David Savastano, Editor03.09.18
For the ink industry, the past 12 months have been filled with mixed signals. On the one hand, the economy is growing, which is good for consumers. That translates into more goods sold, which is good news for printers and their ink suppliers.
However, raw material costs are on the upswing, as environmental concerns and supply issues converge, putting the squeeze on ink manufacturers even during a time of growth. This is one of the key messages that can be found in our annual North American Top 20 Report.
Not surprisingly, this is not just a trend in North America, as Sean Milmo, our European editor, noted in his annual review of the ink industry in Europe, starting on page 18. Prices of pigment and their intermediates, solvents, feedstocks and more are on the upswing. In particular, in associate editor Anthony Locicero’s report on the pigment industry, which begins on page 55, executives talk about the environmental and cost pressures they are facing.
However, there are other global trends that are clear from these reports. Ink companies report that for the most part, business was strong during the past year. The packaging ink market remains strong, and digital printing is growing. There are even signs that the publication market is stabilizing after many years of decline.
Meanwhile, new markets are emerging. In “The Conductive Ink and Materials Market,” starting on page 58, executives from leading companies in this field discuss some of the new applications in this space.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is one opportunity with virtually limitless potential. The IoT is an amazing field, where potentially billions of sensors will communicate with our smartphones and other devices, giving people the ability to learn more about the world around them and the items that they use. Conductive ink manufacturers are playing an important role in creating the functionality of these sensors and wearables, which have the potential to change the world we live in.
However, raw material costs are on the upswing, as environmental concerns and supply issues converge, putting the squeeze on ink manufacturers even during a time of growth. This is one of the key messages that can be found in our annual North American Top 20 Report.
Not surprisingly, this is not just a trend in North America, as Sean Milmo, our European editor, noted in his annual review of the ink industry in Europe, starting on page 18. Prices of pigment and their intermediates, solvents, feedstocks and more are on the upswing. In particular, in associate editor Anthony Locicero’s report on the pigment industry, which begins on page 55, executives talk about the environmental and cost pressures they are facing.
However, there are other global trends that are clear from these reports. Ink companies report that for the most part, business was strong during the past year. The packaging ink market remains strong, and digital printing is growing. There are even signs that the publication market is stabilizing after many years of decline.
Meanwhile, new markets are emerging. In “The Conductive Ink and Materials Market,” starting on page 58, executives from leading companies in this field discuss some of the new applications in this space.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is one opportunity with virtually limitless potential. The IoT is an amazing field, where potentially billions of sensors will communicate with our smartphones and other devices, giving people the ability to learn more about the world around them and the items that they use. Conductive ink manufacturers are playing an important role in creating the functionality of these sensors and wearables, which have the potential to change the world we live in.