Paper, Board & Specialty Papers
Paper & Tissue Show connects printers, publishers, paper converters, packaging manufacturers, paper traders, importers, stationery producers and procurement managers with paper suppliers, paper manufacturers and specialty paper producers.
This category covers paper and board grades used in printing, publishing, packaging and converting processes, from writing and printing papers and coated grades to paperboard, kraft and specialty papers. Finished tissue products and ready-made packaging solutions are covered in their own categories.
What Types of Paper, Paperboard and Specialty Papers Are Available?
The category can be read in three broad groups. Paper covers lighter grades used for writing, printing, publishing and converting. Board is the umbrella term for heavier, thicker grades; within it, paperboard and carton board are mainly used where stiffness and folding performance matter, while containerboard grades such as kraftliner, testliner and fluting are used to make corrugated board.
Specialty papers are defined by function rather than weight. Greaseproof and barrier papers are designed to resist grease, moisture or other substances, carbonless and thermal papers carry functional coatings for copying or printing without ink, and technical papers are engineered for specific industrial or converting uses.
Which Paper and Board Grades Can Buyers Source?
Each grade family serves a different stage of the value chain. The sections below group grades by application and paper class so that buyers can focus on the specifications that matter for their own process.
Writing and Printing Papers
Writing and printing papers include uncoated woodfree offset papers, cut-size office papers, book papers and other grades used by printers, publishers and stationery producers. They are typically supplied in reels for web presses or in sheets for sheet-fed printing and converting. Ittihad Paper Mill, which has previously participated in Paper & Tissue Show, has represented this segment with uncoated woodfree and cut-size paper.
Buyers comparing printing paper suppliers usually focus on GSM or basis weight, brightness, whiteness and opacity for print quality, and on surface finish, moisture and reel or sheet dimensions for press performance.
Coated and Uncoated Papers
Coated papers carry a pigment coating on one side (C1S) or both sides (C2S), with gloss, silk or matt finishes that improve ink holdout and image sharpness. They are widely used for magazines, catalogues, brochures and labels. Uncoated papers keep a natural, more absorbent surface that suits writing, book printing and many office and stationery applications.
When comparing coated paper suppliers and uncoated paper suppliers, buyers should look at coating type and weight, surface finish, brightness, opacity and bulk, and check moisture content against the requirements of their printing or converting equipment.
Paperboard and Carton Board
Paperboard refers to paper-based grades that are generally thicker and stiffer than standard paper. Carton board is commonly used for folding cartons and can include grades such as folding boxboard (FBB), solid bleached board (SBS) and white-lined chipboard (WLC).
For paperboard suppliers and carton board suppliers, key comparison points include caliper, stiffness-related properties, surface and printability, coating, moisture and grain direction, which can affect creasing and folding. The paper and board segment has also been represented at previous editions of Paper & Tissue Show by MEPCO, giving professional buyers the opportunity to connect with manufacturers operating across these product areas.
Kraft, Fluting and Testliner Papers
Kraft, fluting and testliner papers are containerboard and packaging paper grades supplied to converters for further processing. Kraftliner is generally made mainly from virgin fiber for strength, testliner is generally based on recycled fiber, and fluting forms the corrugated middle layer between liners. Kraft papers are also used for sacks, bags and wrapping applications.
Kraft paper suppliers are usually compared on basis weight, strength properties, moisture, reel width and core size, as well as fiber composition. Previous Paper & Tissue Show participant Kipaş Kağıt has represented paper, board and kraft products, while MMC Paper has brought products including fluting and testliner grades to the industry. Sanabel Al Ataa has also previously participated in the show, with a portfolio that includes kraft paper, test liner, fluting paper and core board.
Carbonless and Thermal Papers
Carbonless papers transfer an image to the sheet below through a pressure-sensitive coating system and are used for multi-part business forms, invoices and delivery notes. Thermal papers carry a heat-sensitive coating that forms an image without ink or toner, which makes them suitable for receipts, tickets and labels printed on thermal printers.
Buyers should confirm compatibility with their printing system and ask about image quality, image durability, coating type and reel or sheet format before placing an order.
Food-Grade, Barrier and Greaseproof Papers
Greaseproof papers are designed to resist the penetration of oils and fats, while barrier papers use coatings or treatments to limit the passage of moisture, grease or gases. Food-grade papers are produced for applications where the paper may come into contact with food.
These are paper grades supplied to converters and packaging manufacturers, not finished packaging. Buyers should share the intended application and request the relevant compliance documentation together with performance data required for their application.
Specialty and Technical Papers
Beyond the grades above, the specialty segment can include label and release base papers, décor papers, filter papers, security papers and other technical grades engineered for a specific end use. For these products, performance in the buyer's own process is usually more important than general paper properties, so samples and trial runs can form an important part of supplier evaluation.
Cartiere di Trevi, one of the companies that has previously chosen Paper & Tissue Show, has represented paper and specialty paper products, adding another area of paper sourcing to the range seen at the show.
How Should Buyers Compare Paper and Paperboard Suppliers?
Price is only one consideration when selecting paper and paperboard suppliers. A reliable comparison starts with a clear technical specification and checks how each parameter affects the buyer's own process.
GSM or basis weight and caliper determine weight and thickness. Brightness, whiteness and opacity influence print appearance and show-through. Coating and surface finish affect ink holdout and printability, while bulk affects thickness at a given weight. Moisture can influence curl and dimensional stability, reel or sheet dimensions and core size must match converting equipment, and grain direction can affect folding, creasing and binding.
Clear technical requirements help buyers compare paper manufacturers and paperboard manufacturers on an equal basis, request comparable samples and identify grades suited to their production processes.
Who Should Explore This Category?
This category is designed for printers, publishers, paper converters, packaging manufacturers, paper traders, importers, stationery producers and procurement managers looking for paper and board grades for professional applications.
Companies sourcing upstream fiber-based materials can also explore Pulp, Recovered Paper, Fibers & Raw Materials, while buyers looking for finished paper-based packaging can explore the relevant paper-based packaging categories at Packaging & Recycle Show.
Meet Paper, Paperboard and Specialty Paper Suppliers at Paper & Tissue Show
From writing and printing papers to board, kraft and specialty grades, previous editions of Paper & Tissue Show have welcomed manufacturers serving different parts of the international paper market.
This industry mix gives printers, converters, packaging manufacturers, traders, importers and procurement teams an opportunity to meet suppliers, compare paper grades and discuss sourcing requirements face to face.
Paper, Board & Specialty Papers FAQs
Paper covers lighter grades used for writing, printing and converting. Paperboard is generally thicker and stiffer and is commonly used where rigidity and folding performance matter, such as folding cartons. Specialty paper is defined by function, for example greaseproof, barrier, carbonless, thermal or technical grades, rather than by weight.
Uncoated and coated writing and printing papers serve printing and publishing, carton board is used for folding cartons, and kraft, fluting and testliner grades are used by corrugated and paper packaging converters. Specialty papers serve applications that need a specific functional property.
Buyers should share the grade, end use and full technical specification, including weight, caliper, optical properties, coating and finish, moisture and the required reel or sheet format, together with volumes, delivery terms and any documentation requirements.
Paper and board can be produced in coated and uncoated versions and from virgin fiber, recycled fiber or a blend. Buyers should confirm the required fiber composition and available grades directly with individual suppliers.
Buyers should match reel width, core size or sheet format to their machines, check caliper, moisture and grain direction for runnability, and confirm surface properties for their printing method. Requesting samples and running a trial before a volume order can help evaluate compatibility.
Paper manufacturers, paperboard manufacturers and specialty paper suppliers can exhibit at Paper & Tissue Show to meet printers, converters, packaging manufacturers, traders, importers and procurement managers looking for new sourcing partners. Details on stands and participation are available on the exhibit at Paper & Tissue Show page.
