Parade Label WS Linen enhances both performance and visual appeal

Sappi Europe, the leading global manufacturer of speciality papers, is expanding its portfolio of wet-glue wet-strength label papers with a linen embossed version of its successful Parade Label WS label paper. Produced at Sappi’s Gratkorn mill in Austria, the new Parade Label WS Linen exhibits excellent printing and converting results – targeting applications such as returnable beverage bottles. It boasts outstanding results both in terms of performance and visual appeal. The paper’s launch at the beginning of October coincides with the completion of Sappi’s significant investment project at its Gratkorn site. Two years ago, in September 2022, Sappi announced the investment of tens of millions of euros in a state-of-the-art technical infrastructure at the site. The project was aimed at ensuring production capacities of wet-strength, alkali-resistant label papers in the future and at establishing its position as a full-range supplier of label papers over the long term.

Parade Label WS Linen: impressive performance and visual appeal
Sappi’s Parade Label WS, a wet-strength and alkali-resistant label paper, which is now established on the market, has convinced users worldwide with its impressive printing and finishing results. With the company’s latest new product – Parade Label WS Linen – Sappi continues its success story with wet-glue label papers. This one-side double coated wet-strength paper primarily targets wet-glue label applications, such as returnable beverage bottles.

Linen embossing not only enhances the visual appearance, but also label functionality, which results in superior labelling performance due to improved separability of the labels and greatly reduced static adhesion. The paper, available in 65, 68, 70, 75 and 80 g/m2, also ensures superior washability of the labels in the bottle preparation process for reuse. This works especially well with papers which have been metallised to create eye-catching labels.

Sappi will be presenting its new Parade Label WS Linen as well as many other great products for beverage applications at this year’s FachPack (24 to 26 September) in Hall 4A, Stand 306 and BrauBeviale (26 to 28 November 2024) in Hall 4A, Stand 410 in Nuremberg.

Successful validations of labelling performance and visual impact
It was only in September 2023 that Sappi launched Parade Label WS in the classic Gloss version. Since then, the wet-strength and alkali-resistant paper is being produced and delivered to selected customers – as part of a long-term validation programme which now comes to an end. The validations, carried out with brand owners as well as converters and printers, delivered convincing results in terms of quality and performance. Brand owners were satisfied about the paper’s exceptional display of their brand image and flawless labelling performance – even with high-speed labelling lines at up to 70,000 bottles/hour. Converters and printers were positively impressed with the high printing speed and excellent printing results achieved with Parade Label WS.

Sappi successfully completes significant investment project at Gratkorn mill
The launch of Parade Label WS Linen coincides with the completion of Sappi’s investment project at its Gratkorn site. In September 2022, Sappi announced its aim to significantly expand its label paper business through a long-term double-digit million investment. The project entailed the adaptation of production capacities for label papers to the increasing needs of the beverage industry – as well as capacities to produce high-quality wet-strength, alkali-resistant label paper in the future.

Paper grades such as Parade Label WS and its sister product Parade Label Pro, developed for high-quality non-wet-strength labels in the food, beverage and consumer goods industries, are greatly benefiting from integrated pulp production as well as state-of-the-art production and converting equipment, such as a new embossing calender. The third label paper produced at the Gratkorn mill is Sappi’s successful Parade Face Semi Gloss for self-adhesive labels.

Reliable partner in production, availability, supply and support
With the investment, Sappi has strengthened its Austrian site as a key centre for label papers within the Group’s mill network and established itself as a reliable partner to the beverage industry.

Together with its other plants in Alfeld (Germany), Carmignano (Italy) and Somerset (USA), Sappi is ideally positioned to ensure the reliable supply of premium label papers. State-of-the-art production facilities enable flexible production cycles and thereby fast availability. Innovative back-up solutions, seamless supply chains and quick deliveries – ensured thanks to logistics chains built up over decades and supplemented by outstanding support technology – enable Sappi to successfully meet its customers’ diverse needs.