Sappi North America Announces Neoterix™ST, the First Commercial Casting and Release Paper with Sharklet™ Bacteria-Inhibition Technology

Sappi North America collaborates with Sharklet Technologies, Inc. to create a revolutionary casting and release paper product line

BOSTON, Sept. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sappi North America, a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper and packaging products, has entered into an exclusive, worldwide license agreement with Sharklet Technologies, Inc. to manufacture and distribute casting and release paper featuring the ground-breaking Sharklet™ microtexture. The new release paper is the first of its kind which creates surfaces that inhibit bacterial growth without the use of toxic additives or chemicals. The product will be the first in Sappi's new Neoterix™ line and will be available to customers under the name Neoterix ST. 

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160909/405990
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160909/406257 

The patented Sharklet microtexture is biomimicry in action as it is inspired by the texture of shark skin. Shark's skin features a unique texture and pattern which naturally slows the growth of barnacles and algae. According to a published study in Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, when applied to high touch surfaces, the microtexture reduced surface contamination of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) by as much as 97 percent and 94 percent, respectively, compared to controls.

Like all of Sappi's release papers, Neoterix ST acts as a mold for coated fabric and laminates. It is used to transfer texture and gloss onto these surfaces and is then stripped away. Sappi has developed new technology to impart the Sharklet microtexture, at micron-level fidelity, onto its release papers and manufacturers can now transfer the Sharklet micropattern and its microbial resistance properties onto new product surfaces.

"Sappi continues to innovate and find creative ways to prove the power of paper. With this new offering, we're moving beyond the aesthetics of synthetic leathers and laminates into true functionality. Neoterix ST has the potential to make a significant impact on the risk of bacteria transfer in healthcare institutions, restaurants, hotels, offices and just about anywhere we can touch," said Tom Collins, Vice President & General Manager, Specialties Business at Sappi North America. "We're proud to work with Sharklet Technologies to apply its patented microtexture technology on our papers in order to add an environmentally-safe, non-toxic tool in the battle against germs."

"Currently, many industries are using antimicrobial chemicals and metals to kill microbes on surfaces. There is a trend emerging to remove these toxins from healthcare and personal settings to provide healthier environments for people and patients. With Sappi as a trusted partner, we can change the dynamic in how we create cleaner surfaces," said Mark Spiecker, CEO, Sharklet Technologies.

Sappi is ramping up production and expects Neoterix ST to be commercially available globally in early 2017. If you are interested in becoming a beta tester, please email us at Neoterix@sappi.com.

To learn more about Sharklet Technologies, please go to: http://sharklet.com/.

About Sappi North America
Sappi North America, headquartered in Boston, is a market leader in converting wood fiber into superior products that customers demand worldwide. The success of our four diversified businesses – high quality Coated Printing Papers, Specialised Cellulose, Release Papers and Specialty Packaging – is driven by strong customer relationships, best-in-class people and advantaged assets, products and services. Our high quality Coated Printing Papers, including McCoy, Opus, Somerset and Flo, are the key platform for premium magazines, catalogs, books and high-end print advertising. We are a leading manufacturer of Specialised Cellulose used in a wide range of products, including textile fibers and household goods, and one of the world's leading suppliers of Release Papers with our Ultracast, PolyEX, Classics and Neoterix lines for the automotive, fashion and engineered films industries. Our Specialty Packaging products, such as LusterPrint and LusterCote, represent an important asset in the food packaging and labeling industries. Customers rely on Sappi for high technical, operational and market expertise; products and services delivered with consistently high quality and reliability; and, state-of-the-art and cost-competitive assets and innovative spirit.

Sappi North America is a subsidiary of Sappi Limited (JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with more than 13,000 employees and manufacturing operations on three continents in seven countries and customers in over 100 countries around the world. Learn more about Sappi at: www.sappi.com/na

About Sharklet Technologies
Sharklet Technologies is a biotechnology company that develops surface technologies that are designed to inhibit microorganism growth to make the world a healthier, environmentally safer, and better place. Inspired by the microbial- resistant properties of sharkskin, Sharklet®, the company's core technology, is the world's first microtexture developed to manage bacteria, including Staph, MRSA, VRE, E. coli and a host of others. Sharklet® is suited for commercial, healthcare, food service, and laboratory environments where bacterial inhibition is desired to help protect human health. The company is based at the Bioscience Park Center, an incubator in the Fitzsimons Life Science District adjacent to the renowned Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colo. Learn more about Sharklet at: www.sharklet.com.