David Savastano, Editor01.23.17
Every January, Ink World publishes our annual US Ink Directory, a comprehensive listing detailing more than 190 US ink manufacturers, ranging from major manufacturers who supply a full complement of inks to specialists who successfully focus on niches. As always, new companies appear while others close their doors, either through consolidation or by retiring from the industry.
Changes become even clearer when you look back into the past. I spent some time looking though the 2007 US Ink Directory, and it brought back memories of long-gone companies that were once fixtures in the industry and in their community. Many of these specialized in offset printing, which has been in decline for much of the past decade, while others were pioneers in packaging and inkjet and were acquired for their technology and presence in the market.
As always, I spoke with a number of ink manufacturers for the directory, and I appreciate these leaders taking the time to speak with me. Many noted that the market is ever changing; in some cities, where there once were multiple local ink businesses as well as branches of national companies, there may only be one or two still around. Some companies have moved into new ink lines, such as packaging, in order to grow their businesses.
Looking back 10 years ago, one area of change is the number of conductive ink specialists that have emerged. Back in 2007, there were two companies that only focused on the area of conductive inks; this year, that number is up to 13 businesses. The growing presence of these companies indicates that the flexible and printed electronics market is emerging.
In “Printed Electronics 2016: The Year in Review,” which starts on page 38, I offer a look at this market, which is itself evolving. Back in 2007, the idea of the Internet of Things (IoT), with billions and perhaps trillions of interconnected tags, was relatively new, and RFID was just gaining traction. Today, the IoT is inevitable, and printing is one enabler for the IoT, whether it is printing sensors, RFID chips for tags or new applications.
Flexible and printed electronics is just another example of how the business of printing is moving into new markets, and how some ink companies are changing as well. Change is the one constant in life, and that certainly is true in the ink industry as well.
Changes become even clearer when you look back into the past. I spent some time looking though the 2007 US Ink Directory, and it brought back memories of long-gone companies that were once fixtures in the industry and in their community. Many of these specialized in offset printing, which has been in decline for much of the past decade, while others were pioneers in packaging and inkjet and were acquired for their technology and presence in the market.
As always, I spoke with a number of ink manufacturers for the directory, and I appreciate these leaders taking the time to speak with me. Many noted that the market is ever changing; in some cities, where there once were multiple local ink businesses as well as branches of national companies, there may only be one or two still around. Some companies have moved into new ink lines, such as packaging, in order to grow their businesses.
Looking back 10 years ago, one area of change is the number of conductive ink specialists that have emerged. Back in 2007, there were two companies that only focused on the area of conductive inks; this year, that number is up to 13 businesses. The growing presence of these companies indicates that the flexible and printed electronics market is emerging.
In “Printed Electronics 2016: The Year in Review,” which starts on page 38, I offer a look at this market, which is itself evolving. Back in 2007, the idea of the Internet of Things (IoT), with billions and perhaps trillions of interconnected tags, was relatively new, and RFID was just gaining traction. Today, the IoT is inevitable, and printing is one enabler for the IoT, whether it is printing sensors, RFID chips for tags or new applications.
Flexible and printed electronics is just another example of how the business of printing is moving into new markets, and how some ink companies are changing as well. Change is the one constant in life, and that certainly is true in the ink industry as well.