3535 SW 56th St.
Des Moines, IA 50321
Phone: (515) 471-2100
or (800) 728-8200
Fax: (515) 471-2202
www.siegwerk.com


Total CUSA Sales: $200 million

Major Products: Solvent-based, water-based, energy curable and specialty liquid inks and coatings and related point-of-use services for the flexible packaging, label, tobacco and paper and board industries using flexo, rotogravure and offset printing.

Key Personnel: Dave Hiserodt, president CUSA region; Coen Vinke, VP, flexible packaging CUSA; Terry Davis, VP sales, flexible packaging CUSA; Lothar Schaeffeler, VP technology Americas; Dean Radford, VP technology narrow web CUSA.

Number of Employees: 600 (CUSA).

Operating Facilities: Des Moines, IA – CUSA (Canada and US) headquarters and two manufacturing locations; Morganton, NC – Siegwerk Narrow Web headquarters; Spartanburg, SC; Drums, PA; Vacaville, CA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Ontario, CA; Brampton, Ontario, Canada; Laval, Quebec, Canada.

Comments: With sales of $1.22 billion in 2015, Siegwerk Druckfarben AG & Co. KGaA is one of the five largest global ink manufacturers, and its focus on liquid inks has made it one of the leaders in the expanding packaging ink field.

As a result, Siegwerk CUSA, Siegwerk’s US and Canadian subsidiary, continues to grow along with its packaging customers, reporting sales of $200 million in 2016. David Hiserodt, president, CUSA region for Siegwerk, said that 2016 was a successful year for Siegwerk in the market place.

“Our Flexible Packaging Business Unit saw double-digit volume gains,” Hiserodt observed. “Our Narrow Web Business Unit did not fare as well, but saw some major customer wins in the back half of 2016, primarily in LED and low migration technology, which positions it strongly for 2017.

“We continue to focus our efforts on expanding our core business of inks for package printing through major investments in people, capacity and technology,” he added.

Siegwerk reported many highlights during the past year, beginning with some significant investments. 

“In 2016, Siegwerk CUSA finished Phase 2 of its Supply Chain Management CAPEX Project Proteus,” Hiserodt said. “This project involves investments in the solvent-base manufacturing headquarters in Des Moines, IA. Investments in our Center of Excellence help to provide consistent product quality and efficiencies, allowing for a better response to our existing customer base, as well as new business opportunities.

From a technology standpoint, Siegwerk expanded its portfolio of low migration printing inks for food and pharmaceutical packaging applications, introducing the SICURA Nutriflex LEDTec low migration LED UV printing ink series.

“Here, printers want the highest level of product safety, all coupled with optimal efficiency and short production times,” Hiserodt noted.

Hiserodt anticipates further growth in packaging in the coming year, and sees LED UV curing as a technology that will continue to make inroads.

“Siegwerk expects package printing to gain further momentum this year,” he said. “We are seeing increased demand for shorter runs driven by brand owners desiring regionalization and personalization as well as effect varnishes and special finishing of their product packaging. As part of our differentiation strategy, Siegwerk will continue to work closely with customers to develop optimal solutions that fit their individual needs.

“We are already seeing a gradual volume switch from conventional UV to LED technology,” Hiserodt added. “We believe that LED UV curing will continue to be one of the growth drivers in our UV inks and throughout the printing industry. Further expansion of LED UV ink applications will enable printers to use these inks for the full range of products.”

Shorter print runs, improving efficiency and differentiating packaging on the shelf are challenges packaging printers are working on.

“The challenges our customers are facing in the market today include the ability to do shorter print runs, efficiency gains from ink room to press room and the ever-evolving battle to gain shelf appeal,” said Hiserodt. “Siegwerk’s ink solutions and services have met these challenges head-on. As customers are facing the constant push for efficiency gains throughout the print process, Siegwerk’s Process Management & Consulting (PMC) and Global InHouse Harmonization (GIHH) efforts work with our customers to apply world-class processes both in the ink room and press room. By utilizing many different continuous improvement methods, efficiencies like standardization of color management processes can yield reductions in waste and press downtime.”

“To help customers enhance their product’s shelf appeal, Siegwerk’s Two-Component (2K) solutions provide the needed gloss or matte appearance required while also providing excellent resistance properties to the every-day challenges packaging must endure,” Hiserodt continued.

Hiserodt said that Siegwerk CUSA has very ambitious growth targets for 2017 in both Flexible Packaging and Narrow Web inks.

“Siegwerk CUSA is heading into 2017 with ambitious goals to continue growing its strong positions within the packaging market, and 2017 will see us begin our final phase of our Supply Chain Management Investment project, which will increase manufacturing capacity for solvent-based inks in Des Moines along with the final enhancements to our Narrow Web manufacturing in Morganton, NC,” Hiserodt said.

“With our additional investments in our Process Management and Consulting teams along with new product rollouts scheduled for UV flexo and low migration technology, we expect the marketplace to respond positively to our product and service offerings,” Hiserodt added, “By providing not only consistent, quality products, but by also leading the way in providing experienced guidance and support in terms of ink room management, ink performance, color matching and product safety, we have great expectations for 2017 and beyond.”