Printers, Get Your Ink On!

Collaboration is key in today's ink-on-paper world. More printers are differentiating themselves via innovative coating techniques and special effects—just flip to the front cover of this issue of GAM for yet another example. And as the ink industry's communication and information center, the National Assn. of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM) can provide support for printers and their customers.

The non-profit organization's overall purpose is to promote the general development and improvement of members by fostering greater understanding and knowledge of the printing ink industry. Its 55 member companies—ink manufacturers, raw material suppliers and instrumentation/equipment manufacturers—are industry leaders with global resources to serve the needs of printers.

NAPIM's technical arm, the National Printing Ink Research Institute (NPIRI), annually sponsors a technical conference and a summer introductory and advanced technical seminar. This three-part series is an opportunity for technical personnel—both those new to the graphic arts business and experienced staff members—to increase their knowledge base of printing inks and the graphic arts. Here's what NPIRI has coming up:

Introductory Printing Ink, July 8-13, 2007, Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, WI—The 47th annual technical course will provide a mix of lectures and hands-on experience with production printing presses. It covers the scientific principles of printing ink rheology, dispersion and color along with raw materials for packaging, publication and commercial printing applications.

Printing Substrates Seminar, July 15-18, Fox Valley Technical College—This year's topic promises to be of particular interest to printers: how to optimize substrate performance during printing as well as meeting customer requirements for end use. Substrates covered include paper, paperboard, specialty papers and nonabsorbent films, foils, metallized films and synthetic papers.

Each medium will be discussed in regard to the production of the substrate, parameters that most impact printing, predicting on press performance in the laboratory, manufacturer's in-process/QC testing and press trouble-shooting for ink-substrate interactions.

Technical Conference, September 5-7, Eaglewood Resort, Itasca, IL—Intentionally scheduled right before Graph Expo, this year's theme is “Ink Makers and Printers—A Partnership for Success.” Designed for technical personnel, the focus will be on learning the best way ink makers and printers can exceed expectations of the final customer, and predicting what those expectations will be in the future. The format will include a combination of short courses, presentations and panel discussions with participants from major printers, printing industry associations, ink manufacturers and key suppliers.

Other topics to be covered are digital proofing, soft proofing, new technology from the press manufacturers, GRACoL 7 optimization, flexo plates and narrow web presses, in addition to the basics of color and nonimpact/digital printing.

NAPIM online: www.napim.org and napim.org/tc2007/2007TechnicalConference.htm

George Fuchs is manager of environmental affairs and information systems for NAPIM, the 89-year-old, non-profit organization serving the U.S. printing ink industry: 732.855.1525.