BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - April 4, 2006 - Sun Chemical, the world’s largest producer of printing inks and pigments, is unveiling a range of unique, innovative ‘Customer Value Systems’ at IPEX, which will help its customers achieve their targets for quality, productivity and profitability. The products, services and solutions will span across all Sun Chemical’s business divisions, including News, Heatset Offset, Sheetfed Offset and Consumables. Although each Customer Value System is tailored to addresses a specific need, the overall objective that applies to them all is to provide added value for customers. In order to deliver this, Sun Chemical will utilise its understanding of the customer and the market needs and use its world-leading expertise as a total solutions provider to develop differentiated value propositions and implement a suitable system. Colin Norgate, Sun Chemical’s UK Director of Value Services said: “Everybody within the printing industry knows it is a tough business environment to operate in. Continuous improvement is the key to surviving, and therefore, not only is it important for productivity and efficiency to be maximised, products and services need to add value to customers and the customers’ customer. At Sun Chemical, we aim to be the partner of choice. We can draw upon years of experience and a global network of expertise to solve our customers’ most demanding problems. These new initiatives are just one some of the ways we can demonstrate our added value as a supplier and deliver good value solutions to our customers, in addition to world-leading products.” David French, General Manager of Sun Chemicals UK Offset Division, said: “As the leading manufacturer of heatset inks in Europe Sun Chemical has unrivalled experience in running its products on the full range of presses encountered in the marketplace and under all conditions. This data can be transferred around the group through our extensive technical support network ensuring that we can provide our customers with the best possible technical support service – wherever they are.” Within the Heatset Offset market, Sun Chemical has introduced the following as part of its value solutions programme: ISIS The ISIS value pyramid is a unique series of programmes, products and services designed to assist heatset printers in achieving the maximum in print quality and press productivity. It starts by ensuring that the ink they buy is delivered and managed in as effective way as possible. Then they can take advantage of Sun Chemical’s technical audit programmes and training programmes to ensure that their presses and press crews are working most efficiently. Sun Chemical’s experts can also assist with fine tuning whereby products and support on other key consumables such as founts; blankets; splicing tape; silicones are provided. More detailed analyses of press performance and press improvement programmes is available through the company’s TCP concept. These can be further monitored and refined through the PEPS software/hardware package, which is all part of the ISIS service. PEPS PrintEasy Productivity System, or PEPS as it is more commonly known, is the latest innovation from the ISIS value pyramid. This is a new concept that provides the potential for total control of workflows and cost efficiency through a tailored modular software/hardware package. It not only allows customers to control their costs, but allows them to actively reduce them. Unlike its competitors, PEPS is custom built to individual customer specifications. The modular system covers three key areas: Workflow; Printing and Paper, all three of which position PEPS as a valuable tool for optimising workflows and process management Total Cost to Print (TCP) This is a programme where Sun Chemical’s technical personnel, which include ex-heatset printers, monitor the performance of a press over a three week period to assess levels of waste, downtime and overall press productivity. Following this, projects are proposed and implemented with customers Pressroom Supplies Sun Chemical Consumables Division offers a complete range of press related products including founts; blankets; washes; silicones; specialist chemicals all designed to ensure the press produces the best quality print copy whilst assisting in optimizing press productivity Technical Audit Programmes Sun Chemical’s heatset technical support personnel provide an expert service whereby key running parameters of a company’s individual presses including press chemistry (fount performance monitoring) and press conditions (ink/fount roller; blanket; chill roller temperatures, etc) are measured and actions recommended to optimise their press operation Universal Inks Sun Chemical’s Universal range of heatset process inks are based on new technology, which enables a wider range of papers than ever before to be printed without sacrificing print quality or press speed. From improved newsprint through to high quality coated stocks the results are the same – excellent dot fidelity; solid lay and finish PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) As well as press related products, Sun Chemical recognises the need for press operators to have the necessary face, eye, ear, hand, foot and body protection when working in the environs of a fast running heatset press. Through its consumables department, it offers a comprehensive range of PPE products designed to ensure full protection from the liquid products in use on the press as well as advice on how to use them Unrivalled Expertise and Experience As the leading manufacturer of heatset inks in Europe Sun Chemical has unrivalled experience in running its products on the full range of presses encountered in the marketplace and under all conditions. This data can be transferred around the group through the extensive technical support network, ensuring the best possible technical support service SPRINT training programmes SPRINT is a range of training and teaching initiatives designed to help customers get the most out of their staff and machinery. It includes a press simulator course, where printers can run a virtual press to learn how to overcome a variety of problems; tailored training courses to meet individual customer personnel needs relating to ink; printing and allied products; the SPRINT Academy – a new modular course aimed at students who wish to learn more about web offset printing, and can leads to a Foundation Degree diploma Sun Chemical will be playing a major part in some world-leading innovations that will be demonstrated in the PrintCity Hall 1 at Ipex from April 4-11.