October 04, 2023

Featured News

From the Desk of the President

Greetings Ink Industry colleagues,

I hope this letter finds you all in good health and high spirits. As we reflect upon our recent achievements and look ahead to the future, I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for your unwavering support and dedication to NAPIM and the printing ink industry as a whole.

First and foremost, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to each of you for making our last two events, the 2023 Summer Course and the 2023 Fall Technical Conference, such resounding successes. Your active participation, insightful contributions, and commitment to the industry were instrumental in creating memorable and impactful experiences for our community. These events not only fostered collaboration and knowledge-sharing but also...

Inside NAPIM

2023 Summer Course Wrap-Up

The 2023 Summer Course at the Sonoco Institute – Clemson University was a sell-out event with 47 attendees! This perennially popular, immersion-type course has been educating printing ink and graphic arts and coatings professionals since the 1950’s. Every year the NAPIM Technical Board carefully reviews the structure and content of the course to ensure that it continues to provide the high-quality, educational and training experience for which it is well known.

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2023 Fall Technical Conference Wrap-Up

Opening Session -

The 46th NAPIM Fall Technical Conference returned to the Oak Brook Hilton in Oak Brook, IL September 12-14, 2023. This year’s conference proved to be an exceptionally exciting and dynamic event with great attendance.

The 2023 Technical Conference planning committee restructured the conference to a more technically focused, print process driven agenda. The committee plans additional schedule and program changes for the 2024 conference.

Opening Session Tuesday September 12, 2023 -

The conference opened Tuesday afternoon September 12, 2023, with keynote speaker Jeff Wettersten of Karstedt Partners. Jeff provided a detailed presentation focusing on critical technical and market factors affecting packaging converters. Ron Osborn of Mars Wrigley followed Jeff. Ron presented the brand owners perspective on the importance of supply chain communication for assuring food packaging safety. Ron emphasized the role and responsibilities of the supply chain in assuring that food packaging is safe and compliant with national and international regulations. Ciaran Little of Smithers Pira followed Osborn with a presentation discussing current and future impacts of sustainability initiatives on U.S. package printing

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News & Happenings

Printing Ink Market

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Census – Trade Division show dynamic market conditions.

Printing ink exports and imports through July 2023 have declined year on year 21% and 18%, respectively. More detailed information is available on the NAPIMTech.org website.

Printingdata Oct 23

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows declines prices for all tracked input raw material streams. Printing ink shows a slight increase in producers prices. More detailed information is available on the NAPIMTech.org website.

Inkdata Oct 23

Environmental, Health and Safety/Food Packaging Safety

Workplace Safety – NAPIM EHS Committee met to develop recommendations for improving employee safety at in-plant locations. The committee’s recommendations are posted on the NAPIMTech.org website.

NAPIM is partnering with the Color Pigments Manufacturers Association and Printing United to develop graphic arts industry technical positions on state-based extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation affecting printed substrate and recyclability/circularity. The EPR is focusing on the impacts of printing inks on the recyclability of both film and cellulosic substrates.

The Food Packaging Safety Committee is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide information on the use of energy curable ink systems on food packaging. This committee is also reviewing the results of a “bread bag’ migration test that was commissioned by the committee. Currently the committee is comparing the results of the migration test to migration modeling data.

NAPIM's Technical Comments Regarding Pending Action on Pigment violet 29

On September 28, 2023 at the request of EPA's Office of Regulatory Policy and Management Office of Policy NAPIM provide technical comment regarding EPA's pending action on pigment violet 29 under TSCA Section 6(a). EPA is currently identifying industry sectors for regulatory action on this TSCA section. NAPIM's comments responded to this issue and can be found here.

Technical

The survey results for the 2023 NAPIM Fall Technical Conference are currently being compiled and will be distributed to the NAPIM Technical Board for review.

The NAPIM Technical Board is reviewing the syllabus and venue for the July 2024 NAPIM Summer Course. Currently under consideration as a venue for the course are Clemson University and Western Michigan University.

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2023 Advertising Opportunities for Members and Non-Members

NAPIM is pleased to offer advertising opportunities for members and non-members to increase your company’s impact and expand your brand within the industry. Multiple options are available for any budget and frequency. Download NAPIM's Advertising Packages here.

For Additional Questions contact Devin Robinson, NAPIM’s Sales Associate at drobinson@kellencompany.com or 410-940-6589.

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