Mohawk Leads New Initiative and Reveals Substrate Lines at GRAPH EXPO 15

COHOES, N.Y.—September 11, 2015—Mohawk, North America’s largest privately-owned manufacturer of fine papers, envelopes and specialty substrates for commercial and digital printing, in cooperation with Graphic Arts Show Co. (GASC), has organized a collaborative, featured space called ‘Materials Matter’ and will introduce two new substrate lines at GRAPH EXPO 15, Sept. 13-16, 2015, at McCormick Place in Chicago.

The Materials Matter pavilion (Booth #3002) will feature multiple fine paper and substrate manufacturers to demonstrate the powerful role that paper and non-paper substrates play in every print project. The 1,200-square-foot hub will feature: Graphic Design USA Magazine (GDUSA), Glatfelter, Holliston, Legion Paper, Lindenmeyr, Mohawk and Sappi North America as well as a ‘substrates lounge’ meeting space for attendees.

Mohawk spearheaded the initiative which aligns with the brand’s Maker Campaign, celebrating the role that well-crafted materials play in the print ecosystem, and supporting the brand’s leadership position in the digital print industry.

In an era of impermanence, a renewed interest in the tangible has emerged. Though the Internet and digital communications have permanently changed the graphic arts landscape, they have also revealed the lasting impact of print.

The impact of print is hard-wired in our brains and is tied to print's tactile qualities and its ability to deliver a message with an indelible impression. This underscores the importance of selecting and using the highest quality papers and substrates to achieve the finest end results.

“Better quality materials bring more senses into play. They look different, they feel different, they create an emotional response,” explained Frank Romano, professor emeritus, Rochester Institute of Technology.

The goal of the Materials Matter pavilion is to establish a prime show floor location to improve visibility and traffic for like-minded substrate manufacturers, while raising the overall awareness of paper and substrate options at GRAPH EXPO.

“The entire Mohawk product portfolio is designed to bring craftsmanship, tactility and quality to print. Whether GRAPH EXPO attendees are looking for fine text and cover papers, or innovative specialty substrates for digital, offset or letterpress print projects, Mohawk has the perfect material to bring a print project to life,” says Bart Robinson, senior vice president, marketing, Mohawk. “We know when we encounter well-made things. They last longer, look more beautiful and feel good in our hands. To put it simply, materials matter,” commented Chris Harrold, vice president of business development and creative director at Mohawk.

Mohawk (Booth # 3002c) will occupy a 10x20 ft. space within the Materials Matter area, where attendees can obtain samples of high quality envelopes, innovative digital substrates, and a new line of swatchbooks, which have been redesigned to make the paper specification process clearer, easier and more intuitive for printers and designers.

Mohawk Launches Two New Product Lines at GRAPH EXPO 15
With a focus on the importance of high quality materials at GRAPH EXPO, Mohawk plans to launch two new substrate lines: Mohawk Synthetic Performance Polyester and the Mohawk Pressure Sensitive Select Collection.

New Performance Polyester
Mohawk Synthetic Performance Polyester is a new digital synthetic film designed for a variety of everyday durable applications. The product line includes 5, 8, 10, and 14 mil caliper options, in a 93 bright white shade for printing on dry toner presses.

Mohawk Synthetic products are ideal for applications which require a high level of durability, such as menus, manuals, maps, ID cards/badges parking passes, road race bibs, outdoor tags/signage, all weather manuals, luggage tags, POP displays, table tents, and more.

Mohawk’s new larger format swatchbooks will be available at GRAPH EXPO 15.

Expanded Pressure Sensitive Substrates
Mohawk announces an expanded line of pressure sensitive substrates, now featuring Standard, Select and Kiss Cut Collections. With three distinct collections available for a host of end uses, Mohawk Pressure Sensitive products offer a wide range of options for digital labels and signage, including a variety of sizes, calipers, face stocks and adhesive strengths.

The new Select Collection features white polyester and vinyl labels in the three most popular adhesive strengths: permanent, removable and ultra-removable. With HP Indigo and dry toner optimized versions, this new collection is designed to run on a range of digital printing equipment including light production.

“We look forward to the opportunity to inspire and educate GRAPH EXPO attendees about Mohawk’s category-leading materials for digital printing, including our new Performance Polyester and Pressure Sensitive Select lines,” relayed Mike Madura, vice president, digital, Mohawk.

The Most Comprehensive Package of Digital Resources in the Industry
Since 1998, Mohawk has been leading the industry with category-defining substrates for digital printing. Today, Mohawk offers a substrate solution for virtually every digital press platform on the market and is a single source for all digital print needs.

Mohawk offers the most comprehensive package of digital resources in the industry, including fine papers, specialty products, production papers, a team of dedicated and knowledgeable digital specialists, industry-leading Website MohawkMakeReady.com, downloadable templates, a digital product finder, and digital equipment/substrate compatibility charts.

Printer sample kits are available, and Mohawk can provide custom orders for many substrates.

About Mohawk
Mohawk is North America’s largest privately-owned manufacturer of fine papers and envelopes which are preferred for commercial and digital printing, photo specialties and high-end direct mail. Mohawk fine papers and envelopes include the signature brands Mohawk Superfine and Strathmore, as well as proprietary treatments Inxwell and i-Tone. With a culture of innovation, Mohawk’s business model now extends beyond paper manufacturing into new areas of growth, including digital substrates, which connect designers and printers to new markets. As a leader in environmentally and socially responsible business practices, Mohawk was the first U.S. manufacturer of commercial printing papers to match 100 percent of its electricity with wind power renewable energy credits and the first U.S. premium paper mill to shift toward carbon neutral production. Mohawk’s portfolio of recycled papers is certified by Green Seal and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Mohawk is a fourth-generation, family-owned and operated business based in Cohoes, New York, with global sales and operations located throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

Source: Mohawk.