Inks and Chemicals — Environmental Challenges

Behrens notes that while customers will come to them with specific requests for chemical content, most customers use federal EPA and OSHA guidelines, which makes it easier for the manufacturer to develop products that will satisfy most needs.

"The other single largest demand that the customer has put on the chemical and ink suppliers is the change to newer technologies, such as unbaked digital plates, new automated press equipment, new and different paper types," he says. "The biggest adjustment we have had to do is to develop new products that meet not only the EPA guidelines, but also the demands of new technologies."