Finishing reels and sheets/converting

Once the paper is made, a great deal of it is converted into a product. Converters specialise in transforming reels and sheets of paper and board into a vast array of finished products for distribution such as boxes, cartons and stationery. Converters sell their products to the public or to other manufacturers.

Not all paper and board is processed by convertors. Some papermakers do their own converting, for example, the manufacturers of soft tissues market their own products and sell directly to the public.

The printing industry converts large quantities of paper and board, much of which reaches the customer as newspapers, magazines or books.