Food packaging, regulatory issues and new technologies are key issues for ink manufacturers, and the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM) is focusing on these trends during the National Printing Ink Research Institute’s (NPIRI) Technical Conference.
 
The theme for the 2015 NPIRI Technical Conference, which will held Sept. 28-Oct. 1 at the Oak Brook Hills Resort and Conference Center in Oak Brook, IL, is “Trends and Directions in Graphic Arts.” NPIRI president Jerry Napiecek of Colorcon will serve as chair of the 2015 NPIRI Fall Technical Conference Program.
 
“We are anticipating a strong turnout for this year’s NPIRI Technical Conference,” said George Fuchs, NAPIM’s director, regulatory affairs and technology. “Our 2015 Technical Conference program committee has worked diligently to produce an excellent, cutting edge technical program covering the key areas (market, technical and regulatory) in our industry. We are certain that attendees will also be impressed with the first rate resources, accommodations and facilities available at the Oak Brook Hills Resort and Conference Center.”
 
Among the highlights of the three-day conference are a series of talks and a panel discussion that include printers and brand owners. For example, Al Marquardt of Kimberly-Clark will give the keynote presentation on the importance of color and color management in packaging, and the essential role that ink suppliers play in the process.
 
Marquardt will be joined by Jon Hellerstein of WestRock, Lisa Fine of Joules Angstrom, Chris Whitehead of BCF and Jim Bishop of Sun Chemical for a Food Packaging Safety Panel Discussion that will delve into key regulatory issues.
 
Fuchs noted that this year’s NPIRI conference will provide state-of-the-art information on food packaging safety, safety data sheets and labeling, recycling, sustainability, ink manufacturing market statistics and digital printing.
 
“No other graphic communications industry event provides the direct focus and depth on the crucial issues currently facing the ink and printing market spaces,” he said.
 
“Of particular interest to many of our attendees will be the GHS compliance short course – GHS Implementation – The First Wave After the Tsunami – The Work Is Just Beginning,” Fuchs added. “This short course on the morning of Sept. 29 carefully reviews and analyzes the compliance obstacles, challenges, difficulties, etc. which have been discovered and identified as practical implementation of company-specific compliance programs takes place. Attendees will learn from EHS compliance experts as well as other course attendees practical solutions for overcoming common problems associated with the implementation of this standard.”
 
Outside of the presentations, there will be a Tabletop Exhibit spaces and Technology Spotlight “mini-presentations.” There will also be a golf outing Sept. 29, beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the Willow Crest Golf Club, as well as the NPIRI Technical Conference Awards Dinner on Sept. 30, beginning at 5:30  p.m.
 
“Also of interest to many of our attendees will be the NPIRI Technical Conference golf outing on the morning of Sept. 29, and our industry awards banquet on the evening of Sept. 30,” Fuchs said.
 
The schedule of events include:
Monday, Sept. 28
• 6:00-8:00  p.m. – NPIRI Board Reception (chair, co-chair, moderators, co-moderators, speakers)
 
Tuesday, September 29
• 8:00-11:30 a.m. – Short Course-GHS Implementation – First Wave After the Tsunami: Denese Deeds, Industrial Health & Safety Consultants, Inc; Jonathan Hellerstein, WestRock.
• 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. – Buffet and Welcome Address: Jerry Napiecek, Colorcon.
• 1:15-2:00 p.m. Keynote: Al Marquardt, Kimberly-Clark.
• 2:00-2:30 p.m. – Petroleum Hydrocarbons Market Update: Vitaly Rogachevsky, Argus DeWitt.
• 2:45-3:45 p.m. – Inks – Managing the Safety of Printed Food Packaging: Chris Whitehead, BCF.
• 4:00-5:00 p.m. – Food Packaging Safety Panel Discussion
Panelists:
Jon Hellerstein, WestRock
Lisa Fine, Joules Angstrom
Allen Marquardt, Kimberly Clark
Chris Whitehead, BCF
Jim Bishop, Sun Chemical
 
• 4:30-5:00 p.m. – NPIRI Lecture/ Showcase Presentation.
• 5:00-7:30 p.m. – Technical Spotlights and Exhibitor Reception.
 
Wednesday, Sept. 30
Technical Session – Moderator: John Jilek Jr., Inksolutions.
• 8:00-8:45 a.m. – New Developments in Water-based  Lamination Ink Polymers: Dave Tappa, BASF.
• 8:45-9:30 a.m. – Curing with UV LEDs – What You Really Need to Know: Robin Wright, 3M.
• 9:45-10:30 a.m. – Color A-B: Jim Rediske, BASF.
• 10:30-11:15 a.m. – Testing for Migration: Les Borodinsky, K&H.
• 11:15 a.m.-noon – Update on Deinking and Recycling Printed Substrates: Veronika Husovska, Western Michigan University.
 
Regulatory Session – Moderator: Lisa Fine, Joules Angstrom UV Printing Inks.
• 1:00- 1:45 p.m. – Dust Explosions – The Nature Of The Problem And Practical Measures For Its Control: Vahid Ebadat, Chilworth Cons.
• 1:45-2:30 p.m. – GHS/HazCom 1 year After – Learnings:
Denese Deeds, Industrial Health & Safety Consultants, Inc.
• 2:45-3:30 p.m. – Overview and Update on California’s Prop 65: Pamela Langhorn, K&H.
• 3:30-4:15 p.m. – Current Regulatory Issues: George Fuchs, NAPIM.
• 4:15-5:00 p.m. – State of the Industry.
• 5:30 p.m. – Awards Reception
• 6:30 p.m. – Awards Dinner
 
Thursday, October 1
New Technology Innovations Session – Moderator: Diane Parisi, Flint Group.
• 8-8:45 a.m. – Digital Inkjet Market: Kodak.
• 8:45-9:30 a.m. – Printed Electronics:  Barbara Fischer, OEA.
• 9:45-10:30 a.m. – Offset Press Tech – Sustainable Green Printers Partnership Update 2015: Doreen Monteleone, Board Member, Sustainable Green Printing Partnership.
10:30-11:15 a.m. – Extended Color Gamut: Pantone/X-Rite.
11:15 a.m.-noon – Paper Substrate and Digital Printing Technology Update: Jim Niemec, Verso.
 
For more information, contact NAPIM at www.napim.org or email Fuchs at [email protected].