Signage fights back...

 

Avery Dennison Graphics and Reflective Solutions continue to organise professional workshops for signmakers, digital printers, and application teams at the European Graphics Centre in Alphen aan de Rijn, The Netherlands.  This autumn, the schedule focuses on vehicle wrapping – including a special masterclass on ‘how to create the perfect design for the perfect wrap’ -- and graphics application.

Vehicle wrapping
The one-day masterclass on design for vehicle wraps – given in English -- is scheduled for 20th October. Three expert two-day courses on advanced vehicle wrapping techniques are scheduled – for 1st and 2nd September, 13th-14th October,  and 17th and 18th November.   Places for these well-established and popular English-language workshops are limited, so early booking is advised. 

For newcomers to the art of vehicle wrapping, a one-day beginners’ course is scheduled for 28th October.

Graphics application
The basic, core techniques of self-adhesive graphics application, along with the ‘tips and tricks’ that differentiate the professional from the beginner, are addressed in two Dutch-language one-day workshops, taking place on 28th October and 9th November.

All the workshops involve hands-on experience with Avery Graphics films and a variety of substrates, and participants receive a certificate at the end of their training.
Fees and course availability are available via the website, www.europe.averygraphics.com, where online registration is also possible.

Information on ‘offsite’ workshops additionally organised around Europe is available on request from Avery Dennison Graphics and Reflective Solutions sales and customer service teams.

Exhibiting for the first time at 100% Design (22 – 25 September, Earls Court, London), Lintec Graphic Films, supplier of innovative, bespoke printable window graphics, will give visitors to its stand (F110) a wide overview of the premium films it sells to a range of customers around the globe.

The newest addition to its range of unique films, Vitroflip™, will be shown for the first time. Vitroflip™ maximises the opportunity to create an eye-catching image, enabling the user to create a ‘moving’ image, text or colours.

Lintec Graphic Film’s newest vignette effect film, Dot-on-dot™, which is perfect for office partitions, allows for a contemporary edge with the ability to print the pattern in two different colours, thereby creating completely different ambiences. For example, the outfacing image can be printed in a neutral, calm colour to fit in with the rest of the office decor, while the reverse image can be printed in a bright, lively colour. Alongside Dot-on-dot™, Lintec Graphic Films will also display a white vignette, which enables designers and architects to combine privacy with decorative printed images.

Vitrocolour™, an ultra-clear polyester film for transforming glass into vibrant advertising, design and corporate identity opportunities, is proving very popular with designers. The non-PVC film offers excellent see-through vision and allows for images of photographic quality to be printed in vibrant colours. Most importantly, Vitrocolour™ removes in one piece, which allows for quick changeovers when rebranding is required.

100% Design visitors will also be able to view the versatile Lumisty® window film, which has a unique ability to control what can and cannot be seen by changing from translucent to transparent depending on the viewing angle. It has already captured the imagination of leading interior designers, architects and retail branding specialists, and has successfully been used in a number of architectural campaigns, including practical applications to create privacy.

Contra Vision® ORS, an innovative one-way window film, will also be available on the stand. It allows for two customised images, both right reading, to be viewed from either side while continuing to enable see-through vision.

“We are seeing more and more interest in our glazing enhancement films from architects, designers and branding specialists, so believe 100% Design is the perfect platform for us to show it to the rest of this industry,” says Andy Voss, Managing Director of Lintec Graphic Films. “Visitors who are looking for new innovative, high quality applications will not be disappointed when they visit our stand.”

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.