Volume 3, Number 4
Oct 1990

Letters

To the Editor:

Three printing supply companies, AM/Multigraphics, Itek/AB Dick and Graphtek, have been publishing on the problem of printing on alkaline or neutral papers. Their rhetorical comments offer no clear-cut solutions, only Band-Aid remedies.

We are pleased to report that we are not aware of a single problem with any of our plate materials when used in a system with our Genie Universal Non-Crystalline Etch & Fountain Solution (CS0104).

Furthermore, we have been asked to solve the problem experienced by each of the above companies, after their own remedies have failed. In each case we have been 100% successful.

International Paper has become aware of our success and is now recommending D.A. Associates to printers experiencing problem with their alkaline papers.

Dealers needing help with problem they suspect may be occurring because of alkaline paper are invited to call us for a remedy.

To the Editor:

Mead Publishing Paper Division's mills at Escanaba, Michigan, has told me that they produce no grades which meet the ANSI standard. While we have just converted the #1 mill there to alkaline, the papers manufactured do not quite meet the ANSI specs. You should be aware that we're also considering converting our other machines at Escanaba to alkaline, and should have some ANSI standard grades next year'

As for the Fine Paper Division, no alkaline papers are manufactured at Mead's mill at Kingsport, Tennessee. At Chillicothe, Ohio, there are five grades manufactured which meet ANSI standards.

Gilbert Paper's mill, in Menasha, Wisconsin, creates one specialty item for a single customer which meets the ANSI standard, but this is not a regular product. Gilbert's mill is acidic and manufactures a neutral pH sheet. However, they add some calcium carbonate at the size press which brings the level up to 2 percent, thus meeting the ANSI standard. Gilbert's customer uses this special grade (which is a variation of Gilbert's Neutech for laser printers) to preserve books by laser printing them on acid-free paper.

To the Editor:

We are always investigating ways that we, as a responsible corporation, can become part of the solution in reducing the volume of waste entering our landfills. This concern has influenced our manufacturing decisions and has led to the development of Mohawk 50/10, a Quality Recycled Matte Paper.

We are proud to be the first mill to manufacture a coated paper that incorporated 10% non de-inked postconsumer waste along with 50% other recycled fibers. Manufactured in white, basis 60, 70, and 80 lb. text and 65 lb. cover, Mohawk 50/10 achieves a brightness of 85-87. Although we do our best to screen out impurities that come with using postconsumer waste, the end user must realize that some specks and spots are an inevitable result of using this type of fiber. As with other Mohawk grades, Mohawk 50/10 has tight formation, good opacity and is acid free.

To the Editor:

Since we have developed a new recycling technology to reduce the amount of paper mill sludge to landfill by 60+% and produce a high quality market pulp (neutral 7.0 pH), we have a strong interest in being recognized by federal and state governments regarding recycling legislation.

We believe that sludge recycling is significant and should be promoted in new recycling legislation. In 1989 approximately 21 million tons of paper mill sludge was generated in 43 states. This represents almost 10% of total new waste in our country.

We believe that recycled sludge technology should be considered an equal to post consumer recovery by encouraging its use by the paper mills.

Our recycling plant in Appleton, WI has been operational since April, 1990. It has successfully demonstrated the new sludge recycling technology by producing a market pulp with high quality specifications including an 80 brightness and single digit dirt count. Our pulp production has been sold out since April. Our recycling facility is being expanded with a 7200 sq ft building addition and new equipment that will enable us to process more than 5,000 tons monthly.

Our strategic plan includes making the technology available nationally through regional facilities, on site facilities and licensing. We plan to start up new facilities in 1991.

It is our belief that sludge recycling is a much more attractive alternative than incineration, landspreading or landfill. It produces a much needed product (pulp). Economically and environmentally it is a true "win-win."