Sun Chemical, a manufacturer of printing inks and organic pigments, plans to sell certain assets of its Sun Graphic press blankets business to Day International, a blanket supplier. The asset purchase is subject to the satisfaction of the customary closing conditions and is expected to be effective August 31, 2006. The two companies will also enter into a distribution agreement for the sale of Sun Graphic blankets.
Sun Chemical announced price increases of 9 percent on all publication inks, effective July 1. Additionally, surcharges will be applied where necessary to cover increasing costs in energy and freight. “Despite our efforts to mitigate the impact of the rising costs in materials and fuel through active involvement with our supplier base and by driving internal efficiencies, raw materials—particularly ink oils and rosin resins—make up the majority of our costs and continue to spiral with no relief in sight,” explains Chris Parrilli, corporate vice president and president, North American publication inks.
LOS ANGELES--Robert Gans, 88, an old-school entrepreneur and showman who used hard work, wit and celebrities to hawk his company’s line of inks, passed away last Friday after a brief battle with cancer. Mr. Gans founded Gans Ink in 1950, which has grown to a $25 million a year business. Although he had not been involved in day-to-day activities since the early 1990s, Mr. Gans still phoned in or dropped by the office to see how things were going, according to Gans Ink President Jeff Koppelman. “Bob certainly was an icon in this industry,” Koppelman said. “His marketing techniques were legendary and he truly was an
