After more than 40 years at Sun Chemical, Edward E. Barr is stepping down as chairman.

The ink industry showed some growth in 2002, but uncertainty over the economy and raw materials remains a concern for 2003.

While 2002 offered some slight improvement in the market, 2003 remains a time of uncertainty. Still, an increasing interest in value-added products provides some possibilities.

As our Annual International Top Companies Report illustrates, the printing ink industry is international in its scope, with Japan, U.S., Germany, Switzerland, U.K., Sweden, Holland, India, Belgium, Brazil and France home for the world’s top ink manufacturers.

Despite the economic downturn, the radiation-curing industry continues to flourish, and many new opportunities for UV and EB are being developed.

Increased attendance indicates that program improvements over the years have made the NPIRI Technical Conference a much more essential program, and this year’s conference offered more value to its attendees.

The packaging ink market is constantly evolving and growing more sophisticated, and ink makers must work ever more closely with their customers.

Thermochromic and photochromic inks have shown great potential to make important documents safer from counterfeiters and protect the integrity of security institutions.

The past few years have been difficult for printing ink manufacturers and their customers, as key segments in the publication market have slumped. Industry leaders are cautiously optimistic that a turnaround may occur in the near future.

As the economy continues to struggle, printing ink companies are looking toward their suppliers for support.

While some see a brighter future built on quality, others see solvent issues leading to further decline.

Sun Chemical embarks on ambitious quality program.

As printing ink manufacturers are challenged to offer newer color choices and higher performance options, they are turning to high performance and special effect pigments to meet this need.

Opportunities for the ink jet market are tremendous for printing ink manufacturers, who are utilizing their experience in UV, screen and conventional inks as they make inroads into the industrial ink jet market.

Forecast is for continued growth in radiation-curing market.

The digital ink marketplace, where at one stage traditional ink producers seemed destined to remain outsiders, now seems to be offering new opportunities for growth for ink companies.

Although they believe the worst is over for the economy, European pigment manufacturers are concerned about the increase in imports.

Braden Sutphin Ink's president reflects on the importance of family and commitment after receiving NAPIM's Ault Award.

Resin suppliers are hopeful that the second half of 2002 will bring with it an increase in business.

Despite some hopeful signs, ink industry leaders are waiting to see if 2002 will be an improvement over 2001.

The flexo market has experienced modest growth in 2001 as a result of new innovations and increased efficiency.

The economic slump has taken its toll, but with markets such as China’s expanding at an amazing rate, the future of the ink industry in Asia is a bright one indeed.

The company’s commercial inks business unit is making strides since its 2000 acquisition of Kromacorp.

In the current period of low growth in the printing products market in Europe, ink makers have been desperately seeking ways to stem falling prices and cling to their margins. For many, an effective means of persuading customers to stop pressing for lower prices is improving or extending services.

New CEO sees opportunities as the company concentrates efforts on value selling, Six Sigma and people development.

While the slowdown in the U.S. economy kept sales flat at best for most companies, some ink manufacturers discovered opportunities to grow during 2001.

There are signs that the economic indicators may be turning around

With very few exceptions, 2001 was a difficult year for pigment suppliers to the ink industry, as the slumping U.S. economy and increasing pressure on prices made 2001 a year that major pigment producers hope never to repeat.

The Argentine ink market finally may see renewed growth late this year, following the recent tumultuous changes in the nation.

New electronic display technologies using conductive polymers and electrically charged inks could soon have an impact on the large-format market.

Ink companies are looking for greater productivity, more automation and improved diagnostics from their mills.

Printers, ink and equipment suppliers are working to make gravure a strong short-run alternative. It remains to be seen if gravure can overcome its image of being a high quality, large-run process and successfully reach out to the ever-increasing short-run marketplace.

The European Commission’s White Paper on the testing and evaluation of chemicals raises issues for downstream users.

The offset market did not have a banner year in 2001, and industry insiders are cautious about what’s coming in 2002.

Printing ink manufacturers continue to develop innovative new products to help in the battle to thwart counterfeiters and provide additional security.