Major Products: Heatset, sheetfed , UV and UV LED inks.

Number of Employees: 140

Operating Facilities: Commerce, CA; technical service centers in Portland, OR; Salt Lake City, UT; Orange County, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Carlsbad, CA.

Comments: Founded by Urban Hirsch III, Ink Systems, Inc., Commerce, CA, is a sheetfed, heatset and UV ink leader, specializing in high-quality commercial and packaging sheetfed products and service. The company has five technical centers throughout the US.

Ink Systems is best known for its high-tech in-plant operations and knowledgeable ink personnel, who operate state-of-the-art equipment, inks and proprietary software. Ink Systems has evolved along with its customers, developing UV and UV LED inks for all presses as well as moving into the packaging market.

Carl Hirsch, Ink Systems’ VP and sales manager, reported that 2019 included a lot of industry consolidation by strategic, private equity and foreign investors in the folding carton packaging space, adding that Ink Systems is ideally positioned for the packaging industry’s need for quick turnarounds.

“The work we have been involved with still includes a lot of application expertise with shorter turnaround times and increased complexity as brand owners seek to differentiate themselves in the market,” he said. “Frequently, social media plays a role as influencers promote a short run or limited supply of new products to gauge customer interest; as these products gain momentum, closer to exact quantities can be produced with little or no need to discount excess inventory. This new order of speed and complexity fits Ink Systems and our nimble customer base, who are well prepared to turn on a dime to meet these challenges.”

Hirsch noted that concerns over the coronavirus have led to some changes in the packaging market.

“With the recent coronavirus outbreak affecting supply chains coupled with these short turnaround requirements, we have seen some onshoring of printed packaging that had historically been produced in China,” Hirsch noted.

Major Products: Heatset, sheetfed , UV and UV LED inks.

Number of Employees: 160

Operating Facilities: Commerce, CA; technical service centers in Portland, OR; Salt Lake City, UT; Orange County, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Carlsbad, CA.

Comments: Founded by Urban Hirsch III, Ink Systems, Inc. is a leader in the North American sheetfed, heatset and UV ink segment. The company is highly regarded for its high-tech in-plant operations and knowledgeable ink personnel, who operate state-of-the-art equipment, inks and proprietary software.

Headquartered in Commerce, CA, the company has five technical centers located throughout the US.

With an eye on building up its UV offerings, Ink Systems added Lisa Fine, former president of RadTech North America and a recipient of the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM) Ault Award, the industry’s highest honor. “We added Lisa Fine as part of our strong UV team,” Hirsch said.

In recent years, the commercial printing market has seen some declines, but the folding carton business has grown for many commercial printers. Hirsch said that Ink Systems still focuses on commercial printers, and added that the increased presence of package printing has proved to be ideal for his company.

“We’re doing more in packaging, and it’s a growth area for us,” said Hirsch. “Meanwhile, we still like to work with the medium- and high-end commercial printers. We want to work with companies where their people are important, and places where we can save our customers time and money.”

Major Products: Heatset, sheetfed , UV and UV LED inks.

Number of Employees: 170

Operating Facilities: Commerce, CA; technical service centers in Portland, OR; Salt Lake City, UT; Orange County, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Carlsbad, CA.

Comments: Founded by Urban Hirsch III, Ink Systems, Inc. is a sheetfed, heatset and UV ink leader, specializing in high-quality commercial and packaging sheetfed products and service.

Ink Systems is best known for its high-tech in-plant operations and knowledgeable ink personnel, who operate state-of-the-art equipment, inks and proprietary software. Headquartered in Commerce, CA, the company has five technical centers located throughout the US.

Over the years, many commercial sheeted printers have developed packaging capabilities, and Ink Systems has transformed along with their customers, creating UV and UV LED inks for all press manufacturers.

“Some of our customers have moved from commercial printing into packaging over the years, and we have been gradually growing in high end packaging,” said Urban S. Hirsch III, Ink Systems’ ex-president. “UV has grown, especially in packaging.”

Major Products: Heatset, sheetfed and UV inks.

Number of Employees: 170

Operating Facilities: Commerce, CA; technical service centers in Portland, OR; Salt Lake City, UT; Orange County, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Carlsbad, CA.

Comments: Founded by Urban Hirsch III, Ink Systems, Inc., Commerce, CA, is a sheetfed, heatset and UV ink leader. The company has technical centers across the US, five technical centers located throughout the US.

Ink Systems specializes in top-quality commercial and packaging sheetfed products and service. The company is well known for its high-tech in-plant operations and knowledgeable ink specialists, who operate top-of-the-line equipment, inks and proprietary software.

The UV/LED UV sheetfed ink market is proving to be an opportunity for Ink Systems’ R&D team, which formulates custom inks and coatings. LED UV inks for packaging and commercial printing is a particular area of growth for the company, as Ink Systems supports all press manufacturers.

Major Products: Heatset, sheetfed and UV inks.

Number of Employees: 180

Operating Facilities: Commerce, CA; technical service centers in Portland, OR; Salt Lake City, UT; Orange County, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Carlsbad, CA.

Comments: Ink Systems, Inc., is a sheetfed, heatset and UV ink specialist best known for its in-plant services. Founded by Urban Hirsch III, Ink Systems is headquartered in Commerce, CA, and has five technical centers throughout the US.

Ink Systems has made its name through high-quality products and service to the commercial sheetfed and packaging printing industry. Ink Systems is best known for its high-tech in-plant systems, which provide state-of-the-art equipment, inks and proprietary software run by experienced ink technicians.

Ink Systems continues to grow in the UV market, adding custom formulated LED UV sheetfed offset inks to its expanding product line. Its LED UV inks for packaging and commercial printing run on all presses and are formulated for a variety of substrates, with four-color process and spot colors offered. In conjunction with its growth in the energy-curable ink segment, Ink Systems was a Platinum Sponsor of Print UV 2016, which was held in Las Vegas in March 2016.

Major Products: Heatset, sheetfed and UV inks.

Number of Employees: 190

Operating Facilities: Commerce, CA; technical service centers in Portland, OR; Salt Lake City, UT; Orange County, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Carlsbad, CA.

Comments: Ink Systems, Inc., Commerce, CA, is a sheetfed, heatset and UV ink specialist that has made its reputation through high-quality products and service to the commercial sheetfed and packaging printing industry.

Founded by Urban Hirsch III, Ink Systems is best known for its high-tech in-plant systems, which provide state-of-the-art equipment, high quality inks and proprietary software that are run by experienced ink technicians.

Ink Systems continues to expand in the energy curing market.

The company was again a Platinum Sponsor of Print UV 2015, which was held in Las Vegas in March 2015. Print UV offers Ink Systems the ability to showcase and discuss its innovative techniques with commercial, packaging and specialty printers.

Major Products: Heatset, sheetfed and UV inks.

Number of Employees: 190

Operating Facilities: Commerce, CA; technical service centers in Portland, OR; Salt Lake City, UT; Orange County, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Carlsbad, CA.

Comments: For high-quality commercial sheetfed and packaging printers, service is a critical component in selecting an ink supplier. This is ideal for Commerce, CA-based Ink Systems, Inc., a sheetfed, heatset and UV ink specialist that has made service its calling card. Led by Urban Hirsch III, Ink Systems has perfected the high-tech in-plant systems approach, providing state-of-the-art equipment, high-quality ink systems and proprietary software run by experienced ink technicians.

Hirsch said that Ink Systems had a good year in 2013, overcoming the loss of a few accounts with new opportunities.

“We lost a couple of accounts due to what we call ‘desperate pricing,’ but we replaced those with new accounts that are interested in quality service and dealing with strong technical people.,” Hirsch said. “Unlike the giant companies, we have an advantage in that we can make up for losing an account.”

UV is a growth market for Ink Systems, which was a Platinum Sponsor of Print UV 2014 in Las Vegas in March 2014. Print UV gave Ink Systems the opportunity to discuss innovative techniques for commercial, packaging and specialty applications with printers.

Major Products: Heatset, sheetfed and UV inks.

Number of Employees: 250

Operating Facilities: Commerce, CA; technical service centers in Portland, OR; Salt Lake City, UT; Seattle, WA; Orange County, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Carlsbad, CA.

Comments: For the commercial and packaging sheetfed markets, service is essential for many high-quality printers. This is perfect for Ink Systems, Inc., a Commerce, CA-based specialist in sheetfed, heatset and UV ink, which has made its name by providing high-tech in-plant systems.

Led by Urban Hirsch III, Ink Systems prides itself on providing state-of-the-art equipment, high-quality ink systems and proprietary software run by experienced ink technicians.

The commercial sheetfed and publication printing markets are facing numerous challenges as their markets are shrinking, and ink companies are trying to cope with these changes. Mr. Hirsch said that unlike some of his competitors, Ink Systems held its own in 2012.

“We’re still observing the weeding out process,” said Mr. Hirsch, Ink Systems’ ex-president. “I believe some companies, ink and printing, are running in the red.”

Major Products: Heatset, sheetfed and UV inks.

Number of Employees: 250

Operating Facilities: Commerce, CA; technical service centers in Portland, OR; Salt Lake City, UT; Seattle, WA; Orange County, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Carlsbad, CA; Lincoln Park, NJ; Boston, MA.

Comments: For printers, particularly in the sheetfed commercial and packaging markets, service is a critical component in selecting an ink supplier. This is ideal for Ink Systems, Inc., a Commerce, CA-based sheetfed, heatset and UV ink specialist that has made service its calling card throughout its history.

Led by Urban Hirsch III, Ink Systems has virtually perfected the high-tech in-plant systems approach. They provide state-of-the-art equipment, high-quality ink systems and proprietary software run by experienced ink technicians.

Despite the difficulties faced in the offset ink market, the company held its own in 2011.

“Overall, it’s been a decent year, and we didn’t lose money,” said Mr. Hirsch, Ink Systems’ ex-president. “Our technical centers are growing, as is our UV division. I don’t have optimistic feelings about the next year, because there is still too much capacity in the ink industry.”

While other ink manufacturers have looked to save money by reducing service, Ink Systems continues to emphasize that portion of its business by adding technical centers throughout the U.S.

“We opened up more technical centers during the past year, and are putting one in Boston now,” Mr. Hirsch noted. “These are free standing service centers set up to service and sell to multiple accounts, primarily medium-sized print shops, and are run by Ink Systems-trained personnel.”

Major Products: Heatset, sheetfed and UV inks.

Number of Employees: 250

Operating Facilities: Commerce, CA; Lincoln Park, NJ; technical service centers in Portland, OR; Salt Lake City, UT; Seattle, WA; Orange County, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Carlsbad, CA.

Comments: The publication and commercial printing segments have been impacted by the recession as well as the changes in the printing market. Ink Systems, Inc., which specializes in providing state-of-the-art in-plant operations, high-quality ink systems and proprietary software run by experienced personnel for the heatset, commercial sheetfed and UV markets, also has felt the impact of these changes, although the market has stabilized in the past year.

“It’s been tough, although our sales are up a bit,” said Urban S. Hirsch III, Ink Systems’ ex-president. “Our customers are still waiting for overcapacity in the market to be eliminated.”

In the past year, Ink Systems opened new technical service centers in Portland, OR and Carlsbad, CA.

The company also expanded its operations into the northeastern U.S., opening Ink Systems East, which is led by Steve Simpson. Mr. Hirsch said that the subsidiary, housed in a new 25,000 square foot manufacturing facility, is enjoying growth. “Ink Systems East is growing,” Mr. Hirsch said.

Providing excellent service is a hallmark of Ink Systems, with the company perhaps being best known for its stainless steel ink rooms. However, last year the company expanded its operations by opening a series of regional technical service centers to provide service to multiple customers.

“Our technical service centers operate as ink rooms for multiple printers,” Mr. Hirsch noted.