In a merger of two ink companies that came from family roots, Wikoff Color has acquired Braden Sutphin Ink Co.With an estimated $190 million in sales in 2017, Wikoff Color is the sixth-largest ink manufacturer in North America, according to Ink World Magazine’s annual North American Top Companies Report. The company, which is now employee-owned, dates back to 1956; it is a specialist in a wide range of packaging, commercial and inkjet inks. Wikoff Color has 27 manufacturing plants and more than 500 employees, and is headquartered in Fort Mill, SC.
   
Braden Sutphin has been a North American printing ink industry leader for more than a century, dating back to its launch in 1913 by Jim Braden. Al Sutphin, the company’s first employee, acquired 100% ownership of the company in the 1930s, and Braden Sutphin had remained in the family since. Headquartered in Cleveland, Braden Sutphin has 10 locations across the US, and is in similar markets to Wikoff Color.
   
The acquisition of Braden Sutphin expands Wikoff Color’s  business and service capabilities in the North American market.
   
“Our companies have been acquainted for a number of years and serious dialog really started around a year ago,” said Geoff Peters, Wikoff Color’s president and CEO. “We believe that Braden Sutphin has an outstanding reputation and legacy in the ink industry.  We are honored to join up with them to continue that storied tradition.”
   
Peters noted that the enhanced presence will benefit both companies’ customers.
   
“Our combined presence of more than 30 locations affords us the resources to bolster our service-oriented approach and technical support mode,” Peters said. “The acquisition of Braden Sutphin complements Wikoff’s business and approach to the market by incorporating a company that puts customers’ needs first. Our customers now get the benefit of two companies converging on a common goal, to provide the best ink and coating products with unmatched levels of service to support them.”
   
“Braden Sutphin is known for exceptional integrity and service,” Braden Sutphin CEO Jim Leitch noted at the time of the acquisition. “We have taken pride in having the scale to offer a full range of products, while not losing sight of our customer service and local support. Wikoff Color has a longstanding history of the same customer-focused approach and our team is excited to join forces with such a reputable company.”
   
Peters added that Braden Sutphin’s leadership team will remain with Wikoff Color.
 
“Braden Sutphin has a great senior leadership team,” said Peters. “We have great respect for their contributions to Braden Sutphin as we have cooperated over the past year on this project. We believe that the combined team of the two companies increases the value we bring to our customers.”