Ink

Sun Chemical to Introduce New Technologies at LabelExpo Americas 2008
August 1, 2008

Headquartered in Parsippany, N.J., Sun Chemical—a leader in the production of printing inks and pigments—will introduce two new innovative products during LabelExpo Americas 2008, being held Sept. 9-11 at Chicago’s Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. The products serve the narrow-web and label industry, and include innovations in brand protection and printable electronics. Sun Chemical will also showcase new innovations for the UV flexo and water-based flexo markets. Sun Chemical’s AquaPro is the next generation of water-based ink technology. An innovative value-added system that increases productivity for the printer, AquaPro delivers the world-class quality printing the narrow web market demands. AquaPro offers superior print densities,

Sun Chemical Performance Pigments to Increase Global Pigment Prices
July 1, 2008

Due to a dramatic spike in raw material, energy and transportation costs, Parsippany, New Jersey-based Sun Chemical’s Performance Pigments Division will increase global pigment prices on average by 10 percent to 30 percent effective July 1. “The hyper inflation of oil and natural gas has led to dramatically higher energy, raw material and freight costs,” said Myron Petruch, president, Performance Pigments, Sun Chemical. “In addition, there have also been dramatic cost increases in intermediates and pigments out of China and other parts of Asia. Costs are escalating quicker and in higher amounts than at any time in the last 30 years.”

A Win/Win Situation
April 1, 2008

The Print Professional team congratulates everyone who participated in this year’s design contest for their creativity and ingenuity. It was exciting to receive new entries in the mail each day, and to see how industry professionals used their talent and supply chain expertise to deliver effective, high-quality solutions. With loupes in hand, a distinguished panel of judges from North American Publishing Company, Philadelphia, evaluated entries based on print quality, technical achievement and the degree to which a solution satisfied the intended application. They were so impressed with the submissions, that in addition to designating winners in the various categories, the judges felt compelled

Flint Group Raising Ink Pricing
August 28, 2007

Due to a continuing and unprecedented rise in raw materials, transportation and energy costs, Flint Group, Plymouth, Mich., announced the following price increases on inks in North America effective Oct. 1: • Publication Gravure—10 percent • Publication Heatset—8 percent • News Ink—6 percent • Sheetfed—5 percent to 7 percent depending on product technology and color • Packaging—up to 12 percent depending on product technology and color Bill Miller, president of Flint Group North America, said the increased global consumption of petroleum and petroleum derivatives, as well as limited refinery capacity, continue to be the key drivers in the cost of raw materials. In

HP and Pantone Take the Guesswork Out of Spot-Color Matching
August 13, 2007

Headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., Hewlett Packard (HP) announced the availability of the Digital Color Toolbox it has developed in partnership with Pantone, Carlstadt, N.J., to further enable accurate reproduction of Pantone colors with HP Indigo digital color presses. The Pantone and HP Indigo Digital Color Toolbox includes the Pantone Color Bridge swatchbook, as well as the CMYK and HP IndiChrome on-press color guide. Together, the two swatchbooks offer a convenient way to compare solid Pantone Colors with their simulations in offset four-color, HP Indigo four-color and HP IndiChrome on-press six-color processes. The Pantone Color Bridge swatchbook enables users to determine how a

Ink-readable
June 1, 2007

St. Louis, Missouri-based Somark Innovations, cofounded by Ramos Mays and Mark Pydynowski, is developing a chipless, RFID bio-ink applied by a method similar to tattooing. According to company president Pydynowski, Somark’s ink is “a biocompatible, chemically inert ink that is injected into the skin ... . This ink has special properties allow[ing] it to be remotely detected, translating into a unique ID [code] that can be read without line of sight.” Somark’s founders are motivated, said Pydynowski, by the precariousness of the nation’s food supply. The RFID ink the company produces can permanently track livestock threatened by disease in a more cost-effective way than

Stand-out Mainstays
June 1, 2007

Necessity is frequently called the “mother of invention.” Even when new products evolve into cultural mainstays, there’s always room for improvement or repositioning in the marketplace. Breweries in the United States, for instance, have been up and running since 1663, when Nicholas Vartlett opened one in Hoboken, N.J., according to the Hoboken Historical Museum and Cultural Center. Almost 400 years later, companies making and marketing beer still seek ways to maintain market presence. And no matter how successful the daily deluge of direct mail continues to be, upping response rates by adding personalized notes and incentives has become an increasingly popular advertising technique. Liquid

Flint Group to Acquire Day International
April 24, 2007

Headquartered in Luxembourg, Flint Group has announced an agreement in principle to acquire Day International, a world leader in the supply of printing blankets, sleeves, image transfer media and pressroom chemicals. Day International will operate as a business unit within Flint Group, and the combined group will rank among the largest pressroom consumable supplier in every region it serves. Dennis Wolters is to remain as CEO of Day International operations. Approximately 8,300 employees will serve customers from 170 sales, service and manufacturing locations on five continents. Combined revenues for 2007 are estimated to be $3.32 billion. The agreement was signed on April 20, with

Rising Costs Affecting Raw Materials for the Print Industry
April 10, 2007

Due to rising petroleum prices, printers are seeing cost increases in finishing products, inks and substrates. “We are seeing five to seven percent increases,” said Jerry Hill, vice president of sales and marketing, Drytac Corporation. “Almost all the components used to make our overlaminate and adhesive products have risen,” agreed Angela Mohni, director of marketing, Neschen Americas. This includes base film carriers, such as PVC, polyester and polypropylene. “We have seen unprecedented and relentless increases over a period of three years in plastic substrates and adhesive. It is clear there is limited availability of some of the highly engineered components of our laminates,” explained

Big Cover Up at Stevens Technology
March 13, 2007

Printing press manufacturer Stevens Technology, Fort Worth, Texas, introduced a new ink system that is specially designed to provide more coverage. Named the “MoreStore Inker,” the system is prefect for handling complex ad designs—such as those typically used for automobiles and prescription drugs—that have heavy solids and knockouts, plus 6-point type with serifs. By using four rollers that oscillate, ink is distributed more evenly to the plate than with conventional inkers. In addition, the ink fountain motor has a programable speed curve that is adjustable from the unit or the main console. The oscillating rollers feature adjustable stroke capacity and come standard with