The flexo market is enjoying good growth, with opportunities coming all the time. To help their flexo customers meet these new requirements, ink manufacturers are developing innovative systems, many of which were showcased at Info Flex 2014.
   
Sun Chemical offered a range of new inks at Info Flex, including SunUno Solimax multi-purpose ink system and its SunVisto corrugated inks.
   
“We are seeing excellent results with our latest technologies,” said Penny Holland, vice president, NAI Marketing of Sun Chemical.
   
To showcase its capabilities, Sun Chemical printed a flexible bag that incorporated seven color process printing, Benda-Lutz metallic pigments, HD plates and lemon SunScent inks.
   
“We are showing our wide range of capabilities,” Holland noted. “The show is going very well. This is a key focus area for us, and it is always nice to see what’s new and have conversations with attendees.”
   
“Info Flex has been well attended,” said Charles Murray, president of Sun Chemical North American Inks. “We have had a steady stream of existing and new customers. What’s also nice is the interest in our new technologies. We have converters who are helping us with beta sites on our Sun Uno Solimax report it has been a huge success.”
   
Flint Group’s UV LED inks have drawn much interest from the market, and the company is developing a wider range of systems.
   
“We’re launching a series of new UV LED products soon,” said Deanna Whelan, global marketing manager, Packaging and Narrow Web, Flint Group. “This will include adhesives, coatings, metallic, shrink whites and screen whites.
   
“It is an interesting market,” Whalen added. “A lot of people are now asking about the ROI on the LED lamps, as well as availability of LED lamps for corrugated and wide web printing. It is interesting that people don’t have to buy a brand new press, but they can retrofit stations.”
   
Flint Group also showcased its PremoCorr corrugated and PremoCup inks, as well as FlexiBase HDP, which is designed for wide web flexo applications, and Whelan said the Flint Group booth was well attended.
   
“It seems to me it has been busier this year,” Whelan added.
   
Lou DeFlaviis, vice president of sales for packaging business developmentat INX International Ink, noted that INX had a number of new products at Info Flex, including its new low migration energy curing and water-based inks.

“We are also building our new plant for solvent-based inks in Ohio, which should be operational in 1Q 2015,” DeFlaviis added. “Our technology continues to evolve.”
   
“Traffic has been good,” DeFlaviis added. “It is always good to see new faces along with old friends and longtime customers.”
Siegwerk had three new technical and service solutions at Info Flex, including its new Nutritec LM UV offset ink systems; NC 536 and 537 high speed flexo ink technology and two-component inks, which are a lamination replacement.
   
“It’s been busier than last year, with more customer traffic,” said Scott Pederson, regional director at SiegwerkUSA.

Wikoff Color was exhibiting at Info Flex for the first time since 2009, and Wikoff Color vice  president Martin Hambrock said that flexible packaging is an increasing important market for the company.
   
“The flexo market has continued to pick up for us,” Hambrock said. “It is a strategic growth market for us. It’s our sweet spot.”
   
“We are highlighting our Flexta solvent-based retortable inks, which use Toyo Ink’s polyurethane resin technology,” said Darren Oakes, corporate sales manager /packaging inks at ToyoInk America, LLC.“It is unique to have a flexo retort ink.”
   
Colorcon showcased its direct food contact inks at Info Flex. “Our dual FDA and EU direct food contact compliance water-based inks are compliant with all food types,” said Ron Tarewicz, manager of scientific affairs at Colorcon.
   
Bob Nowak, division manger flexo for Braden Sutphin, said the flexo market is a good segment for Braden Sutphin. “We are having four consecutive years of double-digit growth, and we are also expanding internationally,” Nowak said.
   
Adam Price of Quantum Ink noted that his company has been expanding its operations. “We just opened a division branch on Baltimore, expanded our plant in Houston and bought a new building for our headquarters,” Price said.
   
“We see that there is a true need for technical capabilities and service,” said Dan Bland, president of Quantum Ink. “We are always looking to partner with printers, to provide education and even better products. What we do best is help solve problems, which is much better than just selling inks.”
   
Jason Fitzwater, vice president, sales and marketing for Kor-Chem, Inc., including Brewers Printing Ink,
   
“This is our first time at this show,” Fitzwater said. “This gives us an excellent opportunity to exhibit our water-based line of flexo inks, which is our main focus.”