Paperworld Middle East, Dubai, 07 March 2011: Signalling continued global momentum for the ColorLok® paper program, HP today announced that program Licensees sold 1.3 billion reams of ColorLok paper worldwide to date in 183 different paper brands.  Since its introduction at Paperworld 2008, the ColorLok standard has been adopted by 14 major paper manufacturers and channel partners, providing users with higher-quality plain-paper printing through improved image quality, text output and printer performance.

ColorLok technology is now also being applied to recycled papers, enabling inkjet printers to deliver the same no-compromise, consistent quality printing as many non-recycled papers, and providing enhanced recyclability.  Additionally, papers with ColorLok deliver richer colours and sharper black text[1] delivering excellent image quality and readability to reduce the need for reprints.

These developments follow HP's recent expansion of the ColorLok standard with new benefits for commodity-grade office papers for laser printing, including a worldwide recommendation by HP that customers use ColorLok papers with HP LaserJet printers to ensure quality and reliability.  This was supported by a major third-party study conducted last year by Buyers Laboratory Inc. (BLI) that concludes that ColorLok- quality standard papers can help maximize the life of laser printers compared to tested large-particle filler papers that do not meet the standard[2].  Using ColorLok paper in laser printers can lead to four times fewer faults and more than four times fewer paper path obstructions that require user intervention, according to the BLI study.[3]

A wide variety of major paper manufacturers, merchants and office products retailers have now introduced branded papers that have passed the ColorLok performance specifications, employ the ColorLok logo and are being sold around the world.  Some of these companies include:

  • APRIL - worldwide

  • Copamex - Latin America

  • Domtar - North America and Europe

  • Georgia Pacific - North America

  • HP - worldwide

  • International Paper - worldwide

  • JK Papers - India and Middle East

  • M-real - worldwide

  • Mondi - Europe

  • Office Depot - North America and Europe

  • Papyrus - Europe

  • Staples - North America and Europe

  • Stora Enso - Europe

  • Suzano - Latin America

A.K. Ghosh, vice president of sales at JK Paper, the largest cut-size paper manufacturer in India and a major producer of ColorLok papers, commented: "We are happy that we have been able to usher in a revolution of sorts in the printing paper segment as a result of ColorLok technology. With our new state-of-the-art paper machine coming into stream in 2012 we will strengthen our hold by bringing in additional 64 million reams of ColorLok paper in addition to existing 51 million reams thus distributing 115 million reams of ColorLok paper in India and 14 countries in Middle East, Europe, South America & Africa. Our partnership with HP has truly been a win-win situation for customers and end users to maximize ColorLok value proposition across the printing ecosystem."

Karin Flemming, marketing manager of Business Papers at Domtar, the largest integrated producer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America and the second largest in the world based on production capacity said: "The paper you choose affects not only the quality of the image, but the impact on the environment.  Paper such as Domtar EarthChoice® Office Paper with ColorLok® Technology addresses the entire cycle - from responsible forest management to improved deinking capability - allowing the product to easily make its way back into the fiber cycle."

By incorporating ColorLok papers into their product lines, companies can offer their customers papers that improve inkjet printing with more vivid colours and bolder blacks, faster drying time and optimal results on all printers and copiers.

Papers that use the ColorLok logo must pass a precise set of standards for print quality, as well as physical and electrostatic standards for quality and reliability. Criteria for meeting the ColorLok performance standards include improved image quality, dry time and printer performance. Paper companies may use different means and technologies to meet or exceed that performance.

HP and ColorLok are sponsoring Paperworld Middle East March 7 to 9, Dubai, UAE.  More information about ColorLok printing benefits is available at www.hp.com/go/colorlok.  Details about the ColorLok quality paper standard and the specific paper brands sold by each manufacturer are available at www.ColorLok.com.

-Ends-

Roaa anwer
043262556
roaa.anwar@promaxpr.com

© 2011 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

[1] Independent testing by SpencerLab Digital Color Laboratory, commissioned by HP. The full October 2009 report, "Print Quality Analyses - ColorLok Media Evaluation: AiO Printers: Brother MFC-5490CN, Canon PIXMA MX860 & MX7600, Epson WorkForce 600, HP Officejet 6500 and Officejet Pro 8500," is available for download at www.spencerlab.com.

[2] Based on testing by Buyer's Lab Inc. For more information, www.buyerslab.com. Tested papers that did not meet the ColorLok® quality standard were manufactured in Asia, are primarily sold in China and India today, and contained high percentages of abrasive, large particle fillers (ground calcium carbonate,talc). ColorLok® papers are validated for smoothness and low percentages of abrasive, large particle fillers.

[3] Faults include misfeeds, paper jams, double feeds and other misprints requiring user intervention and an average 1.5 minute delay for the cleaning cycle. Paper path obstructions are defined as anything requiring a user to find and remove jammed paper.

© Press Release 2011