Pratical Sheeting and Packaging Methods for the Soho Market, 1998 Finishing and Converting Conference Proceedings

A total of 5,114,000 tons of cut size sheets were consumed in the USA in 1997. Of that amount, 596,000 tons were consumed in the SOHO segment of the cut size sheet market and 1,229,000 tons were consumed in the Small Office segment. The projected compound annual growth rate for cut size sheets in the SOHO segment is approximately 10% and in the Small Office segment approximately 6% compounded annual growth is projected through the year 2000.

The cut size sheet products for the SOHO and Small Office Market’s differ from the Medium and Large Office segments in several significant ways. The most significant is that there are currently five major alternative types of packaging methods utilized in addition to kraft wrap. The number of sheets in a ream are often less than 500. Also, the processes utilized for packaging cut sheets in materials other then kraft wrap often requires modification of existing cut size sheeters or purchase of a new sheeter so as to be able to interface with the various packaging methods.

As the SOHO and Small Office Market’s continues to grow and new business equipment office products are introduced the number of packaging methods will increase and the sheet counts per package will continue to change.