Think of ink

15 October 2015



Think of ink


Think of ink

Innovation in ink has thrived in recent years, and converters have to respond to the growing demand for more ecologically-sustainable inks that print quicker, clearer and more vibrantly. Emma-Jane Batey reports.

It has been widely reported that ink manufacturers have had a tricky time of late with stricter regulations, reduced volumes and demanding product performance. But for high quality ink manufacturers that pride themselves on quality products and service, this is a challenge they relish.

Sun Chemical, the world's largest producer of printer inks received the innovator of the year award from the British Coatings Federation (BCF) in June this year. Sun Chemical is a perfect example of a forward-thinking ink manufacturer. Beating 15 other finalists, it took the top award at BCF's annual innovation excellence awards, which was solid recognition for the role printing inks play in innovating in the converting industry. Sun Chemical's business director Peter Saunders says: "This award reflects Sun's determination to innovate and lead in the adoption of digital printing in packaging. Our R&D team has created inkjet printing ink technology suitable for printing labels and flexible films for food packaging, allowing customers to benefit from the operational efficiencies and marketing opportunities provided by digital technology."

A global company, Sun Chemical develops and manufactures printing inks and pigments as well as materials for packaging, coatings, plastics, cosmetics and other industrial markets. Operating in 56 countries and employing more than 8,000 people, the company generates sales of more than $3.5billion. It has 10 global development centres that focus on innovation across its active market sectors. Mr Saunders says: "We are committed to creating solutions that improve productivity, create new revenue opportunities for our customers and contribute to a more sustainable future. As well as being the global leader in inks and pigments, we are continually working on innovative solutions that enable our customers to better manage their brand colours, protect product integrity through improvements in packaging and introduce security features that defend against counterfeiting. We also have new ideas for digital printing applications including inkjet printing systems for narrow web and corrugated printing as well as inkjet inks."

The ink family

The British Coatings Federation (BCF), which includes Akzo Nobel Packaging Coatings, Colorgen and Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems among others, is the mouthpiece of the UK ink industry. It uses its links to government departments in the UK and Brussels to advocate on behalf of the industry. A BCF spokesperson says: "Printing-ink manufacturers have gone through a torrid time over the past few years and this state of affairs is likely to continue. The BCF provides an established and widely respected industry means for manufacturers to receive early awareness of, and opportunities to address issues of common concern."

Sean Hancock, lead print development manager from UK supermarket Morrisons, is clear that the issues are endless. He says: "Let's just say there is continued focus highlighting the considerable variation in the basic process set. L*a*b* variance is considerable - visual and spectral - so you would ask what is considered true CMYK? As a brand-owner we are continuing to look to key partnerships with a focus at each and every touch point in the process. We have noted issues regarding pigment sourcing, doctor blade, anilox, plate storage - the list is endless - all having major impact on printed results. Print quality will no longer be accepted as printer blaming, poor repro or plates. We continue to focus attention on print quality management and strongly believe every key stakeholder within the process should adhere to best practice."

Mr Hancock says: "There is a lot of good work in the industry but the choice is vast and this is adding to the variables. Reduce the variables and you should improve overall print quality. We would like to pay special thanks to Phil Hodges at INKTECH for all the support in special projects and Morrisons brand colour development work throughout 2015."

For Morrisons, the fourth largest chain of supermarkets in the UK and a company that prides itself on identifying and promoting its advantages, developing key partnerships such as that with Phil Hodges at INKTECH is integral to its success. INKTECH, a family-owned, independent manufacturer of specialist inks and coatings, is driven by technical experience and a desire for long-term, mutually-beneficial professional partnerships. Hodges speaks about the relationship between INKTECH and Morrisons. "It's great to work with a forward-thinking partner like Morrisons, as it means we can really push ourselves to create and deliver innovative inks solutions," he says. "INKTECH is about more than just selling inks, we're selling solutions that truly utilise the value of ink. These added-value projects are great for us and for our customers."

REACH for ink

Flexible packaging manufacturers should not neglect the role of ink. With the current leading issues of migration - particularly into the food packaging sector - and the impact of Reach regulations on raw material availability and use restrictions, addressing such concerns while creating fresh ideas is a big challenge.

Leading flexible packaging manufacturer Roberts Mart in Leeds, focuses on reliable, innovative and cost-effective packaging solutions for its customers. It is an independent company that has been in the Roberts family since it was established in 1852, and is run by the family's sixth generation. It is as passionate about its history as it is about its future. Following a £2million investment in machinery, sales director Ben Roberts says: "It has been a busy year for the company. Our latest significant investment in new equipment has seen us buy the BOBST 20SIX eight colour printing press, a Nordmeccania Super Simplex laminator and a Proslit Slitter Rewinder - all this is possible because we have a healthy order book with a good number of new orders coming through the pipeline too. We see growth across the board, particularly in the food sector where we are seeing great opportunities in snacks and confectionery."

Roberts Mart has an interesting approach to innovating ink. With its own in-house ink specialist and supplier, Bashir Mohammed, Roberts Mart guarantees that the inks used will be of the highest quality and meet the latest regulations. Mohammed says: "We offer a bespoke colour-matching service to all our customers. It is my responsibility to ensure that all inks issued to our four presses meet with our customers' exact needs."

Andrew McClure is project manager from Watershed Packaging which is a leading provider of packaging machinery and consumables, and printed adhesive labels and printed flexible packaging. It has three production sites in the UK. Offering custom-printed film and using the latest machinery and inks, McClure notes that the opportunities offered to customers are vast. He says: "The way that we use ink is focused on making products as attractive as possible on the shelf, conveying the information required and adhering to the very latest regulations. Using sleeves for example, gives brand-owners a much larger area for information compared to labels, but of course this uses more ink, so it's imperative that we are smart with raw materials as well as colour consistency and printing performance so there's no waste."



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