The Benefits Of Super Calendered Paper

It might sound vaguely like a Mary Poppins song, but for the magazine printing and publishing trades, it is the most economical paper alternative to lightweight coated papers.

But what is it, how is supercalendered paper made, and how can it enhance your company's environmental credentials?

Imagine the crisp, clean result of running a hot steam iron over a piece of soft cotton fabric. You get the same effect from calendering paper.

It is the final stage in the paper manufacturing process. Uncoated paper passes between two hot rollers of hard polished steel (known as a calender stack) that are under high pressure with added steam.

They smooth out the paper and give it a high gloss finish, similar to the paper surface of coated products.

This paper produced using this method is known as calendered paper. To achieve an even thinner, smoother result, the calendered paper is run through another set of hard pressure rollers.

The supercalender is a vertical alternating stack of polished metal and soft resilient surfaces. The hard roll is pressed heavily against the softer one, and the paper passes between the two.

Running at high speed, the supercalender applies pressure, heat, and friction to make both surfaces of the paper smooth, glossy and giving it an enamel-like finish. The end result is known as super calendered papers.

Although super calendered (SC) paper is not a new concept, manufacturers excelled in continued development, creating a number of sophisticated products. It offers a top-quality alternative to lightweight coated papers for lower cost.

Its exceptional smoothness provides the perfect surface for printing colour photos and fine-line images.

Supercalendered paper comes in several grades: SCA+, SCA and SC B. All are of excellent quality, but the grades differ as there can be variations in opacity and overall finish.

SCA+ and SCA paper grades have a superior gloss and are regarded as the highest SC grades. Some offer a level of visual brightness comparable with coated text papers, which is why they are often used by magazine publishers.

SC B is a lower grade, yet remains an ideal paper for special interest magazines, advertising material and catalogues. Despite its lower brightness, it is excellent for light weight, low grammage applications thanks to high opacity or resistance to show through.

Supercalendered paper is regarded as a most economical paper, especially when compared to lightweight coated paper.

As well as having a gloss and surface smoothness similar to a coated grade, SC papers are a resilient material, perfect for high-end magazines and catalogues, packed with picture or image content, whose publishers expect them to be well-thumbed.

Their high quality surface means printed products are not only eyecatching, they feel good in the hands of the consumer.

At Denmaur, we actively source super calendered papers SC and SCB, as well as SCA and SCA+ grades in g/m2 from 38 to 60 suitable for gravure and web printing.

We are proud to say our super calendered paper range has a larger content of mechanical fibre that is perfect for catalogues and commodity magazine production. They optimise timber and fibre use by offering a high yield from the raw material.

Our interactive list of super calendered paper grades can be found here.

If you're not sure what raw material grade you want for your next publishing project, want to explore carbon balancing or need to know more about how to make your printed communications more sustainable, we can help.

Whether you want to order SC samples for a new magazine, or want data-driven insights into how a super calendered paper can work for you, our team will do all they can to get you what you need.

Email us at info@denmaur.com, and we will get back to you straight away.