European ink manufacturers are seeing increasing interest in environmentally friendly products. However, the cost of renewable resources is rising, and it will likely lead to higher prices.
Waxes, solvents and additives manufacturers enjoyed growth overall, as new technologies continue to emerge. However, higher raw material costs remain a major concern.
Driven by new technologies and applications, energy-curable inks and coatings continue to enjoy solid growth worldwide, with packaging and sheetfed being particularly strong areas.
As the packaging market continues to expand globally, packaging ink manufacturers are enjoying growth, although higher raw material prices and consolidation remain concerns.
Publication printers and ink manufacturers are facing a wide variety of challenges, including a changing marketplace, higher costs and customer consolidation.
Although ink companies appear likely to be able to pass along higher prices to their customers, there remain serious concerns about supply and pricing.
In recent years, stable pigment prices have helped ink manufacturers weather surging crude oil prices. The elimination of the VAT refunds on pigments in China is changing all of that.
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.
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.
The European printing industry and its suppliers are having to become much more active on the issue of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions due to public awareness about global warming.
North American ink manufacturers generally reported improved results in 2006, as key printing markets enjoyed growth and raw material prices showed signs of stabilizing.
Vehicles and varnishes play a critical role in ink, and terms such as 'guts' and 'heart of the ink' speak to their importance. Ink makers rely on their suppliers to help provide the critical characteristics that printers seek.
As Toyo Ink commemorates its 100th anniversary, the company continues to build on its core business and branch out into a wide range of related fields.