Major Products: Kao Chimigraf is a subsidiary of Kao International Group. Kao Chimigraf offers a wide range of industrial inkjet inks for applications like packaging, graphic arts, coding & marking, textile, 3D, décor. Its portfolio of ink includes solvent-based and water-based flexography and rotogravure inks, varnishes and primers. For the inkjet segment, Kao Chimigraf produces UV inks and varnishes, including UV/LED, as well as oil-based and water-based UV inks.

Number of Employees: 171

Comments: A subsidiary of Kao International Group, Kao Chimigraf is a packaging ink and inkjet ink and varnish specialist. Headquartered near Barcelona, Kao Chimigraf has three subsidiaries: Kao Chimigraf, S.L.U., Kao Chimigraf France and Kao Chimigraf Italy.

Kao Chimigraf had a strong year in 2019, reporting sales of $45 million (€39,546 million), an increase of 4% from 2018. Part of the gains are driven by increasing gains in the inkjet market, including developing digital printing methods for packaging.

“Kao Chimigraf has developed its own technology for inkjet printing in UV, water and LED to assure becoming a good partner for its customers,” said María Gutiérrez, marketing coordinator for Kao Chimigraf. She added that the company is expanding its commercial efforts in the EU, Americas and Asia.

Gutiérrez also noted that as part of the Kao Corporation, Kao Chimigraf places a high emphasis on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria. “ESG as a fundamental driver in all manufacturing sectors,” Gutiérrez added.

Kao Chimigraf is actively developing new products, most recently launching n-Cromia for flexo, water-based inkjet and oil bio-based inkjet inks this last certified by Tüv Austria. Also, Kao Chimigraf has introduced UV low migration inkjet inks for corrugated cardboard (EuPIA, Nestlé, Swiss ordinance) and water-based inkjet inks for flexible printing, called Lunajet.