Sappi Fine Paper North America Launches Sappi etc.® Microsite

BOSTON, Sept. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sappi Fine Paper North America announced today the launch of its Sappi etc.^® microsite, an online educational platform providing access to more than a century's worth of rare historical documents, detailed case studies and expert technical advice as a part of the company's Education, Training and Consulting (etc) program. Free and fully searchable, the Sappi etc. site covers everything from paper basics and sustainability resources to advanced print and design techniques, including color management, printer tech tips, special effects, varnishes, folding, and designing for direct mail.

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"We love sharing our knowledge of paper and printing to help customers work smarter, faster and more effectively," said Daniel Dejan, Print & Creative Manager for Sappi etc. "The volume of educational materials we have produced over the years is incredible and with Sappi etc. site's online library, designers and printers will now have open access to this rich archive of information at their fingertips. The Sappi etc. site is as much a nostalgic look back as it is a step towards the future with continual updates on the latest in print expertise."

Education
Features of the Sappi etc.^® microsite include a digitized library of collected works, resources and step-by-step guides on print, where readers will have the ability to download high-resolution PDF versions of original files—all in one easy to use place. Examples include a historic compilation of resources from the years of S.D. Warren and Potlach, Sappi's extensively illustrated @issue series, videos on Ideas that Matter, The Standard series, as well as a collection of content from our eQ platform on sustainability. As a part of the site, Daniel Dejan will also be publishing a new blog, Side Bar addressing relevant insight and technical tips on the art and science of printed communication. From color management to QR codes and augmented reality, the blog is intended to shed light on something new for readers to learn each time they visit the site.

Training
Training is a key component of the Sappi etc. platform and Sappi hosts a series of widely-recognized workshops from some of the best technical experts in the industry throughout the year. Workshops are created for the novice to intermediate level graphic designer, art director, print buyer or production manager in mind, focusing on topics pertinent to their fields in easy-to-understand sessions. Dates and times of these workshops as well as Sappi's list of upcoming conferences, panel sessions, and events will now be accessible at the Sappi etc. calendar online.

Consulting
As a value-added service, Sappi etc.^® technical representatives are available for consultation to assist with questions regarding paper and printing. Whether navigating a systems problem or suggesting the best way to run a job, they know first-hand how to find solutions. Most of the representatives have previously worked in printing plants for more than 20 years and have expertise in areas such as web and sheetfed operations, press chemistry, and bindery production. One of the hallmark resources of this knowledgebase is Sappi's Printer Tech Tips, a series of troubleshooting guides that has a reputation in the industry for providing useful, technical information. The Printer Tech Tips series will now be available on the Sappi etc.^® microsite, covering over thirty in-depth topics of interest to printers.

Sappi etc. technical representatives are available for on-site consultation and can be reached at our toll-free helpline 1-877-SappiHelp.To access the Sappi etc.^® microsite, please visit sappi.com/na/etc, Sappi's home to a wealth of knowledge on printing and paper.

About Sappi Fine Paper North America
Sappi Fine Paper North America, known for innovation and quality, is a preeminent North American producer of coated fine and release papers, as well as dissolving wood pulp (DWP) and market kraft pulp headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Its coated fine papers, with highly recognized brand names such as McCoy, Opus, Somerset and Flo, are used in premium magazines, catalogs, books and high-end print advertising. The company is also the world's leading supplier of release papers for the automotive, fashion and engineered films industries, including the globally recognized Ultracast brand. Sappi's release papers provide the surface aesthetics for synthetic fabrics used in footwear, clothing, upholstery and accessories, as well as the textures for decorative laminates found in kitchens, baths, flooring and other decorative surfaces. Sappi globally is the world's largest manufacturer of dissolving wood pulp and the leading supplier of viscose staple fiber. Dissolving wood pulp is a versatile raw material used by manufacturers to produce a wide range of products including textile fibers, pharmaceutical, beauty, and household products. Sappi Fine Paper North America, through the recent conversion of the Cloquet pulp mill, manufactures dissolving pulp under Sappi's Specialised Cellulose division primarily for the textile markets.

Sappi Fine Paper North America is a subsidiary of Sappi Limited (NYSE, JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with over 14,000 employees and manufacturing operations on three continents in seven countries and customers in over 100 countries around the world. Learn more about Sappi at: www.sappi.com/na

SOURCE Sappi Fine Paper North America