02.19.15
Production of UV inks has moved to a facility in Sweden.
The Swedish factory has been producing UV inks for flexible packaging and narrow web applications for many years, so the move to consolidate all UV ink production in one facility is a technological and logistical move for Flint Group. The move also frees up capacity in the Italian plant to scale up production of two other key product lines, sheetfed low migration inks and varnishes. Expanding the production footprint is designed to keep pace with demand.
Sheetfed UV is a growing sector, and Flint Group has accelerated its investment in R&D and the production and marketing of its product range over the past 24 months. New low energy UV and UV LED lamp technology has led Flint Group to brainstorm new ideas in the segment.
The launch of the Ultraking XCURA range of highly reactive and UV LED inks and coatings in the winter of 2013 changed Flint Group’s position in the market place. According to the company, UV LED curing represents the most significant development in energy curing for years.
“Energy Curing technology is clearly an area of intense activity in our industry, and we in Flint Group fully support this trend,” says Doug Aldred, president of the Packaging and Narrow Web Division, EMEA and North America. “We appreciate the strategic importance and the environmental and cost benefits EC brings, which is why we are investing so heavily in our R&D facility in Ypsilanti, (MI, USA) in our production platforms and in bringing top class people into the organization. Our global alignment of EC operations and technical support provides a consistent specialized platform regardless of where our customers are located. This means we can respond to the dynamic trends of the technology, like the current global advance of UV LED, efficiently and with the same professionalism around the world. By partnering with key OEMs, we are also in the privileged position of helping shape the technology and the future of print.”
Flint Group has also expanded its leadership role in the center. Jim Buchanan, originally hired as business development director, EMEA for the UV range in June 2013, has shifted his role to a global position in recognition of the importance placed on this sector. According to Flint Group, Buchanan’s background in the UK sheetfed packaging sector, with its large UV market, is seen as a perfect basis for this key strategic role in the company.
Trevor Amps joined the company in June 2014 as EMEA UV technical application manager. With more than 20 years technical experience, Amps brings valuable expertise to support UV projects across EMEA. Richard Wilson, formerly EMEA UV product director, took over as Global UV OEMs and EMEA Dealers UV technical director. In his new role, Wilson coordinates OEM UV activities on a global basis and supports key UV technical projects at EMEA Dealers.
