The FuturePrint Virtual Conference, taking place 25th – 26th February, will be showcasing a range of solutions, insight and education from established print giants to cutting-edge newcomers, both of which are blazing the trail for the future of the industry. We caught up with Simon Daplyn, Manager, Product Marketing, Sun Chemical and Phil Jackman, Global Product Manager, Digital, Sun Chemical, to find out why they are returning to a FuturePrint event and what’s in store for their session.

Why have you chosen to be a part of the FuturePrint Virtual Conference?

The current climate has certainly impacted the ability to travel to visit customers and attend in-person exhibitions and conferences. FuturePrint provides the ideal opportunity to reach an audience that we would otherwise not see. 

The team at FuturePrint has a great connection to the industry, championing valuable content and breaking down barriers within a technical industry. They have developed a following and network that consists of each part of the print industry, including users. At Sun Chemical, our aim is to build on these relationships and collaborate to achieve a successful adoption of digital print technology.

Having taken part in each of the FuturePrint Summits, we were excited to once again have a platform to underline the importance of inks and chemistry to the printing process.

What will you be speaking about at the FuturePrint Virtual Conference? 

At this year’s FuturePrint, we will be discussing the life of an ink. Ink plays a critical role in the print process, from materials selection, jetting and print performance. However, after the process of printing has ended, the ink has a further “life” as part of the printed item and so we will cover each element the ink can influence and why chemistry choice is key. 

Why have you chosen this topic? 

It is often the case that ink choice is a secondary consideration and that systems and workflow may be designed before the chemistry is fully defined. This can leave a gap where the drying, jetting or application performance could be compromised. Collaboration is key to a successful implementation of inkjet, bringing all of the disciplines together to deliver a high-quality print at the right speed with the required application performance.

There are many considerations when choosing ink chemistry outside of whether the ink will print and dry. It is also vital to look at the application performance, color or function, compliance and safety aspects of the final product. This could include the influence of fastness or resistance properties of the ink, the impact of product safety in a food packaging application or the compliance with country and industry legislation. 

Ultimately, the ink that is printed on the final product represents the brand, and so maintaining the integrity of the product is key to a successful project. 

Why is your business an important voice on this topic? 

Sun Chemical is a leading developer and manufacturer of printing inks, both digital and analog. At Sun Chemical, we have many years of experience within the industry and wide knowledge of ink chemistry, allowing us to work with OEMs and printers to define the right chemistry choice for the print process and meet all of the product requirements of the printed item.

Sun Chemical has a global capacity to produce and support customers around the world with new and innovative ink chemistries.

Who are you hoping to reach with your session?

FuturePrint brings together a diverse audience of printers, developers and industry partners. We are looking to reach the widest industry audience and establish partnerships to deliver successful projects across a wide range of industrial inkjet markets.

You can register for the session, ‘Exploring The Life Of An Ink’, here.

You can view the full FuturePrint Virtual Conference schedule here.

Find out more about Sun Chemical here.