Chapelton, Kent, U.K., a specialty paper and cartonboard supplier, this past week revealed that sales levels from cooperation with International Paper (Memphis, Tenn., USA) for its GC2 lightweight coated board product, Alaska Plus and leading GC1 coated paperboard product Arktika, have reached a new high during the past quarter, underlining the market’s positive response to the respective products. 

A factor that has proved extremely beneficial to Chapelton’s customers has been IP’s quick service, delivered in part by ‘Kwidzyn X-Press’, which is provided by the Kwidzyn mill in Poland where both grades are manufactured. The service has enabled Chapelton to provide its European customers with much quicker deliveries from their orders. The ‘Kwidzyn X-Press’ service has allowed for small order sizes from 1 metric ton upwards to be sheeted within four days to bespoke sizes, thus corresponding to the small and fast orders from the market.

Commenting on the sales performance of both Alaska Plus and Arktika in the U.K., Chapelton Business Development Director Neil Skelton stated that "Chapelton is delighted that sales have reached extremely good levels for both products, which has been particularly significant in the past quarter."

Skelton continued, "The high level of service provided by the mill has helped, and the addition of the ‘Kwidzyn X-Press’ service is proving to be extremely popular with customers, and is a great benefit to enable a fast turnaround on orders and deliveries."

Chapelton was confirmed as a distributor for Alaska Plus this past year, following IP’s completion of its $60 million modernization project at the Kwidzyn mill where Alaska Plus is produced.  

The partnership between Chapelton and IP was put in place to help forge and develop the new Alaska Plus product into the U.K. and European market, with the aim of developing sales of the product to the pharmaceutical, confectionery, and dry food packaging sectors.

Launched in July last year, Alaska Plus is a multiply virgin fiber coated board, with a double coating on the top side and an uncoated manila back-side. It is the lightweight version of IP’s Alaska GC2 coated board product.  Alaska Plus is 6-8% lighter weight than Alaska, while all of the other quality aspects of Alaska remain, such as production efficiency, runnability, and printability. Alaska Plus is available in the basis weights of 190, 205, 220, 235, 255, 270, 280, 305 and 330 gsm.

Also manufactured at the Kwidzyn mill is Arktika, a high quality, fully coated GC1 folding boxboard product with a coated reverse side, which is aimed primarily at the end user segments of cosmetics, pharmaceutical, greetings cards, publishing and commercial printing, along with higher quality packaging and graphical applications. Arktika is available in a wide range of basis weights and stock sizes: 200, 215, 230, 250, 275, 300, 325 and 350 gsm.

Alaska Plus and Arktika are available as FSC® and PEFC certified and are produced only from virgin fiber to ensure a consistent quality of the board. In addition, Arktika and Alaska Plus are ISEGA certified, allowing for dry and fatty food applications, and PTS/FFPI certified for inkjet and laser coding on pharmaceutical packaging.

Renowned for high quality products, innovative materials and outstanding customer service, Chapelton is an independent paper and board supplier, servicing the U.K. and Irish print and packaging sectors and dealing with many of the major global paper and board manufacturers. 

With a 30-year trading history and operating from a facility in Aylesford, Kent, Chapelton is a privately-owned company with turnover of around GPB 11 million. Chapelton employs a team of experienced personnel to deal with its international manufacturing clients, and handle the array of cartonboard, paper, and specialty products that it stocks.