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This section provides an overview for industrial inks as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 12 industrial ink manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked industrial ink companies as of December, 2024: 1.Union Process, Inc., 2.Henkel Corporation, 3.Techsil Ltd.
Table of Contents
Industrial Ink is a type of ink used in industrial inkjet printers and printing machines.
Since printing on a wide range of materials is required for industrial use, a variety of pigments and dyes are included.
Applications of Industrial Inks
Industrial products may require various types of printing, such as lot numbers, quality markings, and inspection stamps. Stamp marking inks are used for printing on various materials, including metal, plastic, paper, cardboard, ceramics, glass, wood, cloth, and leather.
Industrial inkjet printers are also used in diverse applications such as commercial printing, textiles, and building materials. Major applications include sign graphics; textile products such as digital textile printing, DTG, and banner flags; 3D modeling such as models, parts, and molds using UV curable resins and plaster; and name tag, label, and metal can printing. Diverse types of ink for inkjet printers are available to suit these product materials.
In industrial production, industrial inkjet printers are used to print many products. Inkjet printing with inkjet printers is a printing method in which images are drawn by applying liquid ink drop by drop.
Ink for inkjet printers is composed of colorants such as dyes and pigments dissolved in a solvent. Pigments are large particles that remain on the surface of the object without penetrating it, while dyes are colorants that soak into and penetrate materials like paper. Pigments print clearly and vividly, while dyes can be mixed to produce delicate colors and gradations. Solvents include volatile organic solvents such as MEK (methyl ethyl ketone), ethanol, acetone, water, and other organic solvents.
Other agents found in ink include penetrating agents (which lower the surface tension between paper and ink to facilitate ink fixation on paper), anti-drying agents (which prevent ink from drying out and clogging the print head), pH adjusters, preservatives, and fungicides. These auxiliaries are necessary to maintain ink quality and print quality.
Ink used for printing lot numbers and other information is called a stamp marking ink. It is used for stamp marking and is used in the same way as general stamp inks. There are oil-based pigment-based, oil-based dye-based, water-based pigment-based, and water-based dye-based inks, and they are used according to the material to be stamped. Inks used on non-absorbent material surfaces are solvent-based dyes. There are also special inks. In addition to the ink itself, some inks are sold as ink pads impregnated with ink.
Industrial Inks are available in a variety of basic colors, such as black, white, red, blue, yellow, and green. In addition to classification by colorants such as dyes and pigments, there are also different types of inks depending on the solvent used, such as water-based inkjet inks, solvent-based inkjet inks, and UV-curable inkjet inks. Since the materials suitable for printing differ depending on these different solvents, care must be taken when making a choice. In addition, some solvent-based inkjet inks are quick-drying and others are not, depending on how easily the solvent volatilizes.
Water-based ink uses purified water as the solvent. Unlike organic solvents, there is no adverse effect on the human body and no concern about environmental pollution, but compared to methyl ethyl ketone and ethanol, it has a longer drying time and is more difficult to dry. Therefore, printing is limited to permeable materials such as paper. This ink is suitable for continuous forms, commercial printing, cardboard, flexible packaging, labels, etc.
While water-based ink is the most commonly used ink in inkjet printers for office automation, water-based ink is less commonly used in industrial inkjet printers. In addition to water and colorants, additives such as moisturizers, penetrating agents, pH adjusters, and preservatives are included.
MEK (methyl ethyl ketone) is mainly used for fast-drying solvent-based inks. Inks using methyl ethyl ketone dry and solidify quickly, so they can only be used in continuous inkjet printers that constantly circulate ink. Because it dries and solidifies quickly after printing, it can be used to print on non-permeable materials. In addition, inks containing methyl ethyl ketone are designated as Class 4 Hazardous Substance, Petroleums No. 1 (non-water soluble liquid).
Ethanol and acetone are used for solvent-based inks that do not contain methyl ethyl ketone. Ethanol is a solvent that takes longer to dry than methyl ethyl ketone, but is used in food packaging and other applications because of its volatility and lack of risk of chemical contamination. Acetone, although flammable, dries more quickly than methyl ethyl ketone and is used for printing on soft packaging materials such as plastic wrap. Demand for such solvent-based inks that do not use methyl ethyl ketone is increasing due to safety measures and cost reductions in complying with regulations.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Videojet Technologies, Inc., based in Wood Dale, Illinois, and founded in the 1960s as a division of the A.B. Dick Company is a manufacturer of product identification equipment designed for coding and marking. Its diverse range of solutions encompasses large and small character inkjet printers, laser coding systems, thermal transfer printers, and labeling equipment. These systems are utilized for the application of variable data, including by dates, production dates, lot numbers, and traceability information, as well as linear and 2D barcodes, onto an extensive array of product packaging, industrial components, shipping cases, and pallets.
Union Process, Inc. is a manufacturer of chemical processing equipment located in Akron, Ohio, USA and founded in 1946. The company’s key products are attrition mills, mixing tanks, and grinding media that have use in particle size reduction for materials in chemical, agricultural, food, energy, and other various industries. Additionally, the company also offers lab testing and particle characterization services so that customers can identify the correct equipment to purchase for their particular particle reduction needs.
Henkel Corporation is an American manufacturer specializing in sealants, adhesives, and coatings since its establishment as a subsidiary of German multinational company Henkel AG & Co. KGaA in 1974. Based in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, the company produces various oleochemicals, surfactants, and chemical intermediates used in the production of brand name industrial adhesives, skincare, and surface treatment products. Some of these include Technomelt, Purex, Bonderite, and Loctite. Henkel Corporation is divided into separate Adhesive Technologies, Beauty Care, and Laundry & Home Care business units. The company primarily supplies the product formulation needs of clients in the consumer goods and industrial sectors.
Practical Packaging Solutions, Inc. is an American distributor of packaging machinery and materials established in 1984 and based in Glendale Heights, Illinois. The company primarily stocks packaging machinery, supplies, and complete specialized packing systems. These products include sealers for hand-packing operations, shrink packaging systems, and hard film overwrappers. It carries items from various brands, including Texwrap, ARPAC, and Belco. The company also provides product or system design, customization, and field servicing for clients needing additional support. It markets to a wide range of industries, including to clients in the food and beverage, semiconductor, and cosmetic sectors.
R.S. Hughes Co., Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, in 1954 is a distributor of industrial safety supplies. The company's product portfolio includes adhesives, abrasives electrical and static control tapes, labeling and safety products. Their products are used in industries such as Food and Beverage, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology, Chemical and Petrochemical, Industry safety and healthcare. They offer custom packaging, warehousing, customer support and distribution services and they have 46 warehouse sites in the United States and Mexico.
ELANTAS is a manufacturer of insulating materials, protective materials and related solutions with its headquarters in Wesel, Germany, and a history dating back to 1919. The company specializes in developing and producing a wide range of electrical insulation materials, such as resins, varnishes, and impregnating agents. ELANTAS' products find applications in electrical and electronic industries, serving as essential components in the manufacturing of transformers, motors, and electronic devices. ELANTAS offers services including technical support, custom formulation, and problem-solving for insulation challenges. The company serves industries like electrical engineering, automotive, and consumer electronics, delivering performance materials for critical applications.
Identco International is an ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, and ISO 14001:2015-certified manufacturer of labeling products established in 1986 and based in Ingleside, Illinois, USA. The company offers track-and-trace labeling for printed circuit boards (PCBs) or electronic components, SMT label feeders for supplying pick-and-place machines on a production line, and wear-resistant labels for power equipment or machine tools. The company’s products are commonly used in the consumer electronics, industrial manufacturing, and automotive manufacturing sectors.
Esprix Technologies is an ISO 9001-certified manufacturer of specialty chemicals founded in 1992 in Sarasota, Florida, USA. The company produces specially formulated chemicals used in a wide range of industries. These include pharmaceutical intermediates for drug synthesis, microparticles used in cosmetics, and acrylate oligomers for adhesives. The company serves various clients in research and development, metal fabrication, and textiles. Some of its notable customers include major corporations such as L’Oreal, Pfizer, and Boeing.
Techsil Ltd., founded in 1989 and headquartered in Bidford-on-Avon, United Kingdom, is a distributor of industrial adhesives, sealants, tapes, and UV curing equipment, and operates as a division of Diploma PLC. The company offers a comprehensive range of products from various renowned brands, including ThreeBond, Power Adhesives, and BJB Enterprises. As an ISO 9001-certified entity, it provides additional services such as contract gasketing, repacking, and tape conversion. With an extensive inventory of over 2000 products, Techsil Ltd. collaborates with engineers to streamline production processes across diverse industries, including energy, aerospace, and electronics.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Union Process, Inc. |
28.6%
|
| 2 | Henkel Corporation |
28.6%
|
| 3 | Techsil Ltd |
14.3%
|
| 4 | Videojet Technologies, Inc. |
14.3%
|
| 5 | Practical Packaging Solutions |
14.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the industrial ink page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
5 | 83.3% |
|
Germany
|
1 | 16.7% |
