Sappi paper problems

[tmason]

We are having surface issues with three different Sappi papers. McCoy Gloss cover, McCoy Silk cover and Opus dull cover. On one sheet the printing is perfectly smooth and on the next sheet it looks like we backed off the impression cylinder. When we hold up the sheet to examine, it's clearly a surface defect.

Is anyone else having this issue?

[Green Printer]

What has your paper merchant said? Over the last forty years I have seen similar problems with just about every brand we have used. Call the merchant, the mill rep will come out and try to give you some bull. Hold you ground save all the wrappers and ctns and numbers. Show the samples of the defect. You will get a credit for the paper and possibly some presstime. This is pretty much standard procedure.
We have been involved with helping merchants sort out claims. A high percentage of the claims are pressman ignorance looking to blame someone for their problems and the claims are denied. Sometimes the claims are allowed because of politics.
If you have a history of many complaints you we will be treated as crying wolf and your chances of compensation dwindle.. If you have a history of every claim being fully documented no questioned asked your chances of being compensated are very high.
Only once in forty years have we been denied on a compalint of slow ink drying. An indpendent lab hired by the paper company said our TVI was too high. We said it was stryene in the coatings. After this episode was finished the sheets were checked and found to have a styrenated starch used in the coatings and the mill admitted that they had changed the coatings and the new formula was based on stryrenated starches in the coatings.

[tmason]

We know the routine and are not afraid to take it on. I want to know if anyone else is having this issue with these papers. These stocks are produced at the same mill on the same machine.

[Ti7]

Yep. Put a claim in on monday for McCoy Silk cover. Surface defects. Looked like craters in the stock. As usual the rep played dumb like it was the first time that he has seen the problem.

[jlind]

If it happens on one sheet but not every sheet, look for a pattern of every 4th or 5th sheet. This would indicate sheeting from multiple rolls, which is common. That is hard for the mill to deny as a claim. Document and photograph. SAPPI is a premium sheet and you should expect the BEST!
John Lind

[tmason]

No offense, we know how the process works. We need to hear from other printers who may be having this problem with these papers. Paper is a huge cost and it's all going downhill.

We know that we can file a claim and get our money for bad paper and press time but that does not help my production schedule.

Knowing there is a systemic problem from this mill will help us make better paper choices until this is resolved.

[RKS]

We had one complaint last week on McCoy Silk Cover. Craters in every other sheet. Also, lumps in the coating. Also, definately a two-sided sheet. One side was smooth, the other was very rough. We were lucky, I emailed the mill rep and an hour later the tech flew into O'Hare and was on-site while the job ran. He wasn't happy with the quality of the paper.
We've had 3 or 4 complaints over the past 6 months or so on McCoy and one on Opus.

[tmason]

Thanks RKS, this is exactly the feed back we are looking for.

[QualityPrint]

Yes... We had to pull a job due to these craters on one side of the sheet. Then put in back on with new paper and had pretty much the same thing. It's a shame that we as printers are held to certain standards when the foundation of our product (the paper) is so erratic.

[RGPW17100]

Hope Sappi figures it out. I want to bet 80 percent of our paper comes from them. Just got in a bunch of McCoy Gloss Cover. I told the press operator about this thread and they are going to check the stock closely before plating the job.