It is becoming evident that for certain ink makers and raw materials suppliers, the task may be more difficult and expensive than expected. There is even a danger that costs will be so high that certain ink materials may have to be taken off the market.
Ink World's Annual Buyers' Guide has everything you may need, from adhesion promoters to zinc oxide and attritors to viscometers, as well as key information on suppliers, distributors and trade associations.
In light of the major changes in the printing ink industry in recent years, 2006 was a time of relative stability as ink manufacturers continued to increase their efforts into growing markets and regions.
For offset printers, emulsification, or ink/water balance, is a major challenge, and ink manufacturers are offering guidance to help customers run their presses as smoothly as possible.
The inkjet ink market continues to enjoy excellent growth, and is poised to make additional gains as digital printing makes further inroads in areas ranging from sheetfed to packaging.
The ability to combine purchasing power, share technical knowledge and compete for and service national accounts gives Print Suppliers Group the opportunity to make gains in the marketplace.
Although the RFID and printed electronics markets are growing, they have yet to meet the high expectations. However, experts believe the market will take off in the near future.
Driven by economic growth in China, India and other key countries, the Asia-Pacific region continues to grow at a fast pace, and is poised to become the largest region in terms of printing ink.