Inks & coatings

Flint Group highlights sustainability goals progress

Piotr Wnuk — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:41:54 +0000

Flint Group, a supplier of inks and coatings for the global print and packaging industry, has published its Sustainability Report for the 2023 financial year. The report details the company’s progress towards its ambitious sustainability targets.

The report details substantial advancements for Flint Group’s commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility and highlights notable gains made against the three pillars of its PRISM framework – Product, Planet and People.

In 2023, Flint Group reduced its total energy consumption by 15 percent compared with the previous year, while its use of renewable energy grew from 16 to 24 percent in the same period.

Scope 1 and 2 emissions resulting from the company’s operations fell by 23 percent over the period, and Scope 3 emissions decreased by 3 percent. As a result, Flint Group’s total greenhouse gas emissions are now 36.1 percent lower than they were in 2019 putting the business firmly on track to meet its goal of a 46.2 percent reduction by 2030, in alignment with our Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) objectives and the Paris Agreement. This is the second consecutive year that all Flint Group emissions have been externally verified.

Multiple ratings were achieved across different sustainability programmes in 2023, including a B grade in CDP Climate Change and in CDP Water Security, as well as a Silver Rating from EcoVadis.

Pepyn Dinandt, Flint Group CEO, said: ‘As an organization, we are committed to supporting a more sustainable printing industry. From providing innovative products designed to have a lower impact on the planet, to our efforts in helping our customers reduce their own waste, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do.

‘This report demonstrates how seriously we take this commitment, documenting our achievements and acknowledging where there is still work to be done. Sustainability is increasingly important to all our stakeholders, and we intend to support them across all segments of the printing industry where we operate.

‘We are proud of the progress we have made over the last year and remain committed to building on this performance in the years to come.’

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Flint Group highlights sustainability goals progress

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The company publishes the annual Sustainability Report for the 2023 financial year.

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The company publishes the annual Sustainability Report for the 2023 financial year.

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GSE appoints Weldon Celloplast as new India agent

Adyasha Sinha — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 12:14:50 +0000

GSE, a Netherland-based ink dispensing systems and ink management software provider, has appointed Weldon Celloplast as its exclusive India agent. The agreement covers support for GSE’s Colorsat range of ink dispensers and the company’s GSE ink manager software suite, which automates ink handling for Indian label and packaging converters.

GSE’s Colorsat dispensing systems for flexo, gravure, and screen inks automatically prepare accurate spot colors by blending base colors with precise weights according to ink formulations. Using the company’s ink manager software programs, the dispensers also reuse the press-return inks left over in the press after production runs in new print jobs by recalculating ink recipes.

Weldon Celloplast notes that India’s label market is showing healthy growth. However, label converters face raw material cost pressure. They also need to meet tighter color accuracy targets while conforming to more stringent environmental legislation.

Kanwardeep Sahni, managing director of Weldon Cellopast, said: 'GSE’s Colorsat ink dispensing systems are key to enhancing the competitiveness of India’s label printing market. They provide the key to achieving repeatable, consistent color quality while significantly reducing ink consumption and waste, which are essential requirements for gaining business with global brands.'

Onno Deen, GSE's area sales manager, said: 'Weldon Celloplast are perfect agency partners, thanks to their longstanding roll-fed labeling expertise and proven record of providing premium, responsive service on behalf of many leading industry manufacturers.

'As a local contact for installation support and technical advice, Weldon’s support will drive the adoption of best-in-class ink dispensing systems to help India meet global consumer brands’ quality expectations.'

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GSE appoints Weldon Celloplast as new India agent

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The agreement covers support for GSE’s Colorsat range of ink dispensers.

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The agreement covers support for GSE’s Colorsat range of ink dispensers.

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Siegwerk releases 2024 sustainability report

Akanksha Meena — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 11:52:05 +0000

Siegwerk has released its latest sustainability report. This update highlights significant advancements in the company's commitment to sustainability, focusing on areas such as human rights, supplier code of conduct, carbon emissions, PCF and CCF third party certification, CIRKIT products, and the new circular economy (CE) coatings business unit.

Siegwerk has taken a proactive stance on human rights by appointing a dedicated human rights officer and building a comprehensive Supplier Sustainability Program. This program emphasizes the importance of human rights and sustainable procurement practices throughout Siegwerk’s supply chain. Its newly introduced Business Partner Code of Conduct outlines the company’s expectations for business partners. This initiative aims to foster transparency and collaboration, driving continuous improvement in human rights and environmental standards.

In Siegwerk’s ongoing efforts to combat climate change, the company has achieved significant milestones in reducing carbon emissions. Siegwerk has successfully completed a comprehensive carbon audit with TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH, which included the validation of its corporate carbon footprint (CCF) and product carbon footprint (PCF). This third-party certification ensures full transparency and reliability of its carbon data. Siegwerk’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality for scope 1 and scope 2 by 2025 remains steadfast, with ambitious targets validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). A big milestone was sourcing 100 percent renewable electricity in 2023.

Siegwerk has expanded the CIRKIT product range, a broad array of functional coatings designed to enhance the recyclability and reusability of packaging. These coatings provide essential functionalities such as barriers and sealability while ensuring compatibility with circular economy principles. Additionally, the company has established a new global business unit dedicated to circular economy coating.

‘Our commitment to sustainability is at the core of everything we do. In this report we are happy to share the progress we made and give concrete examples on how we are living up to our commitment,’ stated Alina Marm, head of global sustainability and circular economy at Siegwerk.

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Siegwerk releases 2024 sustainability report

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The report highlights target achievement and new initiatives on human rights, carbon emissions and circular economy coatings.

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The report highlights target achievement and new initiatives on human rights, carbon emissions and circular economy coatings.

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INX International launches brand extension for INXhrc RC inks

Selah Zighelboim — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 17:28:30 +0000

INX International is launching a brand extension for INXhrc RC natural-based inks: a new UV LED dual cure low migration formulation for plastic and foam-based packaging joins the UV curable formulation.

INXhrc RC LM is a Nestle-compliant ink system with sustainable ingredients used for low migration applications on rigid container packaging. Designed with high levels of biorenewable content and formulated without VOC solvents, it reduces the carbon footprint of packaging materials by up to 30 percent. These inks are food safe for sensitive packaging applications.

'Consumer expectations for manufacturer accountability in regards to safety and sustainability continues to increase, so low migration inks are becoming a more important consideration for the packaging industry,' said Renee Schouten, INX International’s vice president of marketing. 'This is especially true for the impact of plastic and foam-based rigid containers, so we are replacing petrochemical-derived resins with natural and renewable materials.

'These two INXhrc RC formulations offer superior dry offset printing quality of rigid containers or decorative packaging, and help lower your carbon footprint. By keeping consumer safety and the environment in mind, you have regulatory confidence and access to a product using biorenewable, clean ingredients without compromising performance,' Schouten continued.

Verified by a third-party laboratory as an eco-friendly alternative to standard UV inks by using ASTM D6866-20 Method B, INXhrc RC LM meets food safety regulatory compliance measures such as Regulation EC No. 1935-2004. Known as the Framework Regulation, this sets requirements for materials to safeguard human health.

The natural components of INXhrc RC are not derived from food crops, ensuring they are non-allergenic and food-safe. They do not contain any nanomaterials, fluorochemicals, fanal pigments, heavy metals or PTFE.

INXhrc RC inks' single-pigment bases allow for accurate PMS shade matching. Aadhesion and abrasion resistance enhance durability. Flow and transfer capabilities enable dry offset printing on rigid packaging presses such as VanDam, PolyType and Kase.

Schouten cited Dart Container Corporation, a longtime Michigan-based customer who began using INXhrc inks in 2017. Dart has reduced carbon emissions and strengthened sustainability goals and environmental responsibilities.

'When Dart Container Corporation made the switch from traditional to natural-based inks with INXhrc, they anticipated a positive effect on their environmental footprint,' explained Schouten. 'However, they were surprised by the enhanced ink performance as well.'

Over the course of seven years using INXhrc inks, Dart, the world’s largest manufacturer of foam cups and disposable food containers, has experienced an annual decrease of 200 tons of carbon emissions. Dart reduced VOC emissions by 75 percent and created a safer working environment while reducing its environmental impact. The corporation also improved its pressroom performance with better ink mileage, less downtime and increased production efficiency.

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2 weeks 4 days ago

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INX International launches brand extension for INXhrc RC inks

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The inks are made of sustainable ingredients and can be used for low-migration applications on rigid container packaging.

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The inks are made of sustainable ingredients and can be used for low-migration applications on rigid container packaging.

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Flint Group expands in India

Adyasha Sinha — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 11:51:29 +0000

Flint Group has planned a new manufacturing facility in Salvi, Vadodara, in Gujarat. The plant will produce water-based inks and coatings for the paper and board market and energy-curable inks for the label and narrow web sector.

The new 9,000 sqm facility is part of the company's expansion plan in India, tailored to meet the rising demand in the region’s paper and board packaging and narrow web label industries. Located within 10 km of Flint's existing flexible packaging manufacturing site in Lamdapura that produces solvent-based inks and operates a separate unit dedicated to non-toluene inks.

This development further strengthens Flint Group's robust presence in India, which includes an ISO 9001:2015-certified manufacturing plant in Hosur specializing in inks for narrow web labels and a blending site in Noida. Additionally, the company operates warehouses in Kolkata, Mumbai and Hyderabad, ensuring comprehensive coverage and service across the country.

The Salvi plant will use standardized manufacturing process to supply paper and board converters with Flint's optimized AquaCode range of water-based inks and coatings. These inks have been uniquely designed to support printers' sustainability goals while maintaining high performance and consistency standards. The facility will take a phased approach to producing these products, with full operational capability including in-house base manufacturing expected by early Q2 2025.

The new site will also manufacture its award-winning EkoCure Dual Cure range to serve the growing Indian label and narrow web market. This series is designed to cure with traditional Hg UV lamps and low-energy UV LED lamps, simplifying ink inventory for printers transitioning to UV LED curing by enabling them to use one product across all presses.

Flint Group celebrated this milestone on November 26th, 2024. Key Flint Group leaders were present to address customer questions and officially inaugurate the new site.

Upal Roy, managing director of Flint Group India, South Africa and Middle East, said: 'Our new state-of-the-art facility demonstrates Flint Group's commitment to the rapidly growing Indian corrugated packaging and label printing market. By significantly enhancing our local manufacturing capabilities, we're ensuring we can meet our customers’ evolving requirements and strategically position Flint Group to capitalize on future growth opportunities in this dynamic region.'

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2 weeks 5 days ago

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Flint Group expands in India

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The company plans a new manufacturing plant close to its existing flexible packaging manufacturing site in Lamdapura, Gujarat.

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The company plans a new manufacturing plant close to its existing flexible packaging manufacturing site in Lamdapura, Gujarat.

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Mavco Investments acquires hubergroup

Piotr Wnuk — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 00:28:39 +0000

Mavco Investments, a private investment firm, has acquired all shares in hubergroup from the current owner, Cornelius Treuhand Holding. This transaction gives Hubergroup a unique platform to enhance its market position, strengthen its financial base, and increase investments in high-impact areas.

The consortium's planned investment in Hubergroup signifies a commitment to long-term, sustainable growth. The combination of the operational track record and strategic industrial expertise of the partnering Murugappa family members, along with the investment expertise of Avenue Capital Group, provides hubergroup with a unique platform to enhance its market position, strengthen its financial base, and increase investments in high-impact areas.

M.A.M. Arunachalam (also known as Arun Murugappan), director of Mavco Investments, said: ‘We are excited to announce our partnership with hubergroup, an organization with a rich heritage spanning multiple centuries. This collaboration marks our strategic entry into the global print/packaging solutions and allied products. Together with Avenue Capital Group, we are committed to accelerating hubergroup’s growth in key international markets and enhancing its ability to deliver exceptional value to all its business partners worldwide.’

Pankaj Goel, head of partnerships in Asia Pacific, and Rohit Santani, head of India for Avenue Capital Group, added: ‘We are excited to partner with Mavco to unlock hubergroup’s potential in new and existing markets and deliver robust and profitable growth for the years to come. Mavco’s strategic vision and operational expertise combined with hubergroup’s drive for innovation and growth potential fits perfectly with our approach to back transformative businesses.’

This investment also allows hubergroup to capitalize on high-growth opportunities across geographies. The regions where demand for high-quality chemicals and print/packing solutions is growing, represent significant areas for expansion. The backing from the consortium will allow hubergroup to meet this demand and unlock new market potential.

Florian Dausend and Markus Stadler, managing partners of Cornelius Treuhand Holding, commented: ‘As trustees, our priority has been to ensure a robust and strategically sound future for hubergroup. We are confident that the consortium provides the ideal foundation for hubergroup’s growth, stability, and continued success across the globe.’

Britta Hübner, chief transformation officer of hubergroup, concluded: ‘This acquisition is proof of the resilience and commitment of our entire team. Our efforts to transform into a robust, sustainable foundation have paid off, and together with the consortium, we are well positioned for significant growth and industry leadership.’

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Mavco Investments acquires hubergroup

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The transaction enhances hubergroup’s market position, strengthens its financial base, and increases investments in high-impact areas.

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The transaction enhances hubergroup’s market position, strengthens its financial base, and increases investments in high-impact areas.

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Michelman appoints Wilma Beaty as chief human resources officer

Selah Zighelboim — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 18:42:05 +0000

Michelman has appointed Wilma Beaty as its new chief human resources officer. In this role, Beaty will lead Michelman's global HR operations, driving the company's people engagement, organizational design and culture initiatives.

In her 25+ year career, Beaty has served in both HR leadership and general counsel roles. Her experience with labor and employment law allows her to navigate complex regulatory landscapes while fostering people-focused environments. This dual background has enabled Beaty to drive cultural and compliance initiatives, making her capable of aligning human resources and legal functions. In her new position, Beaty will oversee a global team.

Beaty holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law and is a member of the New York and Georgia bars.

'We are thrilled to welcome Wilma to our team,' said Rick Michelman, president and CEO of Michelman. 'Her unique combination of HR and legal expertise and her deep understanding of organizational development will be invaluable as we continue to grow and strengthen our global presence.'

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Michelman appoints Wilma Beaty as chief human resources officer

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Wilma Beaty has experience in both human resources and legal roles.

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Wilma Beaty has experience in both human resources and legal roles.

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Flexcon celebrates 50 years of business in Europe

Selah Zighelboim — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:57:33 +0000

Flexcon, a provider of coatings, film laminations and functional technologies, is celebrating 50 years of business in Europe.

Flexcon’s European presence was established in Weesp, Netherlands, in 1974. In 1997, a manufacturing facility was opened in Glenrothes, Scotland.

'Flexcon's presence in Europe has been a pivotal part of our global growth strategy,' CEO Aimee Peacock said. 'Since establishing our first European site in Weesp, we've been able to serve our European customers with innovative products. Our commitment to quality, sustainability and employee well-being has allowed us to thrive in the European market, adapting our products and processes to meet the unique needs of various industries across the continent.'

Flexcon Global was founded in Massachusetts, US, in 1956 and has grown to more than 12 locations globally.

'Our employees are at the heart of our company. We look forward to celebrating this milestone with our Flexcon team,' said James Slaughter, chief human resources officer. 'We are pleased to welcome some of our founding team members to the events we have planned. Their presence is a testament to the dedication and relationship our employees have with Flexcon. These events are an opportunity to reminisce and share stories from the past and celebrate the future.'

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Flexcon celebrates 50 years of business in Europe

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Flexcon Global was founded in Massachusetts, US, in 1956 and has since grown to more than 12 locations globally.

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Flexcon Global was founded in Massachusetts, US, in 1956 and has since grown to more than 12 locations globally.

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Rotometal introduces sustainable food-grade inks and varnishes

Piotr Wnuk — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 22:57:52 +0000

Rotometal has launched its new family of sustainable food-grade inks, underscoring its commitment to delivering high-quality, environmentally friendly products that meet the stringent requirements of the food and beverage industry.

Rotometal’s new food-grade inks are specifically designed for printing on food packaging materials and formulated to be non-toxic, odorless and resistant to migration, ensuring the safety and integrity of food products.

The new food-grade inks are formulated to comply with strict food safety regulations, ensuring consumer protection. They deliver vivid colors and sharp details and offer excellent adhesion to various food packaging substrates. The UV and LED-cured inks and varnishes reduce environmental impact while maintaining high performance.

‘We are proud to introduce our new family of food-grade inks,’ said Daria Sobik, ink and varnishes project lead at Rotometal. ‘These inks are a testament to our commitment to providing innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of the food and beverage industry.’

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1 month ago

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Rotometal introduces sustainable food-grade inks and varnishes

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The new range is designed for printing on food packaging materials and formulated to be non-toxic, odorless and resistant to migration.

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The new range is designed for printing on food packaging materials and formulated to be non-toxic, odorless and resistant to migration.

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Illert transitions to UV LED with Flint EkoCure

Akanksha Meena — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:22:50 +0000

Illert, a supplier of shrink sleeve labels to the German packaging market, has improved overall production efficiency, print quality, and sustainability by transitioning to UV LED curing with Flint Group’s EkoCure Dual Cure ink range.

This shift has streamlined operations, enhanced output consistency and opened new growth opportunities.

An expert in manufacturing high-quality shrink sleeves and adhesive labels, Illert began exploring the benefits of UV LED curing inks when the 2022 energy crisis in Germany led to a surge in operational costs. The EkoCure range's dual-curing technology enabled Illert to use its existing UV-quartz glass curing technology and transition to new energy-efficient UV LED systems in a timeframe suitable for its business.

Flint Group worked closely with Illert throughout the conversion process, providing technical support and training to ensure smooth integration. The Illert team achieved accurate color on press and maintained product consistency. Moreover, since adopting Flint Group’s EkoCure Dual Cure system in 2022, Illert has successfully transitioned all its presses to UV LED, enabling the company to achieve higher print quality and improved overall efficiency.

Jens Grosser, production manager at Illert, said: ‘When you decide to change your entire ink system, you need full confidence that the system works. Flint Group gave us that security when we changed to the new ink range and was with us from the beginning, providing great support and helping us throughout the entire process.’

Illert added: ‘The UV LED conversion, in conjunction with Flint Group’s new color series, was one of the most important milestones for Illert in recent years. It has brought us forward in terms of productivity, print security, and quality. This has enabled us to enter new markets, which were not previously possible.’

EkoCure Dual Cure inks are designed to cure under traditional UV lamps and UV LED lamps. This enables printers to use one ink on all their presses while managing the switch to more energy-efficient UV LED curing.

Dirk Tesch, commercial director, DACH, Benelux and Balkan, for narrow web at Flint Group, stated: ‘While rising energy costs were initially the tipping point for the transition to dual-curing UV LED inks, the focus has now shifted significantly toward sustainability. Printers are increasingly recognizing the benefits of these inks, including reduced environmental impact, lower maintenance costs, and enhanced productivity. Flint Group has been at the forefront of this innovation, pioneering LED technology for over a decade.

‘Because of our team’s deep understanding of the technology, we can implement our dual-curing EkoCure range to help businesses like Illert easily switch to this simpler, more cost-efficient curing system. Supporting Illert with its transition to EkoCure Dual Cure was a pleasure and we are delighted to see that the company has already achieved success with this important innovation.’

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Illert transitions to UV LED with Flint EkoCure

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German converter improves production efficiency, print quality, and sustainability with the transition to UV LED inks from Flint.

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German converter improves production efficiency, print quality, and sustainability with the transition to UV LED inks from Flint.

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