Dave Savastano, Editor05.13.16
For Pete Notti, VP and technical director for Ink Systems, his interest in printing inks began to take shape when he watched Reflex Blue ink on an ink mill.
“I started in the ink industry part time at a friend’s father’s company, United Printing Ink,” said Notti, a 2016 Pioneer Award honoree. “My job started with painting shelves and doing cleanup work. I continued on by pouring litho chemicals, cutting litho blankets and delivering inks and supplies to the customers. I recall seeing ‘Reflex Blue’ running on a three-roller ink mill and the color was a beautiful glassy dark blue. From there my interests in ink making began.”
“After a number of years with United Printing Ink, I worked my way through ink manufacturing in the production facility,” he added.
“From there, I learned how to match colors and formulate offset printing inks and varnishes. I became the technical director and general manager. Throughout the 15 years at United Printing Ink, I was exposed to inplant operations at commercial and large scale folding carton printing facilities.”
Notti moved to Ink Systems in late 1994, and he said it was the turning point of his career.
“I had the great opportunity to work with some of the best technical and engineering people in the ink industry on the west coast,” he said. “I was very interested in technology and kicked off Ink Systems’ computer assisted Color Matching Systems. We developed color matching data bases and really took advantage of the spectrophotometric devices for color control.”
Notti is a long-time member of the board of directors for the National Printing Ink Research Institute (NPIRI), NAPIM’s technical arm, and previously received the 2005 Technical Achievement Award from NAPIM. Even so, he was surprised when he was called up to receive the Pioneer Award.
“I was very appreciative of the recognition from NAPIM,” said Notti. “I was shocked when I was inducted with all the other industry professionals that evening. I’m very happy to see that my colleague Robert Lu was also recognized for his exceptional expertise in this industry. The evening was very special to me, and I was very happy to share it with my friends in the industry.”
Notti noted that he has benefited from the advice on many people within the industry through the years.
“Early in the United Printing Ink years, the owner William Battaglia and his son William Jr., the late Mr. Bob Hardwick and Fidel Ayala were some of the technical and encouraging influences for me,” he said.
“Throughout my years with Ink Systems, there have been many influences with technical ink people and top industry printing professionals,” Notti added. “The owner of Ink Systems, Urban S. Hirsch III, is without a doubt the genuine article. His passion for ink and printing has been very inspirational to me and many people in our organization.
Notti has also enjoyed working with many of his colleagues within NPIRI.
“After joining the NPIRI organization, I met and collaborated with many industry professionals such as Byron Hahn, Joe Raksis, Joe Cichon, Diane Parisi and Dan Delegge, to name a few,” he added. “I continue to meet new industry professionals while attending NAPIM and NPIRI functions.”
Notti’s colleagues say he is very deserving of the Pioneer Award .
“Pete’s close ties and work with NPIRI over the years have helped to expand the industry’s technical knowledge base,” said Urban S. Hirsch III, founder of Ink Systems. “This encourages greater learning and product development – all very positive things for the people involved in the business. Pete is well deserving of the award.”
“Pete’s technical expertise, with near obsession for quality and service, makes him one of the most dedicated professionals in the ink industry,” added Robert Lu, COO for Ink Systems. “He is a true ambassador in promoting the industry and is well deserving of acclamation.”
Outside of work, Notti enjoys spending time with his wife of 27 years, Janet, their son Nick and daughters Leigh Ann and Elizabeth.
“I enjoy family life,” he said. “I also enjoy long road trips, fresh water trout fishing, wood working and computers.”
“I started in the ink industry part time at a friend’s father’s company, United Printing Ink,” said Notti, a 2016 Pioneer Award honoree. “My job started with painting shelves and doing cleanup work. I continued on by pouring litho chemicals, cutting litho blankets and delivering inks and supplies to the customers. I recall seeing ‘Reflex Blue’ running on a three-roller ink mill and the color was a beautiful glassy dark blue. From there my interests in ink making began.”
“After a number of years with United Printing Ink, I worked my way through ink manufacturing in the production facility,” he added.
“From there, I learned how to match colors and formulate offset printing inks and varnishes. I became the technical director and general manager. Throughout the 15 years at United Printing Ink, I was exposed to inplant operations at commercial and large scale folding carton printing facilities.”
Notti moved to Ink Systems in late 1994, and he said it was the turning point of his career.
“I had the great opportunity to work with some of the best technical and engineering people in the ink industry on the west coast,” he said. “I was very interested in technology and kicked off Ink Systems’ computer assisted Color Matching Systems. We developed color matching data bases and really took advantage of the spectrophotometric devices for color control.”
Notti is a long-time member of the board of directors for the National Printing Ink Research Institute (NPIRI), NAPIM’s technical arm, and previously received the 2005 Technical Achievement Award from NAPIM. Even so, he was surprised when he was called up to receive the Pioneer Award.
“I was very appreciative of the recognition from NAPIM,” said Notti. “I was shocked when I was inducted with all the other industry professionals that evening. I’m very happy to see that my colleague Robert Lu was also recognized for his exceptional expertise in this industry. The evening was very special to me, and I was very happy to share it with my friends in the industry.”
Notti noted that he has benefited from the advice on many people within the industry through the years.
“Early in the United Printing Ink years, the owner William Battaglia and his son William Jr., the late Mr. Bob Hardwick and Fidel Ayala were some of the technical and encouraging influences for me,” he said.
“Throughout my years with Ink Systems, there have been many influences with technical ink people and top industry printing professionals,” Notti added. “The owner of Ink Systems, Urban S. Hirsch III, is without a doubt the genuine article. His passion for ink and printing has been very inspirational to me and many people in our organization.
Notti has also enjoyed working with many of his colleagues within NPIRI.
“After joining the NPIRI organization, I met and collaborated with many industry professionals such as Byron Hahn, Joe Raksis, Joe Cichon, Diane Parisi and Dan Delegge, to name a few,” he added. “I continue to meet new industry professionals while attending NAPIM and NPIRI functions.”
Notti’s colleagues say he is very deserving of the Pioneer Award .
“Pete’s close ties and work with NPIRI over the years have helped to expand the industry’s technical knowledge base,” said Urban S. Hirsch III, founder of Ink Systems. “This encourages greater learning and product development – all very positive things for the people involved in the business. Pete is well deserving of the award.”
“Pete’s technical expertise, with near obsession for quality and service, makes him one of the most dedicated professionals in the ink industry,” added Robert Lu, COO for Ink Systems. “He is a true ambassador in promoting the industry and is well deserving of acclamation.”
Outside of work, Notti enjoys spending time with his wife of 27 years, Janet, their son Nick and daughters Leigh Ann and Elizabeth.
“I enjoy family life,” he said. “I also enjoy long road trips, fresh water trout fishing, wood working and computers.”