Consumables-Ink - Inkjet

Black. The color is inextricable from our daily lives. But where does it come from?

Before you dive into a new wide-format printer, you must carefully consider what you want and which ink set will help you get there.

Learn how breakthroughs in automated color management will save you time, add consistency and bring you more credibility.

When will an inkjet production press make its way into your in-plant? The technology is advancing steadily, and a handful of in-plants have already invested in it, but for most managers, inkjet means wide-format, not high volumes and high speeds.

In-plants interested in incorporating sustainable practices into the pressroom have a number of choices when it comes to ink. To help you sort them out, Joe Bendowski, president of Van Son Holland Ink Corp. of America, offers these descriptions of what is available:

Although inks make up a relatively small proportion of printed materials, working out their carbon footprints can be difficult because of the wide range of ink formulations and the numerous chemicals within them.

By all accounts, 2009 was a difficult year for the printing ink industry. Manufacturers faced pressure from a variety of areas: the global recession, the downturn in the printing market, higher raw material costs and fierce competition.

Filtering last month's PRINT 09 from a printing ink perspective, this colorful printing component is readily seen triggering hosts of printing show innovation. While no inks won (or were even nominated for) Must See 'ems technology recognition awards this year, ink controls, measurement systems, and color control and prediction software were plentiful in the Must See 'ems program.

Sustainability starts at the corporate level. Several vendors are taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, use alternative energy sources, recycle and more.

In response to the demands for printers to create a creditable recognition program, the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP Partnership) was created. It recognizes printers efforts at being a sustainable green printer.