Since the August 2009 product launch, LCI's new Savanna brand specialty papers have received a lot of attention. Creative people around the world are finding ways to incorporate this unique woodgrain paper into their projects. Imagine heavyweight cardstocks with a striking woodgrain finish. The Savanna woodgrain papers are available in warm earth and wood colors, Bubinga, Glowing Makassar, Limba, and Tindalo. Billed as "a paper as exciting as Africa," Savanna has the distinction of being the paper industry's first wood embossing with the character of real wood.
Savanna is manufactured in the Bavarian village of Gmund, home of the historic Gmund paper mill. I caught up with Anja Wackerhage in Germany and Tara Pagano in Gmund's North American office and asked them to tell me more about the distinctive Savanna woodgrain papers. Here is what they told me:
GMUND Savanna is a tribute to the African landscape, showing passion of feelings, colors and structures.
- 8 natural created colours
The warm earthy shades of Africa melt into the soft colors Blanco, Perla, Cascara and Arena; Tindalo, Bubinga, Glowing Makassar and Limba complete the range
- Three different surfaces
The matt surface, as well as the two sided embossed version structuros and a strong wood embossing - unique for paper
- The highlight
The sparkler of the collection is glowing Makassar, where Gmund succeeded in developing a surface like oxidizing wood.
Applications for the Savanna paper could be brochures, covers, packaging, invitations, greeting Cards, catalogues, endleafs, etc. We have seen many amazing projects on the savanna collection, especially the wood grain papers - wedding invitations, packaging etc. Some notables projects are Boy Scouts of America Greater Pittsburgh Council annual report, Redwall Gala 2008 Invitation, 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Guide, Bear Dance Estate brochure and envelope, and Mid Continent Cabinetry Signature Series brochure. There many amazing projects on our papers!
When I asked how Gmund is able to produce such a unique, woodgrain cardstock, the response was, "This is a company secret." :-)
Have you used Savanna papers in your creative project? We'd like to see it! Consider submitting it to our Share Your Creativity program and help to inspire others!
Joshua Birch
Our 
Like luscious candies dipped in sugar, delightfully colored base papers and a specially formulated mica coating combine to create Aspire Petallics. 
As mentioned in the first paragraph, our metallic envelopes react differently to the light, depending on how you hold and manipulate the envelope. The Reaction brand, made in the Bavarian Alps of Germany, provide the most dramatic reaction, hence the brand name. Mica pigments produce a bi-color effect. 
LCI Paper now offers the Treasury brand, available in full size sheets in a unique gold color range. Treasury is manufactured by Gmund in Germany with a strong commitment to the environment.
It was this embossment that attracted LCI to the Savanna collection, says Barry Levine, Vice President of Sales and Service. Previously not carrying anything quite like Savanna, the idea behind adding such a uniquely finished card stock to LCI’s inventory was to “provide customers with the additional creative variety they may be seeking.”
