David Savastano, Editor11.15.18
The National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM) honored two industry leaders with prestigious awards during the 2018 NPIRI Technical Conference. Below are brief features on each of the award recipients:
From the perspective of NAPIM awards, Mark Hill, VP of R&D for INX International Ink Co., is having an amazing year. Having already received the NAPIM Printing Ink Pioneer Award during the NAPIM Convention in April, Hill was honored with NAPIM’s Technical Achievement Award at this year’s NPIRI Technical Conference.
Hill said he was caught off guard when he started hearing the background of this year’s Technical Achievement Award winner.
“I was surprised and honored to get this award,” he added. “It means a lot since it comes from those on the technical side of our business who have intimate knowledge of the challenges and tasks we have to deal with every day. It means a lot to me coming from a group of my peers - I have a hard time describing that feeling.”
Hill joined Acme Printing Ink in Appleton, WI as a chemist in 1991, taking on more responsibilities along the way. At Acme Printing Ink and INX, he has been a leader in solvent-based inks, developing new ink technologies for film lamination inks, among many other contributions. Hill said he likes the challenges and innovation the technical side of the ink industry offers.
“I really have enjoyed the technical side of the business,” Hill added. “I like the challenge it brings and learning new things. Even after being in the ink business for this long, I still feel like I can learn something every day and not always from another technical person. I also like the fact that technical people get to interact with almost every facet of our business. From Sales, Manufacturing, R&D, and Management, the challenge to innovate and keep our products ‘fresh’ and relevant keeps me going.”
Kay Sanborn – Indulor
NAPIM’s Technical Associate Member (TAM) Service Award honors an outstanding individual who, as a supplier, has played a significant role in the progress of printing ink technology or have contributed outstanding service to NAPIM and the printing ink industry.
Kay Sanborn, technical service manager for Indulor, is an ideal recipient of the 2018 TAM Service Award. A specialist in polymers and solid resins, Sanborn is highly respected throughout the industry for her innovative ideas for dispersing resins and is credited with being a key leader in R&D to get the company’s Neutral pH polymers line established for water-based flexo inks. Sanborn is also well known for her development of heat resistant polymers that are still in use today. Sanborn is also credited with starting her company’s QC department and technical service lab from the ground up.
Sanborn’s start in the industry came through a summer job. “I got a summer job with Owens-Illinois working in their ink lab matching colors,” she recalled. “Rohm and Haas was a supplier to this industry and they offered me a job when I graduated from Miami University in Oxford, OH.”
Sanborn mentioned several highlights throughout her career, including working her way up through the lab to be the technical service/ market manager for Rohm & Haas, as well as joining Indulor.
“I’d have to say coming to work for Indulor has been phenomenal,” Sanborn added. “This company is absolutely dedicated to this market and they are so supportive. Who builds a brand new chemical plant in the US? They have and the plant is state-of-the-art and set up for manufacturing the solutions and emulsions that are used for water-based printing inks.”
Sanborn noted that the industry has changed over the years.
“The printing demands have gotten tougher and more stringent plus regulatory issues are front and center,” she observed. “There are fewer people working in the lab so you need to be very entrepreneurial.”
Sanborn said that NAPIM is a great resource for the industry.
“NAPIM is an excellent organization and perfect for the raw material suppliers and ink and coating manufacturers to gain information on the industry trends and especially regarding the new regulations,” she added. “It can be quite confusing and complicated. In addition, the conferences are a good way to meet with fellow suppliers, customers to discuss new products, trends and brainstorm on new ideas.”
Sanborn said she has had several mentors in her early days who were influences.
“Rohm and Haas was probably one of the best companies back in the day if you wanted to learn emulsion polymerization,” Sanborn said. “Working closely with Lisa Fine on a pigment dispersing project was a highlight as well. When R& H acquired Morton, I got to work with Holly Anderson, Steve Walker and Tom Hayes ,who were so experienced in this industry. It was a lot of fun to put the two companies together.”
Sanborn has published numerous article and present lectures in industry seminars, and is a great mentor to her colleagues. Outside of work, she is also an accomplished triathlete and marathon runner.
“I have been running for 38 years and doing triathlons for almost as long,” Sanborn noted. “It’s a way of life for me. Most recently I did an ultra marathon (56 miles) in South Africa with my daughter. Such as amazing experience. I also help coach which has been very rewarding. I love to travel to various countries to participate in a crazy adventure and then explore the area.”
Sanborn said she was caught off guard when she received the award.
“I was quite surprised,” Sanborn added. “When they were reading the accomplishments, I thought, well I’ve worked on dispersing resins, heat resistance and neutral pH. It wasn’t until they said she and they talked about marathons that I realized it was me.”
- Mark Hill, VP of R&D for INX International Ink Co.;
- Kay Sanborn, technical service manager at Indulor.
From the perspective of NAPIM awards, Mark Hill, VP of R&D for INX International Ink Co., is having an amazing year. Having already received the NAPIM Printing Ink Pioneer Award during the NAPIM Convention in April, Hill was honored with NAPIM’s Technical Achievement Award at this year’s NPIRI Technical Conference.
Hill said he was caught off guard when he started hearing the background of this year’s Technical Achievement Award winner.
“I was surprised and honored to get this award,” he added. “It means a lot since it comes from those on the technical side of our business who have intimate knowledge of the challenges and tasks we have to deal with every day. It means a lot to me coming from a group of my peers - I have a hard time describing that feeling.”
Hill joined Acme Printing Ink in Appleton, WI as a chemist in 1991, taking on more responsibilities along the way. At Acme Printing Ink and INX, he has been a leader in solvent-based inks, developing new ink technologies for film lamination inks, among many other contributions. Hill said he likes the challenges and innovation the technical side of the ink industry offers.
“I really have enjoyed the technical side of the business,” Hill added. “I like the challenge it brings and learning new things. Even after being in the ink business for this long, I still feel like I can learn something every day and not always from another technical person. I also like the fact that technical people get to interact with almost every facet of our business. From Sales, Manufacturing, R&D, and Management, the challenge to innovate and keep our products ‘fresh’ and relevant keeps me going.”
Kay Sanborn – Indulor
NAPIM’s Technical Associate Member (TAM) Service Award honors an outstanding individual who, as a supplier, has played a significant role in the progress of printing ink technology or have contributed outstanding service to NAPIM and the printing ink industry.
Kay Sanborn, technical service manager for Indulor, is an ideal recipient of the 2018 TAM Service Award. A specialist in polymers and solid resins, Sanborn is highly respected throughout the industry for her innovative ideas for dispersing resins and is credited with being a key leader in R&D to get the company’s Neutral pH polymers line established for water-based flexo inks. Sanborn is also well known for her development of heat resistant polymers that are still in use today. Sanborn is also credited with starting her company’s QC department and technical service lab from the ground up.
Sanborn’s start in the industry came through a summer job. “I got a summer job with Owens-Illinois working in their ink lab matching colors,” she recalled. “Rohm and Haas was a supplier to this industry and they offered me a job when I graduated from Miami University in Oxford, OH.”
Sanborn mentioned several highlights throughout her career, including working her way up through the lab to be the technical service/ market manager for Rohm & Haas, as well as joining Indulor.
“I’d have to say coming to work for Indulor has been phenomenal,” Sanborn added. “This company is absolutely dedicated to this market and they are so supportive. Who builds a brand new chemical plant in the US? They have and the plant is state-of-the-art and set up for manufacturing the solutions and emulsions that are used for water-based printing inks.”
Sanborn noted that the industry has changed over the years.
“The printing demands have gotten tougher and more stringent plus regulatory issues are front and center,” she observed. “There are fewer people working in the lab so you need to be very entrepreneurial.”
Sanborn said that NAPIM is a great resource for the industry.
“NAPIM is an excellent organization and perfect for the raw material suppliers and ink and coating manufacturers to gain information on the industry trends and especially regarding the new regulations,” she added. “It can be quite confusing and complicated. In addition, the conferences are a good way to meet with fellow suppliers, customers to discuss new products, trends and brainstorm on new ideas.”
Sanborn said she has had several mentors in her early days who were influences.
“Rohm and Haas was probably one of the best companies back in the day if you wanted to learn emulsion polymerization,” Sanborn said. “Working closely with Lisa Fine on a pigment dispersing project was a highlight as well. When R& H acquired Morton, I got to work with Holly Anderson, Steve Walker and Tom Hayes ,who were so experienced in this industry. It was a lot of fun to put the two companies together.”
Sanborn has published numerous article and present lectures in industry seminars, and is a great mentor to her colleagues. Outside of work, she is also an accomplished triathlete and marathon runner.
“I have been running for 38 years and doing triathlons for almost as long,” Sanborn noted. “It’s a way of life for me. Most recently I did an ultra marathon (56 miles) in South Africa with my daughter. Such as amazing experience. I also help coach which has been very rewarding. I love to travel to various countries to participate in a crazy adventure and then explore the area.”
Sanborn said she was caught off guard when she received the award.
“I was quite surprised,” Sanborn added. “When they were reading the accomplishments, I thought, well I’ve worked on dispersing resins, heat resistance and neutral pH. It wasn’t until they said she and they talked about marathons that I realized it was me.”
