The right stuff for printing ink

Shortages of critical raw materials used to manufacture printing ink are elevating ink prices, and the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers Inc. (NAPIM) wants its members to know why. NAPIM is issuing a series of bulletins covering raw material supply chains and the availability of key ingredients and current costs. The raw materials used in ink include rosin, acrylic acid, carbon black, titanium dioxide, nitrocellulose, crude oil and natural gas, vegetable oils and colored organic pigments. Shortages result from competition from other industries, and while alternatives can be used for some ink manufacturing processes, those alternatives also have supply issues.