Combined Locks, Wisconsin, USA 06 June 2017 -- Doug Osterberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Appleton Coated LLC, and Guy Spinelli, President and Chief Executive Officer of Spectra Jet Inc., announce that they have entered into an agreement for Appleton Coated to acquire the principal business of Spectra Jet Inc., a developer and distributor of sublimation transfer papers headquartered in Woodstock, Illinois. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2017. However, beginning immediately, Appleton Coated and Spectra Jet will both promote Spectra Jet's Silverback3 brand of sublimation papers and associated products through a coordinated sales and marketing program.

Spectra Jet Inc. was founded in 2006 by its current owners, Guy Spinelli and Paul DeWyngaert. Since 2015, Appleton Coated has been the exclusive producer, for Spectra Jet, of Silverback3 paper, a product that utilizes Spectra Jet's proprietary technology. The paper is produced at Appleton Coated's manufacturing facility in Combined Locks, Wisconsin.

Sublimation transfer paper, such as Silverback3, is used to produce images on textiles or other treated materials. In this process, an image is printed, often utilizing inkjet technology, onto the paper, and then a heat press is used to sublimate the image to the fabric or other material. "The combination of our technology and experience in this business with Appleton Coated's manufacturing expertise is working well, and we agreed it was time to take our partnership to the next level," commented Guy Spinelli, Spectra Jet's president. "This provides our customers with a consistent source of supply coupled with the reliability and service platform that a high quality North American paper mill can provide," he continued.

"We are excited to integrate Spectra Jet's high performance sublimation transfer products into our diverse product portfolio," commented John Mazuroski, Appleton Coated's Vice President of Uncoated and Specialty Products. "Appleton Coated's unique manufacturing capabilities combined with our sales and service network will allow us to reach and serve more customers effectively," he added. Spinelli and DeWyngaert have agreements with Appleton Coated to remain with the business after the transaction closes.

About Appleton Coated

Appleton Coated is a manufacturer and distributor of coated, uncoated, specialty and technical papers sold under the Ethos®, Utopia®, and other brand names. The company's products are used in high-end commercial printing, textbook publishing, label papers, transactional printing and a variety of specialty, packaging and custom applications. Selling directly and through highly respected paper distributors, the company serves corporations, publishers, printers, converters, and graphic designers in North America. Appleton Coated's corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility are located in Combined Locks, Wisconsin.

About Spectra Jet

Spectra Jet is a distributor of sublimation transfer papers, blotter tissue, and inks to customers in the signage and display, garment, and household textile markets. Spectra Jet's Silverback 3 dye sublimation transfer paper is manufactured in the USA at Appleton Coated's paper mill in Combined Locks, Wisconsin. The Spectra Jet technology involves a unique process of coating in-line on the paper machine during production, which provides superior color transfer and consistency in the sublimated products today, tomorrow and five years from now. Spectra Jet's operations and headquarters are located in Woodstock, Illinois.