Ink manufacturers, suppliers, printers and print buyers were on hand to discuss the sustainability and environmental issues during NPIRI�s annual technical conference.
As companies struggle with higher raw materials costs, a struggling economy and increasing pressure on margins, more consolidation is likely throughout the supply chain.
Publication ink manufacturers are trying to balance higher costs with the need for new products as they try to help their customers meet the demands of the changing marketplace.
As European ink companies and their suppliers continue the pre-registration phase of REACH, they also are considering the impact of the legislation on raw materials, formulations and the ink industry as a whole.
For the leading global ink manufacturers, 2008 was a time of economic uncertainty, as raw material prices continued to rise and the U.S. dollar slumped. Still, ink industry leaders also see some opportunities ahead.
Higher raw material prices, led by crude oil, continue to impact resin manufacturers, but the surge in new product development is helping to drive sales growth.