Investing in Emerging Technologies To Create New Possibilities

11th November 2026 by Hannah Marsden

Planning for the future is always high on the agenda at Tullis Russell.

In the world of manufacturing, constant change is inevitable. Whether that be due to new product development and legislations, the evolution of factories and their infrastructure or supply chain reconfiguration. In addition to this, customer needs have become increasingly more complex, requiring high quality products and services at speed and scale. Here we detail how our investments are delivering our customer requirements and in turn, opening up a world of endless possibilities.

One Stop Shop for All Coating Needs

As a starting point, we have focused our investments on ways in which we can make our customers’ lives easier. By having the facilities to manage every stage of production on site, from chemistry and coating formulation through to converting, finishing and delivery. This gives us greater control over our manufacturing processes while maintaining the quality and security our customers expect.

Coating technology built around performance

Our machinery allows us to apply different coating technologies to paper, helping us develop materials with properties suited to specific applications.

Our facilities include three main coaters:

• Gravure Coating
• Curtain Coating- Slot Die and Multi-Layer Slide
• Air Knife Coating

Combined with our on-site chemistry and formulation capabilities, these technologies give us flexibility in how we develop and manufacture coated materials.

From coating to finished product

Our capabilities extend beyond coating, with a range of converting machinery that allows us to process paper into the formats required by our customers.

We have 4 slitting machines which can run at up to 1000m/ min. In addition to this we also have a PEMCO sheeting machine converts rolls into sheets, while our parcelling machine prepares finished products for dispatch.

We also use calendars to refine paper surface properties. By adjusting pressure, temperature and roller surfaces, we can improve smoothness, control thickness and enhance appearance, helping support consistent print performance where required.

Supporting customer innovation

Every customer application comes with its own requirements, whether that’s a particular coating performance, a specific material construction or a new product concept. Developing our coating and converting capabilities helps us explore different approaches and work towards solutions that meet these needs. By understanding the challenges our customers face, we can use our technical capabilities to investigate opportunities and support product development.

Investing in Technology Is Only Part of the Story

Investing in advanced machinery is an important step in developing our manufacturing capabilities, but the investment doesn’t stop there. Time, expertise and continuous improvement are equally important in making the most of the technology available to us.

Refining processes, understanding how materials behave and identifying opportunities to improve performance all require ongoing commitment and technical knowledge. By continually reviewing and developing the way we work, we can get more from our manufacturing capabilities and explore new possibilities for our coating and converting processes.

It’s this combination of investment in technology and investment in expertise that helps us continue to evolve, respond to customer needs and develop our capabilities for the future.

Looking towards the future

As customer expectations and market requirements continue to evolve, so too must manufacturing capabilities. We remain focused on developing our technology, strengthening our expertise and exploring new opportunities across coating and converting. By continuing to invest in these areas, we aim to build on our existing capabilities and create new possibilities for the products and applications of tomorrow.

Understanding Labelstock: From Face Stock to Adhesive

25th August 2026 by Hannah Marsden

With over 150 years of paper manufacturing expertise, Tullis Russell is dedicated to creating exceptional quality papers. For over 10 years, we have also applied these expertise to the labelstock industry, developing solutions designed to deliver quality and performance.

We understand that a label is more than just a commodity or a last-minute addition to a product. It is an important part of the overall packaging, helping to identify your product, communicate your brand and provide essential information to the end user.

Understanding the components of labelstock

To get the most from your label, it is important to understand its intended purpose and the environment it will be exposed to. Labelstock is made up of four key components:

• Face stock
• Adhesive
• Silicone
• Release liner

Each component has a specific role to play, and selecting the right combination can help ensure that your finished label performs as intended.

Face stock

The face stock forms the printable surface of the label and plays an important role in its overall appearance and finish.

We offer a range of papers and films suitable for a variety of printing methods and applications. This gives customers the flexibility to choose a face stock that meets their visual requirements while also working effectively with their chosen printing process.

Adhesives

While the face stock provides the surface of the label, the adhesive ensures it stays securely where it is intended to be.

Different products and environments require different adhesive properties Our adhesive range includes:

• Permanent adhesives – for applications where the label needs to remain securely attached.
• Removable adhesives – for applications where labels need to be removed cleanly.
• Freezer-grade adhesives – designed for low-temperature and frozen environments.
• Wash-off adhesives – designed to allow labels to be removed during washing processes.

Selecting the right adhesive is essential. The intended surface, temperature, moisture and lifespan of the label should all be considered to ensure the adhesive performs effectively in its intended environment.

Find out more about our labelstock services and how we can help you find a fit for purpose solution that delivers the performance you need here.

Tullis Russell’s Sustainability Journey So Far

20th July 2026 by Hannah Marsden

Our vision is to become the world’s leading creative and environmentally responsible coating company. Achieving this means continually improving the products we produce, our manufacturing processes and the way we work across the business. We know this is an ongoing journey, and we’re committed to making meaningful progress over time.

We’ve been part of the industry for decades, and our history is something we’re proud of. We want Tullis Russell to continue thriving for many years to come. To do that, we recognise that we must adapt to changing environmental expectations, evolving customer needs and the wider challenges facing our industry. By making thoughtful, practical changes today, we’re helping build a stronger business for the future.

Over the last few years, we’ve made good progress towards our sustainability goals. One of the most significant changes we’ve made has been switching to FSC-certified paper suppliers. By sourcing FSC-certified materials, we’re helping ensure that the papers we coat come through responsibly managed and certified supply chains.

This change also allows us to offer our customers products that support their own environmental objectives, making it easier for them to choose certified materials where appropriate.

Sustainability isn’t just about the products we make. It also influences how we operate as a business. Across the site, we’ve introduced a range of practical initiatives to reduce our environmental impact while encouraging colleagues to play their part.

We’ve introduced electric vehicles for our sales team where appropriate, offer a Cycle to Work scheme, and encourage simple energy-saving habits such as switching off monitors and lights when they’re no longer needed.

We’ve also invested in improvements across our site. Motion sensors help reduce unnecessary lighting in communal areas, and we’ve upgraded all site lighting to LED technology to improve energy efficiency. In addition, we’ve installed rainwater harvesting tanks that capture and store rainwater for uses such as washdowns, helping to reduce our reliance on mains water.

Our sustainability team meets every month to review the progress of ongoing projects, evaluate the outcomes of completed initiatives and explore new opportunities to improve the way we operate. These meetings help us keep improving and make sure sustainability stays part of the decisions we make as a business.

We know there’s still more we can do, and that’s why sustainability continues to be a focus across the business. By reviewing the way we work, investing in improvements and encouraging new ideas, we’ll continue making positive changes wherever we can.

Our sustainability journey doesn’t stop here. We’ll keep looking for practical ways to improve, so we can continue building a business that’s fit for the future.