Aerial photo of S&S Inks
From right to left: Bauke Jan Schuite, Albert Schuite, Sibille Pielert (Laboratory Manager), Arend Hoogers(Technical Manager), Volker Leprich (Commercial-Director).»Druckspiegel« is currently reporting about the new name S&S printing inks in Erfurt. The family Schuite and their management team have had many years experience in the production of Heatset printing inks and are manufacturing these Heatset printing inks with new and innovative technology designed for 21st century requirements.
Druckspiegel: Mr. Schuite, what was the reason for establishing a production plant for Heatset printing inks on such a scale here in Erfurt?
Albert Schuite: In my previous field of occupation I was not the sole owner of the company. It was not possible for me to prevent the disposal of the majority of shares. The same situation was in 1999 with the sale of Manders Premier to Flint. After the sale of Manders Premier, we, the family Schuite decided to set up a completely independent company. This independence was very important to us because of our experiences with Premier Holland and Manders Premier. In 2006 we received an offer for a location in Erfurt. I asked my management team if they were ready for a new start here. The Technical Manager, Arend Hoogers, the Laboratory Manager, Sibille Pielert, the Commercial Director, Volker Leprich, Uwe Matthiessen and Bauke-Jan Schuite are a very effective working team with a vast experience in all areas of Heatset prining ink production which has been proven, tried and tested since Manders Premier. With the experience and know-how of our partners, the production plant in Erfurt produces and delivers the worlds most advanced Heatset printing inks, which has created 55 jobs in this area.
What are the highlights of ink production from S&S? Do you have any new production processes?
Albert Schuite:We have chosen the newest and highest levels of technology for our production facility and call on our own experience and Knowledge gained from our past experience. We produce our inks with very modern techniques but in harmony with our developments as in the past. This allows us to achieve such a very high maintainable quality level.
Your competitors have a large range of Heatset printing inks on the market. Mass produced with special scouring tendency of colour fogging on fast running machines. Additionally, there are also special formulation for special customers and machines. What type of products can S&S offer?
Arend Hoogers:We do not mass produce our inks for special machines but for different papers. Our production is concentrated on 3 series:
1. For uncoated paper
2. Universal coated and uncoated paper.
3. The third series has a high-gloss effect, for example in the production of envelopes.
Albert Schuite: The reason for our high standard of quality is that the three colour series are made in very large production units using only the highest quality materials, and are rigorously checked for consistency. We only use pigments from European producers and this is why it is possible to maintain the highest standard of quality and performance. Our large customer profile confirms that we are in the fortunate situation where we can respond to high production demands. We produce from 12.000 kg/ colour units, so it is possible to deliver to our customers a high quality product in the shortest possible time. With our mass production in such high quantities it is possible to achieve a much higher standard of quality across our range of products. Our series for coated and uncoated papers represents 80% to 90% of our total production.
Are there any new production methods at S&S? You do not work with flushed material, only with dry pigments. The production method that we know is: - pigments - varnish - additives - mixing. Pre-mix - stirring and mixing of the components. Dissolver or quick stirrer. Dispersing - homogeneous moistening of pigments with varnish - bead mill or three roll mill. Removal of air -three roll mill- Vacuum stirrer.
Arend Hoogers: So, you would like to know our production secrets. That is a little difficult, but I can inform you that we do not have, for example, a quick stirrer.
Albert Schuite: Our production method is a combination of varnish production and a new moistening process.
Arend Hoogers: Here, the dry materials and varnish are continuously mixed together in large quantities so a quick stirrer is not necessary. We achieve in only a short time a very good combination of all the basic components.
This method of procuction is certainly an innovation. Up until now production had been how I described earlier.
Arend Hoogers: We have made a big step forward with the new moistening process. Traditionally it was necessary to treat the pigments in two stages, mixing and moistening. Now this is done continuously.
Can you get a better combination of both commodities because of the continuous moistening of pigments and varnish?
Arend Hoogers: Yes, because the combination is now more effective, all the following work stages are easier. So we do not have a problem to achieve the end quality of the roller work or with the quality of the fluhing. The flush quality normally has the advantage that the pigments are already small. But the flushing process has also disadvantages. During our processes the parts are very fine and they stay fine, so a homogeneous connection with varnish is ensured. Here we get also an above average high reduction of energy.
Albert Schuite: The quality of our process is much better than the conventional rolling mill production method. The production performance is three times higher in comparison to the quantity which can be achieved in a 2 m wide rolling mill.
Arend Hoogers: We can interpret this to show that our new production process is a combination of the most modern technology coupled with 40 years of experience in the production of Heatset coloured inks.
Are there any new production methods at S&S? You do not work with flushed material, only with dry pigments. The production method that we know is: - pigments - varnish - additives - mixing. Pre-mix - stirring and mixing of the components. Dissolver or quick stirrer. Dispersing - homogeneous moistening of pigments with varnish - bead mill or three roll mill. Removal of air -three roll mill- Vacuum stirrer.
Arend Hoogers: So, you would like to know our production secrets. That is a little difficult, but I can inform you that we do not have, for example, a quick stirrer.
Albert Schuite: Our production method is a combination of varnish production and a new moistening process.
Arend Hoogers: Here, the dry materials and varnish are continuously mixed together in large quantities so a quick stirrer is not necessary. We achieve in only a short time a very good combination of all the basic components.
This method of procuction is certainly an innovation. Up until now production had been how I described earlier.
Arend Hoogers: We have made a big step forward with the new moistening process. Traditionally it was necessary to treat the pigments in two stages, mixing and moistening. Now this is done continuously.
Can you get a better combination of both commodities because of the continuous moistening of pigments and varnish?
Arend Hoogers: Yes, because the combination is now more effective, all the following work stages are easier. So we do not have a problem to achieve the end quality of the roller work or with the quality of the fluhing. The flush quality normally has the advantage that the pigments are already small. But the flushing process has also disadvantages. During our processes the parts are very fine and they stay fine, so a homogeneous connection with varnish is ensured. Here we get also an above average high reduction of energy.
Albert Schuite: The quality of our process is much better than the conventional rolling mill production method. The production performance is three times higher in comparison to the quantity which can be achieved in a 2 m wide rolling mill.
Arend Hoogers: We can interpret this to show that our new production process is a combination of the most modern technology coupled with 40 years of experience in the production of Heatset coloured inks.
How do you deliver to the end customer? Does S&S have a different arrangement than the known 1.000 kg containers?
Arend Hoogers: We use containers with a lower weight so we can deliver a quantity of 1250 kg in one container. Our customers do not need to change containers so often which means a high saving of time, and less floor space being used. Transport of containers with lower tara have therefore advantages. We also deliver with our own tankers which fill the customers own tank plants. The complete transport operation is carried out by using our own vehicles.
Albert Schuite: Tanker deliveries can only be made with our own vehicles. Container deliveries are well managed so that a full container can be exchanged for the empty containers keeping the vehicles working to their full capacity. Our reaction time can be very short, most customers could receive a delivery within 12 hours.
Extruder
New generation of containers
12 hours for 20 t printing inks is a very short time.
Albert Schuite: This is a great advantage in our production.
What target do you have for your first production year in Erfurt?
Albert Schuite: 20.000! With the new plant concept it is also possible for us to produce Coldset printing inks without any plant modifications. This is planned for autumn 2008. We also plan in the future to open a new plant in Georgia/USA.
We have our own qualified technical experts who can advise our customers in the best utilisation of our products and give advice on all printing technology.
Albert Schuite: Wir haben eigene Fachleute, die den Kunden bei Problemen beraten.
IPA reduced printing is a subject in Heatset rotary offset processes. Is S&S prepared for this task? Do you offer systems to the printer with IPA reduced print? I refer here to damp agent additives.
Arend Hoogers: We have been offering damp agent additives for reduced IPA for example in IPA free production to our customers for a very long time.
PDF download: de / en
Arend Hoogers: We use containers with a lower weight so we can deliver a quantity of 1250 kg in one container. Our customers do not need to change containers so often which means a high saving of time, and less floor space being used. Transport of containers with lower tara have therefore advantages. We also deliver with our own tankers which fill the customers own tank plants. The complete transport operation is carried out by using our own vehicles.
Albert Schuite: Tanker deliveries can only be made with our own vehicles. Container deliveries are well managed so that a full container can be exchanged for the empty containers keeping the vehicles working to their full capacity. Our reaction time can be very short, most customers could receive a delivery within 12 hours.
Extruder
New generation of containers12 hours for 20 t printing inks is a very short time.
Albert Schuite: This is a great advantage in our production.
What target do you have for your first production year in Erfurt?
Albert Schuite: 20.000! With the new plant concept it is also possible for us to produce Coldset printing inks without any plant modifications. This is planned for autumn 2008. We also plan in the future to open a new plant in Georgia/USA.
We have our own qualified technical experts who can advise our customers in the best utilisation of our products and give advice on all printing technology.
Albert Schuite: Wir haben eigene Fachleute, die den Kunden bei Problemen beraten.
IPA reduced printing is a subject in Heatset rotary offset processes. Is S&S prepared for this task? Do you offer systems to the printer with IPA reduced print? I refer here to damp agent additives.
Arend Hoogers: We have been offering damp agent additives for reduced IPA for example in IPA free production to our customers for a very long time.
PDF download: de / en
