Consumables-Ink - Inkjet

Although inks make up a relatively small proportion of printed materials, working out their carbon footprints can be difficult because of the wide range of ink formulations and the numerous chemicals within them.

By all accounts, 2009 was a difficult year for the printing ink industry. Manufacturers faced pressure from a variety of areas: the global recession, the downturn in the printing market, higher raw material costs and fierce competition.

Filtering last month's PRINT 09 from a printing ink perspective, this colorful printing component is readily seen triggering hosts of printing show innovation. While no inks won (or were even nominated for) Must See 'ems technology recognition awards this year, ink controls, measurement systems, and color control and prediction software were plentiful in the Must See 'ems program.

Sustainability starts at the corporate level. Several vendors are taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, use alternative energy sources, recycle and more.

In response to the demands for printers to create a creditable recognition program, the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP Partnership) was created. It recognizes printers efforts at being a sustainable green printer.

PARSIPPANY, NJ—October 31, 2008—Sun Chemical will be implementing a seven percent price increase for publication inks in North America effective December 1, 2008. “The price of oil has receded in recent weeks, but the costs of pigments, pigment intermediaries, resins and other key additives continue to increase,” said Dennis Sweet, Vice President, Product Management, Publications Inks, Sun Chemical. “These additional components make up the largest percent of most heatset products that we manufacture. While the recent price of oil has helped reduce this impact, our total costs continue to increase”   In addition to the increasing costs of pigments and other raw materials, other

SCHAUMBURG, IL—August 14, 2008—Citing significant and continuing advances in raw material, energy and transportation costs, INX International Ink Co. has announced an increase in ink prices of 10-12 percent across all product lines, effective September 1st. This move follows similar increases announced by other major manufacturers in recent weeks. “The magnitude of multiple cost increases continues to challenge our ability to absorb them,” said Rick Clendenning, INX President and CEO. “We will continue to expand our renewable-resource product offerings while working diligently to optimize our supply chain. We also plan to intensify our own energy management and other INX sustainability programs

You are not alone. Publishers are being buffeted by cost increases on all fronts, and while there are no magic wands to wave, we can gather round to share our sorrows and consider a few basic cost-control tactics. The latest blow is a 10-percent to 12-percent increase in ink prices announced by ink suppliers. Printers will differ in their implementation of this, but if yours is delivering bad news in the form of higher prices, you can accept it as a true reflection of the market. The costs of raw materials and freight have indeed affected the selling price of ink. Your printer

PLYMOUTH, MI—July 8, 2008—The printing ink industry continues to experience unprecedented increases in all of our raw materials – pigments, chemicals, freight and packaging. These increases are directly and indirectly related to crude oil increases as well as large swings in the manufacturing capacity of some of the primary raw material manufacturers. As a result of the surcharges and price increases imposed on our business, Flint Group is forced to pass these increases on to their customers. Today, Flint Group announced price increases and surcharges on all packaging and commercial inks sold in North America, effective on all products billed on or after July

ARVADA, CO—March 17, 2008—Organizers of the Print UV 2008 Conference, held March 2-4 at the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas, report an overwhelmingly enthusiastic reaction to the event, which wound up with many participants professing their eagerness to repeat the experience in 2009. Nearly 100 printers and key suppliers attended the inaugural edition of the peer-oriented industry conference, which focused exclusively on innovations, challenges, best practices and products in the fast-growing UV printing market. The conference also served as the launching pad for the Print UV Association and a platform for the expanding Print UV online community (www.printuv.com). “Almost without exception, participants