Wikoff makes investment in inkjet

Wikoff Color Corporation has made substantial investment in the inkjet market with the appointment of a new business development manager for inkjet inks and a substantial investment in its manufacturing capabilities.

 

Wikoff has named Chris Cudzilo as its new business development manager for inkjet inks. He will work with inkjet integrators and printhead manufacturers to develop custom ink solutions for Wikoff Color’s industrial printing customer base and those looking to add custom inkjet solutions. 

 

He will also be responsible for increasing the awareness of inkjet printing and how it can help brands improve their ability to target customers.  

 

Cudzilo (pictured, right) joins Wikoff with more than 18 years of inkjet print industry experience. He was previously employed with Global Imaging Co., in Louisville, Kentucky, as well as LexJet Corporation.

 

Daryl Collins, vice-president of sales and regional operations at Wikoff, said: ‘In this role Chris will be able to leverage his years of industry knowledge and help us rapidly expand into the industrial inkjet printing space. 

 

‘He has a proven track record of identifying new opportunities and developing an infrastructure to support them.’

 

Wikoff has also made a substantial investment inkjet ink manufacturing in the US by converting a space at its Fort Mill, South Carolina plant into a state-of-the-art energy-cure inkjet ink manufacturing facility and cleanroom.

 

Wikoff said the new facility is suitable for the demanding requirements of producing inkjet inks, and features advanced manufacturing and test equipment. This includes: a HVAC system that uses sophisticated airflow control to prevent potential airborne contaminates from entering clean zones; cleanroom-rated ceiling tiles that do not shed or produce contaminates; and ground and polished floors to minimize dust and debris providing smooth cleaning surfaces.

 

Further, Wikoff said inks are filtered and packaged in a cleanroom environment into cleaned and sealed containers to eliminate any chance of outside contamination, and are manufactured and tested under tight process controls to meet every key product parameter to meet each customer’s specific requirements.

 

Employees are also required to dress in non-shedding cleanroom attire with hairnets and gloves.

 

Geoff Peters, Wikoff president and chief executive officer, said: ‘Wikoff is making a major investment to manufacture inkjet inks of the highest quality with the expectation of becoming a strong competitor in a growing segment of the graphic arts industry.

 

‘We are bringing our well-known, industry leading service and custom product formulation to serve the existing digital market as well as support our current customer base entering that arena.’

 

Read more about inks here