07.14.22
1886 Merritt Road
Fort Mill, SC 29715
Phone: (803) 548-2210
www.wikoff.com
Sales: $200 million (Ink World estimate).
Major Products: Sheetfed and web offset inks, solvent-based and water-based flexo and gravure inks, energy-curable inks and coatings, security inks, overprint varnish and aqueous coatings. UV, solvent-based and water-based digital inkjet inks and primers. Pressroom supplies, including photopolymer plates, press washes, blankets and more.
Key Personnel: Geoff Peters, president and CEO; Greg Burch, SVP of sales & operations; Martin Iles, SVP and CFO; Anne Stephens, VP of research & development; Ben Price, regional VP, international & security.
Number of Employees: More than 500.
Operating Facilities: 31.
Comments: Wikoff Color enjoyed solid growth in 2021, led by label and flexible packaging, as well as expansion in international markets.
“Wikoff Color’s performance exceeded expectations in many ways in 2021,” said Greg Burch, SVP of sales & regional operations for Wikoff Color. “We saw our largest growth in the label and flexible packaging segments, including our photopolymer plate sales into those markets. Our International business, including the Latin America region, also experienced healthy growth, which largely serves flexible packaging customers. Business appears to have returned to ‘normal’ for most of our customers and the demand is strong across all of our product lines.”
To add to its growth in flexible packaging, Wikoff opened a new manufacturing facility in Milwaukee, WI, in September 2021. The newly constructed facility will be the main hub for the company’s solvent- and water-based fluid ink operations.
“In addition to manufacturing and warehouse space, Wikoff Color – Milwaukee will boast a fully-equipped R&D department, a training center and the Wikoff Graphics headquarters, where we will service and support our flexo plate customer base,” added Geoff Peters, president and CEO. “The new location will feature leading-edge, energy-efficient milling technology and is expected to bring approximately 50 jobs to the greater Milwaukee area.”
“This state-of-the-art facility will allow us to provide an even greater level of service and support to our customers in the packaging market,” added Joe Kubasiak, director of flexible packaging for Wikoff Color. “Our investment in technology and increased manufacturing capacity will be integral to our growth in the flexible packaging space.”
On the personnel side, Wikoff Color made a few key moves. In January 2022, Anne Stephens was appointed VP of research & development.
“Stephens is directly responsible for the R&D efforts in the Corporate Technical Center, as well as project coordination across the company,” said Peters. “She will also play a key role in corporate strategy, leveraging her prior experience with marketing and strategic planning.”
In addition, the company brought on Tunji Taiwo as its seventh board member in August 2021.
“Tunji is an entrepreneurial and strategic leader with strong operations, general management and digital technology experience,” Peters noted. “He is the founder and managing partner of Tratus Group and is currently serving as the chief digital officer of JEM Advisors. Tunji is a thought leader in his field with over 30 years of experience in a variety of leadership roles with organizations that include DCP Midstream, Williams Energy and DuPont.”
Raw materials remain a huge challenge for the ink industry.
“Raw material pricing and availability both continue to be volatile, and much like everyone else in the manufacturing industry, we continue to experience the impacts of inflation and logistics challenges,” said Martin Iles, SVP and CFO. “With that said, we have worked extremely hard in every part of the company to address raw material shortages and continue to meet the needs of our customers.”
Overall, Wikoff Color anticipates further growth during 2022.
“So far, the outlook for 2022 is similar to last year,” said Burch. “Our growth projections for the remainder of the year are anticipating upward trends, especially in the packaging space. Much like 2021, our flexible packaging and label customers are increasing output to meet demand, and we have made the necessary investments to grow along with them.”
Fort Mill, SC 29715
Phone: (803) 548-2210
www.wikoff.com
Sales: $200 million (Ink World estimate).
Major Products: Sheetfed and web offset inks, solvent-based and water-based flexo and gravure inks, energy-curable inks and coatings, security inks, overprint varnish and aqueous coatings. UV, solvent-based and water-based digital inkjet inks and primers. Pressroom supplies, including photopolymer plates, press washes, blankets and more.
Key Personnel: Geoff Peters, president and CEO; Greg Burch, SVP of sales & operations; Martin Iles, SVP and CFO; Anne Stephens, VP of research & development; Ben Price, regional VP, international & security.
Number of Employees: More than 500.
Operating Facilities: 31.
Comments: Wikoff Color enjoyed solid growth in 2021, led by label and flexible packaging, as well as expansion in international markets.
“Wikoff Color’s performance exceeded expectations in many ways in 2021,” said Greg Burch, SVP of sales & regional operations for Wikoff Color. “We saw our largest growth in the label and flexible packaging segments, including our photopolymer plate sales into those markets. Our International business, including the Latin America region, also experienced healthy growth, which largely serves flexible packaging customers. Business appears to have returned to ‘normal’ for most of our customers and the demand is strong across all of our product lines.”
To add to its growth in flexible packaging, Wikoff opened a new manufacturing facility in Milwaukee, WI, in September 2021. The newly constructed facility will be the main hub for the company’s solvent- and water-based fluid ink operations.
“In addition to manufacturing and warehouse space, Wikoff Color – Milwaukee will boast a fully-equipped R&D department, a training center and the Wikoff Graphics headquarters, where we will service and support our flexo plate customer base,” added Geoff Peters, president and CEO. “The new location will feature leading-edge, energy-efficient milling technology and is expected to bring approximately 50 jobs to the greater Milwaukee area.”
“This state-of-the-art facility will allow us to provide an even greater level of service and support to our customers in the packaging market,” added Joe Kubasiak, director of flexible packaging for Wikoff Color. “Our investment in technology and increased manufacturing capacity will be integral to our growth in the flexible packaging space.”
On the personnel side, Wikoff Color made a few key moves. In January 2022, Anne Stephens was appointed VP of research & development.
“Stephens is directly responsible for the R&D efforts in the Corporate Technical Center, as well as project coordination across the company,” said Peters. “She will also play a key role in corporate strategy, leveraging her prior experience with marketing and strategic planning.”
In addition, the company brought on Tunji Taiwo as its seventh board member in August 2021.
“Tunji is an entrepreneurial and strategic leader with strong operations, general management and digital technology experience,” Peters noted. “He is the founder and managing partner of Tratus Group and is currently serving as the chief digital officer of JEM Advisors. Tunji is a thought leader in his field with over 30 years of experience in a variety of leadership roles with organizations that include DCP Midstream, Williams Energy and DuPont.”
Raw materials remain a huge challenge for the ink industry.
“Raw material pricing and availability both continue to be volatile, and much like everyone else in the manufacturing industry, we continue to experience the impacts of inflation and logistics challenges,” said Martin Iles, SVP and CFO. “With that said, we have worked extremely hard in every part of the company to address raw material shortages and continue to meet the needs of our customers.”
Overall, Wikoff Color anticipates further growth during 2022.
“So far, the outlook for 2022 is similar to last year,” said Burch. “Our growth projections for the remainder of the year are anticipating upward trends, especially in the packaging space. Much like 2021, our flexible packaging and label customers are increasing output to meet demand, and we have made the necessary investments to grow along with them.”