Page 25 - PWM2025_JULY EBOOK

GLOBAL NEWS

Paper Gold Medal to Walstead has confirmed
IN BRIEF

Robert McClements what it plans to do with
the fire-damaged 64pp
short-grain press at its
Bicester facility. The huge
press, which has a maxi-
Representatives from Paper Gold Medal mum web width of 2.64m,
across the UK’s paper-based Association, which was dis- has been out of action
industries gathered at solved in March 2025. It is since early May when a fire
broke out on its folder
Stationers’ Hall, London ear- during a night shift. Assessing the best route forward has
lier this week to celebrate the now under the stewardship proved a complex process, not least because the 64pp Goss
achievements of the industry McClements receiving medal of the Stationers’ Livery International Sunday 5000 is effectively a unique press and
– with Robert McClements Company. the model is not manufactured anymore, which means
bespoke replacement parts need to be sourced. Manroland
awarded the prestigious ment across seven catego- The Paper Gold Medal Web Systems and Goss International merged in 2018. All of
Paper Gold Medal. The Paper ries: Recycling, Net Zero & the manufacturer’s current web offset presses are based on
Industry Gold Awards were Sustainable Innovation, judging panel, representing Manroland tech. Walstead’s group sales director Jon
hosted on 17 June by Andrew Community Engagement, many sectors of the industry, Hearnden told Printweek that the firm would relocate a
Large, director general of received a wide array of nom- smaller 48pp Manroland short-grain to the Oxfordshire
site.
trade association the Health & Safety, Skills, inations this year.
Confederation of Paper Young Talent, and EDI. Two Metsä Board, part of Metsä
Industries (CPI), who will winners were honoured in Established in the late 1960s, Group, concluded produc-
step down in July after nine the Young Talent category, this award is presented to a tion at its Tako board mill
on 17 June, when the mill’s
years in post. alongside two highly com- person who has demon- board machine BM1 was
The awards were pre- mended entries. strated excellence and dedi- shut down. Metsä Board
sented by Jonathan Each winner received a cation well beyond their said it had decided to close
the Tako mill, in Tampere,
Ashworth, chief executive of trophy, with additional com- Finland, earlier this year
Labour Together and former mendations made in recogni- day-to-day role, making a following change negotiations and as part of efforts to
Labour shadow cabinet min- tion of exceptional entries. lasting and unique contribu- improve the company’s profitability and cost competitive-
ness. The mill had previously operated two folding box-
ister. Until 2024, the Paper Gold tion to the broader UK’s board machines, with annual production capacities of
They recognised achieve- Medal was awarded by the paper-based industries. 70,000 and 140,000 tonnes. Since the decision was made
to close Tako, Metsä Board said it has supported the re-
Affinity Packaging files for CVA employment of the mill’s 191 employees through a compre-
hensive support programme. This has included internal
recruitment days in cooperation with other Metsä Group
mills.
Affinity Packaging has from his former Polestar col- business, and we assumed
filed an Application for a league Chris Dew. that our [existing] cartons Premier and Drytac have
Company Voluntary Andreou told Printweek business would continue at a collaborated on the launch
of PaperTac, a new fully
Arrangement (CVA) after a the background to the move: stable level.” recyclable, self-adhesive,
He said that despite suc-
downturn in its core busi- “Last year we decided as a cess in growing the new cup premium coated paper
ness. The Leyland-based firm team to prepare for growth, and trays side of the business, developed for the wide-
format sign and display
filed the application on 23 and we invested quite heavily a retail slowdown that market. Available immedi-
June, through Begbies in the food packaging sector, became noticeable in ately and exclusively
Traynor. which was pretty new to us. autumn 2024 had hit the through Premier in the UK and Ireland with next-day deliv-
ery, the company said PaperTac would help users to reduce
The business was acquired We invested in branded cups firm’s core cartons business, their signage waste and meet their sustainability targets.
by Peter Andreou in 2023 and our food packaging tray which contracted. PaperTac features a 140gsm white matt coated paper with a
clear permanent adhesive and is compatible with aqueous,
Sign & Digital UK dates revealed latex, and UV print technologies. The product can be
mounted to a rigid fibre-based display board and, because
it is 100% recyclable, the entire product can be recycled in
a single waste stream.
The organiser of Sign & launches, inspiring talks
Digital UK has confirmed from industry leaders, and Bluetree Group has taken on a second JWEI JCUT-3230 digi-
the dates for the 2026 edi- countless opportunities to tal cutting table to enhance its wide-format offering. The
machine was supplied by CMYUK and installed at the
tion, which will be co- Rotherham, South Yorkshire-based business in early May. It
located for the third time network and do business followed a major investment with CMYUK by Bluetree last
with Printwear & Promotion face-to-face at the show, year in its first JWEI JCUT-3230 and a Neolt XY Matic Plus 165
Live! Sign & Digital UK will The NEC in Birmingham, UK which has been running for Trimmer Plus – both installed last August, and a High Roller
Carousel roll storage system installed in October. Bluetree
be held in Hall 6 of the NEC display, décor and design, over 35 years. ramped up its wide-format offering last year. It had first
in Birmingham from Sunday show organiser Datateam looked to move into the sector in 2018, and then in late
22 February to Tuesday 24 Business Media said visitors Printwear & Promotion 2019 the company acquired the unit next door for its wide-
format operations but, almost immediately, the Covid pan-
February 2026. could expect live demonstra- Live! will take place in Halls demic hit, delaying proceedings until last year.
Covering signage, print, tions, exclusive product 6 and 8 at the NEC.
www.printweekmena.com July 2025 PrintWeek MENA 23