Dave Savastano, Editor05.20.15
The Ault Award is the highest honor presented by the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM), and celebrates the individual’s dedication and service to the industry. George Sickinger, the 2015 Ault Award honoree, definitely is a deserving honoree.
A 54-year ink industry veteran, Sickinger began his ink career in 1961 at Interchemical (renamed Inmont in 1968) as a lab technician, while he was still attending college at Northeastern University.
In 1973, he joined Sun Chemical, serving as a branch manager in both the Southwest and Southeast. In 1980, he moved on to Borden Chemical, eventually becoming VP and GM of its Printing Ink Group.
In 2000, when Borden looked to divest its ink business, Sickinger pulled together a leveraged buyout, forming Color Resolutions International, which he ran as chairman, president and CEO until 2014, when he sold the company to American Inks & Coatings.
Sickinger has long been active within NAPIM. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 2000, and served as treasurer, VP and president of NAPIM. He also is active in TAPPI, FTA, AICC and RadTech. In 2007, he received NAPIM’s Printing Ink Pioneer Award in honor of his contributions to the ink industry.
Sickinger said it is a tremendous honor to receive the Ault Award.
“It is a great honor to be so recognized and to be in the company of such distinguished past recipients,” Sickinger said. “I am glad to see that we are recognizing more of our technical people and suppliers with Pioneer Awards. Our technical people supported by our suppliers do amazing things on a daily basis to keep our customers happy.”
Beginnings in the Ink Industry
Sickinger noted that his joining the ink industry was a result of good luck.
“Like many others in the industry, my introduction to the ink industry was the result of serendipity,” Sickinger recalled. “I was in college as a chemistry major and was in need of a flexible job to help pay for my schooling. I had two jobs presented to me by an employment agency. One was counting rolls in a bakery, and the other was in the laboratory of Interchemical in Lodi, NJ. Obviously, I chose the latter.
“Although I was not that passionate about chemistry, per se, I did like learning to color match and formulate inks that I could later see on a store shelf,” he added. “The process seemed to be more like gourmet cooking than chemistry.”
Sickinger said that matching colors on press was an important point in his blossoming career.
“Shortly after starting, I was one of the few left in the lab when a call came in to help an important customer tone over M&M maroon,” he said. “The press was down. I was sent but felt unprepared and too inexperienced for this assignment. When I arrived at the plant, the veteran pressman showed me to the gravure press, and let me go through my lengthy trial and error process to get the ink on shade.
“I know it wasn’t the best match, but he approved it and thanked me for helping,” he added. “He was very patient, but I knew a more experienced technician would have done the job much better and faster. But the life lesson learned was that if you make an honest effort and stick with it, customers will be patient and appreciate the effort and cut you some slack. I think this is still true today.”
After Inmont, Sickinger joined Sun Chemical, and in 1980, headed to Borden Chemical, where he stayed for two decades. When Borden Chemical looked to divest its ink division, Sickinger put together a leveraged buyout.
“Over the years, the ink industry gave me the opportunity to grow into positions of increasing responsibility, which culminated with me being able to acquire the Borden Printing Ink Division and found Color Resolutions International,” he said. “That was definitely a high point. Also, I enjoyed being given the opportunity to relocate to some fine cities around the U.S., which served to broaden my understanding of people in general and the geographical differences in our markets and approaches to them.”
A Changing Industry
During his 54 years in the ink industry, Sickinger said he has seen a lot of changes.
“I started in the ‘Mad Men’ years of the 1960s, when there were more customers than today; printing and publishing was flourishing; the economy was strong and margins were healthy,” he said. “Relationships at the production level were key.”
The oil shortage changed the way the ink industry did business.
“The oil shortage of the 1970s was a game changer for the ink and other oil-related industries,” Sickinger said. “During most of the 1970s, the buyer lost a lot of purchasing leverage because of the shortage situation. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, ink purchasing started moving from the production floor to a corporate purchasing department, which led to clever approaches like ‘RFPs,’ and in some cases, the online auctions.
“Except for the independent value added companies, selling ink has become more transactional and heavily weighted in favor of the buyer,” he added. “In short, the industry has gone from supplying a somewhat strategic special chemical to a commodity with valued added services. The selling process has become more confrontational to achieve decent returns.”
The technical side of the ink industry has changed as well, from an art form to more of a science.
“Over the span of my career I have seen a shift in the role of the ink technician,” Sickinger said. “Early on, ink technicians spent more time adjusting ink on press. Pressmen were craftsmen and made a lot of adjustments to ‘their’ presses, which required the ink tech to do his adjustments. Today ink formations are largely press ready, and the 21st century ink tech working on new equipment earns his stripes by consulting with the customer on optimizing his process rather than by adjusting ink.”
Key Influences
Along the way, Sickinger has had many mentors, beginning at Interchemical, where Lou Engelhart taught new technical service and sales trainees a course on ink chemistry.
“Early in my career, I would credit Lou Engelhart at Interchemical for giving me a good technical foundation,” he recalled. “Lou was sidelined in his career with debilitating arthritis. He needed two canes to walk and was in constant pain, but it did not dampen his cheerful disposition or his ability to teach us the ink chemistry of each of the major product lines. Interchemical, to their credit, created this job to train young people like me. When Lou retired, another Inmont person taught a somewhat modified course to cover more of the marketing aspects. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to take both courses,” Sickinger added. “The modified course continued for about two years and then was dropped altogether as Inmont lost interest in the ink industry.
“While at Sun Chemical, through most of the 1970s, I admired my immediate boss, Frank Tupper, for his sales/sales management acumen, and Gordon Mac Quaker for his skill in building Sun/GPI in all the major markets,” Sickinger noted. “In those days most of the branch managers, like me, were young and eager to grow. Sun was a great place to learn.”
The Benefits of Trade Associations
As former president of NAPIM as well as a member of many associations, Sickinger has long seen the importance of NAPIM and trade associations in general.
“NAPIM is the voice of the industry and plays an important role in the areas of food safety, regulatory affairs and technical training,” he noted. “There are many other trade associations that ink people can attend, but it boils down to ‘you get out of it, what you put into it.’ I see trade associations such as GAA, FPA, FTA, AICC, TAPPI, etc. as the places to learn what issues our customers are facing and what new technical trends are on the horizon that may change the way we formulate or market ink.
Getting involved in the leadership of these associations is a great way to get to know and to work side by side with industry leaders that will shape the future.
“It is disheartening that NAPIM can’t gain any traction in the digital world,” Sickinger added. “It appears to be a case of the young (digital) discounting the value of the old (analog). Digital companies bundle equipment and supplies to offer a print solution to customers. Digital offers a real challenge and opportunity for NAPIM member companies.”
Sickinger is looking forward to new opportunities, both inside and outside of the industry.
“I have been almost a lifelong snow skier and still enjoy the sport a few winter days a year,” he said. “I plan on doing more skiing in the years ahead. Skiers of all ages are active, adventurous and fun to be around. Besides skiing, I enjoy reading (mainly nonfiction), walking the beach, hiking, traveling with my wife, Michelle, and generally enjoying the grandchildren. I have some business interests as well, but they are not fleshed out yet. After over 50 years in the industry, the thought of not having to do anything has some appeal. We shall see!”
A 54-year ink industry veteran, Sickinger began his ink career in 1961 at Interchemical (renamed Inmont in 1968) as a lab technician, while he was still attending college at Northeastern University.
In 1973, he joined Sun Chemical, serving as a branch manager in both the Southwest and Southeast. In 1980, he moved on to Borden Chemical, eventually becoming VP and GM of its Printing Ink Group.
In 2000, when Borden looked to divest its ink business, Sickinger pulled together a leveraged buyout, forming Color Resolutions International, which he ran as chairman, president and CEO until 2014, when he sold the company to American Inks & Coatings.
Sickinger has long been active within NAPIM. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 2000, and served as treasurer, VP and president of NAPIM. He also is active in TAPPI, FTA, AICC and RadTech. In 2007, he received NAPIM’s Printing Ink Pioneer Award in honor of his contributions to the ink industry.
Sickinger said it is a tremendous honor to receive the Ault Award.
“It is a great honor to be so recognized and to be in the company of such distinguished past recipients,” Sickinger said. “I am glad to see that we are recognizing more of our technical people and suppliers with Pioneer Awards. Our technical people supported by our suppliers do amazing things on a daily basis to keep our customers happy.”
Beginnings in the Ink Industry
Sickinger noted that his joining the ink industry was a result of good luck.
“Like many others in the industry, my introduction to the ink industry was the result of serendipity,” Sickinger recalled. “I was in college as a chemistry major and was in need of a flexible job to help pay for my schooling. I had two jobs presented to me by an employment agency. One was counting rolls in a bakery, and the other was in the laboratory of Interchemical in Lodi, NJ. Obviously, I chose the latter.
“Although I was not that passionate about chemistry, per se, I did like learning to color match and formulate inks that I could later see on a store shelf,” he added. “The process seemed to be more like gourmet cooking than chemistry.”
Sickinger said that matching colors on press was an important point in his blossoming career.
“Shortly after starting, I was one of the few left in the lab when a call came in to help an important customer tone over M&M maroon,” he said. “The press was down. I was sent but felt unprepared and too inexperienced for this assignment. When I arrived at the plant, the veteran pressman showed me to the gravure press, and let me go through my lengthy trial and error process to get the ink on shade.
“I know it wasn’t the best match, but he approved it and thanked me for helping,” he added. “He was very patient, but I knew a more experienced technician would have done the job much better and faster. But the life lesson learned was that if you make an honest effort and stick with it, customers will be patient and appreciate the effort and cut you some slack. I think this is still true today.”
After Inmont, Sickinger joined Sun Chemical, and in 1980, headed to Borden Chemical, where he stayed for two decades. When Borden Chemical looked to divest its ink division, Sickinger put together a leveraged buyout.
“Over the years, the ink industry gave me the opportunity to grow into positions of increasing responsibility, which culminated with me being able to acquire the Borden Printing Ink Division and found Color Resolutions International,” he said. “That was definitely a high point. Also, I enjoyed being given the opportunity to relocate to some fine cities around the U.S., which served to broaden my understanding of people in general and the geographical differences in our markets and approaches to them.”
A Changing Industry
During his 54 years in the ink industry, Sickinger said he has seen a lot of changes.
“I started in the ‘Mad Men’ years of the 1960s, when there were more customers than today; printing and publishing was flourishing; the economy was strong and margins were healthy,” he said. “Relationships at the production level were key.”
The oil shortage changed the way the ink industry did business.
“The oil shortage of the 1970s was a game changer for the ink and other oil-related industries,” Sickinger said. “During most of the 1970s, the buyer lost a lot of purchasing leverage because of the shortage situation. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, ink purchasing started moving from the production floor to a corporate purchasing department, which led to clever approaches like ‘RFPs,’ and in some cases, the online auctions.
“Except for the independent value added companies, selling ink has become more transactional and heavily weighted in favor of the buyer,” he added. “In short, the industry has gone from supplying a somewhat strategic special chemical to a commodity with valued added services. The selling process has become more confrontational to achieve decent returns.”
The technical side of the ink industry has changed as well, from an art form to more of a science.
“Over the span of my career I have seen a shift in the role of the ink technician,” Sickinger said. “Early on, ink technicians spent more time adjusting ink on press. Pressmen were craftsmen and made a lot of adjustments to ‘their’ presses, which required the ink tech to do his adjustments. Today ink formations are largely press ready, and the 21st century ink tech working on new equipment earns his stripes by consulting with the customer on optimizing his process rather than by adjusting ink.”
Key Influences
Along the way, Sickinger has had many mentors, beginning at Interchemical, where Lou Engelhart taught new technical service and sales trainees a course on ink chemistry.
“Early in my career, I would credit Lou Engelhart at Interchemical for giving me a good technical foundation,” he recalled. “Lou was sidelined in his career with debilitating arthritis. He needed two canes to walk and was in constant pain, but it did not dampen his cheerful disposition or his ability to teach us the ink chemistry of each of the major product lines. Interchemical, to their credit, created this job to train young people like me. When Lou retired, another Inmont person taught a somewhat modified course to cover more of the marketing aspects. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to take both courses,” Sickinger added. “The modified course continued for about two years and then was dropped altogether as Inmont lost interest in the ink industry.
“While at Sun Chemical, through most of the 1970s, I admired my immediate boss, Frank Tupper, for his sales/sales management acumen, and Gordon Mac Quaker for his skill in building Sun/GPI in all the major markets,” Sickinger noted. “In those days most of the branch managers, like me, were young and eager to grow. Sun was a great place to learn.”
The Benefits of Trade Associations
As former president of NAPIM as well as a member of many associations, Sickinger has long seen the importance of NAPIM and trade associations in general.
“NAPIM is the voice of the industry and plays an important role in the areas of food safety, regulatory affairs and technical training,” he noted. “There are many other trade associations that ink people can attend, but it boils down to ‘you get out of it, what you put into it.’ I see trade associations such as GAA, FPA, FTA, AICC, TAPPI, etc. as the places to learn what issues our customers are facing and what new technical trends are on the horizon that may change the way we formulate or market ink.
Getting involved in the leadership of these associations is a great way to get to know and to work side by side with industry leaders that will shape the future.
“It is disheartening that NAPIM can’t gain any traction in the digital world,” Sickinger added. “It appears to be a case of the young (digital) discounting the value of the old (analog). Digital companies bundle equipment and supplies to offer a print solution to customers. Digital offers a real challenge and opportunity for NAPIM member companies.”
Sickinger is looking forward to new opportunities, both inside and outside of the industry.
“I have been almost a lifelong snow skier and still enjoy the sport a few winter days a year,” he said. “I plan on doing more skiing in the years ahead. Skiers of all ages are active, adventurous and fun to be around. Besides skiing, I enjoy reading (mainly nonfiction), walking the beach, hiking, traveling with my wife, Michelle, and generally enjoying the grandchildren. I have some business interests as well, but they are not fleshed out yet. After over 50 years in the industry, the thought of not having to do anything has some appeal. We shall see!”