David Savastano, Editor04.23.15
As the world’s third-largest ink manufacturer, Toyo Ink Group has built a large presence globally, with its strength being in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. The company has yet to make similar inroads in the Americas; with sales of $105 million in 2014, Toyo Ink America is the 12th largest U.S. ink manufacturer, according to Ink World’s North American Top 20 Report.
Expanding Toyo Ink America’s presence in the Americas is the responsibility of chairman and CEO Hideki (Jeff) Okaichi. The company has taken some significant steps through acquisitions and adding new facilities, but Okaichi believes there is more that needs to be done.
“Toyo Ink Group has a large market share in Japan, China and Southeast Asia,” he noted. “Unfortunately, we do not have the same percentage in the U.S. market. There are many chances and possibilities in the U.S. for a creative and innovative company. I think we can bring that energy to the market here in the U.S..”
Joining the Ink Industry
A graduate of Doshisha University in Kyoto, Okaichi joined Toyo Ink’s Plastic Colorants Division in 1984, where he worked for more than two decades.
“For the first 23 years, I was not involved in printing inks,” Okaichi said. “I was in the plastic colorants business in Tokyo, where I was primarily in sales and marketing, focusing on the automotive, electronics and packaging markets.”
In 2007, Toyo Ink was looking to start up its plastic colorants business in Thailand, and sent Okaichi over to its Thailand ink subsidiary, where he got his first taste of the ink industry, being promoted to managing director of Toyo Ink (Thailand) Co., Ltd. and Toyo Ink Coating (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
“In 2007, I moved to Thailand and started in the ink business,” he said. “We manufactured paste and gravure inks for packaging, as well as can coatings. I also helped start our plastic colorants business in Thailand while I was there, and became managing director of our Thailand subsidiary.”
Heading to the U.S.
In the aftermath of the Great Japan Earthquake of 2011, Toyo Ink Group revamped its leadership, and Okaichi was transferred to North America. His first goal was to simplify Toyo Ink’s North American operations.
“We had four companies in North America: Toyo Ink International, Toyo Ink America, Toyo Ink Manufacturing America and LioChem, which has a 25-year history manufacturing plastic colorants,” Okaichi said. “I first went to New Jersey with Toyo Ink International, which also included LioChem, and I worked to simplify the structure to the point where we now have two companies, Toyo Ink America and LioChem.”
Adding market share was the next task for Toyo Ink America. The company had acquired Fluid Ink Technology, a water- and solvent-based flexo ink specialist, in spring 2010, allowing new opportunities for Toyo Ink America in the packaging field. Toyo Ink Group’ addition of Arets International NV, a UV flexo ink specialist, in April 2013 brought new technologies to its portfolio.
Toyo Ink America has also upgraded its facilities. In 2011, the company opened its new 109,000 square foot headquarters in Wood Dale, IL, and in 2015, the company moved into its new 70,000 square foot East Coast plant in Carlstadt, NJ, where it is manufacturing, paste, liquid and digital inks.
Outside of work, Okaichi and his wife Mitchie are enjoying the U.S.; he is active in numerous sports, including soccer, golf and biking.
“My wife and I like the life of the U.S.,” Okaichi said. “I like many outdoor activities, such as soccer, biking, skiing and golf. Right now, I play golf once a week and ride my bike near Lake Michigan. These are all very exciting activities and make me refresh my feeling.”
The Future for Toyo Ink America
Okaichi noted that 2007 was the 100th anniversary for Toyo Ink, and added that the company is accelerating its technical innovation with the goal of becoming a truly global company in 2017.
“That milestone is very important for us,” Okaichi added.
With all of this in place, Okaichi sees opportunities for growth for Toyo Ink America.
“Toyo Ink is a big company, and we want to succeed in the U.S.,” Okaichi said. “Overall, we are in 24 countries, have 70 subsidiaries and 9,000 employees. Toyo Ink is huge in China and Thailand, and we are looking to grow in the U.S. We have good people here, good leadership and employees.
“Our growth trajectory is better now, as we are concentrating in emerging fields such as packaging,” he continued. “We are also building up our pressure sensitive adhesives business for automotive and electronics. We have special technology that we are bringing to the North American market, and we are now developing digital news inks in Carlstadt. We have a plan to establish a large R&D center in the U.S. in the near future. This country has unlimited possibilities.”
Expanding Toyo Ink America’s presence in the Americas is the responsibility of chairman and CEO Hideki (Jeff) Okaichi. The company has taken some significant steps through acquisitions and adding new facilities, but Okaichi believes there is more that needs to be done.
“Toyo Ink Group has a large market share in Japan, China and Southeast Asia,” he noted. “Unfortunately, we do not have the same percentage in the U.S. market. There are many chances and possibilities in the U.S. for a creative and innovative company. I think we can bring that energy to the market here in the U.S..”
Joining the Ink Industry
A graduate of Doshisha University in Kyoto, Okaichi joined Toyo Ink’s Plastic Colorants Division in 1984, where he worked for more than two decades.
“For the first 23 years, I was not involved in printing inks,” Okaichi said. “I was in the plastic colorants business in Tokyo, where I was primarily in sales and marketing, focusing on the automotive, electronics and packaging markets.”
In 2007, Toyo Ink was looking to start up its plastic colorants business in Thailand, and sent Okaichi over to its Thailand ink subsidiary, where he got his first taste of the ink industry, being promoted to managing director of Toyo Ink (Thailand) Co., Ltd. and Toyo Ink Coating (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
“In 2007, I moved to Thailand and started in the ink business,” he said. “We manufactured paste and gravure inks for packaging, as well as can coatings. I also helped start our plastic colorants business in Thailand while I was there, and became managing director of our Thailand subsidiary.”
Heading to the U.S.
In the aftermath of the Great Japan Earthquake of 2011, Toyo Ink Group revamped its leadership, and Okaichi was transferred to North America. His first goal was to simplify Toyo Ink’s North American operations.
“We had four companies in North America: Toyo Ink International, Toyo Ink America, Toyo Ink Manufacturing America and LioChem, which has a 25-year history manufacturing plastic colorants,” Okaichi said. “I first went to New Jersey with Toyo Ink International, which also included LioChem, and I worked to simplify the structure to the point where we now have two companies, Toyo Ink America and LioChem.”
Adding market share was the next task for Toyo Ink America. The company had acquired Fluid Ink Technology, a water- and solvent-based flexo ink specialist, in spring 2010, allowing new opportunities for Toyo Ink America in the packaging field. Toyo Ink Group’ addition of Arets International NV, a UV flexo ink specialist, in April 2013 brought new technologies to its portfolio.
Toyo Ink America has also upgraded its facilities. In 2011, the company opened its new 109,000 square foot headquarters in Wood Dale, IL, and in 2015, the company moved into its new 70,000 square foot East Coast plant in Carlstadt, NJ, where it is manufacturing, paste, liquid and digital inks.
Outside of work, Okaichi and his wife Mitchie are enjoying the U.S.; he is active in numerous sports, including soccer, golf and biking.
“My wife and I like the life of the U.S.,” Okaichi said. “I like many outdoor activities, such as soccer, biking, skiing and golf. Right now, I play golf once a week and ride my bike near Lake Michigan. These are all very exciting activities and make me refresh my feeling.”
The Future for Toyo Ink America
Okaichi noted that 2007 was the 100th anniversary for Toyo Ink, and added that the company is accelerating its technical innovation with the goal of becoming a truly global company in 2017.
“That milestone is very important for us,” Okaichi added.
With all of this in place, Okaichi sees opportunities for growth for Toyo Ink America.
“Toyo Ink is a big company, and we want to succeed in the U.S.,” Okaichi said. “Overall, we are in 24 countries, have 70 subsidiaries and 9,000 employees. Toyo Ink is huge in China and Thailand, and we are looking to grow in the U.S. We have good people here, good leadership and employees.
“Our growth trajectory is better now, as we are concentrating in emerging fields such as packaging,” he continued. “We are also building up our pressure sensitive adhesives business for automotive and electronics. We have special technology that we are bringing to the North American market, and we are now developing digital news inks in Carlstadt. We have a plan to establish a large R&D center in the U.S. in the near future. This country has unlimited possibilities.”