Billerud Eyes Expanded Production of Pressure Sensitive Papers at Michigan Mill

Oct. 6, 2022 - Billerud Americas Corporation announced it will investigate a relaunch of its OptiLabel™ HB product made at its Quinnesec Mill in Michigan on the No. 41 paper machine.

"We launched OptiLabel HB made at our Quinnesec Mill in 2020 during the peak of the COVID pandemic to support demand in the PS marketplace, so, we have already successfully made a significant volume of this product," said Senior Vice President of Marketing Aaron Haas. "By making OptiLabel HB at Quinnesec, we hope to provide an additional domestic supply source for PS paper.

"We already make a great deal of OptiLabel HB and UniSil™ release liner on our No. 3 paper machine at our Escanaba Mill, and this additional machine will give us more manufacturing flexibility to support the PS marketplace for both release liner and face paper supply.

"We understand customers need available face paper and release liner products, and we believe the product from Quinnesec can help fill a sizable space in this market segment," Haas continued. "Our goal is to qualify products with strategic customers now through the end of 2022, and be at expanded production rates by the start of 2023."

Billerud Americas Corporation operates two integrated paper mills in Escanaba and Quinnesec, Michigan, which produce graphic and specialty papers. OptiLabel HB is a semi-gloss C1S product for PS prime label applications. UniSil is a release liner base sheet for PS siliconizing.

Billerud Americas Corporation is a leading producer of graphic, specialty and packaging paper and market pulp. Our graphic paper products are designed primarily for commercial printing, advertising and marketing applications, including direct mail, catalogs, corporate collateral, books and magazines. Our specialty paper products include release liner papers and label face stock for pressure sensitive, glue-applied and laminate applications. Billerud NA produces packaging paper used in higher-end packaging and printing applications such as greeting cards, book covers, folders, labels and point-of-purchase displays.

SOURCE: Billerud Americas Corporation