Graph Expo and Converting Expo 2006
Graph Expo featured a wealth of products and services for the printing and graphic communications industry.
By Kerry Pianoforte
Associate Editor
More than 40,000 people gathered Oct. 15-18 at McCormick Place, Chicago, IL for Graph Expo and
 Graph Expo, which opened on Oct. 15, is billed as the largest national graphic communications and converting trades show in the U.S. |
Attendees had an opportunity to see a wide variety of products and services for the printing and graphic communication industry, including inks, computer publishing, computer technology, graphic design products, printing machinery and systems, converting machinery and equipment, printing supplies and much more.
Highlights of the exhibit floor included special pavilion areas devoted to two major growth opportunity areas for attendees: wide format digital imaging and mailing and fulfillment services. The Wide Format Pavilion included 35 exhibitors occupying more 24,000 square feet. The Mailing and Fulfillment Center comprised more than 60 companies filling more than 30,000 square feet. A third pavilion focused on binding, finishing and trade publishing solutions.
A number of ink companies, exhibiting their latest products, were on hand.
Sun Chemical had a number of new products on display at its booth, including its Triton inks, a new set of four-color process inks to address the concerns of misting and VOCs as they relate to web heatset printers. Triton inks use a patented chemistry to improve ink-water emulsification. This results in improved color control, less misting and 15 to 20 percent reduction in VOCs.
SunJet, the ink jet division of Sun Chemical, announced the launch of its PerSona brand of inks for commercial printing and finishing applications. Designed specifically for use in ink jet printing equipment using both continuous ink jet (CIJ) and drop-on-demand thermal and piezo (DOD) technology, the PerSona brand uses focused ink technology to address the specific application needs for mailing, billing and statement printing, as well as personalization of plastic cards used for security and identification in smart applications.
“Working with our customers and our original equipment partners who manufacture printers for these
 Sun Chemical’s booth, which featured a live blues band, experienced heavy traffic. |
The PerSona ink series includes water, oil and solvent sets. In addition, there is a UV set for printing on non-porous media and plastic cards. PerSona water-based inks can be used with thermal printheads commonly used for in-line mailing where fast drying and smear resistance are important. On equipment that employs piezo printheads, use of solvent and UV inks can be integrated.
The company also featured its Liberty sheetfed inks. The environmentally friendly Liberty inks, which are designed to produce outstanding print while reducing waste and shortening printers’ production time, were recently named recipients of the 2006 PIA/GATF InterTech Technology Award.
“Since Liberty was introduced nearly a year ago, it is gaining a legion of converts extolling its values,” said Mark J. Levin, president, Sun Chemical, North American commercial group. “Liberty inks represent the most significant new sheetfed technology in years, and they establish a benchmark for superior print quality and on-press performance.”
Flint Group’s North American sheetfed division showcased K+E line of premium sheetfed inks.
 Flint Group’s Doug Lebertew, vice president and general manager, sheetfed division, John Flenner, technical project manager, UV news ink and Andrew Matthews, technical director, publication ink were on hand to discuss Flint Group’s latest products. |
“The addition of K+E inks gives an important new dimension to the range of sheetfed ink solutions we offer to commercial and packaging printers,” said Doug Labertew, vice president and general manager, Flint Group, sheetfed division, North America. “K+E inks consistently produce vibrant colors that ‘pop’ off the press and give printers repeatable performance that satisfies their customers. The wider availability of K+E inks now gives Flint Group customers a choice between a truly premium inks and our standard ArrowStar product line. For printers who require the ultimate in high-quality reproduction, K+E is the ideal choice.”
Highlights from INX International Ink Company’s booth included products from INX and Triangle
 Dan Babe, director of customer engineering services, Mike Moore, national account manager, Renee Etiopio, corporate marketing manager, Chris Bonk, vice president sheetfed division, technical director and David Sambo of INX International Ink Company. |
Toyo Ink debuted a number of ink products at Graph Expo, including Kaleido 4-color process inks, which offer a larger color gamut that is closer to RGB without using fluorescent pigment. Toyo Ink reengineered the existing four CMYK colors to create new, dedicated pigments, eliminating the narrow gamut problems related to four-color printing. The improved CMYK range produces rich and vibrant gradations. The pigment dispersion technology and highly soluble resins also increase the gloss effects. The result is better color matching of the printed image displayed on an RGB monitor.
Toyo Ink has also developed black and colored edible inks that are approved by the U.S. FDA for
 Toyo Ink debuted a number of ink products at Graph Expo. |
Jetrion LLC, in collaboration with Crown Holding, Inc. announced the launch of a full-scale production system to produce the world’s first high-resolution, full color UV inkjet printed cans. The decision to advance the technology to a full-scale prototype was a result of an intensive feasibility and testing phase of the joint development program conducted by the two companies. Over the past 12 months, the technology was employed in printing ultra high-resolution color images on coated metal blanks using Jetrion’s flexible and formable color UV inkjet inks. The printed blanks were then formed by traditional manufacturing processes into three-piece cans that were subjected to Crown’s tests for quality, durability and abrasion resistance.
“The decision to build a full-scale production system prototype marks a major achievement for the Crown and Jetrion teams that have jointly developed this new high-resolution digital inkjet technology for can production,” said Dr. Kenneth Stack, president of Jetrion LLC. “The vision, expertise and experience of our two companies have combined to produce an extraordinary advance in package manufacturing capabilities. The commitment to build the production prototype underscores Crown’s confidence in Jetrion’s inkjet ink and printer technology, and provides a platform for continued new markets for color digital inkjet production.”
Van Son Holland Ink Co. exhibited its complete line of consistent, high-quality offset printing inks.
 Attendees had the opportunity to visit 35 exhibitors at the Wide Format Pavilion. |
In addition to the exhibits, Graph Expo and Converting Expo offered an educational program of nearly
 Hostmann-Steinberg displayed a variety of inks at Graph Expo. |
Graph Expo and Converting Expo is held annually in Chicago by the Graphic Arts Show Company. Every fourth year the show is replaced by the International Print Exhibition. The next Print Exhibition will be held in 2009.
