Top 10 Partition and Interleaving Paper Suppliers in the USA (2026)

Partition paper and interleaving paper sit at the heart of US industrial packaging. Glass manufacturers, steel mills, photovoltaic module producers, electronics packagers, and specialty metals fabricators all depend on consistent, chemistry-controlled paper to separate stacked product surfaces and prevent abrasion, tarnish, and contamination during transit and storage. The US supplier base ranges from large specialty paper mills with dedicated interleave divisions to focused custom converters serving niche industries.

This guide profiles the leading US partition paper and interleaving paper suppliers in 2026, with focus on production capability, industry coverage, and the specifications that matter most to industrial buyers.

How We Built This List

Selection emphasized real US production or US-based conversion capability, demonstrated coverage of multiple industrial verticals (glass, metals, electronics, photovoltaic), and verifiable certifications including ISO 9001, FSC, SFI, or PEFC. We also weighted suppliers who publish technical data sheets and offer documented chemistry control — not just generic kraft paper.

The Top 10 Suppliers

1. Ahlstrom

Headquarters: Multi-state US operations

Established: 1851

Ahlstrom’s interleave paper division is one of the largest engineered interleaving paper operations serving North America. Their Glass-Gard product family is engineered for chemically-controlled separation of glass plates and panels, made from 100 percent virgin fiber with no coating or chemicals — designed to keep stored glass stain-free through controlled porosity that eliminates fogging, hazing, and metallic glazing tarnish. Ahlstrom holds Forest Stewardship Council, SFI, and PEFC chain-of-custody certifications.

Key products: Glass-Gard glass interleave paper, Glass-Gard Prime, metal interleave paper

Industries served: Float glass, automotive glass, photovoltaic cover glass, polished metals

2. Flexlink, LLC

Headquarters: Mansfield, Ohio

Established: Specialty paper manufacturer

Flexlink’s Flexsheen line is one of the most technically distinguished interleaving paper offerings in the US market. The company runs an accelerated aging room — uniquely among US glass interleaving suppliers — that allows them to test multiple papers under high heat and humidity stress and benchmark performance against competitors. Their interleaving range covers metal, steel, glass, and plastic applications. They also produce engineered glass and plastic interleaving products designed to preserve designer glass plates, automotive windows, computer screens, and acid-etched glass.

Key products: Flexsheen metal/steel interleaver, Flexsheen glass interleaver, anti-tarnish papers, anti-corrosive papers

Industries served: Designer glass, automotive glass, FPD/computer screen glass, precious metals, steel

3. Xamax Industries

Headquarters: Connecticut

Established: Established US converter

Xamax produces a comprehensive range of interleave materials covering kraft papers, tissue papers, polypropylene films, polyester films, and 100 percent cotton fabrics. Their EK and HC Grade kraft papers are engineered specifically for metal interleaving with low sulfur and chloride content. Their Tuff Kraft is an industry standard separator for metal rolling, stampings, plated parts, and molded parts. Their EK/HS line adds an LDPE thermoplastic coating for moisture barrier on electronics and precious metal protection.

Key products: EK metal-grade kraft, Tuff Kraft, HC Grade creped paper, EK/HS poly-coated, AT anti-tarnish tissue, PP and Melinex films

Industries served: Steel mills, copper and brass mills, precious metals, plated parts, electronics

4. EMI Specialty Papers

Headquarters: Bristol, Connecticut

Established: 1996

EMI is ISO 9001-certified and produces neutral pH, sulfur-free interleaving paper alongside dielectric paper, vulcanized fibre, and fishpaper. Their custom conversion capability — slitting, sheeting, die cutting, traverse winding — makes them a strong choice for buyers who need non-standard formats. EMI handles small to mid-volume specialty conversions that larger mills cannot accommodate, and they have particular depth in archival, electrical-grade, and metals interleaving.

Key products: Sulfur-free interleave, electrical kraft paper, fishpaper, custom slitting and sheeting

Industries served: Archival, electrical, metals, electronics, jewelry

5. Domtar Corporation

Headquarters: Fort Mill, South Carolina (US headquarters)

Established: 1848

Domtar is one of the largest paper manufacturers in North America with extensive US operations producing uncoated freesheet, specialty papers, and packaging papers. Their industrial paper portfolio includes interleaving grades supplied to metals, glass, and packaging industries. Domtar’s scale advantage shows in supply consistency and pricing for high-volume buyers, although for tightly specified low-sulfur applications, dedicated specialty mills are often preferred.

Key products: Industrial uncoated freesheet, specialty interleaving grades, packaging papers

Industries served: Metals, glass, packaging, general industrial

6. Pacothane Technologies

Headquarters: Massachusetts

Established: Established specialty paper converter

Pacothane focuses on specialty release and interleave papers for the printed circuit board industry. Their PCB-grade interleaving paper is sulfur-controlled and pH-neutral, designed for direct contact with sensitive copper-clad and silver-plated boards during manufacturing flow. Pacothane is a known name in the US PCB manufacturing supply chain and serves both domestic electronics fabricators and contract manufacturers.

Key products: PCB partition paper, PCB release paper, specialty electronics interleaving

Industries served: PCB manufacturing, electronic assembly, semiconductor packaging

7. Robert Wilson Paper Corp.

Headquarters: Northeastern United States

Established: 1918

A long-established custom paper manufacturer producing absorbent, laminated, latex-impregnated, glassine, coated, treated, and kraft papers — many configured as interleaving stock. Their breadth of paper types and willingness to handle custom die-cuts makes them flexible for specialty applications. They serve automotive, food, beverage, printing, cosmetic, packaging, medical, and marketing industries with both stock and custom converted product.

Key products: Glassine interleave, kraft interleave, treated specialty papers, custom die-cut

Industries served: Automotive, food, beverage, printing, cosmetic, packaging, medical

8. Papertec, Inc.

Headquarters: Clifton, New Jersey

Established: 1981

Papertec is a custom manufacturer of recycled and virgin kraft papers for automotive, aerospace, packaging, and military industries. Their interleaving grades cover military and aerospace applications where MIL-spec compliance is required. Papertec operates as both a primary paper producer and a finishing service company, offering slitting, sheeting, and conversion to customer specifications.

Key products: Custom virgin and recycled kraft interleaving, MIL-spec compliant grades

Industries served: Military, aerospace, automotive, packaging

9. Pacproinc

Headquarters: Ivyland, Pennsylvania

Established: Long-standing US converter

Pacproinc focuses on interleaving materials for the food processing and industrial food packaging markets. They offer Quilon paper, silicone bakeable parchment, and poly film interleaves customized by length and weight. Their roll stock approach allows direct cutting to customer specifications, eliminating limitations of pre-cut materials. While their primary focus is food processing, their custom interleaving capability extends to other industrial applications requiring controlled-release surfaces.

Key products: Quilon-coated paper, silicone bakeable parchment, poly film interleaves

Industries served: Food processing, bakery, industrial food packaging

10. Associated Bag

Headquarters: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Established: 1938

Associated Bag is a major US distributor stocking interleaving Kraft, crepe, tissue, and electrical-grade papers — many described as acid-free, anti-tarnish, and tear-resistant. Suitable for linear and spiral wrapping, transformer interleaving, conductor wrapping, and general industrial separation. Their value as a supplier is in their breadth of stocked specifications and their ability to ship same-day from a national distribution network.

Key products: Stocked interleaving paper in multiple grades, electrical-grade interleaving, anti-tarnish tissue

Industries served: Electrical, transformer manufacturing, electronics, automotive, general industrial

Comparison at a Glance

Specifications That Separate Premium Interleaving Paper From Generic

When evaluating any partition or interleaving paper, ask the supplier to confirm:

• Sulfur content if interleaving silver, copper, or sensitive plated metals (target below 5 ppm TRS)
• pH range — neutral (6.5–7.5) for most metal applications
• Chloride content — important for stainless steel and electrical applications
• Basis weight tolerance (typically ±3%)
• Surface smoothness — flat, low-dust, low-debris
• Tensile and tear strength relative to handling stress
• Moisture content — typically 5–7%
• FSC, SFI, or PEFC chain-of-custody if sustainability documentation is required
• Free samples large enough for an actual stack test

Choosing By Industry

Glass and Photovoltaic

For float glass, architectural glass, automotive glass, and photovoltaic cover glass, Ahlstrom’s Glass-Gard is the recognized industry choice. Flexlink’s Flexsheen is a strong alternative, particularly when the buyer wants documented accelerated aging testing. Both producers focus tightly on chemistry control and surface flatness.

Steel, Copper, and Polished Metals

Xamax’s EK and Tuff Kraft lines are the workhorses for stainless steel mills, copper and brass producers, and polished metal sheet handling. Flexlink’s Flexsheen metal interleaver line competes directly. EMI Specialty Papers serves specialty metals applications where small-batch custom conversion matters.

Electronics and PCB

Pacothane Technologies is the specialist for PCB partition paper. EMI Specialty Papers and Xamax (with EK/HS poly-coated grades) cover broader electronics interleaving. For very high purity sulfur-free PCB stacking, sourcing from a specialist like Pacothane or a sulfur-free-focused converter is the safer choice.

Military and Aerospace

Papertec leads here because of MIL-spec compliance documentation. EMI also serves this market. The key question for these buyers is not paper performance — it is paper traceability and certification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is interleaving paper the same as partition paper?

They overlap heavily. Interleaving paper typically describes paper between flat sheets in a stack (glass, metal). Partition paper typically describes paper between individual units in a container (PCBs, bottles, boxed items). Many suppliers stock the same base paper and slit it to either format on request.

Can I source unprinted partition paper at low MOQ?

Yes, EMI Specialty Papers, RP Andrews, Hemptique, and Associated Bag all serve smaller-volume buyers. For volumes below a pallet, distributors are generally a better fit than primary mills.

What is the difference between FSC and SFI certification?

Both certify that the paper fiber comes from responsibly managed forests. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is the older and more internationally recognized standard. SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) is North American. Many premium suppliers carry both. PEFC is a third option common in European supply chains.

Do these suppliers offer custom printing on interleaving paper?

Most do, with caveats. Standard inks may compromise chemistry control, so for low-sulfur and pH-controlled applications, only specialty inks should be used. Always verify ink chemistry separately and request a printed sample before committing to a printed run.

The Bottom Line

The US partition and interleaving paper market is well-developed, with both large mill operators and focused specialty converters available to most buyers. Ahlstrom and Flexlink lead in glass interleaving. Xamax dominates metal interleaving. Pacothane is the PCB specialist. EMI Specialty Papers and RP Andrews handle the custom conversion needs. Match the supplier to the chemistry your application requires, demand certifications, request samples, and the result will be a stable supply chain rather than a recurring quality problem.