Champion International Corp. debuted a line of high-bulk papers this month designed to yield a greater number of pages pound-for-pound than heavier grade paper. The forest products giant touted the new line’s tactile quality, which it said is the same as paper with higher basis weights.
The company is pitching the lighter paper products to magazine and catalog publishers before a postal rate increase anticipated in 2001. One product, called Mainebulk, is designed for offset printing. Another, Rotocote HB, is designed for rotogravure presses, or those that use durable, engraved copper for longer print jobs.
Mainebulk will be available in 40-, 36-, 34- and 32-pound basis weights. Rotocote will be sold in 34- and 32-pound basis weights. The products are designed to match the brightness, gloss, opacity and other characteristics of grades 2 pounds to 4 pounds heavier, which the company estimates will reduce postal costs by at least 5 percent.
Champion, Stamford, CT, insisted the light weight of the paper would not affect readers’ perception of the product or images printed on it.
