Major Products: Water- and solvent-based flexo and gravure packaging inks and coatings; UV and EB coatings.

Number of Employees: 310

Operating Facilities: Pine Bluff, AR; Winston-Salem, NC; Shreveport, LA; Portland, OR; Ontario, CA; San Leandro, CA; Dallas, TX; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Fairfield, OH; Mississauga, Ontario.

Comments: The sixth-largest U.S. packaging ink manufacturer, American Inks & Coatings (AIC) had a tremendous year in 2015, with sales growing more than 13% to $130 million.

AIC’s key markets include water- and solvent-based inks for flexible packaging, folding carton, multi-wall bags, gift wrap and corrugated printing. Jerry Mosley, AIC’s CEO, said that the company’s employees and its complete focus on the growing packaging market are keys to the company’s success.

“There is clearly an evolution occurring in the printing industry, with packaging doing particularly well,” said Mosley. “What printing segments are showing the most opportunities, and how is American Inks & Coatings capitalizing on its strengths to make gains in these fields? I believe our strength as a company lies in our people and the shared vision we have for our company and the industries we serve. Packaging is all we do, we continue to look for opportunities to both fortify our positions within our current customers, as well as find new ways to grow within the industry we serve.”

American Inks & Coatings had a number of highlights in 2015; Mosley noted that its co-supplier summit was particularly noteworthy.

“Our co-supplier summit, which took place in August, was something we picked up from George Sickinger in the CRI (Color Resolutions International) acquisition from last year,” Mosley said. “We brought in a panel of customers and suppliers to discuss a variety of topics over a day and a half. This one in particular was focused on corrugated, but I can see us using a similar platform for other industries. Everyone took something away from that day and a half, and I think it plays perfectly into our goal to be a value added supplier to the industries we serve.”

AIC is working hard with its customers to meet regulatory mandates. “We continue to address the needs of our customers through in house personnel and outside consultants,” Mosley added.

Mosley anticipates further growth in 2016 and beyond for AIC. “As long as our current strategy leads to continued success, we are going to look for opportunities to grow our business,” Mosley concluded.

Major Products: Water- and solvent-based flexo and gravure packaging inks and coatings; UV and EB coatings.

Number of Employees: 310

Operating Facilities: Pine Bluff, AR; Winston-Salem, NC; Shreveport, LA; Portland, OR; Ontario, CA; San Leandro, CA; Dallas, TX; Atlanta, GA; Louisville, KY; Chicago, IL; Fairfield, OH; Mississauga, Ontario; Richmond, B.C.

Comments: With the 2014 acquisition of Color Resolutions International (CRI) now completed, American Inks & Coatings (AIC), the sixth-largest U.S. packaging ink manufacturer, is further expanding its position in the packaging segment, recording new highs in sales at $115 million as well as in profits.

Prior to adding CRI, AIC’s key markets included water- and solvent-based inks for flexible packaging, folding carton, multi-wall bags and gift wrap ink markets. CRI was largely focused on the corrugated printing market. The acquisition gives AIC a strong position throughout the packaging segment, and the company reported growth in the corrugated market during 2014.

The addition of CRI was among the key highlights for AIC this year.

“Capturing the synergies of CRI was a highlight from the last year,” said Jerry Mosley, American Inks and Coatings’ CEO. “Opening a second plant in Canada is also a highlight, as is our continued growth in the markets we serve. We moved into a larger facility in Ontario, Canada, and we have two plants in Shreveport, one for our coatings operation, Progressive Coatings.”

Another important highlight was a personal one: Mosley received the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers’ (NAPIM) 2014 Ault Award, the most prestigious honor in the ink industry.

“It was a complete surprise,” Mosley said. “I felt very undeserving, as I feel I have taken much more from the industry than I have given.”

Raw material costs have stabilized and crude oil prices have declined, and Mosley is hopeful that will lead to some raw material cost reductions.

“Raw materials have stabilized, and for now with the price of crude going down, we do not expect any concerns for 2015 other than hope of some price concessions,” Mosley said.

Mosley anticipates that 2015 should be an even stronger year for AIC.

“We anticipate continued growth in both sales and profits, and being in a position to take advantages of any opportunities that may come up,” Mosley concluded.

Major Products: Water- and solvent-based flexo and gravure packaging inks and coatings; UV and EB coatings.

Number of Employees: 220

Operating Facilities: Pine Bluff, AR; Winston-Salem, NC; Shreveport, LA; Portland, OR; Ontario, CA; San Leandro, CA; Dallas, TX; Atlanta, GA; Louisville, KY; Chicago, IL.

Comments: There has been more merger and acquisition activity in the packaging side of the ink industry, as the packaging printing market continues to grow. American Inks & Coatings (AIC), the sixth-largest U.S. packaging ink manufacturer, has been in the forefront of the M&A activity, adding Color Resolutions International (CRI) through an asset purchase arrangement in December 2013; the deal is expected to close by the end of April 2014.

“We can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Michael Mosley, AIC’s COO.

Headquartered in Fairfield, OH, CRI was the 19th largest North American ink company in 2012, with estimated sales of $55 million in 2012. AIC has 220 employees, while CRI has more than 120 employees.

AIC and CRI are exclusively packaging ink and coatings, although they serve different markets. AIC’s key markets include water- and solvent-based inks for flexible packaging, folding carton, multi-wall bags and gift wrap ink markets. The company did enter the corrugated ink market with its 2012 acquisition of Graphic Sciences.

CRI is largely focused on the corrugated printing market. CRI also has made inroads into Latin America, opening Color Resolutions de Mexico. CRI will continue as a subsidiary of AIC, and George Sickinger, CRI’s chairman, CEO and president, will continue with the company.

“With the acquisition, the combined companies are well positioned to focus on the changing needs of both the flexible packaging and corrugated market as they continue to consolidate,” Jerry Mosley, CEO of American Inks & Coatings, said.

Michael Mosley noted that the flexible and corrugated segments were both particularly strong for AIC in 2013.

“We had a good year in 2013,” Michael Mosley said. “We grew about 10% in sales, and our top line growth is there. However, there is a lot of pressure on the bottom line. All of our markets did well, with flexible and corrugated standouts.”

Once the CRI acquisition is finished, AIC will put an emphasis on blending in its new products and facilities.

“I think 2014 is a time for us to get our arms around what we have,” Michael Mosley said. “We have a lot of opportunities in flexible and corrugated. We want to come up with a vision of what we want to become.”

Major Products: Water- and solvent-based flexo and gravure packaging inks and coatings; UV and EB coatings.

Number of Employees: 217

Operating Facilities: Pine Bluff, AR; Winston-Salem, NC; Shreveport, LA; Portland, OR; Ontario, CA; San Leandro, CA; Dallas, TX; Atlanta, GA; Louisville, KY; Chicago, IL.

Comments: The packaging market remains strong, and packaging ink specialists are seeing growth. For American Inks & Coatings (AIC), the sixth-largest U.S. packaging ink manufacturer, 2012 saw strong growth, as the company combined sales gains from its customer base as well as from its 2011 acquisition of Graphic Sciences.

AIC’s key markets include flexible packaging, folding carton, multi-wall bags and gift wrap ink markets, and the addition of Graphic Sciences, a water-based corrugated ink specialist, in October 2011 gave the country a strong position in that segment.

Michael Mosley, COO of American Inks & Coatings, noted that packaging is AIC’s key market, and added that the company expects to see “continued growth in the markets we serve.”

Major Products: Water- and solvent-based flexo and gravure packaging inks and coatings; UV and EB coatings.

Number of Employees: 197

Operating Facilities: Pine Bluff, AR; Winston-Salem, NC; Shreveport, LA; Portland, OR; Ontario, CA; San Leandro, CA; Dallas, TX; Atlanta, GA; Louisville, KY; Chicago, IL.

Comments: The sixth-largest U.S. packaging ink manufacturer, American Ink and Coatings (AIC) continues to enjoy growth in the flexible packaging, folding carton, multi-wall bags and gift wrap ink markets, with sales increasing nearly 6% to $72 million in 2011. With the acquisition of Graphic Sciences, a water-based corrugated ink specialist, in October 2011, AIC is poised to enter new markets.

“It was a good year for AIC in all aspects of the business,” said CEO Jerry Mosley. “Paper packaging in some areas continues to decline, while flexible continues to grow.”

For AIC, the major news was the announcement that Mosley Holdings, the parent company of AIC, acquired Graphic Sciences. The acquisition of Graphic Sciences provides AIC with new water-based inks for the corrugated market, as well as the experience and knowledge of the Graphic Sciences’ team. AIC will continue to operate Graphic Sciences’ eight facilities, and consolidated the company’s Portland, OR headquarters in Mosley Holdings’ Sheridan, AR offices. In addition, Jeff Ashburn, president of Graphic Sciences, will stay on to lead this group for AIC.

Outside of the Graphic Sciences acquisition, AIC continues to invest in improving efficiency, and upgraded some of its mills to improve production.

For the most part, raw material costs and supply concerns have stabilized, although there remain challenges.

“Pricing and supply have seemed to stabilize, with certain items continuing in short supply and threats of future increases,” Mr. Mosley noted.

Mr. Mosley believes that the combination of AIC and Graphic Sciences positions the company for continued growth in the packaging ink market in the coming years.

“For us, 2012 and beyond look to be outstanding growth years for American Ink and Coatings with the acquisition of Graphic Sciences and the new markets we feel we can now serve,” Mr. Mosley concluded.

Major Products: Water- and solvent-based flexo and gravure packaging inks and coatings; UV and EB coatings.

Number of Employees: 162

Operating Facilities: Pine Bluff, AR; Winston-Salem, NC; West Memphis, TN.

Comments: For American Inks & Coatings (AIC), a leader in the liquid packaging ink industry, 2010 was a solid year, as the company enjoyed growth in many of the markets that it serves.

“We’re still growing,” said Michael Mosley, American Inks & Coatings’ COO. “We are totally focused on the markets we serve. We’re growing through new business in folding cartons, and are growing at a fast rate in flexible packaging, which has become a really strong market for us. We are also seeing a shift back to domestic production of gift wrap.”

AIC offers a complete range of liquid inks and coatings, including water-based inks for multiwall bag, high graphics corrugated, folding carton, gift wrap and other packaging, and solvent-based inks for flexible packaging, including laminations and other innovative applications. Service is a key differentiator for the company, which has grown to become the sixth-largest packaging ink company in the U.S.

“The people who represent us in the field make the difference,” Mr. Mosley said. “The big guys are taking service out.”

As is the case for every ink manufacturer, AIC is trying to cope with the raw material price increases that are coming quickly for suppliers.

“We are trying to absorb what we can in terms of raw material price increases, but we have to pass along some costs and negotiate with our customers.” Mr. Mosley said. “Fortunately, we had the foresight to get back in on the dispersion side and become vertically integrated.”

Mr. Mosley said AIC has further opportunities for growth in 2011.

“We’re budgeting for a little growth,” he said. “It’s not like it was five or 10 years ago. It now takes time to get new business, up to six months or longer, but I think we’ll grow due to some of the opportunities we have in the market. We’ll continue to focus on what we do best.”