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Newsletter - The Roots of Paper
 Featured Article
We use it every day for taking notes, meeting agendas, advertising, even drawing pictures. Paper is one of the most important products in our life but what is it? Paper has its roots in the 2nd century BC from China.

It is made by "pulping" wood fibers. That is, individual wood fibers in wood chips are separated from one using machinery and water. The finished pulp looks like a mushy, watery solution. But if you look at it under a microscope, you will see that the individual wood fibers have all been separated. Paper makers then spray this pulp, or stock as it is now known, onto screens called a wire and the water begins to filter out. The pulp fibers begin to bond together, due to a naturally produced adhesive known as lignin, as more water is squeezed out with rollers. Next, huge steam filled rollers press the pulp further, eliminating even more water. Eventually this pulp becomes paper. To ensure a constant thickness, a paper machine called the "calendar" uses big, heavy cast iron rollers that press the drying paper smooth and uniform in thickness. The wood can also be pulped using a chemical process. Chemicals, heat and pressure are used to dissolve the lignin in the wood and free the fibers. One of the chemicals used in this process is bleach, which whitens the fibers as it dissolves the lignin.

Paper can be left uncoated. Coated paper has a thin layer of material such as calcium carbonate or china clay applied to one or both sides in order to create a surface more suitable for high-resolution halftone screens. Coated papers are divided into matte, semi-matte or silk, and gloss. Gloss papers give the highest optical density in the printed image.

For all of your printing needs on any size, color, or stock, give us a call or visit our website.

Smoothies Provide Fast Nutrition

For breakfast, lunch or a snack: Put a frozen banana, a cup of skim milk and two tablespoons of peanut butter into a blender (add ice for a thinner consistency) and blend. You get 375 calories, 18 grams protein, 17 grams total fat, 4 grams fiber, 5 mg cholesterol, and 45 grams of carbs, says the Women's Nutrition Connection.
Nutrition

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