INX International to Showcase Digital Inkjet Printing at TAPPI Corrugated Week

With demand for corrugated boxes reaching record levels, INX International will showcase successful digital inkjet solutions and offer advice to converters and suppliers at TAPPI Corrugated Week. The event takes place from Sept. 19-21 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, TX.

Corrugated boxes serve as the backbone for the burgeoning e-commerce industry. Business is flourishing as the demand for boxes has reached an all-time high. Packaging for food and beverage products, consumer durables, electronics and electrical appliances requires high quality printing.

That makes Corrugated Week an ideal place to learn more about how digital inkjet printing has evolved as an attractive and affordable choice, said Jim Wegemer, director of national accounts for INX.

“SuperCorr Expo last year set a good foundation for Corrugated Week. It was well attended despite COVID-19, and many attendees were visiting their first trade show in a long time,” added Wegemer, who joined INX 35 years ago. “There is an excellent technical program, making this year’s event a great opportunity for corrugated converters and suppliers, as well as TAPPI and AICC members, to come together.”

Wegemer will serve as co-moderator for the Digital Print Panel on Tuesday, September 20 from 9-10:15 a.m. Along with Steve Woodward of ARC International, they will engage representatives using equipment from Barberan, Domino, EFI and HP in a discussion that will involve a range of actual printer solutions with corrugated.

“Digital ink for corrugated is important. Our session will be focused on converters and printers and their experiences in producing digital print,” he said. “I’m anticipating our group will have a lively conversation as they discuss their successes and challenges, and I invite attendees to participate in our Q&A session.”

Wegemer also invites attendees to stop by the INX booth to learn more about digital offerings and the TriStar SpH and Process inks, in addition to several dispersions and dispensers that will also be available. TriStar SpH provides the opportunity to run at faster speeds with a few line colors, or more complex jobs on 6, 7 or 8-color presses using water-based and UV coatings.

“TriStar SpH inks are an excellent choice for corrugated converters,” he said. “They combine high quality with pH stable technology, and are low maintenance. This allows for more vibrant graphics and much longer stability on press. Our Process inks offer exceptional quality for use on white top and coated boards, such as Kemi. These inks provide excellent print definition and traps, which create vivid and appealing images.”

Converters have complete control of their ink inventory when using water-based INXSperse 23 Dispersions or INXSperse 23 Plus Dispersions. These solutions contain highly pigmented color concentrates that produce a full range of inks for use on diverse applications and a variety of substrates. Wegemer says versatility and value go hand-in-hand for this series, making it an enticing choice for converters.

“INXSperse 23 Dispersions is ideal for day-to-day needs. For applications where a low volume cell is used, INXSperse 23 Plus Dispersions has the desired higher pigment load,” he noted. “When combined with INX Extenders, these dispersions allow the corrugated printer to achieve the needed color and strength, regardless of the anilox volume being used.

“Beyond the products, the true value-add is our service availability to customers,” added Wegemer. “We have a dispenser technology group led by Dan Babe that can help converters select an appropriate ink dispenser for their needs. We also offer assistance with color management, including GRACoL and G7 experts who have extensive application experience with spectrophotometers and color management.”