In the 1950s, the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM) introduced the National Printing Ink Research Institute (NPIRI) Summer Course. Over the years, the summer course has provided graphic arts professionals comprehensive training in a wide range of subjects, including inks, raw materials, equipment and printing.
 
This year, the 2019 NPIRI Summer Course will be held July 14-19 at the Sonoco Institute at Clemson University. The Sonoco Institute has an array of pressroom capabilities, providing attendees with hands-on experience to go along with the sessions taught by industry experts.
 
The courses aren’t only designed for industry newcomers; industry veterans also benefit from the immersive sessions.
 
“The NPIRI Summer Course is designed to provide both academic and hands-on instruction to the students,” said George Fuchs, NAPIM’s director of regulatory affairs and technology. “The student’s take away value equates to immediate workplace benefit – knowledge, understanding and training that translates to better overall performance and efficiency for both ink manufacturers and supplier companies.
 
Past attendees have found the NPIRI Summer Course rewarding.
 
“Great topics and information provided by technical experts,” said one attendee last year. “I hope to attend a few more classes and enhance my knowledge a little more over the next few years."
 
“Overall, I was very impressed with the presentations,” another 2018 attendee commented. “Great job, I found the course very valuable.”
 
The five-day course is broken into paste and liquid ink modules. The Sonoco Institute has offset, flexo and digital presses, which gives attendees the opportunity to formulate and test inks and run presses.
 
The topics are wide-ranging. After an introductory session and dinner on Sunday, July 14, the NPIRI Summer Course Program begins full sessions on paste inks on July 15 with the following classes:

• Lithographic Print Process - David Aynessazian;
• Litho Paste Ink Vehicle Composition – Aynessazian;
• Litho Paste Ink Composition –Les Watkins;
• Energy Curable Paste Inks – Joanne Arceneaux;
• Energy Curable Paste Inks –  Arceneaux;
• New Tech/Inkjet –Douglas Bugner;
• Offset Press Demo – Pat Rose;
• Digital Printing Substrates – Jim Niemiec

July 16 features a mix of paste and liquid inks, with an emphasis on hands-on testing demonstrations, as well as a look into printed electronics. The following sessions are scheduled:

• Substrates – Paper Properties & Printability – Niemiec;
• Fountain Solution & Press Room Chemicals – Victor Lewis;
• Formulating Litho Inks & Vehicles – Watkins and Aynessazian;
• Viscosity Demo – Borpit Intawiwat;
• Printability and Proofing Demo – Paul Sopko;
• Inkometer Tack Measurements Demo – Dean Kershaw;
• Printed Electronics/eInk/Sonoco Institute Tour – Liam O’Hara/Bobby Congdon;
• Repeat of Intro for Liquid Ink Attendees – NAPIM

 Similarly, the July 17 sessions will also feature a mix of paste and liquid inks, with a focus on raw materials as well as regulatory issues:

• Principles of Rheology & Practical Applications - Charlie Hsu;
• Organic/Inorganic Pigments, Metallic & Special Effect Colorants – Mike Oberski;
• Regulatory Overview for Ink Manufacturers – George Fuchs;
• Fundamentals of Carbon Black – John Foster;
• Introduction to Color Matching and Color Management – Congdon;
• Principles of Dispersion – Charles Douglas;
• Manufacturing Dispersions for Paste & Fluid Inks – Douglas 

July 18 focuses on the liquid ink portion of the industry:

• Flexo & Gravure Solvent Vehicle Composition – Hsu;
• Flexo & Gravure Water Based Ink & Vehicle Composition – Dave Tappa;
• Energy Curable Fluid Inks – Mike Oberski;
• Flexo & Gravure Printing, Lamination, Converting Processes  – Brian Chweirut;
• Flexo Press Run – Kariahlyn Lindsey;
• Digital Press Demo – Brian Frederick;
• Flexo Plate Making/Mounting – Brad Gasque

 July 19 closes the Summer Course with more on liquid inks:

• Anilox Discussion/Application – Tony Donato;
• Proofing & Printability Demo – Paul Sopko;
• Substrates for Surface & Reverse Printing and Lamination – Brian Chwierut;
• Flexo & Gravure Ink Composition – Chwierut;
• Formulating Flexo & Gravure Vehicles and Inks – Chwierut;
• Flexo & Gravure Ink Testing – Chwierut

“Our instructors have been selected on two criteria: exceptional technical knowledge and ability to communicate effectively,” Fuchs said. “The NPIRI Summer Course instructors have many years of direct industry experience and are dedicated and committed to training and improving and sustaining the printing ink industry.”
 
For more information on the Summer Course, please go to www.napim.org or contact Fuchs at 770-209-7291.