Minerals Technologies Inc., has announced that it has signed another commercial agreement with a North American paper company to provide FulFill(TM) E-325 at a paper mill that produces coated woodfree paper. This marks Minerals Technologies' third such agreement in North America for the new, high-filler technology. The paper company wishes to remain unnamed for competitive reasons.

The company now has 12 agreements with paper mills that have adopted the unique FulFill (TM) E-325 technology introduced in late 2010, which provides papermakers significant cost savings in reduced fiber consumption. The FulFill(TM) brand allows papermakers to increase loading levels of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), which replaces higher cost pulp, and increases PCC usage.

"We are very pleased that this paper company has adopted our technology--the first paper mill producing coated paper to do so," said Joseph C. Muscari, chairman and chief executive officer of Minerals Technologies. "The adoption of our FulFill(TM) technology continues to gain momentum, verifying the technology and the revitalization of our new product pipeline and our commitment to advance our technology leadership with papermakers around the globe. We now have commercial agreements with papermakers in Asia, Europe, South Africa and North America."

PCC is a specialty pigment for filling and coating high-quality paper. Coated paper differs from uncoated paper used primarily in office copy machines. A coated sheet is used in high quality publications like annual reports and automobile advertising brochures. It has been coated by a compound like calcium carbonate to impart certain qualities to the paper, including weight, surface gloss, smoothness or reduced ink absorbency. By substituting Minerals Technologies' PCC for more expensive wood fiber, customers are able to produce brighter, higher quality paper at lower cost. In 1986, Minerals Technologies originated the satellite concept for making and delivering PCC on-site at paper mills and the concept was a major factor in revolutionizing papermaking in North America. Today, the company has 57 satellite plants in operation or under construction around the world and continues to lead the industry with consistent quality and technical innovation.