has to be adaptable enough to meet the
diverse needs of the different paper sectors.
The requirements for increasing filler loadings
in say an uncoated woodfree application,
where fillers loading levels today are already
above 25% and based on carbonate, are likely
to be very different to a kaolin filled SC
application or applications such as newsprint
or linerboard where little or no filler is used
today. Likewise individual mills will also have
different limitations which have to be addressed
with a tailored solution. We are active in
developing such solutions under our FibreLean
brand umbrella.
in coating applications is the cost of binders
which can be up to 10 times the cost of
pigments. While much work has already been
done in this to area to optimise costs it is
clear that innovation will be needed to make
the next step. IMERYS has R&D programs in
place which are addressing this area through
solutions aimed at retaining more of the
binder in the coating layer. Likewise in some
geographies imported high gloss kaolins are
often much more expensive than local
carbonate or kaolin. Developing processing
and application concepts based on local raw
materials is often more cost effective and
sustainable.
on the high volume printing and writing
applications. For example board and
packaging (B&P) is a market where future
global growth is assured. However, the
diversity of end uses for packaging grades
means the technical challenges of
implementing new developments in this
sector are higher, and significant R&D focus
will be needed to be successful here.
Likewise as commodity end uses decline
there is likely to be growth in smaller volume
speciality markets. Understanding the diversity
of needs in these applications is challenging
and requires both strong technical and
marketing input. In many cases these areas
more closely resemble the markets served by
other IMERYS business units and leveraging
technology and experience from those areas
can often be fruitful.
its suppliers will need to continue to change.
It is however important to remember that
with change there is also opportunity.