Mohawk and Arjowiggins Creative Papers Announce Strategic Alliance

Mohawk, Cohoes, N.Y., and Arjowiggins Creative Papers, Boulogne-Billancourt, France, a manufacturer of creative and technical papers with manufacturing facilities in Europe and Asia, have announced a unique and exclusive alliance, effective May 12, 2015. Through this exclusive arrangement, Mohawk and Arjowiggins Creative Papers will share manufacturing capabilities, facilities, technologies, sales and marketing resources, and expertise.

A mutually beneficial exchange of expertise in manufacturing, sales and marketing under the terms of the agreement, Mohawk will have exclusive rights to manufacture Arjowiggins Creative Papers’ luxury packaging products—Delos and Butterfly—as well as rights to license, market and distribute these and other select Arjowiggins Creative Papers luxury packaging products to design, packaging and print professionals in North America.

Likewise, Arjowiggins Creative Papers will have exclusive rights to manufacture Mohawk Superfine with iTone, as well as rights to license, market and distribute the product through selected merchants.

Mohawk Superfine, developed in the late 1940s, has long been the fine paper of choice selected by the world’s leading brands, graphic designers, and fashion houses. World-renowned brands, including Tiffany, Herman Miller, Aveda, Honda, Bergdorf Goodman and Bloomingdales specify Mohawk Superfine for high-end communications, premium envelopes, fine stationery and luxury packaging.

"Today’s business climate requires successful companies to exhibit flexibility, agility and adaptability to remain competitive and profitable," said Thomas D. O'Connor Jr., chairman and CEO of Mohawk. "There’s been a considerable amount of consolidation in the North American and European paper industries, but there’s never been a collaborative effort like this on an international level."

Arjowiggins Creative Papers will share unique capabilities and paper manufacturing equipment with Mohawk, including a twin wire machine capable of sophisticated processes resulting in ultra-heavy weight papers with variable finishes. Mohawk will provide manufacturing expertise and will grant Arjowiggins Creative Papers exclusive rights to manufacture the Superfine grade and proprietary i-Tone surface treatment.

"Mohawk’s alliance with Arjowiggins Creative Papers is a groundbreaking move to grow our businesses through better utilization of our respective sales, operational, marketing and manufacturing assets, without requiring a lot of additional investment," O'Connor added. "Arjowiggins has long been a respected leader in the fine paper and luxury packaging markets, and this exciting collaboration will celebrate our companies’ unique strengths and allow sharing of best practices and technologies. Ultimately, this union creates the largest premium paper and luxury packaging manufacturing entity in the world."

"This unprecedented transatlantic alliance is a real exchange of expertise in fine paper-making between two well-established paper manufacturers," said Jonathan Mitchell, managing director at Arjowiggins Creative Papers. "Mohawk’s i-Tone is arguably the world’s best technology for digital presses, so we are delighted to be able to offer this technology in our product portfolio, starting with Superfine. We are happy as well to develop our very strong packaging brands in the U.S. market through this alliance with Mohawk. A worldwide collaboration on this scale will bring unique and far-reaching benefits, not only for our customers, but also for our companies.”

For more information on Mohawk, visit www.mohawkpaper.com. For more information on Arjowiggins Creative Papers, visit www.arjowiggins.com.