Coating & Ink Research Institute Will Host Open House

Published: March 10, 2009

BETHLEHEM, PA | Demonstrations of high tech printing-related test equipment recently imported from Testprint in the Netherlands will be among the highlights of an open house at the Coating and Ink Research Institute (CIRI) in Bethlehem on Wednesday, April 15.

The equipment will expand the range of testing the Institute provides to help printers, packaging firms, manufacturers of ink, fountain solution, paper, film, presses and press accessories who are seeking ways to make their products and processes more productive, cost-effective, sustainable and environmentally friendly.

The Institute's specialties, according to lead scientist Jean Lavelle, include providing clients with diagnosis and solutions for printing problems, facilitating experiments with new materials and manufacturing processes without shutting down production, and demonstrating before purchase, that large expenditures will pay off.

Clients of the Institute have included DuPont, Exxon Mobil, Union Carbide, Atofina, the United Soybean Board, the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the US Dept. of Agriculture, the Washington Post, and local printers.

Guests at the open house will have the opportunity to tour the Institute's new labs in Northampton's Fowler Family Southside Ctr. and to hear presentations by some of the world's leading experts in printing research ranging from challenges facing offset printing, switching to UV and EB cure inks, and integrating ink jet. Additionally, TestPrint scientists will give an overview of their instruments for proof printing lithographic, flexographic, and gravure inks, for precision testing of paste ink tack and, for emulsification of lithographic ink and fountain solution, all valued for predicting on-press performance.

The Institute's equipment that will be demonstrated includes: Proof printers for offset, gravure, flexographic and screen process; rheometers and viscometers to characterize inks ; UV, EB and conventional ink curing/drying equipment; dispersion equipment for ink preparation and characterization of degree of dispersion; and print quality characterization including color, gloss, chemical ,and abrasion resistance.

Those interested in attending the open house should contact Brenda Weppel at 61-861-5088, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..