Making a Statement
February 1999
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Package printers share their picks and pans of specialty inks vital to on-the-shelf package differentiation.
By Susan Friedman
This time last year, packagePRINTING's ink survey revealed that more of its readers were using water-based inks than any other. At the same time, despite a slight usage decline, a solid number of converters planned to stay loyal to solvents. And excitement bubbled over UV quality and makeready benefits, particularly for narrow-web flexo.
pP's 1999 ink survey deviates from the mainstream of solvent, water, UV and soy to take a closer look at the specifics of the specialty inks market: preferences, prices, press issues and more.
Metallics mania
PP&C polled package printers and asked them to catalog their usage of specialty metallics, fluorescents, pearlescents, phosphorescents, thermochromics and hot foil stamping inks. Respondents from a mix of tag and label, flexible packaging and folding carton printing firms reported back that metallics were far and away the favorite specialty ink of 1998. Eighty-three percent of package printers who responded put them to work last year, most often to achieve that differential glitter on the shelf. Fluorescents scored second in usage with a 57 percent following.
Suppliers confirm metallic inks' popularity is primarily due to their retail appeal. "The driving factor is that more customers like the classy high-luster look of a gold or a silver," says Don Duncan, director of research, Wikoff Color Corp. "The package's message—the look and image of the package, not just the text—must be consistent with the customer's idea of what is most appropriate for the product. Sometimes a fluorescent orange is just right. But more often, a gold or silver is the desired look."
Thermochromics and hot foil stamping inks found a stronger North American market niche in 1998, and should move beyond simple "novelty" usage in the coming year, says Steve Abbott, president of Kromacorp U.S., who primarily provides inks to the wide-web industry. Kromacorp's Kroma-thermic heat-sensitive inks took off more immediately in Europe, appearing on beer, wine and candy bar labels to indicate optimum drinking or eating temperatures. Usage by larger, global beverage companies should spur ahead the spread of these inks to North America, he adds.
Ultrabright metallic inks designed as a replacement for hot stamping foils have already been adopted to replace bronze-based golds on gravure-printed tobacco and chocolate packages. Abbott expects that most additional usership will be gained from package redesigns. Hot foil stamping inks eliminate waste costs associated with foil, he says, and could allow a hot foil look to be added to packages that formerly couldn't afford it.
By Susan Friedman
This time last year, packagePRINTING's ink survey revealed that more of its readers were using water-based inks than any other. At the same time, despite a slight usage decline, a solid number of converters planned to stay loyal to solvents. And excitement bubbled over UV quality and makeready benefits, particularly for narrow-web flexo.
pP's 1999 ink survey deviates from the mainstream of solvent, water, UV and soy to take a closer look at the specifics of the specialty inks market: preferences, prices, press issues and more.
Metallics mania
PP&C polled package printers and asked them to catalog their usage of specialty metallics, fluorescents, pearlescents, phosphorescents, thermochromics and hot foil stamping inks. Respondents from a mix of tag and label, flexible packaging and folding carton printing firms reported back that metallics were far and away the favorite specialty ink of 1998. Eighty-three percent of package printers who responded put them to work last year, most often to achieve that differential glitter on the shelf. Fluorescents scored second in usage with a 57 percent following.
Suppliers confirm metallic inks' popularity is primarily due to their retail appeal. "The driving factor is that more customers like the classy high-luster look of a gold or a silver," says Don Duncan, director of research, Wikoff Color Corp. "The package's message—the look and image of the package, not just the text—must be consistent with the customer's idea of what is most appropriate for the product. Sometimes a fluorescent orange is just right. But more often, a gold or silver is the desired look."
Thermochromics and hot foil stamping inks found a stronger North American market niche in 1998, and should move beyond simple "novelty" usage in the coming year, says Steve Abbott, president of Kromacorp U.S., who primarily provides inks to the wide-web industry. Kromacorp's Kroma-thermic heat-sensitive inks took off more immediately in Europe, appearing on beer, wine and candy bar labels to indicate optimum drinking or eating temperatures. Usage by larger, global beverage companies should spur ahead the spread of these inks to North America, he adds.
Ultrabright metallic inks designed as a replacement for hot stamping foils have already been adopted to replace bronze-based golds on gravure-printed tobacco and chocolate packages. Abbott expects that most additional usership will be gained from package redesigns. Hot foil stamping inks eliminate waste costs associated with foil, he says, and could allow a hot foil look to be added to packages that formerly couldn't afford it.
Companies Mentioned:
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