David Savastano, Editor06.28.23
In 1985, Ralph Arcurio joined the ink industry after college. Now, 38 years and many innovations in polymer science later, Arcurio has deservedly received NAPIM’s Printing Ink Pioneer Award.
“I was hired right out of college as a chemist by ICI Converters Ink in Linden, NJ back in 1985,” Arcurio recalled. “I began my career in color matching followed by quality control and then solvent and water-based flexo and gravure ink R&D. After about two years, I transferred into the polymer lab and the rest is history. I’ve been developing polymers for inks and coatings ever since. I became part of Sun Chemical back in 1996 through their acquisition of Zeneca Specialty Inks (aka, ICI Converters Ink).”
For Arcurio, successfully creating polymers has been the highlight of his career.
“Developing and commercializing polymers is my true passion,” Arcurio said. “Each time a polymer was commercialized, it became a highlight for me.
“Another highlight was receiving the Inventor of the Year Award by the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame held at the W Hotel in Hoboken, N.J. on October 27, 2016. I was honored with the award for the development of new adhesion promoters for inks and coatings. Having a patent granted is always a highlight and I’ve had quite a few over the years. Finally, receiving NAPIM’s Printing Ink Pioneer Award this year has been the ultimate highlight!”
Arcurio is thankful to many mentors who helped guide his career, beginning with some of the top R&D people in the industry.
“Tony Cappuccio first hired me and brought me into the ink industry,” he noted. “Alan Anderson led the polymer team at ICI Converters Ink. He provided a firm polymer foundation for me to build on. Working with colleagues like Charlie Breuer, Rich Czarnecki, Tony Renzi, Jeannette Truncellito, Mathew Mathew, Mark Schneider, Iqbal Dhatt, Jim Felsberg, Tom DeBartolo, Harold Osorio, Guy VanOudenhoven and Jose Ramon Maeso, to name a few, strengthened my ink knowledge, allowing me to develop and commercialize many polymers over the years.
“On the topic of commercialization of polymers, a few names come to mind: Rich Kmiec, Wayne Juda and Eric Cline,” Arcurio added. “I worked very closely with them for many years on the scale-up of polymers developed in the lab. Their expertise made my job easier. And lastly, Juanita Parris promoted me to my current position at Sun Chemical. She has been a great mentor and has provided years of guidance.”
Arcurio pointed to some noteworthy changes in the packaging ink segment over the years, beginning with regulatory mandates.
“From a polymer development point of view, throughout the years regulatory changes and packaging ink and coating performance requirements have played major roles in our developments,” Arcurio observed. “Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, our efforts were focused on polyamides and acrylic emulsions. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, lamination performance and faster printing speeds led us to polyurethanes, and now one of our key focus areas is on the development of sustainable polymers for the future.”
Outside of work, Arcurio enjoys traveling, being with family, coin and baseball card collecting and beer making. Regarding receiving the Pioneer Award, Arcurio said he is “honored and humbled” to be named to the award.
“When I look back at all the great past recipients, it is a privilege to be added to the list,” Arcurio added. “I must thank Chris Parrilli, his wife Susan, Myron Petruch, his wife Eileen, and all the other Sun Chemical attendees for making me and my wife, Jeanne, feel like we had been attending this event for years. They really made it a memorable event/weekend.”
“I was hired right out of college as a chemist by ICI Converters Ink in Linden, NJ back in 1985,” Arcurio recalled. “I began my career in color matching followed by quality control and then solvent and water-based flexo and gravure ink R&D. After about two years, I transferred into the polymer lab and the rest is history. I’ve been developing polymers for inks and coatings ever since. I became part of Sun Chemical back in 1996 through their acquisition of Zeneca Specialty Inks (aka, ICI Converters Ink).”
For Arcurio, successfully creating polymers has been the highlight of his career.
“Developing and commercializing polymers is my true passion,” Arcurio said. “Each time a polymer was commercialized, it became a highlight for me.
“Another highlight was receiving the Inventor of the Year Award by the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame held at the W Hotel in Hoboken, N.J. on October 27, 2016. I was honored with the award for the development of new adhesion promoters for inks and coatings. Having a patent granted is always a highlight and I’ve had quite a few over the years. Finally, receiving NAPIM’s Printing Ink Pioneer Award this year has been the ultimate highlight!”
Arcurio is thankful to many mentors who helped guide his career, beginning with some of the top R&D people in the industry.
“Tony Cappuccio first hired me and brought me into the ink industry,” he noted. “Alan Anderson led the polymer team at ICI Converters Ink. He provided a firm polymer foundation for me to build on. Working with colleagues like Charlie Breuer, Rich Czarnecki, Tony Renzi, Jeannette Truncellito, Mathew Mathew, Mark Schneider, Iqbal Dhatt, Jim Felsberg, Tom DeBartolo, Harold Osorio, Guy VanOudenhoven and Jose Ramon Maeso, to name a few, strengthened my ink knowledge, allowing me to develop and commercialize many polymers over the years.
“On the topic of commercialization of polymers, a few names come to mind: Rich Kmiec, Wayne Juda and Eric Cline,” Arcurio added. “I worked very closely with them for many years on the scale-up of polymers developed in the lab. Their expertise made my job easier. And lastly, Juanita Parris promoted me to my current position at Sun Chemical. She has been a great mentor and has provided years of guidance.”
Arcurio pointed to some noteworthy changes in the packaging ink segment over the years, beginning with regulatory mandates.
“From a polymer development point of view, throughout the years regulatory changes and packaging ink and coating performance requirements have played major roles in our developments,” Arcurio observed. “Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, our efforts were focused on polyamides and acrylic emulsions. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, lamination performance and faster printing speeds led us to polyurethanes, and now one of our key focus areas is on the development of sustainable polymers for the future.”
Outside of work, Arcurio enjoys traveling, being with family, coin and baseball card collecting and beer making. Regarding receiving the Pioneer Award, Arcurio said he is “honored and humbled” to be named to the award.
“When I look back at all the great past recipients, it is a privilege to be added to the list,” Arcurio added. “I must thank Chris Parrilli, his wife Susan, Myron Petruch, his wife Eileen, and all the other Sun Chemical attendees for making me and my wife, Jeanne, feel like we had been attending this event for years. They really made it a memorable event/weekend.”