Although metal inks and special effects inks have been affected by price increases, suppliers continue to promote ink development through constant innovation.

In the past 2005, some influential events took place in the metal ink market: Altana Chemie (Germany) acquired Eckart Fine Chemicals Group and Ciba Specialty Chemicals Chemicals) acquires the MD-Both established in 1982 by the Measheen high-reflective aluminum powder pigment production line of the United Kingdom's Wolstenholme International, Wuxingxing International and Schlenk (headquartered in Germany). The joint venture ceased operation.

These changes in the metal ink market represent the trend of the ink market towards globalization, reflecting the fact that the market is gradually being monopolized by several large and economically powerful producers, which also enables these manufacturers to actively adjust the product structure. To cope with changes in supply and demand in the ink and printing markets. For example, Artana took over the business of the 127-year-old family-owned company Aika. The global business manager of Ciba Specialty Chemicals' metal pigments called this acquisition phenomenon the Wal-Mart effect. Nowadays, the company is a global supplier. It is like Ciba Specialty Chemicals' acquisition of Meixin Business is to further improve the company's product structure, which also has a catalytic effect on other products of Ciba Specialty Chemicals. At the same time, Meixin can use Ciba's global distribution and supply network to provide customers with more stable services.

Faced with huge challenges

At present, the market for metal inks and pigments faces two major challenges. One of the biggest challenges is how to deal with rising raw material costs. In this case, the manufacturer must also ensure the quality of the product. This is another challenge that must be addressed.

Responding to the price hike of raw materials, what we must do now is to further innovate, develop new products, provide more technical support, and develop new application fields for metal inks. On the one hand, it should be realized that metal inks can replace relatively expensive substrates such as aluminum foils or gold-plated materials; on the other hand, metal pigments have a wide range of uses and can achieve metal effects in a more flexible manner to ensure that metal effects are on the packaging. Accurate positioning improves product image while reducing costs. In the past few years, the metal ink technology has achieved great improvement in printing convenience and flexibility. At present, many consumer products have begun to use an ink containing VMP (metal coated pigment) as an alternative to aluminum foil paperboard. In short, metallic inks are used in a large number of consumer products that are eye-stimulating, such as food, beverages, health and beauty products.

To ensure product quality, it is to ensure the quality of each batch of product stability. Because for brand users, the stability of ink performance and appearance is critical, and customers require the same color and printability for each batch of product. While customers demand smaller, brighter metallic pigments, they also place higher demands on pigment hiding power and adhesion performance. Therefore, under the circumstance that the price is acceptable, it is always a big problem to ensure that the ink with stable performance is provided.

In general, the main problem faced by metallic inks is no longer on the technical level, but how to achieve the desired effect of the final use. Metallic inks are now widely used, but there are many factors that affect the final results, such as printing materials, coating processes, and compounding. Only the printing companies that use metal inks are constantly trained and the correct operation can ensure that the final product will satisfy consumers.

Constantly introduce new products

At present, continuous innovation of products is a good way to promote ink growth, especially for metals and special effects inks.

What makes metal ink companies excited is that the market's demand for metal and special effects inks is increasing.

Although metal inks have high cost disadvantages, they are also used in new NwrakFX series and Miraseen float type VMP (Vacuum Plating Metal Pigment) special bright aluminum pastes for offset printing, flexo printing, Screen printing of a variety of imitation gold effects of ink products, and all have a higher cost advantage. The love card company love card company is facing the problem that the raw material price continues to grow at the same time, it is only as far as possible to reduce the pressure of the cost through improving the production efficiency. In addition to the continuous improvement of the existing products, Aika also pays attention to the development of new products to expand the market. The fields that were previously limited or even impossible to use special effect inks are now becoming the focus of the company. For example, the newly developed metalstar06-7000NL silver ink has very good overprint performance and excellent adhesion, while the floating pigment Rotovario560 series and the non-leafing pigment Rotovario530 series improve the gloss standard of gold ink and the printing of silver ink. Fitness. Love Card also recently introduced the Tiostar Palette for sheetfed and web offset printing. This new color palette is also another step for Eric Card to consolidate its leading position in the special effect ink field.

Silberline Silberline has developed a new pigment with better brightness and better metal mobility. The brand name of the new product is Sparkle Silver Ultra. This new pigment has a more lenticular surface and a very narrow particle size distribution. .

Wuxingxing Company Wuxingxing recently developed a new series of energy-curable metallic inks, Unipak Super Cure, whose sheet-fed offset and flexographic printing inks exhibit better printability on many substrates. These inks utilize a new pigment processing technology, while adding special stabilizers to increase the stability of ink storage and ensure a better metallic luster.

Ciba's Ciba Specialty Chemicals Co., Ltd.'s acquisition of the US-Xinxin high-reflective aluminum powder pigment production line will continue to be a trademark of “metasheen” in the future. These versatile metallic pigments offer more options for printing high-gloss, glitter and mirror effects, enabling manufacturers and designers to broaden their choices and provide greater flexibility to meet the uniqueness and elegance of today's market. The pursuit.

Meixin is the latest ultra-thin, non-floating electroplated aluminum paste produced by Wuxingxing. It is a very unique metallic pigment. It is produced through a special vacuum plating process and can obtain a very smooth and extremely thin flake structure. The copper and aluminum metal pigments produced by the method (ball milling, etc.) have completely different metallic effects. The correct use of Mesin can get a similar chrome-plated surface coating, it has a more elegant and softer optical effect than ordinary plating, and can get better hiding power, extra bright metallic feeling and pure color. US and Xin vacuum special bright aluminum electroplating silver paste is widely used in paint and ink products to ensure that packaging, paint, ink and cosmetics products with high quality and high added value.

In addition, Ciba Specialty Chemicals has established a joint venture with China's largest manufacturer of high-quality pearl and metallic luster effect pigments and suppliers to expand its product range. In March 2005, Ciba Specialty Chemicals Co., Ltd. cooperated with Wenzhou Liucheng Group to share the assets of “Wenzhou Kunwei Pearlescent Pigment Co., Ltd.” and “Wenzhou Tiancheng Mica Material Co., Ltd.” under the jurisdiction of the former Liucheng Group. The funds of Refinement Corporation jointly established a new joint venture company, Zhejiang Ruicheng Zhuguang Pigment Co., Ltd., dedicated to becoming a leading company in the special effects pigment industry, covering the production, manufacturing, technology development, market development and customers of special effect pigments. Support and other aspects. Its pearlescent pigments are widely used in coatings, plastics, inks, cosmetics and papermaking industries. The joint efforts will help Ciba to enhance its market position in China and further expand its pigment range.

postscript

Although metal and special effects inks are facing huge cost pressures, the continued strong market demand has prompted suppliers to continue to increase investment, and to expand their business scope and influence through technological innovations and mergers and acquisitions to provide the industry with more High quality, more choices, and promote the continuous development of the metal and special effects ink market.

Reproduced from: CNA