03.22.20
150 N. Martingale, Suite 700
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Tel: (630) 382-1800
Fax: (847) 969-9758
www.inxinternational.com
Sales: $443 million.
Major Products: A full line of ink and coatings solutions technology for packaging, commercial and digital print applications, including metal decorating, flexographic, gravure, web offset, lamination, corrugated, sheetfed, digital and UV/EB inks and coatings.
Key Personnel: Kotaro Morita, chairman; John Hrdlick, president and CEO; Bryce Kristo, EVP/CFO; James Kochanny, SVP/COO; Rick Westrom, SVP, strategic global sourcing/EHS; Ron Deegan, SVP sales North America; Mark Hill, SVP R&D director; Jonathan Ellaby, VP, international operations and technology; Dave Waller, VP sales North America, rigid packaging; Jon Graunke, VP, energy curable technology and assistant R&D director; Joe Kelly, VP water ink/coating technologies; David Maternowski, VP, quality systems and BMS; Dan Lombardo, VP of operations and rigid packaging technology; Jim Lambert, VP Digital Division; James Bailen, VP of engineering and manufacturing; Chris Tucker, VP of offset operations and TPM director; Susan Supergan, SVP human resources; Shane Bertsch, VP strategic planning and innovation; Matthew Mason, SVP
general counsel.
Number of Employees: Approximately 1,235.
Operating Facilities: Fifteen manufacturing locations and approximately 190 in-plant locations throughout North America. Two North American R&D Centers: West Chicago, IL (traditional ink technologies), and Huntsville, AL (inkjet electronics, software and specialty printers).
Subsidiaries: INX International UK, Heywood, England; INX International Barcelona, Spain; INX do Brazil, Sao Paulo, Brazil; INX Digital Milan, Italy; INX Digital Prague, Czech Republic; Parent Company: Sakata INX, Osaka, Japan.
Comments: A subsidiary of Sakata INX, Osaka, Japan, the third-largest ink company worldwide, INX International Ink Co. enjoyed growth in 2019, with sales rising to $443 million. John Hrdlick, president and CEO of INX International Ink Co., said that the company did well in 2019, and expects continued growth in 2020.
“We had a much improved year compared to 2018, with strong growth and improved performance,” Hrdlick reported. “We are actually looking for growth this year in all of our markets. Some more than others, but I am optimistic about our opportunities.”
INX has been focused on facility expansion for years, and in June 2019, the company completed its two-year, $7 million expansion of its Research & Development complex in West Chicago, IL. The 70,000 square foot facility develops energy curable and inkjet inks and coatings.
“The completion of our R&D expansion was one of our highlights,” Hrdlick said. “The expansion literally doubled the size of our West Chicago R&D facility, giving us more than enough room for what the future needs will require. I think the facility will provide a great environment for customer and brand owner innovation and corroboration going forward. Due to growth in our water, coatings and solvent ink business, we devoted significant attention to projects that added improvements to our Appleton, WI facility. We are currently developing plans for other facility improvements in Dunkirk, NY and Lebanon, OH.”
In a major move at the start of 2020, INX International Ink Co. announced it had agreed to acquire RUCO Druckfarben, a screen and pad printing ink specialist headquartered in Eppstein, Germany. Founded in 1857, the company reported $40 million in sales in 2018. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of the first half of 2020, and once completed will give INX access to new markets as well as a major presence in Germany.
Consolidation throughout the printing supply chain and raw material supply remain concerns for the ink industry.
“I think the challenges we all face in the industry are the ongoing consolidation amongst our customers and ink companies,” Hrdlick observed. “Raw material supply will remain a concern as well, due to world events and regulatory changes. The increased focus on sustainable products will create significant competition as we all work to support the changes needed in packaging and consumer preferences. Our approach has been to reset our strategies and better define what innovation will mean for our company going forward.
As for raw materials, “I think the biggest concern is how the various regulatory changes happening worldwide are challenging us to find acceptable alternatives and still meet the needs of the customers,” he added.
As for the coming year, Hrdlick sees opportunities for more strong results.
“There are real opportunities for growth in all areas of our business, continued expansion of our facilities to manage our growth, and we are looking forward to the completion of our European acquisition, RUCO Druckfarben in Germany,” Hrdlick noted.
“RUCO will not only involve us in new markets globally, but it will also allow us to expand our manufacturing footprint in Europe for key INX products. It will be a very busy and challenging year for us, but it’s also a very exciting time as well.”
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Tel: (630) 382-1800
Fax: (847) 969-9758
www.inxinternational.com
Sales: $443 million.
Major Products: A full line of ink and coatings solutions technology for packaging, commercial and digital print applications, including metal decorating, flexographic, gravure, web offset, lamination, corrugated, sheetfed, digital and UV/EB inks and coatings.
Key Personnel: Kotaro Morita, chairman; John Hrdlick, president and CEO; Bryce Kristo, EVP/CFO; James Kochanny, SVP/COO; Rick Westrom, SVP, strategic global sourcing/EHS; Ron Deegan, SVP sales North America; Mark Hill, SVP R&D director; Jonathan Ellaby, VP, international operations and technology; Dave Waller, VP sales North America, rigid packaging; Jon Graunke, VP, energy curable technology and assistant R&D director; Joe Kelly, VP water ink/coating technologies; David Maternowski, VP, quality systems and BMS; Dan Lombardo, VP of operations and rigid packaging technology; Jim Lambert, VP Digital Division; James Bailen, VP of engineering and manufacturing; Chris Tucker, VP of offset operations and TPM director; Susan Supergan, SVP human resources; Shane Bertsch, VP strategic planning and innovation; Matthew Mason, SVP
general counsel.
Number of Employees: Approximately 1,235.
Operating Facilities: Fifteen manufacturing locations and approximately 190 in-plant locations throughout North America. Two North American R&D Centers: West Chicago, IL (traditional ink technologies), and Huntsville, AL (inkjet electronics, software and specialty printers).
Subsidiaries: INX International UK, Heywood, England; INX International Barcelona, Spain; INX do Brazil, Sao Paulo, Brazil; INX Digital Milan, Italy; INX Digital Prague, Czech Republic; Parent Company: Sakata INX, Osaka, Japan.
Comments: A subsidiary of Sakata INX, Osaka, Japan, the third-largest ink company worldwide, INX International Ink Co. enjoyed growth in 2019, with sales rising to $443 million. John Hrdlick, president and CEO of INX International Ink Co., said that the company did well in 2019, and expects continued growth in 2020.
“We had a much improved year compared to 2018, with strong growth and improved performance,” Hrdlick reported. “We are actually looking for growth this year in all of our markets. Some more than others, but I am optimistic about our opportunities.”
INX has been focused on facility expansion for years, and in June 2019, the company completed its two-year, $7 million expansion of its Research & Development complex in West Chicago, IL. The 70,000 square foot facility develops energy curable and inkjet inks and coatings.
“The completion of our R&D expansion was one of our highlights,” Hrdlick said. “The expansion literally doubled the size of our West Chicago R&D facility, giving us more than enough room for what the future needs will require. I think the facility will provide a great environment for customer and brand owner innovation and corroboration going forward. Due to growth in our water, coatings and solvent ink business, we devoted significant attention to projects that added improvements to our Appleton, WI facility. We are currently developing plans for other facility improvements in Dunkirk, NY and Lebanon, OH.”
In a major move at the start of 2020, INX International Ink Co. announced it had agreed to acquire RUCO Druckfarben, a screen and pad printing ink specialist headquartered in Eppstein, Germany. Founded in 1857, the company reported $40 million in sales in 2018. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of the first half of 2020, and once completed will give INX access to new markets as well as a major presence in Germany.
Consolidation throughout the printing supply chain and raw material supply remain concerns for the ink industry.
“I think the challenges we all face in the industry are the ongoing consolidation amongst our customers and ink companies,” Hrdlick observed. “Raw material supply will remain a concern as well, due to world events and regulatory changes. The increased focus on sustainable products will create significant competition as we all work to support the changes needed in packaging and consumer preferences. Our approach has been to reset our strategies and better define what innovation will mean for our company going forward.
As for raw materials, “I think the biggest concern is how the various regulatory changes happening worldwide are challenging us to find acceptable alternatives and still meet the needs of the customers,” he added.
As for the coming year, Hrdlick sees opportunities for more strong results.
“There are real opportunities for growth in all areas of our business, continued expansion of our facilities to manage our growth, and we are looking forward to the completion of our European acquisition, RUCO Druckfarben in Germany,” Hrdlick noted.
“RUCO will not only involve us in new markets globally, but it will also allow us to expand our manufacturing footprint in Europe for key INX products. It will be a very busy and challenging year for us, but it’s also a very exciting time as well.”
