NOVEMber 2023

Scientist at Fraunhofer IPA, the University of Paderborn in Germany and Siegwerk Druckfarben has created a biogenic pigment that they have named “Crusty Pigments” These pigments are made from chitin and other bio-based dyes.

Sustainability initiatives are being adopted across industries due to strict government regulations, coupled with increasing consumer awareness regarding environmental degradation. The coating industries, like printing ink and adhesives, which accounts for a high share of air pollution, is also adopting sustainability measures in its various functions, including manufacturing and procurement.

Awlgrip and International, two of AkzoNobel’s leading yacht brands, continue to set the standard in customer support and innovation with its new Application Research Center (ARC), a world-class center of excellence offering a cutting-edge location to trial and test products, systems and technology alongside first-rate product application training.

AkzoNobel has acquired a minority stake in Donecle, the automated inspections business whose drone technology is central to AkzoNobel’s new Aerofleet Coatings Management service that is dramatically helping airline operators to optimize their aerospace coatings replacement and maintenance schedules for individual aircraft in their fleet.

Although it remains a small portion of the textile printing segment, digital textile printing is growing faster than other printing processes. Improved printhead technology, enhanced software for color management and design are helping to increase speed and improve quality.

While the costs and availability of key ingredients has generally improved during the past year, most prices have not rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.

2023 has been an active year for the printing ink industry, its customers and suppliers. Well-known industry players such as Gleitsmann Security Inks, EMI Mills and Phoseon Technology were acquired, and Gans Ink sold its Energy Curable, Sublimation, and Security Ink Divisions to Precision Ink. On the printing side, the proposed combination of  Smurfit Kappa and WestRock would form the largest listed global packaging partner by revenue.

The global automotive refinish coatings market size reached $10 billion in 2022, according to market research firm IMARC Group. Their analysts predict that the market will reach $13.2 billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4% during 2023-2028.

Coatings World

Orion is spotlighting several new sustainable carbon blacks for coatings at the WCS.

OXERRA, an iron oxide pigment manufacturer, announces its intention to build a manufacturing facility of complex inorganic color pigments (CICP) and a comprehensive research center in China before the end of 2023.

Domino Printing Sciences announces the official opening of Domino Printing Indonesia, a new subsidiary dedicated to providing complete, closed-loop coding solutions for the archipelago of Indonesia. Domino will become the first global coding and marking provider to establish a direct presence in the Indonesian market.

Emerging markets will need $1.5 trillion in investment before 2035 to make new and existing buildings environmentally friendly and avoid a jump in climate-damaging emissions, a top economist at the World Bank’s private finance arm told Reuters. Of that $1.5 trillion, China accounts for $1.33 trillion, reflecting its size and urbanisation, and Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, Europe and Africa most of the rest, the International Finance Corporation said in a new report.

As the world emerges from the COVID pandemic, the region is seeing growth throughout the area. The Asia-Pacific region is an important economic driver. Its printing industry, particularly on the packaging side, continues to expand, and so does its ink business.