Sappi is to invest a sum “in the low double-digit millions” over the next two years to expand its ‘centre of excellence’ for speciality papers at its mill in Carmignano, Italy. With this investment, the company plans to increase production capacity to support further growth in the dye-sublimation business.
In 2018, Sappi recognised the importance of sublimation paper for digital transfer printing and took over the speciality paper business of Cham Paper Group, a Swiss group of companies internationally active in the field of speciality paper with mills in Carmignano and Condino (Italy). The opening of the Digital Solutions Centre in Carmignano a year later supported the launch of additional products in the field of sublimation printing - for example the Transjet Tacky Industrial and the Transjet Drive. Now Sappi is committing further to the site near Venice.
“Our sublimation papers are ideal for a variety of products and over the next five years, we see a significant increase in demand for these papers, and this is why we are now expanding our capacities,” said Luis Mata, sales director packaging and digital solutions. “
“By expanding our mill in Carmignano, we can offer a complete in-house solution for sublimation papers from development and production, through converting to shipment. This will enable us to keep the highest quality standards in all the production steps and offer a world class service to our customers, while positively impacting our CO2 emissions,” added Pierluigi Masi, paper mill director in Carmignano.
Construction will begin in the middle of this year. The conversion is scheduled for completion by the end of 2023.