BIXOLON has certified the blue Blue4est® thermal paper for use in its premium SRP-380 thermal receipt printer. BIXOLON’s SRP-380 printer delivers perfect printing results every time on the blue thermal paper thanks to the smart media function, a special Blue4est® setting. The blue receipt is continuing its ascent as more and more companies put a premium on sustainability as they respond to their customers’ demand for more environmentally conscious products and services. Consumers can easily recognize that the receipts are environmentally friendly given the paper’s blue color. This is a result of the novel way in which the paper works: Koehler’s Innovation & Technology division developed a process which completely eliminates the need for color developers, meaning the Blue4est® till receipt is fully recyclable and can be disposed of as wastepaper.

Total European shipments of graphic papers in March 2018 were down 8.1% vs. March 2017 and are down 4.6% year-to-date. Total European shipments of newsprint in March 2018 were down 12.7% vs. March 2017 and are down 8.7% year-to-date. Total European shipments of sc-magazine papers in March 2018 were down 14.1% vs. March 2017 and are down 10.1% year-to-date. Total European shipments of coated mechanical reels in March 2018 were down 3.3% vs. March 2017 and are UP 1.7% year-to-date. Total European shipments of uncoated mechanical (improved & others) in March 2018 were down 1.3% vs. March 2017 and are UP 7.1% year-to-date. Total European shipments of coated woodfree in March 2018 were down 10.8% vs. March 2017 and are down 6.7% year-to-date. Total European shipments of uncoated woodfree in March 2018 were down 4.0% vs. March 2017 and are down 4.2% year-to-date. Click Read More below for additional information.

Key highlights Q1 *Organic* and currency-neutral sales growth of 6% *Market-related downtime in several mills due to customers’ destocking and expectations of weaker market conditions *Prices increased for liquid board and speciality paper, were stable for graphic paper and cartonboard, and decreased for other product categories *All-time high input costs. Quarterly data Q1 *Net sales increased by 55% to SEK 11,495 million (7,397), whereof Billerud North America accounted for SEK 3,311 million (–) *Operating profit was SEK 806 million (1,189) *Net profit was SEK 639 million (884)