07.28.20
850 Central Ave.
Hanover Park, IL 60133
Phone: (800) 621-1049; (630) 259-7200
www.fujifilmgraphics.com
Email: contactgraphics@fujifilm.com
FUJIFILM Imaging Colorants, Inc.
I Plant
North Kansas City, MO 64116
www.fujifilmprecisionink.com
Sales: $400 million (Ink World estimate)
Major Products: UV screen, UV flexo, UV digital (piezo inkjet), solvent-based digital and solvent-based screen inks; screen pre-press; Acuity LED 1600, Acuity Ultra superwide format and the Fujifilm Acuity Series of Flatbeds including the all-new Acuity LED 40; Inca OnsetX HS UV flatbed inkjet presses; and the J Press 750S digital inkjet press. FUJIFILM Imaging Colorants, Inc. (FFIC) develops and supplies novel, high performance inkjet colorants – including dyes and pigment dispersions - and inkjet inks for the digital print market. FFIC also offers contract/toll manufacturing of aqueous inkjet inks.
Key Personnel: FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphics Systems Division: Todd Zimmerman, division president Graphic Systems Division and corporate VP Global Graphic Systems; Brent Moncrief, VP strategic marketing and brand management – the Americas; Richard Rindo, VP sales; Paul Lynaugh, director of sales – Latin America. FUJIFILM Ink Solutions Limited: Ian Wilkinson, president. FUJIFILM Manufacturing USA: Scott Holub, VP of manufacturing.
Number of Employees: 1,250 (Ink World estimate).
Comments: FUJIFILM is a worldwide leader in analog, hybrid and digital printing, including presses, printheads and inks, as well as screen and flexo inks. FUJIFILM has two ink divisions: FUJIFILM Ink Solutions Limited and FUJIFILM Manufacturing USA.
FUJIFILM Ink Solutions Limited has four global ink R&D and manufacturing facilities (Fujifilm Imaging Colorants Limited (FFIC), Grangemouth, Scotland; Fujifilm Imaging Colorants Inc. (COUS), New Castle, DE; Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems Limited (FSIS), Broadstairs, UK; and Fujifilm Sericol India Private Limited (FSID) Pune, India.)
FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphics Systems Division serves as the primary distribution channel for these facilities across North America. FUJIFILM’s Kansas City team supports product development, technical engineering, color management, global purchasing and manufacturing.
“We specialize in UV, LED, solvent-based, and water-based inks and coatings in flexo, screen and digital markets,” said Scott Holub, VP of manufacturing for FUJIFILM Manufacturing U.S.A., Inc. “As a portion of the product portfolio matures in its life cycle, we are focused on bringing new products to market. LED curing products for flexo, screen, and industrial digital saw significant growth throughout the year.”
FUJIFILM’s ink operations faced a number of challenges in 2019. Ian Wilkinson, COO for FUJIFILM Ink Solutions Group in the UK, said that the biggest challenge of 2019 from an ink operations perspective was the management and recovery of the global supply issue of a key UV inkjet photoinitiator.
“Although all ink manufacturers suffered, Fujifilm proudly maintained supply of all our ink products to customers globally,” Wilkinson added. “But, to achieve this, multiple systems and processes were quickly adopted. We were in the fortunate position of being a leading, high volume manufacturer and therefore able to manage and move global stock and utilize buying power to keep our customers printing.”
Wilkinson noted that the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting all businesses in one way or another, with the only common factor being the unpredictability from industry
to industry.
“We have seen medical and packaging inks increase dramatically while graphic ink systems have understandably suffered as events and retail industries are on hold,” Wilkinson added. “Our focus has been to balance manufacturing and our supply chains to ensure customers’ needs are met as demands fluctuate and ultimately recover.”
Holub reported that the manufacturing operation has remained open during these challenging times.
“Throughout this period, we have managed the continuously changing global supply chain and have adjusted our processes to ensure continuity for our customers,” he added. “Demand for screen and wide format digital inks declined with the onset of COVID-19, while flexo inks showed significant growth, particularly in the first two months.”
Jon Fultz, packaging product manager – Americas at FUJIFILM North America Corporation Graphic Systems Division, said that significant expansion of the UV/LED hybrid ink ranges were realized for both screen and flexo inks. Additions to the UV/LED portfolio in 2019 included a lightfast offering, many specialty coatings, adhesives and a full line of rotary screen inks.
“Product performance for many of the hybrid products was increased to meet or exceed traditional UV arc cured inks,” Fultz said. “2019 also included more than $1 million in capital equipment to improve product quality, data collection and safety systems by installing new pigment dispersion mills.
Wilkinson is relatively optimistic about the rest of 2020.
“As for the rest of 2020, we don’t expect full recovery to pre-COVID-19 norms, nor do we expect that this hiatus of print production will be replaced by a future ‘bounce’ in the economic environment,” Wilkinson observed. “But that’s OK and we are prepared for that. As Fujifilm, our objectives and actions are always measured and targeted at the long-term and ongoing service for our customers. These interim conditions won’t deter us from continuing to invest in
the future.”
Hanover Park, IL 60133
Phone: (800) 621-1049; (630) 259-7200
www.fujifilmgraphics.com
Email: contactgraphics@fujifilm.com
FUJIFILM Imaging Colorants, Inc.
I Plant
North Kansas City, MO 64116
www.fujifilmprecisionink.com
Sales: $400 million (Ink World estimate)
Major Products: UV screen, UV flexo, UV digital (piezo inkjet), solvent-based digital and solvent-based screen inks; screen pre-press; Acuity LED 1600, Acuity Ultra superwide format and the Fujifilm Acuity Series of Flatbeds including the all-new Acuity LED 40; Inca OnsetX HS UV flatbed inkjet presses; and the J Press 750S digital inkjet press. FUJIFILM Imaging Colorants, Inc. (FFIC) develops and supplies novel, high performance inkjet colorants – including dyes and pigment dispersions - and inkjet inks for the digital print market. FFIC also offers contract/toll manufacturing of aqueous inkjet inks.
Key Personnel: FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphics Systems Division: Todd Zimmerman, division president Graphic Systems Division and corporate VP Global Graphic Systems; Brent Moncrief, VP strategic marketing and brand management – the Americas; Richard Rindo, VP sales; Paul Lynaugh, director of sales – Latin America. FUJIFILM Ink Solutions Limited: Ian Wilkinson, president. FUJIFILM Manufacturing USA: Scott Holub, VP of manufacturing.
Number of Employees: 1,250 (Ink World estimate).
Comments: FUJIFILM is a worldwide leader in analog, hybrid and digital printing, including presses, printheads and inks, as well as screen and flexo inks. FUJIFILM has two ink divisions: FUJIFILM Ink Solutions Limited and FUJIFILM Manufacturing USA.
FUJIFILM Ink Solutions Limited has four global ink R&D and manufacturing facilities (Fujifilm Imaging Colorants Limited (FFIC), Grangemouth, Scotland; Fujifilm Imaging Colorants Inc. (COUS), New Castle, DE; Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems Limited (FSIS), Broadstairs, UK; and Fujifilm Sericol India Private Limited (FSID) Pune, India.)
FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphics Systems Division serves as the primary distribution channel for these facilities across North America. FUJIFILM’s Kansas City team supports product development, technical engineering, color management, global purchasing and manufacturing.
“We specialize in UV, LED, solvent-based, and water-based inks and coatings in flexo, screen and digital markets,” said Scott Holub, VP of manufacturing for FUJIFILM Manufacturing U.S.A., Inc. “As a portion of the product portfolio matures in its life cycle, we are focused on bringing new products to market. LED curing products for flexo, screen, and industrial digital saw significant growth throughout the year.”
FUJIFILM’s ink operations faced a number of challenges in 2019. Ian Wilkinson, COO for FUJIFILM Ink Solutions Group in the UK, said that the biggest challenge of 2019 from an ink operations perspective was the management and recovery of the global supply issue of a key UV inkjet photoinitiator.
“Although all ink manufacturers suffered, Fujifilm proudly maintained supply of all our ink products to customers globally,” Wilkinson added. “But, to achieve this, multiple systems and processes were quickly adopted. We were in the fortunate position of being a leading, high volume manufacturer and therefore able to manage and move global stock and utilize buying power to keep our customers printing.”
Wilkinson noted that the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting all businesses in one way or another, with the only common factor being the unpredictability from industry
to industry.
“We have seen medical and packaging inks increase dramatically while graphic ink systems have understandably suffered as events and retail industries are on hold,” Wilkinson added. “Our focus has been to balance manufacturing and our supply chains to ensure customers’ needs are met as demands fluctuate and ultimately recover.”
Holub reported that the manufacturing operation has remained open during these challenging times.
“Throughout this period, we have managed the continuously changing global supply chain and have adjusted our processes to ensure continuity for our customers,” he added. “Demand for screen and wide format digital inks declined with the onset of COVID-19, while flexo inks showed significant growth, particularly in the first two months.”
Jon Fultz, packaging product manager – Americas at FUJIFILM North America Corporation Graphic Systems Division, said that significant expansion of the UV/LED hybrid ink ranges were realized for both screen and flexo inks. Additions to the UV/LED portfolio in 2019 included a lightfast offering, many specialty coatings, adhesives and a full line of rotary screen inks.
“Product performance for many of the hybrid products was increased to meet or exceed traditional UV arc cured inks,” Fultz said. “2019 also included more than $1 million in capital equipment to improve product quality, data collection and safety systems by installing new pigment dispersion mills.
Wilkinson is relatively optimistic about the rest of 2020.
“As for the rest of 2020, we don’t expect full recovery to pre-COVID-19 norms, nor do we expect that this hiatus of print production will be replaced by a future ‘bounce’ in the economic environment,” Wilkinson observed. “But that’s OK and we are prepared for that. As Fujifilm, our objectives and actions are always measured and targeted at the long-term and ongoing service for our customers. These interim conditions won’t deter us from continuing to invest in
the future.”