KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd. (KGL), a CJK Group Company, Acquires Accucoms International, B.V.

Sun Chemical will increase prices across its entire portfolio of publication, packaging and commercial sheetfed inks, coatings, and adhesives in North America, effective immediately. The inflationary cost trends in raw materials used within the ink industry have continued to accelerate throughout the course of the year. In addition to the raw material pressures, significant cost increases have been instituted in steel drums, pails, and other packaging components. Availability of skilled labor remains a challenge and in order to attract and retain a committed team, labor costs and benefits have risen exponentially. International and domestic logistics costs have continued their steady climb and forecasts show no change in these trends in the near term. “Sun Chemical’s top priority throughout 2021 has been to maintain the supply of our products to our customers. We have absorbed the higher costs of expedited freight, raw materials and other key inputs in order to achieve that objective,” said Chris Parrilli, President of North American Inks.

Electronics For Imaging, Inc., today reported it has completed a life cycle assessment (LCA) of Nozomi single-pass digital print technology in partnership with award-winning sustainability consulting firm Clean Agency. Through this initiative, Clean Agency also developed an LCA tool that EFI™ customers and their customers – such as brands, retailers, and 3PLs – can use to analyze their CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions as part of their overall packaging extended producer responsibility (EPR): the environmental impact of their products, even after their useful life has ended. According to the LCA, printing corrugated materials on an EFI Nozomi digital press reduces global warming potential (GWP) by approximately 50% when compared to analog printing technologies. “No printing plates, less energy, less waste, and just-intime (JIT) manufacturing all contribute to CO2e reductions for corrugated printing on EFI’s Nozomi digital press,” says Seri McClendon, CEO of Clean Agency.

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company announced it has increased its capacity for direct thermal linerless label production by approximately 40% as a direct response to client demand. With the recent installation of an additional linerless press at its plant in Monroe, WI, RRD is positioned to provide an innovative and readily available labeling solution that answers calls for both heightened productivity and sustainability. In the early 1990s, RRD was the first to develop, utilize commercially, and patent linerless labels. Today, this solution continues to improve profitability for RRD clients through operational effectiveness due to the elimination of the backing paper (liner). Conventional labels have a liner, where the label is pulled off a silicone-coated backer which is typically non-recyclable. This is one of the biggest drivers of waste in a label’s lifecycle. RRD’s linerless labels, however, deliver: *Up to 60% more labels per roll, reducing the downtime required to change rolls *Greater sustainability by eliminating liner waste *Minimized costs through reduced freight, warehousing, and liner disposal *Improved workplace safety through the elimination of slick silicone liners