The world of printing is rapidly evolving, and ink industry leaders are working to keep up with the needs of their customers.  John Hrdlick, president and CEO of INX International Ink Co., has had a front row seat to these changes.
 
After a brief period at Sinclair & Valentine, Hrdlick joined Acme Printing Ink in Milwaukee in 1978 as a third-shift worker. Acme would become part of INX International Ink in 1988, and he moved up through the ranks over the years, from the lab to branch manager and becoming SVP and COO in 2012. In 2018, Hrdlick is named president and CEO of INX, succeeding longtime INX leader Rick Clendenning. Hrdlick takes some time to discuss the changes he has seen in the industry, as well as his thoughts on the future.
 
 
Ink World: What are your thoughts on your years at INX, and now becoming president and CEO of INX?
 
John Hrdlick: My career at INX has been very rewarding and I’ve had the opportunity to learn and grow in our company from the ground up. It’s very humbling to be in the position I’m in today. So many people have helped and supported me along the way and they continue to do that now. I could not imagine doing what I do without all of the strong and talented people around me at INX and Sakata INX. Of course, having a legend like Rick Clendenning being a mentor for so many years really helped to make this happen for me. As I reflect back on my 42 years with our company, I now see how Rick was helping to prepare me for the past 39 years. I really enjoy the people at INX who make it happen every day and the camaraderie we share working so hard together.
 
 
Ink World: How has the ink industry changed in recent years? 
 
John Hrdlick: Our business has always been very competitive but with the consolidations that continue within the industry, especially amongst printers, the competitive nature of our business has intensified. As major customers grow larger, we are all feeling the pressure of their expectations related to pricing, payment terms and support. The need for an ink company to have global capabilities is more important than ever before to meet the demands of customers.
 
 
Ink World: What are the biggest challenges facing the ink industry, such as keeping ahead of new technologies, constant raw material concerns, and regulations, among others? 
 
John Hrdlick: As consumers have become more involved and concerned about the environment, the brand owners are making sure their products reflect the need to be sustainable. It’s important for the ink industry to do whatever we can to insure our products move towards being more sustainable, compostable, and such. Our industry’s products are a component of materials that consumers hold in their hands every day. Consumers’ perceptions are easily swayed so we certainly need to do everything we can to show that our products are environmentally safe and sustainable. The raw material issues we continue to face, along with more and more materials appearing on various lists that restrict their use in our products, will continue to challenge our efforts in R&D and procurement. For now, it appears these challenges will continue for some time.
 
 
Ink World:  How can ink manufacturers best partner with their customers? 
 
John Hrdlick: I don’t think that part of our business has changed that much. Our best customer partnerships occur when we are fully engaged with them, making sure our technology matches up with their needs, we are supporting them as required, and we keep them informed of concerns or changes in a timely manner.
 
 
Ink World: Along those lines, how do ink companies collaborate with their suppliers to meet each other’s needs?  
 
John Hrdlick: We expect the same from our suppliers as our customers expect from us. We also understand the needs of our suppliers and do our best to give them the information they need so they can meet our supply requirements.
 
 
Ink World: What is your outlook for the ink industry in the coming years? 
 
John Hrdlick: I expect that all of the events impacting raw materials, such as supply, rising prices, tariffs and consolidations, will continue to affect us for a while before it settles down again. As our industry tends to follow the economy, it is concerning where we may be headed within the next few years. But then, our industry is accustomed to working through these cycles and we’ll continue to manage through them again.