April 5, 2004 -- Ciba Specialty Chemicals will present two new solutions for graphic arts at DRUPA 2004 in Düsseldorf, stand no. E 17 in Hall 3 – a novel surface modification technology to improve printing, coating and adhesion on plastics and an easy-to-use, accurate electronic color matching system for printing inks. Ciba Prime IT is designed to ensure maximum bonding of inks, coatings and adhesives on all plastic surfaces, including OPP, PVC, PET, PE and PA. The new technology is suitable for labels, flexible and rigid packaging, smart cards, and commercial printing. Prime IT gives excellent results in UV printing technologies and is under development for water-based inks. “Plastic materials have inherently very poor wetting and adhesion properties,” explains John Coy, Head of Business Line Inks and Imaging at Ciba Specialty Chemicals. “We’ve used our expertise in photoinitiators, printing and polymers to create an innovative solution to the problems of adhesion on a range of plastic substrates. At the DRUPA we will demonstrate the technology in action on a treating and printing machine, explain the process and discuss its real benefits with labeling, printing and packaging specialists as well as converters.” Ciba COLIBRI QuickMatch Pro is a new electronic color-matching software system for efficient and accurate recipe formulation of printing inks. Tailored to industry needs and available in both a multi- and a single-user version, COLIBRI QuickMatch Pro is easy to use and highly productive thanks to integrated tools such as color libraries and catalogues. Ciba Specialty Chemicals offers customers extensive associated services, including expertise on pigment preparation and color measurement, and software support. Further technical information on the new technologies can be accessed at www.cibasc.com/primeit and www.cibasc.com/colibri.