An excerpt from AP July 2020 – by Currie Group national sales manager – ink, Colin Edwards 

Prior to COVID-19, the market demand for conventional consumables for the lithographic printing market was high, with lots of growth in this area. As our industry starts to open up again post COVID-19, I expect market demands to start growing again. The lithographic market is shrinking and will most likely keep shrinking, but quality products at reasonable prices provides an edge.

At Currie Group, we carry a full range of conventional consumables for the lithographic printing market. We supply a wide variety of lithographic inks in both UV and conventional, as well as varnishes, chemicals, coatings, printing and coating blankets, packings, Katsura rollers, chemicals, lamination film, Agfa plates, Toyobo plates, Toray plates, wash cloths, and other consumables.

Our inks and consumables service the lithographic market in Australia, so the demand worldwide would be similar into those lithographic markets. They would be using similar products, and in fact, some suppliers would be supplying the same branded products we sell into the Australian market as we source our products worldwide for an advantage.

Currie Group places a huge emphasis on quality products that work. Quality products have a higher cost, but generally, you will get a yield benefit or products lasting longer.

Offering better finishes will improve or enhance a printed material. For example, coating is one area where enhancement of the printed material is achieved; coatings and varnishes can be used to create an improved result whether it be matt, gloss, or a combination of both.

Sustainability is increasingly becoming an important factor in consumables mainly due to the environmental forces in trying to make printing inks and consumables more sustainable. It is not an easy process, but at Currie Group, we are trying to increase our product range with products sourced from sustainable raw material where possible. Our aim is to help printers cut waste, which also improves sustainability.

The environmental push will continue to be strong with the end user requesting more environmental solutions. Reducing printed waste in the print room by supplying quality products saves money and decreases the volume of products used.

Using a range of high-quality, vegetable-based ink with high yield reduces waste and the volume of products used in the print room. Vegetable-based inks are requested more these days, as well as food grade, water-based coating and eco-friendly chemicals. Reducing the number of chemicals used and supplying products as eco-friendly as possible is another way to improve sustainability.

A number of printers are choosing to go down the low energy LED or UV patch way, which results in lower energy consumption. We are also working with printers to eliminate IPA from the press room by offering IPA free Fountain Solutions. Our ink suppliers are also trying to reduced Volatile Organic Compounds in their formulations (VOC).

The more options you have in your range, the more opportunity it will present, so constantly communicate with suppliers regarding how to improve products. In the coming years, printers will be more selective of the products they purchase and will be more aware of the products they use.

As for the lithographic industry, as it has slowly been retracting for many years, the expectation is that it will continue that way.

Currie Group would continue to hold its ground in ink and consumable sales and continue to grow through the selection of products to best fit our customers’ needs. We will continue to source the latest technology and are always looking towards improving our range of products. Suppliers, in general, will find it difficult to grow or even hold ground in this space in future.

The future in this space will be the survival of the fittest for both printers and suppliers. To stay ahead, we need to continue to provide quality service and products, in addition to giving our customer what they need when they need it.

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