Sun Chemical Corp.

ACCEL GRAPHIC SYSTEMS The Sentinel Ink Management System is an electronically-controlled, completely automated cartridge-based ink dispensing system. Write 900, www.accelus.com, Alden & Ott Printing Inks Co. A total ink company, small enough to formulate custom solutions, but large enough to serve the needs of the most demanding industry giants. Write 901, Visit www.aldenottink.com American Water Graphics Ammonia-free flexo inks. Water-based ink systems flexo printing applications. Write 902, Visit www.awg-ink.com ANI Printing Inks Water-based/UV Inks and coatings for the narrow-web, label, and packaging industries. Ink systems include: water-based flexo, UV flexo, UV letterpress, UV offset, UV rotary screen,

CHEVY CHASE, Md.—Maureeen Waite of Sartomer Co. received the 5th annual RadTech President's Award at the RadTech Winter meeting in Palm Beach, FL. This award is presented to individual members that make significant contributions to RadTech and the advancement of UV and EB technology. Waite, Chair of the RadTech Environmental Health and Safety Committee, was recognized for her efforts in the development of a new RadTech health and safety video, "UV/EB Curing, A Safe Choice."  "Maureen provided not only leadership, but long hours of volunteerism to develop this important industry resource," says David Harbourne, of Fusion UV and President of RadTech. "By some estimates, more

Shrink sleeve label printing requires a lot of work, but the rewards can make it all worth while. SHRINK SLEEVE LABELING has taken aim at the product decoration market in a big way. It's not doing this with a single-shot sniper's rifle, either. It's blasting away at market opportunities and market share with both barrels. Shrink labels represent a high-growth segment in product decoration, and those package printers with the technical savvy to make it work are reaping the benefits of its market appeal. Technical savvy is the key, because a shrink label is a moving target—it starts out in one shape and

FORT LEE, N.J.—Sun Chemical Corporation today announced that Eastman Kodak Company will become the sole owner of graphic arts supplier Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG) through redemption of Sun Chemical Corporation's 50 percent interest in the joint venture. Completion of the deal, which will exceed $800 million in cash, is expected in April. Currently, Kodak and Sun Chemical each own half of KPG, a joint venture established in 1998. "Since its inception, KPG has grown into a highly successful leader in the graphic arts market based on a sound strategy and a world-class team, and is highly valued by both partners," said

Improved raw materials help spur growth of energy-curable inks. LUCK IS WINNING the lottery with a million-to-one chance, or catching the winning homerun ball in the deciding game of the World Series. But luck rarely has anything to do with success, as is the case with energy-curable inks, which have been increasing in demand thanks to the results of a lot of money, time, and energy spent in R&D. In the last few years, use of ultra-violet (UV) and electron beam (EB) inks has continued to grow with the introduction of new curing technologies, better inks, and lower costs for both. UV inks have

Shrink substrates are popular for packaging, but they wouldn't be anywhere without the high-performance powers of shrink inks. by Kate Sharon, Associate Editor INKS USED FOR shrink applications have to be capable of going above and beyond the call of ordinary ink duties. Shrink inks have to adhere well to film substrates, hold color despite heat, maintain a certain coefficient of friction (COF), and—most importantly—shrink. "[Shrink inks] need to have superior adhesion, flexibility, be fairly heat resistant because heat is involved in the process, and [be made with] pigments that won't change color or fade with heat application," said Ed Dedman, market development

Package printers want ink options for less, according to the 2004 packagePRINTING Annual Ink Usage Survey. by Kate Sharon PACKAGE PRINTERS WANT one ink supplier with superior products, and plenty of options, at bargain prices, according to the 2004 packagePRINTING Annual Ink Usage Survey. That's not a novel concept, but it's one of many areas where 2004's survey results differed from last year's. Other areas where most of this year's respondents had a different point of view than last year's included the most important ink issues and capabilities, and what specialty inks they employ. With help from industry ink suppliers, packagePRINTING set out

Coating Excellence International produces photo-quality images with water-based inks on W&H flexo presses. COATING EXCELLENCE INTERNATIONAL (CEI, Wrightstown, Wis.) started out in life in 1997 as an extrusion company, focusing on poly-coating and poly-laminating paper substrates using a 105" Egan Davis Standard high-speed extruder. It wasn't long, however, before the company expanded into the printing business, installing a new 8-color Windmoeller & Hoelscher flexographic press in January of 2000. Later that same year, CEI doubled its capacity, adding another 105" Egan extruder, a second Windmoeller & Hoelscher press, and support equipment. The company has continued to expand its facilities, adding two additional Windmoeller &

Print shops welcome cost-saving opportunities by bringing ink technology in-house with the help of suppliers. WHAT'S COOKING IN more of today's in-house ink kitchens are cost-cutting management practices and first-rate capabilities. Many converters can attribute this to special contractual agreements between ink suppliers and print shops. The agreements, many developed more than a decade ago, have helped converters bring inking competency and ink professionals on-site, allowing them to focus on printing during a time when the ability to handle more short-run jobs and fast turnarounds is imperative to stay competitive. From the beginning Ink agreements run the gamut, ranging from complete overhauls of the

No longer the new kids on the block, ultraviolet (UV) and electron beam (EB) technologies are firmly entrenched in the package printing industry. In the last decade, usage of UV/EB curing and inks has continued to grow to the degree that it can no longer be fairly characterized as new. Yet, many converters continue to ignore the benefits of UV/EB for no other reason than doing so would constitute change. packagePRINTING sat down with a few industry experts this month in an attempt to dispel some of the long-held misconceptions against UV/EB curing and inks. Myth: UV/EB materials are unsafe Tony Bean,