David Savastano, Ink World Editor10.09.09
In recent years, energy-cured inks have developed into a growing area of opportunity for ink manufacturers and converters. Printers are developing new applications for UV inks at a rapid rate.
For many ink companies today, developing UV inks to gain entry into the market has become a race against time, while other companies have had a strong head start as they began their efforts long before the blossoming of UV.
Kolorcure Corporation is one such longtime UV ink manufacturer. Started by Donald Templeman Sr. in 1981, along with his son Brian, Kolorcure’s president, the company has worked specifically on UV technologies right from its beginnings.
“My father was a development chemist at Inmont for 25 years, and as a result of his experiences and acquaintances within the ink industry, he purchased some UV business from a major company,” Brian Templeman said. “ I had just graduated college with a degree in marketing and joined in; it was a good fit. We both got in right before the growth period.”
In the early days, UV applications were scarce as concerns about possible health effects and higher prices combined to scare off potential customers. Today, the environmental benefits and quick-curing properties as well as the total economic advantages have made UV a popular choice for printers.
“Prior to UV, companies needed large buildings to house large gas ovens or wait days for prints to dry. Now it’s done instantaneously in small units. For example, when compact discs were first developed, they were printed with pad printing ink. Now with UV screen printing and offset inks, they dry immediately in a smaller space,” said Brian Templeman.
“Over the years, there has been major improvements in the application and curing equipment, and our formulators are working with second generation raw materials that have accelerated the expansion and usage of UV technologies,” Brian Templeman added. “UV is growing into a lot of areas beyond inks, and we’re happy to be part of that growth.”
Kolorcure emphasizes “Total Solutions,” working in partnership with their customers and co-suppliers, whether it’s providing just-in-time delivery or innovative new products. “We’ve been able to work together with equipment manufacturers, raw material suppliers and converters to develop processes to help achieve our customers’ goals,” Brian Templeman said. “As a result, our inks are used on a tremendous variety of substrates, including glass, plastic, vinyl and synthetics.”
Kolorcure’s inks can be found in a wide variety of products, ranging from screen, flexo and offset on complex products such as glass and plastic displays on gaming machines and compact discs. The company’s expertise in UV inks covers a wide range of colorants, whether it’s fluorescent inks, pearlescent inks or Mirror Cure UV metallic inks for labels and packaging.
Above all, Kolorcure enjoys a challenge, and its people look forward to solving these challenges.
“We’ve never been shy to get involved,” Brian Templeman said. “Most of our key people have been here at least 10 years, and we are proud of that. Our technical team has developed outstanding inks for many difficult surfaces. We always work as a team. We’re an in-the-trenches company, and we are not afraid to get our hands dirty or go the extra mile.”
For many ink companies today, developing UV inks to gain entry into the market has become a race against time, while other companies have had a strong head start as they began their efforts long before the blossoming of UV.
Kolorcure Corporation is one such longtime UV ink manufacturer. Started by Donald Templeman Sr. in 1981, along with his son Brian, Kolorcure’s president, the company has worked specifically on UV technologies right from its beginnings.
“My father was a development chemist at Inmont for 25 years, and as a result of his experiences and acquaintances within the ink industry, he purchased some UV business from a major company,” Brian Templeman said. “ I had just graduated college with a degree in marketing and joined in; it was a good fit. We both got in right before the growth period.”
In the early days, UV applications were scarce as concerns about possible health effects and higher prices combined to scare off potential customers. Today, the environmental benefits and quick-curing properties as well as the total economic advantages have made UV a popular choice for printers.
“Prior to UV, companies needed large buildings to house large gas ovens or wait days for prints to dry. Now it’s done instantaneously in small units. For example, when compact discs were first developed, they were printed with pad printing ink. Now with UV screen printing and offset inks, they dry immediately in a smaller space,” said Brian Templeman.
“Over the years, there has been major improvements in the application and curing equipment, and our formulators are working with second generation raw materials that have accelerated the expansion and usage of UV technologies,” Brian Templeman added. “UV is growing into a lot of areas beyond inks, and we’re happy to be part of that growth.”
Kolorcure emphasizes “Total Solutions,” working in partnership with their customers and co-suppliers, whether it’s providing just-in-time delivery or innovative new products. “We’ve been able to work together with equipment manufacturers, raw material suppliers and converters to develop processes to help achieve our customers’ goals,” Brian Templeman said. “As a result, our inks are used on a tremendous variety of substrates, including glass, plastic, vinyl and synthetics.”
Kolorcure’s inks can be found in a wide variety of products, ranging from screen, flexo and offset on complex products such as glass and plastic displays on gaming machines and compact discs. The company’s expertise in UV inks covers a wide range of colorants, whether it’s fluorescent inks, pearlescent inks or Mirror Cure UV metallic inks for labels and packaging.
Above all, Kolorcure enjoys a challenge, and its people look forward to solving these challenges.
“We’ve never been shy to get involved,” Brian Templeman said. “Most of our key people have been here at least 10 years, and we are proud of that. Our technical team has developed outstanding inks for many difficult surfaces. We always work as a team. We’re an in-the-trenches company, and we are not afraid to get our hands dirty or go the extra mile.”