SUPPLIER news

Behind the Scenes R&D on New Line of Eco-Friendly Inks

CARLSTADT, NJ—At Sun Chemical’s Carlstadt Technical Center, a research and development facility, more than 100 scientists and support staff from around the globe test the analysis, surface characterization, interfacial dynamics and synthesis of new inks.

Some new developments at the facility include Earth sheetfed inks, which produce only 2 percent VOCs, and offer sharp lithographic dot fidelity, high-trap efficiency, well-maintained density during press runs and fast color accuracy; and Liberty eco-friendly inks that offer sharp press stability and ultra-fast drying; the WetFlex printing process, which allows converters to print flexible films at high speed with zero VOC emissions, producing a product suitable for food packaging.

Other eco-inks include SmartColour, a suite of products that allows all participants in the package design workflow to view the predicted spot color at every stage of the process; and SunStrato Duratort, a retort lamination ink system that is formulated to be used on either flexo or gravure presses.

Through its Trelleborg Engineered Systems business area, Trelleborg has entered into an agreement to acquire the operations of the U.S. company MacDermid Offset Printing Blankets, which is part of the U.S. group MacDermid Inc. The acquisition is expected to be concluded during the second quarter of 2008. Trelleborg purchased Reeves in 2006.

Gämmerler AG announced that Gunter Gämmerler has left the Gämmerler U.S. Corp. Sales-related questions should be directed to Clay Bruneman.

Continuing a partnership that began as founding members of the Networked Graphic Production Partnership (NGP), Prism Group Holdings and MAN Roland announced the installation and demonstration of the Prism WIN management information system at MAN Roland’s Westmont, IL, Graphic Center. Prism WIN is being used to create job tickets for all jobs in the center and capturing actual material, labor and machine costs through its shop floor data capture module. In other news, QuadTech will resell the Prism QTMS production management system through its direct sales organization as part of a complete offering.