10.05.23
The 46th NAPIM Fall Technical Conference returned to the Oak Brook Hilton in Oak Brook, IL Sept. 12-14, 2023. The 2023 Technical Conference planning committee restructured the conference to a more technically focused, print process driven agenda.
The conference opened Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 12, 2023, with keynote speaker Jeff Wettersten of Karstedt Partners. Wettersten provided a detailed presentation focusing on critical technical and market factors affecting packaging converters.
Wettersten was followed by Ron Osborn of Mars Wrigley. Osborn presented the brand owner’s perspective on the importance of supply chain communication for assuring food packaging safety, emphasizing the role and responsibilities of the supply chain in assuring that food packaging is safe and compliant with national and international regulations.
Ciaran Little of Smithers Pira followed Osborn with a presentation discussing current and future impacts of sustainability initiatives on U.S. package printing.
The Supplier Showcases followed Tuesday’s plenary session. Five printing ink raw materials suppliers (BYK, PCBL, CHT, BASF and Clariant) presented 10-minute presentations covering the latest technical developments in raw materials for printing inks. A reception with vendor tabletop exhibits closed the opening day of the 2023 Fall Technical Conference.
Wednesday, Sept. 13 offered a full day of graphic arts/printing ink focused technical and regulatory presentations. Suzanne Hartigan of the American Chemistry Council discussed effects on the printing and printing ink industries of the implementation of the new Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
Transitioning to the technical perspective, Aaron Hootkin of Enercon outlined the importance of dyne measurements in corona treating polymeric substrates. Walter Chmura of Koenig & Bauer gave a detailed overview of digitization technology in offset presses. Tony Donato of GAA/AIMCAL closed the morning session with an in-depth analysis of the state of the gravure printing market.
Opening Wednesday’s afternoon session was 2023 Lawter Lecture Series Award winner Faulkner P. Custer of BASF. Custer presented the results of a research project on water-borne emulsions and vapor barrier applications. Volker Spaeth provided a technical approach to carbon footprinting of wax emulsions for printing. Covering the economic side was Kevin Swift of ICIS, who offered a current economic outlook for printing inks and the specialty organic chemicals markets.
Charles Granger of the University of Wisconsin closed the afternoon session outlining an active research project from the U of W Department of Chemical and Biological Engineered designed to improve recycling of printed films. Granger’s presentation on “Printed Film Substrate Reclamation” was rated by many as the standout presentation of this year’s event.
The Wednesday night Awards Dinner was an exciting event with three, prestigious industry awards being presented. Russ Szadowski (INX International), Technical Board president, served as the evening’s master of ceremony, with comments also provided by NAPIM president Geoff Peters of Wikoff Color Corporation. Faulkner was presented with the 2023 Lawter Lecture Series award and cash prize by Gene Cassidy of Lawter.
Tom Gwizdalski of Resolute Oil was the recipient of the 2023 Technical Association Member Service Award, while Glenn Webster of Sun Chemical was awarded the 2023 Technical Achievement Award.
The closing session of the 2023 Fall Technical Conference included technical-, regulatory- and sustainability-focused presentations. Terry Clayton of Summit Analytical opened the morning session with a realistic, practical view of the analog to digital conversion process for industrial inkjet printing. Katie Bond of Keller and Heckman offered practical advice for complying with regulations applying to commercial product “green” claims.
Kai Yang of Evonik discussed the applicable technical standards and processes necessary for developing and documenting sustainable printing ink raw materials. Natasha Banke of INX International closed the 2023 Fall Conference with a presentation focused on the analytical approaches to, and necessary equipment for, solving ink and printing related problems.
For more information on NAPIM or its benefits and services, visit napim.org.
The conference opened Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 12, 2023, with keynote speaker Jeff Wettersten of Karstedt Partners. Wettersten provided a detailed presentation focusing on critical technical and market factors affecting packaging converters.
Wettersten was followed by Ron Osborn of Mars Wrigley. Osborn presented the brand owner’s perspective on the importance of supply chain communication for assuring food packaging safety, emphasizing the role and responsibilities of the supply chain in assuring that food packaging is safe and compliant with national and international regulations.
Ciaran Little of Smithers Pira followed Osborn with a presentation discussing current and future impacts of sustainability initiatives on U.S. package printing.
The Supplier Showcases followed Tuesday’s plenary session. Five printing ink raw materials suppliers (BYK, PCBL, CHT, BASF and Clariant) presented 10-minute presentations covering the latest technical developments in raw materials for printing inks. A reception with vendor tabletop exhibits closed the opening day of the 2023 Fall Technical Conference.
Wednesday, Sept. 13 offered a full day of graphic arts/printing ink focused technical and regulatory presentations. Suzanne Hartigan of the American Chemistry Council discussed effects on the printing and printing ink industries of the implementation of the new Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
Transitioning to the technical perspective, Aaron Hootkin of Enercon outlined the importance of dyne measurements in corona treating polymeric substrates. Walter Chmura of Koenig & Bauer gave a detailed overview of digitization technology in offset presses. Tony Donato of GAA/AIMCAL closed the morning session with an in-depth analysis of the state of the gravure printing market.
Opening Wednesday’s afternoon session was 2023 Lawter Lecture Series Award winner Faulkner P. Custer of BASF. Custer presented the results of a research project on water-borne emulsions and vapor barrier applications. Volker Spaeth provided a technical approach to carbon footprinting of wax emulsions for printing. Covering the economic side was Kevin Swift of ICIS, who offered a current economic outlook for printing inks and the specialty organic chemicals markets.
Charles Granger of the University of Wisconsin closed the afternoon session outlining an active research project from the U of W Department of Chemical and Biological Engineered designed to improve recycling of printed films. Granger’s presentation on “Printed Film Substrate Reclamation” was rated by many as the standout presentation of this year’s event.
The Wednesday night Awards Dinner was an exciting event with three, prestigious industry awards being presented. Russ Szadowski (INX International), Technical Board president, served as the evening’s master of ceremony, with comments also provided by NAPIM president Geoff Peters of Wikoff Color Corporation. Faulkner was presented with the 2023 Lawter Lecture Series award and cash prize by Gene Cassidy of Lawter.
Tom Gwizdalski of Resolute Oil was the recipient of the 2023 Technical Association Member Service Award, while Glenn Webster of Sun Chemical was awarded the 2023 Technical Achievement Award.
The closing session of the 2023 Fall Technical Conference included technical-, regulatory- and sustainability-focused presentations. Terry Clayton of Summit Analytical opened the morning session with a realistic, practical view of the analog to digital conversion process for industrial inkjet printing. Katie Bond of Keller and Heckman offered practical advice for complying with regulations applying to commercial product “green” claims.
Kai Yang of Evonik discussed the applicable technical standards and processes necessary for developing and documenting sustainable printing ink raw materials. Natasha Banke of INX International closed the 2023 Fall Conference with a presentation focused on the analytical approaches to, and necessary equipment for, solving ink and printing related problems.
For more information on NAPIM or its benefits and services, visit napim.org.