Papyrus Papers breaks new ground with ‘JAMPHOTO’

Convinced that the allure of the photographic print will endure the digital revolution, Sri Lanka’s leading fine paper supplier Papyrus Papers (Pvt) Ltd., is breaking new ground in the local photo imaging market with JAMPHOTO, the country’s first specialist ‘Photo Book’ producer.

The company has established links with two of the world’s leading manufacturers of technical papers for photographic and digital printing processes – the Felix Schoeller Group headquartered in Germany and TechNova of India – to power its new subsidiary’s foray in to this innovative new area in the photo imaging industry.

With this development, Papyrus will dedicate its 4,000 square foot Papyrus Print Point in Bambalapitiya, which is equipped with a sophisticated HP Indigo Digital Press to the new venture, offering wedding photographers, designers, event organisers and virtually anyone who wishes to produce an elegant photo book, the facility to do so.

JAMPHOTO’s tagline of ‘Everlasting beautiful stories’ encompasses exactly what the new venture is seeking to do – document momentous events through high quality, custom-made photo books in sizes ranging from 5” x 7” to 12” x 17” with pages made up of a range of specialist papers and substrates, purpose-designed binding and luxurious covers that will easily outmatch conventional albums as well as the convenience of digital storage of images.

“We are very excited by the prospects for JAMPHOTO,” said Ashan Abeyesundere, the company’s Chairman/CEO. “Wedding photo books are already very popular in India, and the space for innovation and customisation is huge.

Although conventional photo printing on silver halide papers using analogue technology is on the decline due to the rapidly increasing costs of the paper as well as environmental issues relating to the disposal of waste chemicals, we are confident that there is a lot of scope to add value to the photo imaging industry through photo books with digital printing.”

He said ordering of photo books via online platforms has become popular in the USA and in Europe, and that JAMPHOTO intends offering this facility in the future.

Papyrus Papers Director Michelle Abeyesundere said the company, which has traditionally been involved in the Print and Paper industries, will now start supplying substrates to the photo industry, widening its scope for growth.

JAMPHOTO’s premise is reflected in the philosophy of one of its principal suppliers of special papers, Felix Schoeller, which insists that ‘Despite all the multimedia developments there is a future for paper’.

The company employs 2,500 people and produces papers for photographic and digital imaging processes, decorative laminating papers and technical specialty papers and films in eight mills at seven production locations in Germany, Britain, Canada and the USA.

JAMPHOTO’s other key supplier TechNova is India’s only and the world’s fourth largest manufacturer of digital printing plates and is the largest manufacturer of offset plates, graphic arts chemistry and digital print media, outside of the Americas, Europe and Japan. Best known as the sole agent in Sri Lanka for the European heritage fine paper brand conqueror, Papyrus Papers celebrated its 10th anniversary in June 2012. The company recently adopted a vibrant new logo to support its plans to expand beyond fine paper into allied areas of business, such as digital printing and photo imaging.