G.F Smith Visit // James Cropper Mill - Print Club London

G.F Smith Visit // James Cropper Mill

Up at the crack of dawn we made our way to the meeting point under the clock at Euston train station, where Alyson Hurst from G.F Smith is ready and waiting.

Craig and I are have generously be invited by G.F Smith to take a tour of the James Cropper Mill, where they make Colorplan, Zen and Accent papers, to mention a few. The graphic arts team from the Tate are also there, although looking a tad ropey due to their Christmas party the previous evening!!

Our guide Stefan informed us of their deep history and the incredible products currently in production, from the first paper made from recycled coffee cups to the ultra light fabric for Formula 1. 

As Mills go, apparently this is a small one. Hard to believe as on arrival the factory resembles the size of a huge Zeplin aircraft hanger! Because of its ‘smallish’ size James Cropper Mill is able to specialise in being versatile and prides itself on being able to produce any type of paper to order, with orders as small as a ton.

When you first walk into the mill you are greeted with huge vats that are bubbling and steaming away with the raw pulp and die inside. Everything is out in the open and often the die is bubbling out!

What amazed me is that the mill is in a constant state of production as opposed to how I imagined with each paper being made separately. The problem here being that it would cost far too much to clean all the miles of machinery in between each run.

So how does it work?!

The lightest colour that has been commissioned is made first, then the second commissioned paper pulp and die is added to the vat until the entire spectrum of colours are made until the deepest black. This normally takes about 2 weeks. Then like something out of Breaking Bad a mysterious team of men work through the night doing a deep clean. The men have not yet been seen by Stefan or his coworkers.

The ‘waste’ (the paper that is produced between the two different commissioned types of paper) is as little as 10%

Even this is either re-pulped or sold as kids coloured paper pads. Who knew that your little ones are probably drawing on the most unique colour paper ever made!?  

The lab as we discovered was a vital part in the production to make any colour formula that is required, with no demand too great. 

All around the Mill are light boxes that are, in an instant able to change the light from our day to day British light to any type of light from around the world. 

It was a great experience and when working with such a hands-on practice such as screen printing, it opened my eyes further to the magnificence of humble paper.

Thank you G.F.Smith for the invitation! A highlight of 2014 without a doubt.