What Papel Aralar does

Papel Aralar is a fourth-generation, family-owned Spanish specialty paper manufacturer founded in 1935 in Amezketa, Gipuzkoa, and structured as Papel Aralar S.A. It operates five paper machines producing 115,000 tonnes and 3,000 million square meters of paper annually across grammages of 18–170 g/m² and widths up to 450 cm, yielding more than 45 specialized product types organized into eight categories: labels, flexible packaging, medical papers, nonwovens/wipes, food-service and packaging papers, silicone-base papers, wax/paraffin support papers, textile transfer papers and industrial specialties. Differentiated SKUs include ARAFLUSH (dispersible wet-wipes paper), ARASILVER (antibacterial paper with silver nanoparticles), ARABIO and ARAWRAP (PFOA-free greaseproof), ARAstraw (paper for drinking straws) and ARAMASK (face mask paper with >80% BFE). The company sells directly through a network of representatives and delegations in more than 40 countries across 5 continents, supported by logistics agreements for global delivery.

The business model is B2B custom manufacturing: Papel Aralar develops bespoke paper specifications for converters and brand owners in food packaging, hygiene, healthcare, labels and industrial end-uses, with pricing handled on a quote basis rather than published list prices. It maintains a portfolio of ISO 9001, 14001, 50001 and 45001 certifications, plus FSC/PEFC chain-of-custody, UNE 149002:2019 dispersibility compliance and Ecovadis Silver, positioning it as a preferred supplier for regulated plastic-substitute applications under the EU Single-Use Plastics directive. Vertically integrated renewable energy — an owned hydroelectric station and a cogeneration plant that supplies 100% of facility power with surplus exported to the grid — provides a structural cost advantage versus grid-exposed European peers.

The company is privately held with no external institutional shareholders disclosed, no funding rounds on record, and no M&A activity. Governance was formalized in March 2023 with a Board-approved Crime Prevention Model, Code of Ethics and Whistleblower Channel. Headcount stands at 190+ employees in Amezketa, and the company's growth orientation is evidenced by a 15,000-bobbin warehouse built in 2020 and a steady cadence of approximately 15 new product developments per year.

Name

Papel Aralar

Legal name

Papel Aralar S. A.

Website

https://papelaralar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Papel Aralar is a fourth-generation, family-owned Spanish specialty paper manufacturer producing 115,000 tonnes annually across 45+ products (dispersible wipes, medical, PFOA-free greaseproof, silicone-base, antibacterial papers) for converters and brand owners in more than 40 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Paper Manufacturing

NAICS

Converted Paper Product Manufacturing (3222), Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing (322291), Paper Manufacturing (322)

SIC

Papers & Allied Products (2600), Paper Mills (2621)

akta.pro primary industry

Paper Converting Services (slitting, sheeting, coating, laminating, rewinding) (IMAMAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recycled Specialty Paper (Filter, Release, Construction, Technical) (IMAMAKAK), Medical & Healthcare Hygiene Disposables (Patient Wipes, Underpads) (IMAMAGAF), Paper-Based Packaging & Single-Use Paper Products (Paper Bags, Wraps, Cartons) (CRADALAL), Consumer Tissue Paper (Facial, Toilet, Paper Towels, Napkins) (IMAMAGAA)

Keywords

• Specialty paper manufacturing
• Coated paper products
• Greaseproof paper
• Dispersible wipes paper
• Flexible packaging paper

Headquarters

HQ city

Azqueta

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Paper Manufacturing and Sales: Papel Aralar manufactures and sells specialized paper products across multiple categories including labels, flexible packaging, medical papers, nonwovens, industrial papers, wax base papers, textile transfer papers, and silicone base papers. The company produces 115,000 tonnes of paper annually across 45+ product types serving customers in over 40 countries.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Papel Aralar manufactures and sells more than 45 specialized paper product types across categories including labels, flexible packaging, medical papers, nonwovens (dispersible wet wipes, hygiene papers), silicone base papers, paraffin support papers, textile transfer papers, and industrial papers. The company operates 5 state-of-the-art paper machines producing 115,000 tonnes of paper annually at grammages from 18 to 170 g/m2 and maximum useful width of 450 cm. Products are sold to enterprise customers in over 40 countries, with a strong focus on sustainable, plastic-substitute alternatives certified to FSC/PEFC and compliant with the EU Single-Use Plastics directive.

Product overview

Papel Aralar is a family-owned Spanish paper manufacturer (4th generation) founded in 1935, producing over 45 specialized paper product types across multiple categories. The company operates 5 paper machines producing 115,000 tonnes and 3,000 million square meters of paper annually, with grammages ranging from 18 to 170 g/m2. Their product portfolio is organized into eight main categories: (1) Labels including LABELMAT, ARAGLOSS, ARALOP, ARAOIL, and ARAVAC for various label applications; (2) Nonwoven products including ARAFLUSH, ARAMASK, ARABOB, ARABABY, ARAFACE, ARAPAD, ARAFILTER, and ARANAP for wipes, masks, and absorbent applications; (3) Flexible Packaging including ARALID, ARACEL, ARATAMP, ARACELL HS, ARASILVER, ARALIS, ARAWRAP, ARAPAL, ARACOAT, and ARABIO for food and industrial packaging; (4) Medical papers including ARAMED/ARAMED PEL, HYDROLAR, and ARAFLUSH MED; (5) Silicone Base Papers including ARASIL, BABESIL, ESTUCSIL, ARABAKE, and ALUTRANS; (6) Paraffin Support including ARAWAX and ARACHEESE; (7) Textile Transfer including ARATRANS variants and ARAPROT; (8) Industrial papers including ARAIGNÍFUGO and ARATAPE. The company emphasizes sustainability with FSC/PEFC certified fibers and develops plastic-substitute products aligned with EU Single-Use Plastics regulations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Label Papers (LABELMAT, ARAGLOSS, ARALOP, ARAOIL, ARAVAC, ARACEL) Specialized coated and matte papers for beverage can labels, beer labels, oil bottle labels, food can labels, and metalizing base papers, designed for high printability, wet strength, dimensional stability, and high-speed labeling lines.
• Nonwoven and Dispersible Wipe Papers (ARAFLUSH, ARABABY, ARAFACE, ARAPAD, ARAMASK, ARAFILTER, ARANAP, ARABOB) 100% biodegradable, dispersible papers for baby wipes, cosmetic face masks, feminine care pads, tobacco filter formation, hand dryers, and meat/fruit trays, including ARAFLUSH dispersible wet wipe paper compliant with UNE 149002:2019 and the EU SUP directive.
• Flexible Packaging Papers (ARACOAT, ARABIO, ARAPAL, ARALID, ARATAMP, ARACELL HS, ARALIS, ARAWRAP, ARAWRAP B, ARABAG GR, ARALUX) Single-side coated, greaseproof, and heat-sealable papers for food wrapping (hamburger, butter, cheese), pet food bags, yogurt lids, feminine tampon applicators, and biodegradable flexible packaging, including fluorocarbon-free options compliant with anti-PFOA regulations.
• Medical Papers (ARAMED, ARAMED PEL, ARAFLUSH MED, HYDROLAR) Cellulose papers for medical pouches, peelable pouches, sterilization oven paper, and nonwoven base papers (spunlace), providing bacterial barriers, resistance to steam, ethylene oxide, gamma ray, and UV sterilization methods.
• Silicone Base Papers (ARASIL, BABESIL, ESTUCSIL, ARABAKE, ALUTRANS) Base papers for silicone coating processes (solvent-free, solvent, emulsion, UV), baking papers with fine silicone layer preventing food adhesion, and low-grammage satin-faced papers for siliconing applications.
• Paraffin Support Papers (ARAWAX, ARAWAX SLIP EASY, ARACHEESE) Paraffin base papers with wet strength and opaque options for hamburger, candy, sliced bread wrappers, muffin case capsules, and cheese packaging, including laminated and wax/paraffin coated variants.
• ARASILVER Antibacterial Paper Coated paper incorporating silver nanoparticles providing a natural antibacterial barrier against bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa, intended for applications requiring enhanced hygienic protection.
• Textile Transfer Papers (ARATRANS, ARATRANS S, ARAPROT, ARATRANS INKJET) Thin transfer cellulose papers (from 18 g/m2) for sublimation image transfer (rotogravure, screen printing, inkjet) with fast drying and excellent printability, plus calender protection papers with very low porosity.
• Industrial Papers (ARAIGNÍFUGO, ARATAPE) Fire-resistant papers with special surface treatment for construction, signage, and cases with fire risk, plus papers for covering plasterboard joints with high wet strength, rigidity, and tear resistance.
• ARASTRAW Drinking Straw Paper Paper for straw manufacturing with high rigidity and good wet strength preventing dissolution on liquid contact, featuring waterproof outer coating (ARAVAC) providing hydrophobic properties and preventing soggy effects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 115,000 tonnes of paper produced annually, with 3,000 million square meters of output
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• PaperimpactminorOthersIndustry association membership providing visibility and networking within the paper industry
• Paper ClusterminorOthersPaper industry cluster association for collaboration and industry representation
• ASPAPELminorOthersBasque paper industry association for sector representation and collaboration
• IQNETminorOthersInternational certification network providing cross-border recognition of quality certifications including ISO 9001

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fedrigoni: Italian specialty paper manufacturer producing premium labels, flexible packaging, and release papers. Directly comparable in product portfolio (labels, packaging, specialty) and in European specialty positioning.
• Burgo Group: Italian coated paper manufacturer with leading position in labels, flexible packaging and specialty papers. Comparable in product mix and European mid-market scale.
• Nordic Paper: Scandinavian producer of specialty kraft paper and natural greaseproof paper. Comparable in specialty greaseproof and food-service paper categories where Papel Aralar competes with ARABIO and ARAWRAP.
• Ahlstrom: Finnish-headquartered global leader in specialty papers including medical, filtration, and release liners, with comparable product categories in healthcare packaging and industrial specialty grades that directly overlap Papel Aralar's medical and silicone base papers.
• Koehler Paper: German specialty paper manufacturer with strong position in flexible packaging paper, coated papers and sustainable substitutes for plastic packaging — directly comparable to Papel Aralar's flexible packaging and greaseproof product families.
• Felix Schoeller: German family-owned specialty paper manufacturer producing photographic, decor, release, and packaging papers. Comparable in family ownership structure, specialty positioning, and custom converting capability.
• James Cropper: UK-based specialty paper manufacturer producing label, packaging, and creative papers with strong sustainability positioning. Comparable in premium specialty positioning and custom/small-batch production capability.

Broad incumbents

• Heinzel Group: Austrian paper and packaging group with operations in coated and specialty papers across Europe. Comparable in European specialty paper positioning but operates at significantly larger scale and broader product portfolio.
• Sappi: Global diversified paper group with specialty, packaging, and release paper divisions. Overlaps in specialty coated and release paper but is far larger and more diversified than Papel Aralar.
• Glatfelter: US-headquartered global supplier of specialty papers and engineered materials including filtration, wallcovering, and composite substrates. Operates at materially larger scale than Papel Aralar but overlaps in specialty paper categories.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chooseco-llc

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Papel Aralar