MG

Machine-glazed paper has one side polished smooth and glossy by contact with a large heated metal cylinder during the papermaking process. The other side remains unglazed and rougher. This single-sided gloss finish is created on the paper machine itself, which is where the term gets its name, distinguishing it from coated papers where gloss is applied as a separate post-production step.

The hot cylinder, typically called a Yankee dryer, reaches temperatures around 100 to 150 degrees Celsius. As the wet sheet presses against this polished surface, the paper fibers compress and the sheet takes on the smooth, reflective character of the drum. The gloss level and uniformity depend on the cylinder temperature, nip pressure, and moisture content of the paper at contact.

Machine-glazed papers typically weigh between 35 and 150 grams per square meter. They are common in packaging, labels, and some grades of newsprint and publication stock. The unglazed reverse side provides better ink adhesion and printability in some applications than fully glossy sheets, making MG suitable for packaging that needs both visual appeal on one face and functional grip on the other.

The gloss is permanent and integral to the sheet itself, not a separate coating. This means MG paper is cheaper to produce than coated stock but cannot achieve the gloss levels of cast-coated or blade-coated papers. The gloss will not rub off in handling, though heavy embossing or creasing can disrupt the glazed surface locally.

MG papers have largely been displaced in high-end applications by coated grades, but remain standard in certain industrial and packaging roles where the cost savings and inherent gloss-roughness asymmetry provide practical advantages. The term MG is widely used in mills, converters, and procurement across the English-speaking pulp and paper industry.