During these more challenging economic times publishers are searching for ways to reduce costs without having a major impact on their product. With advertising cutbacks and postal increases publishers are scrutinizing every aspect of their operations. Paper mills are sensitive to these current market conditions and are working hard to provide good paper alternatives for printers and publishers, it's worthwhile for them to know what is available to them.

In recent months mills have made a commitment to begin offering a "value grade" sheet. In the numbering system used by the paper industry to classify different grades of paper, the "value grade" would be a 3.5…somewhere between a free sheet grade number 3 (like Somerset gloss) and a grade number 4 (like Dependoweb). Value grades are not entirely new to the market, they are just now being marketed by the mills with this new "value grade" description. In our ongoing commitment to provide as many options as possible to our customers, Dartmouth Printing Company has offered a "value grade" sheet for some time. We will now offer it in a wider variety of basis weights.

Our "value grade" offering will be Belgrade. It will be available in 40lb, 45lb and 50lb basis weights. Publishers should keep in mind that this is an alternative to a number 3. It is not intended to replace that grade. The brightness and gloss ratings are lower than the ratings for Somerset Gloss.

If you are interested in learning more about the value grade offering, please contact your Dartmouth Printing Company sales representative.

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