital that suppliers understand that and are meeting specifications for the sheeted products. 

What is your best advice for production printers contemplating the transition to inkjet?
They key is not only understanding how the technology can benefit their internal operation and workflow, but also the market opportunities it opens up and how your customers would benefit.

Appvion is a founding sponsor of thINK and a Platinum sponsor of thINK 2016. The company creates product solutions through its development and use of coating formulations and applications. The company produces thermal, carbonless, security, inkjet, digital specialty, and colored papers. Appvion, headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, has manufacturing operations in Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania, employs approximately 1,400 people and is 100 percent employee-owned.