The Clacton-on-Sea Arjobex factory in the 60s
Synthetic paper manufacturer, Arjobex, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Polyart, a synthetic paper that combines the durability of plastic with the feel and easy printability of paper.
Polyart was first registered as a trademark in 1968 and has since then evolved to become a more paper-like substrate with improved foldability and opacity. Better printability was achieved through a joint venture with French paper manufacturer Arjomari Prioux, which developed a coated Polyart in the early 1980s. In the 1990s, it was the first synthetic used for in-mould labelling of blow-moulded bottles.
The synthetic paper has a wide range of applications, from heavy duty industrial tags and manuals, to folded maps, high-end menus or photo albums, and even high quality iridescent and textured wine label face-stocks. It is also one of the few synthetics used for security printing, such as tamper evident labels, as the coating allows embedding of security features.
A subsidiary of Arjowiggins, Arjobex operates manufacturing sites and R&D centres in both Europe and North America. Production in the UK takes place at its facility in Clacton-on-Sea, in Essex.
