Dave Savastano, Editor05.13.16
After 43 years in the ink industry, many would consider Joe Kelly, R&D director of liquid water-based inks for INX International Ink Co., an industry “survivor.” He believes the more appropriate term is “thriver.”
“I’ve been doing ink for some 43 years, and looking around the room at NAPIM, there were many people there with years and years doing ink – and being witness to many, many changes,” Kelly said after receiving the Printing Ink Pioneer Award from NAPIM. “You could call them ink ‘survivors,’ but really, the folks there in that room are ‘thrivers’ who shaped the industry.”
Kelly’s introduction to the ink industry came in 1973, when his future mother-in-law told him about a job opening at the Thiele-Engdahl in Elizabeth, NJ, where she was working at the time.
“I started the next day, a Friday, in the production office,” Kelly said. “It was an all solvent gravure plant.”
After 16 years in New Jersey, Kelly joined INX in Chicago as its technical operations manager. Kelly rose through the ranks, becoming technical manager, technical service director for liquid water inks, and VP/technical director for liquid water inks. He was promoted to his current position in 2008.
As technical director, Kelly has supported the NPIRI Conference and Summer Technical Courses, as well as the Flexo Technical Association, the Gravure Association, TAPPI and other segment technical associations.
Kelly said he enjoys the technical side of the industry. “For years, I was doing tech service and there were some real negatives and positives,” he noted. “For example, long, long days traveling and troubleshooting, sometimes watching the sun set and then come back up again the next morning. But the upside was learning about presses, processes and all aspects of what the customers did, what they needed, and what their customers expected. I made many friends – I helped them and they helped me.”
Rick Clendenning, president and CEO of INX International Ink Co., said that Kelly has deservedly earned the respect of his colleagues.
“Joe is well respected in the industry and is labeled as a true expert in his field of expertise,” said Clendenning. “Joe is an excellent person to go into a customer’s pressroom as well as their corporate office, as he is personable, knowledgeable and sincere. Joe is a guy who loves what he does and does not see himself ever retiring. He is an important asset in our company and our industry, and truly deserved to be recognized by NAPIM as a 2016 Printing Ink Pioneer.”
When asked about his hobbies, Kelly joked that there isn’t much time outside of work.
“You mean there is something outside of work?,” Kelly said. “Actually, I lived by the beach and ocean in New Jersey with a boat across the street that kept me occupied until I moved to Chicago 26 years ago. No ocean here, so I picked up on biking and then photography.”
“I’ve been doing ink for some 43 years, and looking around the room at NAPIM, there were many people there with years and years doing ink – and being witness to many, many changes,” Kelly said after receiving the Printing Ink Pioneer Award from NAPIM. “You could call them ink ‘survivors,’ but really, the folks there in that room are ‘thrivers’ who shaped the industry.”
Kelly’s introduction to the ink industry came in 1973, when his future mother-in-law told him about a job opening at the Thiele-Engdahl in Elizabeth, NJ, where she was working at the time.
“I started the next day, a Friday, in the production office,” Kelly said. “It was an all solvent gravure plant.”
After 16 years in New Jersey, Kelly joined INX in Chicago as its technical operations manager. Kelly rose through the ranks, becoming technical manager, technical service director for liquid water inks, and VP/technical director for liquid water inks. He was promoted to his current position in 2008.
As technical director, Kelly has supported the NPIRI Conference and Summer Technical Courses, as well as the Flexo Technical Association, the Gravure Association, TAPPI and other segment technical associations.
Kelly said he enjoys the technical side of the industry. “For years, I was doing tech service and there were some real negatives and positives,” he noted. “For example, long, long days traveling and troubleshooting, sometimes watching the sun set and then come back up again the next morning. But the upside was learning about presses, processes and all aspects of what the customers did, what they needed, and what their customers expected. I made many friends – I helped them and they helped me.”
Rick Clendenning, president and CEO of INX International Ink Co., said that Kelly has deservedly earned the respect of his colleagues.
“Joe is well respected in the industry and is labeled as a true expert in his field of expertise,” said Clendenning. “Joe is an excellent person to go into a customer’s pressroom as well as their corporate office, as he is personable, knowledgeable and sincere. Joe is a guy who loves what he does and does not see himself ever retiring. He is an important asset in our company and our industry, and truly deserved to be recognized by NAPIM as a 2016 Printing Ink Pioneer.”
When asked about his hobbies, Kelly joked that there isn’t much time outside of work.
“You mean there is something outside of work?,” Kelly said. “Actually, I lived by the beach and ocean in New Jersey with a boat across the street that kept me occupied until I moved to Chicago 26 years ago. No ocean here, so I picked up on biking and then photography.”