In this article: The Past Year in Pigments Web Extra: Recent Trends in the Pigment Industry The Changing Nature of the Pigment Industry New Pigments |
For pigment manufacturers, business grew in certain segments, but their overriding concern has been the difficulty in passing along higher raw material and production costs they are facing.
Meanwhile, overcapacity, offshore competition, new technologies, consolidation and tighter margins are major concerns for pigment manufacturers. These are familiar concerns, as ink manufacturers and their customers in the printing industry are also facing these challenges. To a large extent, how these challenges are met will go a long way in determining the health of the respective industries and which companies will move forward in the coming years.
For the most part, pigment manufacturers said the past year was an improvement over recent years.
“The year started slowly for us in most phases of our business, especially in heatset,” said Andy Grabacki, vice president of sales for General Press Color. “However, it rebounded quite nicely and finished strong. UV continued to grow in double-digits and is becoming a sizeable business segment for us.”
“The merchant ink market in 2005 was very positive for Performance Pigments,” said Maurice Carruthers, vice president and general manager, merchant ink business unit for Sun Chemical Performance Pigments. “While other sectors experienced declining demand and excess capacity issues, the merchant ink market remained strong for Performance Pigments globally. Everyone was affected by rising raw material costs, crude oil price increases and natural disasters, but the ink market continued to provide innovative product alternatives to its customers to help them offset these negative factors. The merchant ink market fared very positively in 2005 and looks forward to a strong 2006.”
“Clariant was doing OK in 2005,” said Bernhard Ehrenreich, head of Printing Business, Clariant International. “Clariant succeeded in improving our financial situation. Clariant kept its level in regard to market shares and was growing in line with the pigment market.”
“Our 2005 business was up over 2004 volumes,” said David Grabacki, president of Dynamic Color Systems. “Considering the fact that we are only four years in manufacturing, we consider ourselves very fortunate. We are excited about our new product developments that will generate new opportunities for us as we go forward.”
For pigment manufacturers, 2005 provided mixed results, as certain segments were slow and margins were tighter as a result.
“The organic pigments business, particularly in the NAFTA region, experienced a very challenging year,” said Larry Bykerk, vice president of sales for Apollo Colors. “We were faced with rapidly escalating costs related to both raw materials and energy. At the same time we were competing in a printing ink environment with little or no growth.”
“2005 was a tough year with respect to increases in energy, raw materials, containers, interest, health insurance and market conditions for everybody,” said Don McBride, COO for Heucotech. “While Heucotech did not achieve all of our objectives intended for the year, we took the necessary steps in R&D to stabilize our future with new products and technology.”
Raw Material Pricing
Raw material price increases are continuing to be a major concern for pigment manufacturers.
“Raw material cost increases, along with increases in transportation, personnel and warehousing costs, have impacted Ciba Specialty Chemicals,” said,” said David Woolven, head BL Imaging & Inks NAFTA for Ciba Specialty Chemicals.
“Although we see few if any, supply concerns, it is easy to draw the parallel between the price of crude oil and that of pigment intermediate,” David Grabacki said. “Costs of these pigment intermediates have increased and have pushed up the costs of pigment raw materials to all global pigment producers. Based on these intermediates’ increase, we have seen pigment prices rise.”
“The costs of raw materials have affected all industries in which Performance Pigments operates, including the ink market, and unfortunately, it is not a pressure that is expected to lighten in the foreseeable future,” Mr. Carruthers said. “Sun Chemical Performance Pigments continues to make all efforts possible to not pass these increases on to the consumer, but the combination of high raw materials costs, the shortages from natural disasters and excess capacity have made this inevitable.”
“We are under constant pressure from increasing material costs, which we are unable to pass on to customers directly,” said A. Nurhan Becidyan, president of UMC Mineral & Chemical. “This has placed a negative pressure on profit margins.”
“Increasing raw material costs are always a concern, especially when the industry is so competitive and companies are still willing to compete on price,” Andy Grabacki said. “On the other hand, just by looking around the economy, how can prices not increase?”
Pigment Pricing
With cost increases for raw materials as well as production and transportation, pigment manufacturers were given little choice but to raise their prices. For the most part, ink companies are accepting the price increases. However, those pigment price increases did not cover their own costs, thus impacting margins.
“Maintaining an acceptable profitability level in 2005 was very difficult at best, and almost impossible post-Katrina when energy surcharges were affecting the cost of practically everything we purchased,” Mr. Bykerk said. “A general price increase of approximately 5 percent across the board was a partial solution. For the most part this increase has held up, but we are still faced with low cost imports and a very anxious graphic arts marketplace.”
“Pricing is holding up fairly well,” Andy Grabacki said. “It seems that companies realize that raw materials are going up and they have no choice but to increase price in order to hold their margins.”
“In some cases, we have been forced to increase prices because of the increased costs coming through to us, although not to the full extent we have experienced in raw materials and transportation,” Mr. Woolven said.
“Performance Pigments has increased the price of pigments over the course of 2005, namely in select pigment preparations,” said Mr. Carruthers.
“Price increases and/or fuel surcharges totaling up to 8 percent were initiated by some suppliers in the third and fourth quarter of 2005. Other companies, including Lansco Colors, have followed,” said Frank Lavieri, executive vice president and general manager for Lansco Colors.
Competition from offshore pigments are keeping pigment prices lower that they should be. “Internationally-produced pigments continue to impact the cost and therefore the selling price of pigment,” David Grabacki said.
“We try to keep or increase our prices, but unfortunately many competitors are acting very nervous due to overcapacities,” Mr. Ehrenreich said.
Copper prices have had a major impact on bronze pigment pricing.
“The key raw material for bronze pigment is copper, and prices for this base metal have hit record levels,” Mr. Rink said. “Since January 2004 its price has risen more than 130 percent and it has shown no sign of slowing down. This obviously has a dramatic effect on our pigment costs and, coupled with the more well known impact of current crude oil prices, we have no real alternative but to pass some of this along.
“Metallic pigment prices are going up and we have just implemented a price increase on all of our metallic products,” Mr. Rink said. “We have traditionally been very strong in holding our metallic prices, but I think our customers understand why this increase is necessary in the current climate.”
Challenges Ahead
There are many challenges facing pigment manufacturers, most notably declining margins, foreign competition and overcapacity.
“Challenges include heightened offshore competition in ink and pigments, as Asians move to extract more value from the value chain by offering more finished goods, followed by further consolidation in the industry to address the global competitive situation,” Mr. Woolven said. “The pigment industry is affected by the inability of the ink industry to extract value for the goods and services they deliver to their customers.”
The recent mergers within the ink industry are also affecting pigment companies.
“We continue to deal with the fallout from the mergers and acquisitions that have impacted the printing ink industry,” Mr. Bykerk said. “I expect this activity to continue as companies adjust to these changes and further align their own businesses.”
“As an industry in 2005, our customers are still faced with short staffing, tenacious competition, numerous market demands and shorter lead times,” David Grabacki said. “ This seems to stifle their ability to develop and capture new pieces of business. With the short staffing our customers face, we need to do our best to support their development efforts on an effective and timely basis. We have put together a team of the excellent people to help us remain nimble yet effective in anticipating the needs that the market places on our customers.”
The reality is that printers are facing tremendous pressure from offshore competition, and that impacts ink manufacturers and their suppliers as well.
“Our biggest challenge is from foreign competition, not just in dry pigment coming here but that our customers and their customers are facing foreign competition as well,” Andy Grabacki said. “I went to buy a calendar and it was printed in China. I have been hearing more and more printing that is not time sensitive being printed offshore. It’s hard to swallow that these companies are saving that much.”
How a company responds to these challenges will determine its future, whether it is by becoming more efficient through new capital expenditures, looking for new sources for raw materials or developing new technologies and product lines.
“We continue to invest in larger and more efficient equipment,” Mr. Bykerk said. “We have another new Drais Turbulent Mixer coming online by the end of this quarter. We are constantly looking for other ways to improve our productivity by refining our processes and establishing measurable goals for cost reduction.”
“Regarding overcapacity, we did our homework and closed non-profitable plants and optimized our existing plants,” Mr. Ehrenreich said. “Additionally, we are just building a new world-class pigment plant in China with our JV partner Baihe.”
“We, too, are looking at foreign products that are price competitive,” Andy Grabacki said. “However, we do not buy on price alone. The quality has to be there. Our quality, service and product line are still second to none in the industry. This still has given us a leg up on our competition no matter where it’s coming from. We have to keep our head on swivel at all times because competition is coming from all angles. We have to continue to do it better and faster, no matter the competition.”
New product lines are one way to move forward. For example, Ciba Specialty Chemicals acquired the Metasheen line from Wolstenholme International, adding special effect pigments to its portfolio.
“Ciba Specialty Chemicals took a major step forward in 2005 with the launch of the Special Effect pigment platform,” Mr. Woolven said. “This new range of products coupled with our portfolio of value focused high performance pigments, additives, light stabilizers and UV absorbers will assist our customers to create a value added differentiated solution for their target markets.”
“We are prepared for 2006 with improved processes, costs and a full pipeline of new innovative products,” Mr. Ehrenreich said.
“New technology is the only way to prepare for the future and the changes that will be inevitable,” Mr. McBride said. “Heubach believes that offering innovation and technology is the way to ensure success for both our customers as well as ourselves.”
Ultimately, developing new technologies will be critical to surviving in the pigment market.
“The major challenge facing the ink industry in the future is the same one it has been fighting for the past several years: decreasing margins,” Mr. Carruthers said. “Costs of raw materials have been on a steady increase, while pricing continually declines. Pressure from foreign importers continues to mount.
“To mitigate these factors, the ink industry must bring innovation to the forefront of the industry to prevent a commoditized market,” said Mr. Carruthers. “Suppliers must deliver customized and revolutionary solutions to increase production efficiencies; designers must demand creative color effects that reposition the market. Then, with these innovations, the ink market will offset the negative factors affecting their margins and their morale.
“Sun Chemical Performance Pigments embraces this need for new technology and has several new product launches planned for 2006,” Mr. Carruthers said. “Working through its Advanced Technology Group led by Philippe Schottland and Russell Schwartz, Performance Pigments has designed products that will both increase production efficiencies without capital expenditures and that will deliver trend-setting color to attract the consumer.”
Expectations for 2006
Coming off of 2005, it is understandable that pigment manufacturers are wary heading into 2006. Many companies do have strong expectations for the coming year, based on new products and solutions.
“Performance Pigments expects 2006 to be another strong year,” Mr. Carruthers said. “Building off the momentum it built at the end of 2005, the company looks to focus on new product introductions and proprietary development programs. It looks to position 2005’s developmental successes for its customers’ implementation while continuing to design new solutions for the future growth of the ink market.”
“Ciba Specialty Chemicals fully expects to capitalize on its unique position to offer differentiated solutions to our customers and therefore anticipate greater than market growth in 2006,” Mr. Woolven said.
However, so much depends on whether the much-needed price increases will hold up.
“It’s getting tougher and tougher to forecast this industry,” Andy Grabacki said. “The global economy has hit our industry and it’s making it difficult to predict what’s around each corner. Our forecasting has gone from yearly to quarterly now to monthly and it’s a guess. I don’t have high expectations for 2006. We would just like some stability.”
“I expect that if warranted price increases downstream are implemented successfully, 2006 could be a good year for us all,” Mr. Bykerk said. “If cost increases are not passed along, and fuel and energy prices remain at current levels, it will be a very difficult year.”
“2006 will be a very difficult year for the pigment suppliers,” Mr. Ehrenreich said. “It will be a kind of crossroads. Prices are already at a level where only the best will survive.”
Recent Trends in the Pigment Industry
There are a number of markets, notably UV and offset, which are showing growth for the pigment market.
“UV continues to grow in double-digits, and it appears that this segment of the industry is growing at a double-digit rate as well,” said Andy Grabacki, vice president of sales for General Press Color. “From what I hear from our customers, printers are adding UV capacity. As for our other business, sheetfed, heatset and news, the industry appears to be flat with minimal growth.”
“The offset area is still growing, whereas packaging and special inks seemed to recover again” Bernhard Ehrenreich, head of printing business, Clariant International said. “The highest growth level is still in the NIP area (toner and ink jet inks).”
“Higher than market growth is seen in the area of special effect pigments, as ink makers react to the market demand for individualization in packaging,” said David Woolven, head BL Imaging & Inks NAFTA. “Branding and security applications continue to grow, along with UV flexo and UV ink jet markets as well as some digital/imaging markets.”
David Grabacki, president of Dynamic Color Systems, said he has seen more interest in energy curable pigments, as well as more frequent but smaller orders.
“Conventional sheetfed and heatset publication markets appear to be relatively flat,” said Nick Rink, business development manager for Wolstenholme International. “The growth seems to be coming from more energy curable inks, specifically for packaging.”
Digital technologies are also taking a bite out of conventional printing processes.
“On the sheetfed side, digital printing seems to be having a larger impact every year,” Andy Grabacki said. “Not only to the offset printer, but it has trickled down to ink manufacturers and flush manufacturers. It’s a technology that has affected all of us.”
Sun Chemical has focused considerable attention on developing custom solutions for their customers. “At Performance Pigments, we are excited about the partnerships that are continually growing between customers and suppliers,” Maurince Carruthers, vice president and general manager, merchant ink business unit for Sun Chemical Performance Pigments noted. “We see the domestic market focus more on innovation as the key to beating the low cost importers. We recognize and are capitalizing on the need to develop customized solutions that will help our customers remain competitive amongst rising costs and excess capacity. We continue to see consolidation amongst suppliers as the companies must depend on economies of scale and global distribution networks to remain competitive. In terms of specific markets, we anticipate that the energy curable market will continue to grow as production efficiencies increase and as emission standards tighten.”
“Our newest entry for the ink industry is Microsperse Plus, a line of highly pigmented aqueous pigment dispersions for higher line anilox ink applications,” Don McBride, COO Heucotech said. “We have also introduced new naphthol organic pigments late last year and anticipate additional products from the azo metal complex, benzimidazolone and diarylide pigment classes in 2006.
“Regarding bronze pigment for gravure/flexo applications, we are seeing a trend towards faster printing speeds and shallower cell depths which places greater demand on the pigment performance,” said Andrew Thompson, pigments technical manager, Wolstenholme International Ltd. “Particle size, both in terms of distribution and mean size, is becoming more important as the printer looks for good ink flow into and out of the gravure/anilox cell, clean printability and the ability to maintain adequate print coverage at lower film weights. Finer bronzes produce increased coverage, while a tight size distribution eliminates potential for coarse particles to block cells and can also aid the rheology of the finished ink. Despite this apparent shift towards functionality and economics over the purely aesthetic properties of the pigment, I see the challenge going forward as being the preservation of metallic luster at the smaller particle sizes needed for optimum press performance.”
REACH is another major topic for pigment makers. Mr. Ehrenreich said that REACH which will not only be an issue in Europe, and the existing overcapacities in the pigment industry are the biggest challenges facing pigment manufacturers.
“We are well prepared for REACH with a team of experts only working towards this new regulations,” Mr. Ehrenreich said.
Much like its customers in the ink industry, the worldwide pigment industry was a very different place 15 years ago. Smaller companies flourished, and offshore competition was not yet a serious concern.
As we all know, the past 15 years have changed the way the pigment industry is doing business. It leads one to wonder what the pigment leaders of 2021 will be thinking about when they look back at how their industry has changed in the ensuing years. Ink World asked pigment executives for their perspective on the changes they have seen, and what they believe the future holds.
Director – Product Management & Communications
Sun Chemical Performance Pigments
If Rip Van Pigment went to sleep in 1991 and awoke today, he would not recognize the organic pigment business with which he was so familiar 15 years ago. Back then the business was regional in nature. The classical pigments used in the manufacture of printing inks were consumed in the region where they were produced. There were many small regional manufacturers supplying these pigments to the ink industry in their home market. The overall global supply/demand balance was fairly well synchronized.
Now, fast forwarding 15 years, the organic pigment business has an entirely different look to it. The genesis of the change was the entry of the Chinese and Indians into the market. They started to build plants in the early 1990s and have continued building them unabated ever since. As the supply of pigments out-paced demand in those two countries, the manufacturers turned their marketing attentions to Europe and the NAFTA countries. In terms of pigment imports, what started as a trickle in the mid-1990s has grown into a tsunami for the North American market today. The net result is a 20 to 25 percent global supply/demand imbalance, favoring the supply side. As one would expect, this has resulted in a steep price decline, forcing numerous factory closures in the U.S. and Europe.
If our friend Rip goes back to sleep today and wakes up in 2016, he will, most likely, see even more dramatic changes to the organic pigment industry. First, and most importantly, I’ll be on the beach in Florida instead of typing on a computer in Cincinnati on a cold gray February day! The supply/demand balance will still favor the supply side, but the fast-paced growth of the Chinese economy will “suck-up” some of the excess capacity. Many more of the high performance pigments will be manufactured in China and India. The NAFTA/EU producers will have their manufacturing capabilities centered on unique products that provide much more value in use than those available today. These will include niche products like pigment elaborations as well as effect, infinite color travel and thermochromic pigments.
Vice President of Sales
General Press Colors, Ltd.
The biggest change has been consolidation throughout the graphic arts industry as a whole. There are fewer mid-sized ink manufacturers. Secondly, it’s become a global industry. Foreign competition on all fronts appears to be the theme, especially in recent years. Last of all, some companies have gone back in time, if you will, and are manufacturing with dry pigment due to foreign countries offering cheap dry color. Much more emphasis is being placed on price. Quality and value are an after thought.
We can’t even forecast a year in advance, let alone 10 years. My guess is that we are probably going to see even more foreign competition. Maybe it will turn out like other U.S. manufacturing, i.e. steel, automotive, clothing…it will be done outside the U.S. Meanwhile, digital printing appears to be on its way of taking over more and more offset printing.
Executive Vice President and General Manager
Lansco Colors
Looking back now, 10, 15 and certainly 20 years ago seemed like “the good old days.” Pigment companies provided a large number of employees a comfortable life. Secretaries organized the morning mail with a cup of coffee for managers before they headed to smoke-filled meetings. In retrospect, the sense of comfort was false and the level of waste was high, in general. There were also big changes beginning to take root.
The pigment business of previous decades was protected by walls built of patented products, high import duties and other high barriers keeping new competitors out. Communications were slower and business information was not as precise or timely.
Today we are in the middle of a revolution. A confluence of events has led to lower import duties, efficient transportation, real-time business information, access to cheap labor, and smart entrepreneurs able to harness all of these changes to provide breakthrough levels of value and choice. Pigment consumption has grown and the industry has benefited substantially.
It is natural to look back and miss “the good old days”with the cup of coffee waiting in the morning, but today’s pigment industry is leaner, more competitive, smarter and doing a much better job of satisfying customer’s needs.
Head of Marketing Printing Business
Clariant International Ltd.
Beside some traditional pigment producers, 10 to 15 years ago, there was an increasing number of entrants from Korea and India, and within the last few years, a huge number of pigment producers from China. It became obvious that the traditional suppliers are only able to survive in this competitive environment by improved cost positions, quality differentiation, patent protection and innovation. Some major pigment producers did their homework, whereas some disappeared or had big problems to survive. Prices and margins dropped dramatically and organic pigments became more or less commodities.
There will be further consolidation in the pigment industry with adjusted capacities. Since pigments are becoming more and more commodities, prices will also follow the commodity rules. The name of the game will be more and more an optimized supply chain, and the business gets again a more regional character due to high importance of duties and freights compared to other costs, e.g. shipping costs from China to Chicago plus duty are approximately US$0.80 per kg, which accounts already for nearly 20 percent of a rubine price. This difference will be the clear advantage for a local pigment producer in U.S. or Europe. Based on that, the number of Far East suppliers will definitely shrink again and only the best will survive. Overall demand of organic pigments will definitely grow further.
David Woolven
Head BL Imaging & Inks NAFTA
Ciba Specialty Chemicals
Pigments are a costly ingredient in ink – as such, the value delivered by the ingredient has to meet the cost expectation of the market. The cost expectation for pigments has changed over the last 10 to 15 years as the graphic arts market has become further segmented. The publication industry segment and low-end aqueous ink market has been most challenged by commoditization as a result of overcapacity, and as such, the demand on pigment has become “good enough” to deliver the 4-color process print at the lowest possible cost and least possible differentiation.
The flexible packaging industry segment remains interested in innovation to deliver the right “effect” for a demanding consumer market, ready to identify with the latest packaging trend requiring a performance differentiation for the pigment and ink to allow global brand owners to fight for shelf space at the retailer to improve their market share driving the innovation process.
The digital and imaging market, not unlike the flexible packaging market, is also driven by innovation to deliver the next digital effect, whether it be an 8-color pigmented ink to deliver photo realistic prints at home, or a UV process that brings a different economy of scale to a customizable printing platform creating opportunities for novel pigment/dye chemistries.
A large amount of manufacturing overcapacity exists in both the pigment and ink industries, which will continue to fuel consolidation. Trends in the packaging, specialty and digital end markets will continue to provide a platform for performance differentiation in pigments and drive innovation for those respective market segments.
President
Dynamic Color Systems
Few actual pigment manufacturers still remain here in the U.S. India, China and other international sources are making much better products than 10 years ago and they seem to be much better represented here. The capabilities of these international sources have improved greatly – for development, applications, availability and product integrity.
It was once suggested that once these international sources were held as accountable as the U.S. producers are for environmental issues, even these international sources would struggle to supply consistent products. This does not seem to have happened. Essentially, these producers have proven to be much more environmentally responsible than ever and continue to offer their products competitively. Mergers, acquisitions and consolidations of pigment companies may happen – particularly in the Far East.
The following listing includes new pigment products introduced to the ink industry last year.
Aakash Chemicals
561 Mitchell Road
Glendale Heights, IL 60139
Phone: (630) 469-3838
Fax: (630) 469-2255
Internet: www.aakashchemicals.com
E-mail: info@aakashchemicals.com
New Products:
• Pigment Violet 1
• Pigment Violet 3
• Pigment Violet 19
• Pigment Violet 23 for Solvent Ink
• Pigment Red 81
• Pigment Red 122
• Pigment Red 176
• Pigment Green 7 for Solvent Ink
• Pigment Blue 15:4 for Solvent Ink
• Pigment Yellow 183 (Akahue Yellow HPP)
• Pigment Red 266
Comments: Aakash Chemicals opened a new pigment R&D lab in its Glendale Heights facility in March 2005. Aakash introduced higher gloss, higher transparency phthalo green and phthalo blue pigments with excellent flow properties for nitrocellulose, polyamide and UV inks. On the high performance side, Aakash continued to build its portfolio by adding high quality pigments for outdoor applications, primarily for packaging.
Apollo Colors Inc.
1401 Mound Road.
Rockdale, IL 60436
Phone: (815) 741-2588
Fax: (815) 741-2599
Internet: www.apollocolors.com
E-mail: LBykerk@apollocolors.com
New Products:
• Libra
Comments: Libra was developed specifically to meet the needs of printers who demand fast turnaround times. The unique vehicle system utilized in the Libra Series exhibits very fast setting properties, excellent gloss and transfer, while remaining tack and viscosity stable. Libra is high solids (97%) and compatible with a wide variety of let down vehicles. This versatility allows an ink manufacturer to formulate inks for porous and non-porous substrates. Libra will not only deliver excellent dot gain, ink/water balance and press stability on long and short runs, but will also present the printer with the ability of processing the printed material much quicker than ever before.
Ciba Specialty Chemicals
540 White Plains Road
Tarrytown, NY 10591-9005
Phone: (914) 785-2000
Fax: (914) 785-4533
Internet: www.cibasc.com/imagingandinks
E-mail: david.woolven@cibasc.com
New Products:
• Ciba Xymara Pearlescent Effect Pigments for Graphic Arts – Xymara Pearl Sxx series for silver/white pearlescent effect; Xymara Pearl Dxx for interference dual color pearlescent effects; Xymara Pearl Gxx for metallic gold luster effect; and Xymara Pearl Bxx for metallic bronze luster effect.
• Ciba Metasheen Vacuum Metalized High Reflectance Aluminum Pigments
Comments: These versatile metallic pigments give a wide choice of shiny, sparkling and mirror-like effects, allowing manufacturers and designers a broad scope and high flexibility in meeting today’s market demands for exclusivity and bright lustrous shades.
• Ciba CG series of Fluorescent Effect Products
Comments: Ciba CG series of Fluorescent Effect Products includes the CG-1 series for solvent-based screen inks; CG-2 series for water-based applications and CG-3 series for lithographic applications.
• Irgalite Rubine 4BXL
Comments: Irgalite Rubine 4BXL is a novel high strength, high gloss, high transparency mid shade process magenta that demonstrates excellent dispersability and flow in highly pigmented ink systems.
• Irgalite Yellow BXFL
Comments: Irgalite Yellow BXFL is a high strength, high gloss, highly transparent pigment yellow 13 that exhibits excellent rheology in high ester and fine line anilox NC inks.
• Irgalite Yellow AXFL
Comments: Irgalite Yellow AXFL is a high strength, high gloss, highly transparent pigment yellow 14 that exhibits excellent rheology in high ester and fine line anilox NC inks.
• Cromophtal Jet Magenta 2BC
Comments: Cromophtal Jet Magenta 2BC is a fine grade process magenta pigment for water-based inks.
• Cromophtal Jet Cyan GLX
Comments: Cromophtal Jet Cyan GLX is a fine grade mid shade process cyan pigment for water-based inks.
• Irgasperse Jet Magenta 3BL
Comments: Irgasperse Jet Magenta 3BL is a high purity blue shade magenta dye with premium lightfastness, which has also been made available recently in a solution form, due to customer requests, as Ciba Irgasperse Jet Magenta 3BL Liquid.
• Unisperse Jet Magenta DMQ
Comments: Unisperse Jet Magenta DMQ is an ultrafine particle size blue shade process magenta dispersion, with narrow particle size distribution, high chroma, high gloss and transparency, high light fastness and low viscosity.
• Unisperse Jet Cyan GLX
Comments: Unisperse Jet Cyan GLX is an ultrafine particle size mid shade process cyan dispersion, with narrow particle size distribution, high chroma, high gloss and transparency, high light fastness and low viscosity.
• Unisperse Jet Yellow GS
Comments: Unisperse Jet Yellow GS is an ultrafine particle size process yellow dispersion, with narrow particle size distribution, high chroma, high gloss and transparency, high light fastness and low viscosity.
Clariant International Ltd.
Rothausstrasse 61
4132 Muttenz 1
Switzerland
Phone: +41 61 469 7965
Fax: +41 61 469 7555
Internet: www.pa.clariant.com
E-mail: bernhard.ehrenreich@clariant.com
New Products:
• Permanent Rubine L4B01, L5B01, L6B06
Comments: Permanent Rubine L4B01, L5B01, L6B06 are new rubines for offset inks.
• Permanent Rubine L4BT and L5BT
Comments: Permanent Rubine L4BT and L5BT are new rubines for publication gravure inks.
• Permanent Yellow P-GRL 07
Comments: Permanent Yellow P-GRL 07 is an improved PY13 for packaging inks.
• Hostaperm Blue P-BFS01
Comments: Hostaperm Blue P-BFS01 is an improved PB 15:4 for packaging inks.
• Permanent Yellow DHG02
Comments: Permanent Yellow DHG02 is a low cost PY12 for coldset inks.
• Permanent Rubine P-L3B01
Comments: Permanent Rubine P-L3B01 is a new PR 57:1 for packaging inks.
• Permanent Rubine F6B01
Comments: Permanent Rubine F6B01 is an improved PR184 for all ink applications.
• Permanent Carmine P-FBB04 Comments: Permanent Carmine P-FBB04 is an improved PR146 for packaging inks.
• Permanent Pink F3B01
Comments: Permanent Pink F3B01 is a new PR147 for all ink applications.
• New Ink Jet Magenta and Yellow Pigments
Comments: New Ink Jet Magenta and Yellow Pigments are highly purified specialties for ink jet inks.
• Permajet 30 Series
Comments: Permajet 30 Series are improved pigment concentrates for wide format ink jet inks.
• Hostacopy 101 Series
Comments: Hostacopy 101 Series are mid-performance pigment preparations for toners.
Dynamic Color Systems, Inc.
161 Tower Drive - Unit H
Burr Ridge, IL 60527
Phone: (630) 321-9360
Fax: (630) 321-9361
Internet: www.DynamicColorSystems.com
E-mail: dsgrabacki@ DynamicColorSystems.com
New Products:
• UV offset flushes for plastic substrates
• UV offset flushes for paper substrates
• UV offset flushes - new Color Indexes added
Comments: Dynamic Color Systems continues to find opportunities for its UV offset flushes for plastic and paper substrates, and has also added new Color Indexes for its UV offset flushes.
General Press Colors, Ltd.
120 Fairbanks St.
Phone: (800) 252-4725
Fax: (630) 543-4657
Internet: www.generalpresscolors.com
E-mail: Andyg@gpclflush.com
New Products:
• QRY
Comments: QRY is a close match to rhodamine red.
• QOD
Comments: QOD is a match for hexachrome orange - C.
• QGP
Comments: QGP is a fast setting sheetfed phthalo green.
• QRL
Comments: QRL is a fast setting sheetfed red lake C.
• QBP
Comments: QBP is a very strong sheetfed phthalo blue.
• SYA
Comments: SYA is a strong 100% solids AAA yellow.
• HRR
Comments: HRR is a very blue shade heatset rubine red.
• QRR
Comments: QRR is a strong blue shade sheetfed rubine.
Hangzhou Colorful Pigment Co., Ltd.
E/1307 Ludu Shimao Guangchang
No.797 Shixin Mid.-Rd.
Xiaoshan,Hangzhou
Zhejiang, China
Phone: +86-571-2285 2802,2285 2808
Fax: +86-571-8265 2855
Internet: www.pigmentonline.com
E-mail: allcolor@pigmentonline.com
New Products:
• HC Yellow 1302 (C.I.Yellow 13)
• HC Yellow 1402 (C.I.Yellow 14)
• HC Orange 3402 (C.I.Orange 34)
• HC Red 4822 (C.I.Red 48:2)
• HC Lake Red 5313 (C.I.Red 53:1)
• HC Lake Red 5314 (C.I.Red 53:1)
• HC Rubine 5701 (C.I.Red 57:1)
• HC Rubine 5702 (C.I.Red 57:1)
• HC Blue 1541 (C.I.Blue 15:4)
• HC Violet Toner 303(C.I.V.3)
• HC Violet 2303(C.I.V.23)
Comments: Among these pigments for solvent-based inks, HC Yellow 1302 and HC Red 4822 are transparent, glossy and low viscosity. HC Yellow 1402 and HC Orange 3402 are transparent and glossy. HC Red 5313 and HC Red 5314 are transparent, glossy and low viscosity, as are HC Rubine 5701 and HC Rubine 5702. HC Blue 1541 has high gloss and low viscosity. HC Violet Toner 303 offers good solvent resistance and transparency, while HC Violet 2303 offers good solvent resistance.
• HC Yellow 1202 (C.I.Y.12)
• HC Yellow 1741 (C.I.Y.174)
• HC Yellow 1742 (C.I.Y.174)
• HC Yellow 1881 (C.I.Y.188)
• HC Red 5313 (C.I.R.53:1)
• HC Rubine 5703 (C.I.R.57:1)
• HC Rubine 5704 (C.I.R.57:1)
• HC Rubine 5706 (C.I.R.57:1)
• HC Rubine 5707 (C.I.R.57:1)
• HC Rubine 5708 (C.I.R.57:1)
• HC Rubine 5709 (C.I.R.57:1)
• HC Rubine 5710 (C.I.R.57:1)
• HC Blue 1533 (C.I.B.15:3)
Comments: For offset inks, HC Yellow 1202, HC Yellow 1741 and HC Yellow 1881 are glossy, transparent and reddish shade, while HC Yellow 1742 is glossy, transparent and greenish shade. HC Rubine 5707 is opaque and bluish shade; HC Rubine 5708 is transparent, glossy and yellowish shade. HC Rubine 5706 is semi-transparent, glossy and middle shade; HC Rubine 5704 is semi-transparent, glossy and bluish shade. HC Rubine 5703 is transparent, glossy and bluish shade. HC Rubine 5709 is transparent, glossy, high purity and yellowish shade. HC Rubine 5710 is transparent, glossy, high purity and bluish shade.
Heucotech Ltd.
99 Newbold Road
Fairless Hills, PA 19030
Phone: (215) 736-0712
Fax: (215) 736-2249
Internet: www.heubachcolor.com
E-mail: sales@heubachcolor.com
New Products:
• Microsperse Plus
Comments: Microsperse Plus is the newest generation in preparations from Heubach for water-based ink applications. The combination of the enhanced pigment loading with the optimal viscosity allows the formulator to achieve superior results with fine line anilox printing. This proprietary technology provides the customer higher strength inks with low viscosity for a broad range of ink applications for lamination, mylar, film, foil and high quality food packaging where anilox requirements are demanding. The average of 45% pigment content, with excellent shock resistance, provides the ink formulators the flexibility to efficiently meet the quality expectations for ultimate gloss and transparency, while using less dispersion to achieve color intensity.
Lansco Colors
305 West Grand Ave.
Montvale, NJ 07645
Phone: (201) 307-5995
Fax: (201) 307-5855
Internet: www.pigments.com
E-mail: frank@pigments.com
New Products:
• 2583 Diarylide Yellow 83
Comments: 2583 Diarylide Yellow 83 is a clean, bright, low cost yellow 83 for inks, plastics and coatings.
• 1254 DPP Red 254
Comments: This is a coatings grade red 254 with exceptional value in use.
• 1354 DPP Red 254
Comments: 1354 DPP Red 254 is a plastics and ink grade red 254.
• PR-230A Rhodamine Red 81
Comments: This is a yellow-shade rhodamine designed for water ink applications.
• PB-543 Phthalo Blue 15:4
Comments: This is a transparent blue 15:4 designed for solvent ink applications and has excellent flow.
Sun Chemical Performance Pigments
5020 Spring Grove Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45232
Phone: (800) 543-2323;
(513) 681-5950
Fax: (513) 632-1537
Internet: www.sunpigments.com
E-mail: Maurice.carruthers@na.sunchem.com
New Products:
• SpectraCure F energy curable dispersions
Comments: SpectraCure F energy curable dispersions are an expanded line of highly pigmented, low viscosity bases for flexographic printing to include 16 Colour Index types and cover the entire color spectrum.
• SpectraCure SF energy curable dispersions
Comments: SpectraCure SF energy curable dispersions are an advanced line of high performance dispersions specifically formulated for sheetfed applications to minimize blanket swelling and maximize transfer.
• SunFlo Additives
Comments: SunFlo additives are rheology-enhancing additives specifically designed for lithographic bases and do not cause excessive water pick-up.
United Mineral & Chemical Corporation
1100 Valley Brook Ave.
Lyndhurst, NJ 07071
Phone: (201) 507-3300
Fax: (201) 507-1506
Internet: www.umccorp.com
E-mail: inquiry@umccorp.com
New Products:
• LumiNova GLL-300FFS-3 Phosphorescent Pigment
Comments: LumiNova GLL-300FFS-3 is the first-ever phosphorescent pigment specifically designed for offset/litho inks. The small, uniform particle size allows for extra pigment transfer, without piling, that enables the ink to provide a much brighter afterglow and makes the ink much easier to run. This is in addition to LumiNova G-300FF and FFs, which has had success in flexo and gravure.
Wolstenholme International Inc.
850 Hawthorne Lane
West Chicago, IL 60185
Phone: (630) 231-7000
Fax: (630) 231-7623
Internet: www.wolstenholme-usa.com
E-mail: info@wolstenholme-usa.com
New Products:
• Superoto Bronze Series
Comments: Superoto Bronze Series Premium Gold Bronze Powders, Pastes and Pellets are for liquid printing ink applications, offering the maximum color strength, gloss, cleanliness and overall luster while retaining good brilliance.
• Offset Bronze Series
Comments: Offset Bronze Series – Ultra Fine Gold Bronze Powders and Pastes are for offset printing ink applications where high degrees of brilliance, coverage and transfer are required.
• Silveroto Aluminum Series
Comments: Silveroto Aluminum Series – Leafing Aluminum Pastes, Solvent Soluble Pellets and Water Stabilized Pastes are for liquid printing ink applications, and mineral oil pastes for offset ink applications. All provide outstanding brilliance, high color strength, clean color and superior print coverage.