Ink

Colorific has announced that Australian-based iMedia is the second PaperlinX company to take on its range of high quality alternative inks.  The deal was signed at the Visual Impact Image Expo at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre where both companies are currently exhibiting.

Founded in 1992 and acquired by PaperlinX in 2007, iMedia is a supplier of hardware, software, media, inks and consumables to the architectural, engineering and large format copier markets as well as the higher quality inkjet market for point of sale, display, signage and proofing.

The successful signing of iMedia as a distributor follows the announcement in June 2011 that PaperlinX’s Robert Horne Group had adopted the Colorific ProMax inks for Roland in the UK & Ireland. 

Chris Lewis-Williams, Group iMedia Manager, at iMedia, comments, “Colorific’s range of alternative inks is a natural fit for iMedia.  Our customers are always looking for ways to reduce their costs and improve profits and switching to high quality alternative inks is a great way of doing so.”

Shaun Holdom, Business Manager for Colorific, adds, “It’s great to welcome iMedia on board as the Australian distributor for our inks.  We are able to offer a high quality alternative ink to suit every requirement - regardless of printer and application.  All our inks are fully tested and proven in the field and have a track record of reliable and trouble-free performance.  As a result, we are the fastest-growing alternative ink brand in the UK and we want to replicate this success across the globe.”

Holdom concludes, “Our business case is compelling.  Once customers have seamlessly switched to our inks, they are sticking with them because they profit from the significant savings that can be made – up to 50% in some cases – without compromising the quality of output.”

International expansion continues

In a bid to continue the expansion of its distribution channels with like-minded, professional businesses worldwide, Colorific has also announced that it is about to embark on an ambitious ‘world tour’ of major trade events over the coming months.  These include:

• International Graphics Art Show (IGAS) in Tokyo, Japan, 16th to 21st September 2011
• Viscom Spain, 6th to 8th October 2011
• Viscom Germany, 13th to 15th October 2011
• Viscom  Italy, 3rd to 5th November 2011
• Sign and Graphic Imaging Middle East, Dubai, 31st January to 2nd February 2012
• Sign & Digital UK, 27th to 29th March 2012

Potential partner companies interested in meeting with Colorific at these events should contact Shaun Holdom on shaun.holdom@colorificink.com

For more information about Colorific and its range of ink solutions, please visit www.colorificink.com 

We suggested in our August 3rd article Big Hitters in the Ink Market, that the time was coming when we would see some of these bigger ink players entering the digital print arena...

Van Son Holland Ink Corporation today announced it is launching a new line of Premium Wide Format Ink jet inks for Epson, Mimaki, Mutoh and Roland printers. Van Son will introduce its new line of inks at Graph Expo 2011 being held at McCormick Place in Chicago on Sept. 11-14. Van Son developed its new line of Premium Wide Format Ink jet inks in response to the growing wide format inkjet market demand for an efficient alternative to major printer manufacturer’s inks.

With a well-respected reputation for manufacturing inks with incredible print quality and colour brilliance, Van Son’s cost-effective wide format inkjet inks improve wide format printing performance by offering better adhesion on a wide range of substrates. Offered in both easy-to-use cartridges and economical bulk packaging, the product line includes:

• Real Solvent inks designed for Mimaki JV3, JV33 and JV5 printers. These inks have a strong outdoor durability, are extremely fast drying, and have increased print head durability.
• Eco Solvent ink for improving printing performance with better adhesion on substrates including flex, PVC, and vinyl. The Eco Solvent inks to do not emit harmful VOCs, eliminating the need for forced ventilation.
• Pigment and Dye inks were created for Epson Piezo Head printers. With excellent print performance on a wide variety of media, the inks provide highly intense colour with a wide colour gamut, strong head durability, and enhanced fade resistance.
• Power Chrome Pigment inks that increase the density levels to optimize compatibility on most media types and is engineered to produce incredible print quality and colour brilliance equivalent to dye based inks.
• Dye Sublimination inks that can be used with direct printing on fabrics without the need for intermediary heat transfer paper. With a particle size less than 100 nm there is virtually no possibility of head clogging.

“We are very excited to bring to market an ink that will serve the wide format printers and the graphic arts industry.” said Joseph Bendowski, CEO of Van Son Holland Ink Corporation of America. “As companies invest in new technologies, our wide format inks will increase pressroom efficiencies as well as provide an answer to environmental concerns that are so important to the industry today.”

Xennia Technology, the world’s leading industrial inkjet solutions provider, announces today the appointment of Mr Laurie Geldenhuys, as Commercial Director, responsible for growing Xennia’s global business.

Dr Alan Hudd, Xennia’s Managing Director, comments: “Xennia has many years of knowledge and experience in developing inkjet inks for a variety of important applications. With this game-changing appointment we are driving the commercialisation of our existing developments, making ink central to our business.”

Xennia has a state-of-the-art high capacity ink manufacturing facility complete with the latest technology and equipment after a significant financial investment fully supported by Xennia’s parent company, TenCate. Xennia sells a range of XenInx high performance inks for a number of applications including textiles, ceramics, graphics, glass and industrial product decoration.

Mr Geldenhuys, formerly Global Business Director of SunJet, the digital division of Sun Chemical, collectively has many years’ experience in the Paint, Coatings and Inks industries. Whilst at SunJet, Mr Geldenhuys achieved dynamic growth at the OEM level on a global basis in graphics, coding & marking, labels, industrial decoration, edible inks and other applications across solvent, aqueous, oil and UV ink chemistries.

“In my new role, the primary goal is to make Xennia the ink supplier of choice to OEM customers across a range of key applications including textiles, ceramics, labels, packaging and graphics,” said Mr Geldenhuys. “I look forward to working with Xennia’s highly experienced and knowledgeable team to fully commercialise a number of significant existing ink development projects and take Xennia’s ink business to the next level.”

Toyo Ink America, LLC, a member of the worldwide Toyo Ink Group, has relocated its HQ to larger premises in Illinois.  The new 100,000+ square foot facility will dramatically boost the company's production and technical support capability by affording room for new equipment, an expanded R&D laboratory and an increase in sales and technical staff. 

The new HQ, based at 1225 N. Michael Drive in Wood Dale, Illinois, is more than double in size of its former headquarters in Addison, Illinois.  The new building devotes nearly half its floor space to colour matching, ink formulation and production purposes.  The relocation provides Toyo Ink with the resources necessary to respond to its increasing customer base and immediate need to bring customised packaging and printing solutions to the global marketplace.   By the end of August, Toyo Ink America expects to begin production of water and solvent-based liquid inks, offset and ultraviolet inks and coatings at the Wood Dale location.

"Simply put, we outgrew our previous site," states John Copeland, president and COO of Toyo Ink America, LLC.  "As our customer base continues to expand in North and South America, a more spacious and versatile work space was needed in order to better support our customers as well as facilitate our future growth."

In line with its regional growth strategy Toyo Ink America is devoting greater resources to ramping up its R&D and manufacturing capability for the development of packaging and printing inks, UV coatings and adhesives and other specialty polymers.  With the Toyo Ink Group's establishment of a sales branch in Sao Paulo, Brazil and its acquisition of Fluid Ink Technology's flexographic, gravure and ultraviolet product assets, both of which occurred in 2010, the increased demand for these solutions has prompted the company to boost its production and development capability here in North America. 

"Our goal is to be the leader in product innovation and quality," comments Copeland.  "Investing in a larger production space, R&D lab and sales / technical personnel is vital to our commitment to provide our existing and growing customer base with unparalleled solutions and support."
 
In addition to the 50,000-sq-ft production area, the new building houses 40,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space and another 19,000 sq. ft. for administrative purposes.  It features a state-of-the-art security and fire detection system that meets strict fire protection standards regulating the production and storage of solvent-based materials.   In addition, a refrigerated storage section in the warehouse area allows the company to store heat-sensitive products without fear of thermal degradation.  The new building's proximity to major highways and airports is also expected to facilitate greater efficiency in shipping and storage.

Toyo Ink America was situated at 710 W. Belden Avenue, Addison, Illinois for over ten years.  The relocation to Wood Dale was completed at the end of July.  All employees previously based out of Addison have relocated to the Wood Dale headquarters.

Sensient Technologies Corporation (NYSE: SXT) announced today that it has resumed active consideration of share repurchases as part of its financial strategy. The Company has an authorization to repurchase up to 3.0 million of its shares but it has not engaged in any buybacks since 2007.

"We believe our stock is a very attractive investment right now," said Kenneth P. Manning, Chairman and CEO of Sensient Technologies Corporation. "The Company just announced record earnings; our prospects look very good; and our balance sheet is strong."

Sensient Technologies Corporation is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of colors, flavors and fragrances. Sensient employs advanced technologies at facilities around the world to develop specialty food and beverage systems, cosmetic and pharmaceutical systems, inkjet and specialty inks and colors, and other specialty and fine chemicals. The Company's customers include major international manufacturers representing most of the world's best-known brands. Sensient is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

FUJIFILM Europe today announces that it will implement a price increase in Europe, Middle East, and Africa for its Sericol and Uvivid ink ranges and associated screen emulsions and chemicals with effect from 1st September 2011. The increase will vary by product and by country but will lie within the ranges detailed below:

Solvent screen inks: prices will be increased by 5 to 15%
UV screen and flexo inks: prices will be increased by 3 to 8%
Emulsions and chemicals: prices will be increased by 8 to 15%

Although Fujifilm has been proactively undertaking an intensive programme of structural reforms to reduce fixed costs and improve efficiencies, the cost of many raw materials has risen dramatically recently, significantly affecting the manufacturing cost of ink and pressroom chemicals in particular. With 65-70% of the cost of ink made up of raw materials from third parties, this unprecedented volatility (which hasn’t been seen for over 30 years), together with an increase in energy costs, has left Fujifilm with no alternative but to raise its prices. A separate price increase for pressroom chemicals for the offset printing process is already underway.

In spite of these difficult business conditions, Fujifilm remains committed to helping its customers compete by providing a range of leading-edge technologies and solutions, and is dedicated to working with the whole supply chain to minimise the effects as much as possible.