M-real Publishing to introduce innovative product and service offering based on customer needs

Oct 31, 2007. /Lesprom Network/. Following a detailed customer survey, M-real Publishing has undertaken a major review of its products and services, with the new package – called the Galerie Customer Program – ready for launch from January 2008. The main changes are a simpler choice of products, faster availability, optimised paper quality and consistency, improved print performance services, and a menu of supply service options priced with greater transparency. Gregory Gettinger, executive vice president of M-real’s publishing business area, says: “Our research tells us that customers want paper suppliers to pay more attention to overall supply and process efficiency. Their key needs are speed, flexible production solutions, consistent quality and efficiency in the printing process. The Galerie Customer Program concentrates on meeting these needs and will give our customers significant benefits.” M-real’s range of Galerie coated publishing papers has been streamlined by selecting the best quality gloss products – Galerie Lite, Galerie Brite and Galerie Fine - and introducing a new silk grade, Galerie Silk. Customer choice is simplified by the reduction of overlapping products, and faster availability made possible by more frequent production cycles. With fewer changes in the production process, high product quality consistency can be ensured. Further improvements to the supply service include the availability of defined Galerie grades from express stocks on three European locations – Lübeck, Tilbury and Antwerp – and a new e-service – GalerieNet – that provides real-time access to the Galerie express stock items. This will give customers greater reliability and flexibility, allowing them to obtain additional paper quickly in the event of last minute changes or over-usage. M-real’s print performance services will help customers achieve improved print quality, consistent colour and image reproduction, and higher press performance, resulting in cost savings. The services include consultancy in colour management and printing efficiency, and a specialised Print Performance Service team has been established to collaborate with printers and end users. M-real’s colour management services have already been used by demanding customers that include Condé Nast (Vogue), BBC Magazines, and Oriflame. The Galerie Customer Program will be presented to M-real’s customers during November 2007, with the streamlined product range, print performance services and GalerieNet e-services available from January 2008. Further elements of the improved supply service will be introduced in the first half of 2008. M-real is one of the leading producers of paper and paperboard in Europe. The company’s customers include publishers, printers, carton printers, paper merchants, office suppliers and well-known consumer brand manufacturers.