On Wednesday (September 14) Neenah Paper (Alpharetta, Ga., USA) announced the company's introduction of Neenah Wide Format, a comprehensive portfolio of paper-based flexible and rigid board products, engineered for high-performance for almost every large format application, from window signs and banners, to wall murals, and POP displays.

In this highly fragmented but rapidly growing market, Neenah sees that the list of wide format applications is expanding daily, while retailers and marketers continue to seek viable alternatives to vinyl and other non-recyclable products. Neenah Wide Format offers designers, printers, and brand owners the opportunity to choose appropriate paper-based products to address long-standing market needs. This expansive portfolio, with nearly 70 product options, includes the highly popular 100% paper-based conVerd® board ideal for signage, indoor POP, and displays.

"As brand owners leverage the look and feel of their marketing campaigns, display graphics have become increasingly more important to the marketing mix. Neenah already provides the paper for the brand’s direct mail pieces, pre-sale collateral, and packaging. The customer now comes to the store and everything in that store, from the posters, to the wall murals, to the end caps, and signage can all use Neenah’s paper-based substrates to drive a consistent brand message," said Greg Maze, senior brand manager, Digital and Wide Format, Neenah.

Benefits of Paper-based Wide Format Products:

• Paper prints better: NEENAH Wide Format products are engineered for high-performance on all types of wide format state-of-the-art equipment, including UV, Latex, Eco-solvent/Solvent, offset and screen printers. Details and eye-popping colors that aren’t achievable on vinyl can be beautifully replicated with superior print results. "Paper just prints better," said Maze.
• Performance: Because paper doesn’t expand and contract like vinyl and plastics, paper-based products are generally more dimensionally stable; eliminating curl issues that can occur in rolled shipments or with time. And the portfolio’s rigid board materials resist crushing and corner dings, often common in other POP and signage boards.
• Brand consistency: Now designers and brand owners have the opportunity to deliver the brand’s identity across all printed materials. Additionally, with many company and product brand identities closely tied to color, Neenah’s precision, custom color matching solutions ensure brand consistency whether the work is printed locally or across the country.
• More sustainable alternative: With the accelerated pace of today’s limited-time offers, pop-up promotions and seasonal turnovers, paper-based materials can provide advantages in the retailer’s recycling stream. Paper is disposable, and more widely recycled. When a paper sign is no longer needed it can go right into the "blue box." with no special sorting, also eliminating the need to commission specialty waste removal.

"In this new portfolio, we offer paper-based substrates for nearly every micro-segment from backlits to bus shelters to banners and point of purchase displays. With the addition of this product line, creative directors can now use Neenah as the source for all of their printed materials: Neenah Papers for identity systems and marketing collateral, Neenah Packaging papers for boxes, bags, and labels, and Neenah Wide Format for all retail environment needs," said Maze.