International Paper, a leading global packaging and paper company, has announced that it has entered into a distribution cooperation with The Premier Paper Group for its flagship GC1 coated paperboard product, Arktika, in the U.K. market. Arktika is a high quality, fully coated GC1 folding boxboard with a coated reverse side, manufactured at International Paper’s Kwidzyn mill in Poland. Arktika will be available through Premier across the U.K. from September 2015 on, in a wide range of stock sizes and basis weights: 200, 215, 230, 250, 275, 300, 325, and 350 gsm.

The U.K.’s largest independent paper merchant, with a nationwide network of regional stock holding branches, Premier is well positioned to partner with International Paper in expanding the presence of Alaska in the U.K. market.

Commenting on the announcement, Mike Robertson, International Paper’s Coated Board Area sales manager for the U.K. and Ireland, stated that ":our distribution cooperation with Premier will improve the availability of Arktika in the graphical printing and packaging sectors across the U.K.. Arktika is a well established GC1 brand throughout Europe and we are looking to expand its presence in the U.K. together with our partners at Premier."

Premier Paper’s Sales Director Packaging Boards, Dean Esaw, added that "we are delighted to add Arktika, another high quality European GC1 product, to our strong folding box board range. With its short direct delivery times and 10-day reel-to-sheet service, it is rather unique and complements our current offering superbly. As a long standing partner to Premier Paper, we know and appreciate the many benefits International Paper offers."

Arktika 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. Its excellent printability, high brightness, and high gloss properties make Arktika suitable for offset, rotogravure, and flexo printing applications, providing a consistent quality finish from run to run. Arktika provides a smooth background for various sophisticated finishing techniques, such as embossing, lamination, hot and cold foil stamping, as well as varnishing and film applications print requirements.

Arktika is produced only from virgin fiber to ensure a consistent quality of the board, with all fiber originating from sustainably managed forests. Arktika is available as both FSC® and PEFC certified. In addition, Arktika is also ISEGA certified, allowing for dry and fatty food applications, and also PTS/FFPI certificated for inkjet and laser coding on pharmaceutical packaging.