Press release
- LIMEX
TBM begins selling 80 μm LIMEX Sheet, which uses limestone as the main raw material, as a mass-produced product at LIMEX's second domestic plant, Tagajo Plant.
-Thin sheets suitable for printed materials such as booklets and catalogs manufactured with 100% renewable energy-
TBM Co., Ltd., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Nobuyoshi Yamasaki, hereinafter referred to as TBM) has released "LIMEX Sheet", which is intended for use in printed materials such as booklets and catalogs, labels, and packaging materials. We are pleased to inform you that 80μm (white software) will be mass-produced at the Tagajo Plant in Miyagi Prefecture, which is LIMEX's second plant in Japan.
LIMEX Sheet 80 μm is manufactured at the Tagajo Factory, which was completed in 2021 with a subsidy from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. In addition to the 150-400 μm LIMEX Sheet (used in Yoshinoya's menu chart, TANAKA Holdings' CSR report, Nippon Life Insurance's novelty mask case, etc.) manufactured at the Shiroishi Factory, the first LIMEX plant in Japan. , 80 μm thin sheet has been added to the new lineup, making it possible to use it for printed matter applications that require thinner and lighter weight. Compared to plain paper, LIMEX Sheet significantly reduces the amount of water used during manufacturing, and because it does not use wood pulp as a raw material, it contributes to the conservation of forest resources. In addition, there is no need to laminate paper and plastic film to make it water resistant, and the possibility of recycling is guaranteed just like products designed with a single material. Efforts to mechanical recycling using existing recycling facilities are already underway in collaboration with businesses and consumers.
At the Tagajo Plant, we have streamlined the production of LIMEX Sheet, which can be used as an alternative to paper and film, and have established a film formation process that enables enhanced product properties and improved quality stability. In the future, by reducing costs through mass production, we will promote the further spread of LIMEX Sheet for commercial printing, and we will also promote the development of applications such as labels and packaging materials.
LIMEX Sheet Details: https://tb-m.com/limex/products/
Background
Normally, paper production requires water resources and forest resources for paper raw materials. On the other hand, it is expected that 51% of the world's population will be exposed to high water risks *1 by 2050, and approximately 100,000 square kilometers *2 of natural forests will be lost each year from 2015. Action is required. At COP26 (26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) held in November 2021, the "Glasgow Summit Declaration on Forests and Land Use" was announced, and more than 100 countries including Japan (86 of the world's forests %) have agreed to the goal of ending deforestation by 2030.
*1 WWF “Water Risk Scenarios” (2020)｜*2 FAO “Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020” (2020)
Features of LIMEX Sheet 80μm
LIMEX Sheet is manufactured by extruding LIMEX (a composite material containing more than 50% inorganic filler dispersion such as calcium carbonate), a composite material in a molten state, from a T-die, forming it into a sheet, and then stretching it to form a pore structure inside the sheet that creates whiteness and lightness. LIMEX Sheet is manufactured at Shiroishi and Tagajo mills, which use virtually "100% renewable energy" and "zero CO2 emission coefficient" electricity, and uses virtually no water resources required in the production of plain paper and no wood pulp as raw material for the product, making it ideal for companies that wish to demonstrate their high environmental awareness in their corporate stance Therefore, it is widely used in many industries as integrated reports, catalogs, sales promotion POP, and posters by companies that wish to demonstrate their high level of environmental awareness as their corporate stance.
Feature 1 Contributing to the reduction of water, forest resources, and petroleum-based plastics usage
Compared to plain paper, LIMEX Sheet 80µm uses almost no water resources required during production, and since wood pulp is not used as a raw material for the product, it can also contribute to the conservation of forest resources. In addition, compared to PP and PET sheets, it can reduce greenhouse gases including CO2 and petroleum-based plastics usage.
Feature 2 Price Stability and Price Advantage
LIMEX Sheet 80μm is available at a lower price than PP and PET sheets. It is also competitively priced compared to art paper and coated paper used for printed materials such as durable and water-resistant paper and catalogs.
Feature 3 Superior Durability and Water Resistance
LIMEX Sheet 80µm has superior durability and water resistance compared to paper, making it suitable for outdoor posters and repeatedly used menu lists, which require such features without the need for lamination.
Feature 4: High-quality texture with a sense of luxury
LIMEX Sheet 80µm has a matte, high-quality texture. It can also be printed clearly. It is suitable for use in catalogs, calendars, folding boxes, etc., where a luxurious feel is required.
Feature 5: Recyclability, easily recycled in a variety of ways
Like other LIMEX Sheet products, LIMEX Sheet 80µm can be recycled mechanical recycling by collecting and recycling scrap materials and used LIMEX Sheet 80µm products generated in the manufacturing process. In the future, we will utilize existing recycling facilities and the Yokosuka Recycling Plant, which is scheduled to be completed this fall, as a platform for LIMEX material circulation to promote the recycling of a wide variety of injection molded products, including stationery, daily necessities, logistics and construction materials.
LIMEX Sheet list and usage
White/soft (flexible type with high degree of whiteness)
・80 μm: Booklets, calendars, maps, wrapping paper, pressure-bonded postcards, delivery slips, labels (under development), packaging materials (under development), etc.
・150μm / 200μm: Posters, booklets (pamphlets, company brochures, etc.), tags, calendars, substitutes for laminated notices, etc.
・300μm / 400μm: folding box, sales promotion POP, business card, menu table, tapestry, etc.
Translucent/hard (translucent and stiff type)
・150μm / 200μm: clear file, mask case, illumination film, folding box, etc.
White/hard (a type that has both high whiteness and firmness)
・300μm / 400μm: menu table, folding box, sales promotion POP, fan, calendar (desktop), etc.
*LIMEX Sheet is compatible with laser printers (recommended for production printing), UV offset machines, UV inkjet machines, latex inkjet machines, etc.
LIMEX Sheet guidebook: https://tb-m.com//doc/LIMEX-Sheet_Guide_ver1.9.pdf
*Do not mix LIMEX Sheet products with used paper collection. If you dispose of it as business waste, treat it as industrial waste. When disposing as household waste, follow the rules of your local government.