David Savastano, Editor03.29.16
1886 Merritt Road
Fort Mill, SC 29715
Phone: (803) 548-2210
www.wikoff.com
Sales: $180 million (Ink World estimate).
Major Products: Sheetfed and web offset inks, solvent-based and water-based flexo and gravure inks, energy-curable inks and coatings, security inks, UV inkjet inks, overprint varnish and aqueous coatings.
Geoff Oeters
Key Personnel: Geoff Peters, president and CEO; Daryl Collins, VP of national sales and regional operations; Greg Burch, VP of international and security markets; Frieda Liles, VP of finance and treasurer; Martin Hambrock, VP of Canadian operations; Don Duncan, director of R&D; Ken Klug, director of purchasing; Art Dennis, director of manufacturing.
No. of Employees: 473
Operating Facilities: 28.
Comments: Wikoff Color had an excellent year in 2015, as the company enjoyed growth in the expanding energy curable, flexible packaging, label and inkjet segments.
“Wikoff Color fared quite well globally in 2015,” said Geoff Peters, Wikoff Color’s president and CEO. “Continued growth in key target markets such as flexible packaging, label and digital technologies influenced our success not only in North America, but also in international markets.
“In addition to the sustained expansion in our digital and international businesses, Wikoff Color was pleased to have experienced good growth with our energy curable ink and coating product lines,” Peters added.
As the packaging and digital printing markets evolve, Wikoff Color is capitalizing on its strengths in areas such as low migration and energy curable inkjet technologies to make gains in these fields.
“Packaging, particularly food packaging, is a large and growing area where there are opportunities to excel and differentiate,” said Dr. Don Duncan, director of research for Wikoff Color. “The significant interest in packaging that allows low-to-no migration of any chemicals into food, whether they are from ink, coating, adhesives or the substrate itself, is a huge opportunity. Wikoff has always been strong in defining and training on migration issues, and this has enabled us to be in a leadership position as these issues are discussed. The packaging area would include labels, folding carton as well as flexible packaging.
“Inkjet in the commercial/industrial sector is also rapidly growing,” Dr. Duncan added. “Increasing numbers of people recognize that product decoration is a value-enhancing process and are extremely interested in printing on large numbers of irregularly shaped objects that have never been available for printing before. By having a strong development program for UV and EB curable inkjet inks, plus having an established network of integrators and printhead manufacturers, Wikoff is well positioned to provide new solutions for this active business area.”
In personnel news, Wikoff Color named Dr. Evan Benbow as assistant director of research in January 2016. Dr. Benbow will oversee water-and oil-based inks and water-based coatings development, as well as customer service operations.
Brand owners and printers alike are concerned about ever-changing regulations worldwide, and ink manufacturers are helping their customers remain ahead of new mandates. Daryl Collins, VP - corporate sales and regional operations for Wikoff Color, reported that Wikoff Color has taken the necessary steps to prepare for the increased regulations affecting the ink industry and its customers.
“We are here to help our customers navigate through some of the more complex subjects, such as food packaging safety,” Collins added. “Our dedication to research, paired with our exceptional technical service, makes us a great partner when tackling these issues.”
During the past year, currency rates have been volatile, which is affecting ink companies for sales as well as purchasing raw materials.
“We are certainly impacted on a consolidated basis by currency fluctuations as the US dollar continues to strengthen against the Canadian dollar and the Great British pound,” noted Frieda Liles, Wikoff Color’s VP – finance and treasurer.
Peters anticipates a successful year ahead for Wikoff Color.
“Good growth is anticipated for Wikoff Color in 2016,” Peters said. “We expect this growth to come from a combination of increases in our international and digital markets, as well as strong sales in the traditional sectors of our business.”
Fort Mill, SC 29715
Phone: (803) 548-2210
www.wikoff.com
Sales: $180 million (Ink World estimate).
Major Products: Sheetfed and web offset inks, solvent-based and water-based flexo and gravure inks, energy-curable inks and coatings, security inks, UV inkjet inks, overprint varnish and aqueous coatings.
Geoff Oeters
No. of Employees: 473
Operating Facilities: 28.
Comments: Wikoff Color had an excellent year in 2015, as the company enjoyed growth in the expanding energy curable, flexible packaging, label and inkjet segments.
“Wikoff Color fared quite well globally in 2015,” said Geoff Peters, Wikoff Color’s president and CEO. “Continued growth in key target markets such as flexible packaging, label and digital technologies influenced our success not only in North America, but also in international markets.
“In addition to the sustained expansion in our digital and international businesses, Wikoff Color was pleased to have experienced good growth with our energy curable ink and coating product lines,” Peters added.
As the packaging and digital printing markets evolve, Wikoff Color is capitalizing on its strengths in areas such as low migration and energy curable inkjet technologies to make gains in these fields.
“Packaging, particularly food packaging, is a large and growing area where there are opportunities to excel and differentiate,” said Dr. Don Duncan, director of research for Wikoff Color. “The significant interest in packaging that allows low-to-no migration of any chemicals into food, whether they are from ink, coating, adhesives or the substrate itself, is a huge opportunity. Wikoff has always been strong in defining and training on migration issues, and this has enabled us to be in a leadership position as these issues are discussed. The packaging area would include labels, folding carton as well as flexible packaging.
“Inkjet in the commercial/industrial sector is also rapidly growing,” Dr. Duncan added. “Increasing numbers of people recognize that product decoration is a value-enhancing process and are extremely interested in printing on large numbers of irregularly shaped objects that have never been available for printing before. By having a strong development program for UV and EB curable inkjet inks, plus having an established network of integrators and printhead manufacturers, Wikoff is well positioned to provide new solutions for this active business area.”
In personnel news, Wikoff Color named Dr. Evan Benbow as assistant director of research in January 2016. Dr. Benbow will oversee water-and oil-based inks and water-based coatings development, as well as customer service operations.
Brand owners and printers alike are concerned about ever-changing regulations worldwide, and ink manufacturers are helping their customers remain ahead of new mandates. Daryl Collins, VP - corporate sales and regional operations for Wikoff Color, reported that Wikoff Color has taken the necessary steps to prepare for the increased regulations affecting the ink industry and its customers.
“We are here to help our customers navigate through some of the more complex subjects, such as food packaging safety,” Collins added. “Our dedication to research, paired with our exceptional technical service, makes us a great partner when tackling these issues.”
During the past year, currency rates have been volatile, which is affecting ink companies for sales as well as purchasing raw materials.
“We are certainly impacted on a consolidated basis by currency fluctuations as the US dollar continues to strengthen against the Canadian dollar and the Great British pound,” noted Frieda Liles, Wikoff Color’s VP – finance and treasurer.
Peters anticipates a successful year ahead for Wikoff Color.
“Good growth is anticipated for Wikoff Color in 2016,” Peters said. “We expect this growth to come from a combination of increases in our international and digital markets, as well as strong sales in the traditional sectors of our business.”
