News

Sun Chemical has partnered with Cambridge-based digital-print specialist Tonejet to manufacture and supply inks to beverage can manufacturer Ball Packaging Europe.

The contract means that Sun Chemical will supply Tonejet for future projects, but it is not the company's sole ink supplier, and Ball's German operation will be the first customer to receive Sun Chemical's services.

Ball is in the process of introducing Tonejet's drop on demand print process, which allows the company to print directly onto different substrates, at its German plant.

Sun Chemical has supplied pigmented inks designed specifically for use with the Tonejet technology.

This is Sun Chemical's first collaboration with Tonejet and provides the company with access to digital packaging and can decoration markets.

Sun Chemical refused to reveal the value of the contract, but a spokesman said the "real value" was the company's ability to align the business with "new leading technology".

"Sun Chemical's expert knowledge of ink manufacture and supply will complement our existing process," said Tonejet chief executive Ray Southam.

He added: "By partnering with Sun Chemical we are able to offer our customers the absolute best in ink quality, which combined with our digital print process, will give them the ability to create consumer product packaging with a level of detail and personalisation which has never been possible before."

New Jersey-headquartered Sun Chemical is a leading provider of printing inks, pigments and materials to packaging, publishing, coating, plastics and cosmetics markets.