David Savastano, Editor01.16.19
From its beginnings in 1928 as a distributor of printing ink and equipment in Tokyo to today, Megami Ink has been a leader in specialty inks. Now, nine decades later, Megami Ink has made its mark in both conventional and UV curable inks as well as niche fields where its metallic, fluorescent and pearlescent inks and coatings help customers differentiate their products, and the company is looking to the next century.
Megami Ink has a rich history, beginning in 1928 when Tatsujiro Arai established the Kinshodou shop in Tokyo. In 1936, the company began producing inks in Arakawa, Tokyo, and opened a second operation in Matsuida town, Gunma prefecture in 1945. By 1950, the company constructed its head office in Ueno, Tokyo, and changed its name to Megami Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd. Megami would open Megami Corporation, its US operations, in 1984, as well as a partnership with DongGuan GangRi Printing Materials Technology Co., Ltd. in China.
Yutaka Shikano, business development manager, Megami Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd. – US branch, noted that Megami Ink focuses on commercial, packaging, label, dry offset, plastic sheets and cups, special effect and security printing. Its high-quality inks are found on a wide range of labels and packaging, including food, medicines, cosmetics, tobacco, shopping bags, security cards, catalogs and leaflets.
“We serve niche markets and unique products with metallic inks, fluorescent inks and pearlescent coatings,” Shikano said. “We flexibly meet requirements, whether it is colors, shades, special effects on various substrates, chemical regulation and specifications for equipment. We support conventional UV, high-sensitive UV and LED ink users in the US. We partner with Universal Color Corporation, Wilmington, MA, who provide technical service with experienced press room knowledge.”
By 1990, the company started development and production for UV curing inks, and 1995, Megami Ink set up new manufacturing lines for UV curing inks inside the Gunma factory. In 2002, the company earned its ISO:9001 certification, and in 2016, Megami Ink completed the Tokyo Business Unit/Technical Center in Yashio city, Saitama prefecture.
Protecting the environment is an important emphasis for Megami Ink. Many of Megami Ink’s products have acquired an Eco Mark Certification, authorized by the Japan Environment Association. Some of the company’s inks and coatings use environmentally friendly vegetable oil in place of petroleum solvents.
“Throughout all the profound changes in the business environment that have occurred during our long history, we have never waned from our commitment to product quality, social responsibility, and compliance,” said Tadao Arai, president and representative director, Megami Ink Manufacturing Co., Ltd. “For the future and younger generations, we are working hard to reduce the environmental impact of an ink product’s lifecycle, from its conception to final disposal.”
The company reflected on its growth over the past 90 years and is already preparing for the future. “We celebrated the 90th anniversary on our operation in 2018, and are looking forward to the next 100 years,” Shikano concluded.
Megami Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd. – US Branch
1051 Perimeter Drive, Suite 515
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Phone: (847) 278-1140
www.megamiink.com/us
Specialties: Conventional Sheetfed, Energy Curable Offset (Conventional UV, High-Sensitive UV, LED and EB) and Flexographic Special Effect Coatings.
Megami Ink has a rich history, beginning in 1928 when Tatsujiro Arai established the Kinshodou shop in Tokyo. In 1936, the company began producing inks in Arakawa, Tokyo, and opened a second operation in Matsuida town, Gunma prefecture in 1945. By 1950, the company constructed its head office in Ueno, Tokyo, and changed its name to Megami Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd. Megami would open Megami Corporation, its US operations, in 1984, as well as a partnership with DongGuan GangRi Printing Materials Technology Co., Ltd. in China.
Yutaka Shikano, business development manager, Megami Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd. – US branch, noted that Megami Ink focuses on commercial, packaging, label, dry offset, plastic sheets and cups, special effect and security printing. Its high-quality inks are found on a wide range of labels and packaging, including food, medicines, cosmetics, tobacco, shopping bags, security cards, catalogs and leaflets.
“We serve niche markets and unique products with metallic inks, fluorescent inks and pearlescent coatings,” Shikano said. “We flexibly meet requirements, whether it is colors, shades, special effects on various substrates, chemical regulation and specifications for equipment. We support conventional UV, high-sensitive UV and LED ink users in the US. We partner with Universal Color Corporation, Wilmington, MA, who provide technical service with experienced press room knowledge.”
By 1990, the company started development and production for UV curing inks, and 1995, Megami Ink set up new manufacturing lines for UV curing inks inside the Gunma factory. In 2002, the company earned its ISO:9001 certification, and in 2016, Megami Ink completed the Tokyo Business Unit/Technical Center in Yashio city, Saitama prefecture.
Protecting the environment is an important emphasis for Megami Ink. Many of Megami Ink’s products have acquired an Eco Mark Certification, authorized by the Japan Environment Association. Some of the company’s inks and coatings use environmentally friendly vegetable oil in place of petroleum solvents.
“Throughout all the profound changes in the business environment that have occurred during our long history, we have never waned from our commitment to product quality, social responsibility, and compliance,” said Tadao Arai, president and representative director, Megami Ink Manufacturing Co., Ltd. “For the future and younger generations, we are working hard to reduce the environmental impact of an ink product’s lifecycle, from its conception to final disposal.”
The company reflected on its growth over the past 90 years and is already preparing for the future. “We celebrated the 90th anniversary on our operation in 2018, and are looking forward to the next 100 years,” Shikano concluded.
Megami Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd. – US Branch
1051 Perimeter Drive, Suite 515
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Phone: (847) 278-1140
www.megamiink.com/us
Specialties: Conventional Sheetfed, Energy Curable Offset (Conventional UV, High-Sensitive UV, LED and EB) and Flexographic Special Effect Coatings.
