Are you tired of your 14 point and 16 point paper quality changing every other week?
Well, I can tell you that I am. And if you have not had any quality issues with your paperboard, consider yourself lucky. But keep your eyes open.
Here’s why.
Resolving Commercial Printing Paper Quality Issues
The board stock market is a disaster today because most of the commodity SBS is coming from China or other Asian markets.
Shipping costs are going through the roof. A container of paper that used to cost $2000.00 a year ago, can be as much as 8, 10, even $12,000 today.
And that is IF the spot on the ship can be purchased, IF they can get a container, and IF they don’t get outbid.
Incoming ports are overwhelmed with the inability to get enough truckers to move the materials. We have suppliers that are 25 miles from the Long Beach Port, and they have paper still sitting on ships or on the dock with no updates on when it will move.
Then there are availability and quality problems that are a result of pandemic production slowdowns, closures, and deferred maintenance shutdowns at some of the major paper mills.
Today the only way we can get quality and consistency is to purchase a premium board stock like Tango at over twice the price or use a quality 130# Cover at 1.25 the price.
It’s our job to make you look good and help you keep your clients happy ALL the time.
This requires consistency from raw materials to finished product on every job.
Please keep in mind when comparing our pricing... we are not always the lowest price for a reason—we are helping you protect and retain your clients by providing consistent color, quality and on-time service. You really do get what you pay for in printing.
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