Seaman Paper Asia Co., Ltd.

Seaman Paper Asia is a fast growing global supplier of packaging for the footwear, apparel, handbag, and garment industry.

With offices and warehousing in Hong Kong, Seaman Paper Asia also has manufacturing and converting investments in Dongguan, China and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam including a JV paper mill in Putian, China.

Seaman Paper Asia is the leading source for quality printed and colored tissue for international retail and European luxury packaging brands with high end gravure printing which includes UV inks and Hot Stamping.

A range of papers are available including recycled content up to 100% post-consumer waste. Seaman Paper Asia is successfully audited for sustainable manufacturing in China including FSC, PEFC, ISO 14000, ISO 90001 and SA8000 environmental and social compliance certifications.

The beginning

Seaman Paper originated in Chicago, Illinois. It was formed by three Seaman brothers and George Jones. The company filled a need between the paper mills and the printers and converters, and at one point was the largest paper merchant house in the United States.
The depression, plus the deaths of George Seaman and George Jones, caused the paper merchant operation to decline. In 1946 the Seaman’s decided to buy a paper mill in Otter River, MA. They asked George Jones II, who was just leaving the navy after World War II if he would run the mill. Mr. Jones was only 13 years old when he lost his father, and had worked summers in the paper mill as he was growing up. This was his opportunity to run his own mill, and Mr. Jones dedicated his life to making it work.

The mill and jumbo rolls

When Mr. Jones came to the mill in 1946, it contained one machine running 300 feet/minute, producing napkin and toweling.

Over the years, Mr. Jones invested in new equipment and added a second machine. He positioned the mill to make carbonizing tissue, a technical specialty grade.
Carbonizing was 100% of the mill production in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
His investments created Seaman’s ability to manufacture high-quality lightweight papers, which would be important in allowing the company to respond to market changes.

Value-added

In 1979, Mr. Jones's sons, George and Jamie, joined the business. That same year the demand for carbonizing plummeted as alternatives gained popularity. By 1982 Seaman was completely out of carbonizing tissue and was producing jumbo rolls of directory opaque printing and bond paper. The Joneses realized that they were competing with much larger mills and they would need to find markets where they would be more important to their customers. Seaman’s expertise was manufacturing lightweight papers, so they targeted value-added products made from lightweight papers that they produced.
During the next 30 years, Seaman developed converting capabilities to sheet, fold, print, wax, crepe, coat, slit and interfold. This allowed Seaman to market reams of wrapping tissue, consumer tissue folds, crepe streamers and folds, interleaving, food service, and other lightweight specialties.
Today, Seaman’s domestic operations cover over 900,000 square feet and employ over 700 people. During this period the Jones Family negotiated a purchase plan with the Seamans, and now the Jones Family owns 100% of Seaman Paper Company of Massachusetts Inc.