Consumables

3A Composites

With the recently completed acquisition of Alcan Composites by Schweiter Technologies, a Swiss company, executives have announced the business now will be known as 3A Composites as it continues to manufacture and sell its product lines for the graphic display, building cladding, furniture, home construction and transportation industries. 3A Composites employs 2,700 employees in 21 locations in Europe, the Americas and Asia

Sales and marketing offices for 3A Composites USA are based in Mooresville, N.C. The company's leading product brands sold in North America, Central America and South America, including the Caribbean, include: Alucobond, Dibond, Fome-Cor, Sintra, Gator, Omni-Flute, Gator-Ply, Syn-Ply, and Luxcell. Manufacturing facilities for these products are located in Benton, KY, Glasgow, KY, and Statesville, NC.

The 3A Composites name is reminiscent of the three powerful company brands which preceded it: Alcan, Alusuisse and Airex.

"Our new business name reflects our organization's unequaled reputation for quality in the industries that we serve," said Brendan Cooper, president, 3A Composites USA. "While our overall business name will change, customers in each of these industries will still be able to rely on our trusted well-established product lines. Our customers will continue to derive high value from the world's leading composite substrates."

"Our highest priority at 3A Composites will continue to be to meet customer needs with value-added products backed by outstanding customer service," said W. Jay Wynne, vice president, sales and marketing, 3A Composites USA. "Although our company name has changed, the familiar names and faces in our customer-focused organization have not. As 3A Composites, we stand ready to meet or exceed our customers' expectations for high-quality products and service."

Toyo Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd. will participate in IPEX 2010, the world’s largest class of technology fair for print, publishing and media, to be held in Birmingham, UK from Tuesday, May 18 through Tuesday, March 25, 2010.

The Toyo Ink Group will participate in IPEX 2010 under the main theme of “feel the evolution.”

The Group has adopted a vision of becoming “a corporate group evolving into a globally useful specialty chemical manufacturer” in its New Vision SCC2017, the long-term plan currently underway, and conducts business and corporate activities with the objective of evolving into an internationally respected, science-oriented corporate group. Participation in IPEX is positioned as part of the product and corporate promotion activities in line with this vision.

The principal theme of evolution refers to the evolutionary process of the Group. At the same time, it denotes the evolution of ink users operate with the aim of surviving and succeeding in the global printing industry, which is changing radically.

The Toyo Ink Group booth at the IPEX show will showcase products, focusing mainly on products to be distributed in Europe, including printing ink and next-generation print materials, as well as multimedia material that encompasses the printing and non-printing industries. Given that the IPEX show is a global event, the Group will provide information on products targeting the Asian and American regions.

In parallel with the product exhibition, the Group will also present specific business plans for Europe. The Europe Region of the Group has built a network of partners (agents) not only in EU countries but also in Eastern Europe and Russia. The Group plans to introduce the ways in which the products and services provided through the network will benefit the entire market.

The recent recession saw chemical manufacturers remove excess capacity, and as we now start to come out of recession and demand is again on the increase, it is widely expected that there will be short-term shortages in raw materials, with the potential for increased prices as demand outstrips supply.

One example of this is with Flint Group announcing price increases on a number of pressroom chemistry products sold in the Americas.

Increases range from 5% to 12%, depending on product line, and take effect for products shipped on or after June 1, 2010. Products include alcohol substitutes, sheetfed fountain solutions, conventional press wash, UV press wash, metering roller cleaner, film cleaners and deglazers/rejuvenators.

“A number of factors have significantly increased our raw material costs,” says Kevin Fennewald, business director, Pressroom Chemicals. “During the recent recession, major chemical manufacturers removed excess capacity. Now, with demand increasing, raw material costs are rising and supply is scarce.

“The rising cost of crude is also a key contributing factor,” continued Mr. Fennewald. “Other substantial cost increases have come from container and freight suppliers. All of these factors have affected Flint Group’s cost to manufacture and distribute pressroom chemistry products.”

Flint Group’s staff has worked hard to assure product supply and minimise the impact on customers, but the combination of economic and market factors has led to cost increases beyond what Flint Group is able to absorb.

The blackboard films available on the market up to now could only be used with normal school chalk. But now ASLAN has brought out a self-adhesive blackboard film that can also be written on with liquid chalk markers.

With this new, top-quality film, ASLAN has further expanded its broad range of self-adhesive blackboard films. ASLAN BB 900, a slate-colored blackboard film, is equipped with a special matt, scratch-resistant surface. This means the blackboard can be written on using either liquid chalk markers or conventional chalk, both of which can then be wet-erased. The film is highly resistant to solvents, meaning that even after constant use it is guaranteed not to show any ghostwriting or shadows. Even if it is written on by accident using an inappropriate writing utensil, e.g. a permanent marker, the marks can be removed using household cleaning spirits or another organic solvent. This cleaning will not damage the film's surface.

The above qualities make the film ideal for all applications involving changing inscriptions, such as signs in restaurants, schools, seminar rooms or offices, or as a memoboard at home.

Rounding out ASLAN's line of blackboard films is an iron-containing ferro film, ASLAN FF 400. Applying this film beneath the blackboard film makes the surface magnetic as well. Blackboard films are also available in black and green, or in glossy white to create a whiteboard.

Sihl has launched two new additions to its vinyl and canvas range in the UK.

A 'global first' for the company sees the introduction of Premium Vinyl SA 270 glossy 3585, a permanent self-adhesive vinyl film with a glossy microporous coating.

Simultaneously, Sihl launched its first-ever glossy canvas; Fortuna Artist Canvas 350 glossy 3582, aimed at customers seeking a superior fine art solution.

The new vinyl film, incorporating the group's microporous coating technology, is one of the few self-adhesive, water resistant glossy coating products in the sector and has been developed with an aqueous, acrylate-based permanent adhesive.

"We continue to innovate in the large format media inkjet printing arena. Sihl Premium Vinyl SA270 glossy 3585 is completely compatible with dye-based inks and the latest generation of pigment inks. And with this new coating our customers have access to the first ever water-resistant SA vinyl product suitable for this printing sector," said Sam Iliaifar, area sales manager, Sihl Group UK. "Our new coating ensures an even gloss in both printed and unprinted areas and by avoiding optical brightening agents the film doesn't turn yellow as a result of oxidation. This means pictures retain their original appearance for longer."

Other key features include:

• High color saturation
• Fast drying time
• Indoor and short-term outdoor usage potential
• A range of applications including floor advertising (combined with appropriate laminated films) signs, banners, vehicle advertising, POS materials, decorations and a raft of short-term advertising media.

The new vinyl will, over time, replace the two older adhesive films available in the range; Standard Vinyl SA 240 Glossy 3828 with swellable coating (only suitable for dye inks) and the first generation Classic Vinyl WR SA 280 satin 3634.

The new microporous coated Fortuna Artist Canvas 350 glossy 3582 is Sihl's first high-gloss coated canvas with a 2:1 structure and targets customers looking to create superior fine art products.

"The basic material comprises a robust, dimension-stable polyester/cotton blend, enabling prints to be easily stretched across canvas frames. And thanks to its glossy coating, high color and black densities (that exceed comparative rival products) can be achieved. The color gamut on this new product has been significantly increased, giving prints an exceptionally vibrant edge. The coating is highly flexible, does not break when stretched over frame edges and because it is free of brightening agents the pigment inks remain age-resistant and color-fast," said Iliaifar. "Add to the mix rapid drying times, water resistance plus compatibility with all current printing systems and we are convinced we have a winner with this outstanding product."

Apart from the production of framed works of art, the new canvas is intended primarily for the printing of high-quality photos and images; advertisements for the indoor sector, restaurants, stores, office buildings and private homes.

The canvas can be ordered in standard reel widths and 12 meter lengths.

 

At this year's IPEX trade fair Mitsubishi HiTec Paper is putting extra emphasis on high-quality jetscript media for industrial inkjet printing. These products are capable of keeping up with the rapidly developing demands of that segment. All of the papers guarantee more than just a broad color space, magnificently brilliant colors, faithful detail and pinpoint precision. They are also FSC-certified, can be channelled into the regular recycling system and are recommended by leading manufacturers of digital printing machines. Users can then choose from the entire broad spectrum of industrial inkjet printing: from transaction and transpromo to direct mail and print-on-demand.

Mitsubishi HiTec Paper is also exhibiting its outstanding, Fogra-certified jetscript proofing media. The silk matte and glossy qualities are especially well suited for the professional printouts used during color management and pre-press processes. The jetscript proofing media range stands media of choice for layout, camera-ready/imposition and contract proofs.

In addition Mitsubishi presents two brand-new media for photo printing: A photo paper with a unique pearlescent metallic effect as well as a double-side coated photo paper. Naturally both products meet the superior quality expected from a Mitsubishi inkjet photo media.

Alongside the innovative thermoscript range of thermal papers, Mitsubishi HiTec Paper is also presenting giroform DIGITAL, the top quality carbonless papers for individual, personalized digital printing.