PRESS RELEASE

Chris Morrissey
Sun Chemical Corporation
Phone: 708-236-3686
chris.morrissey@na.sunchem.com

John Kalkowski
Sun Chemical North American Inks
Phone: 708-236-3686
john.kalkowski@na.sunchem.com

Sun Chemical Begins Major Expansion Of Manufacturing Facility in St. Charles, Illinois

Fort Lee, NJ - August 19, 2003 -- Sun Chemical, the world's largest manufacturer of printing inks and performance pigments, is working on a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility and laboratories in this western suburb of Chicago. At this plant, which has been home to Sun Chemical's Coates Screen division since 1995, the company also plans to combine the operations of its Chicago-area Clearing plant, as well as Kohl & Madden's facility in Elk Grove Village, IL.

The $7.2 million project will add nearly 32,000 square feet, bringing the plant to 90,000 square feet. The building will include ink manufacturing operations, expanded offices, a warehouse and a new laboratory. When it is completed in April 2004, the facility will house 141 employees, making it Sun Chemical's second-largest manufacturing facility.

"The Chicago area is at the heart of America's printing industry," said Michael S. Murphy, President, Sun Chemical North American Inks. "The integration of these operations in St. Charles will result in improved capacity utilization and enhanced productivity. Ultimately, this move will make Sun Chemical a more valuable partner to our customers because it allows us to become a more cost-effective supplier."

Sun Chemical will maintain the headquarters of its North American Inks division in Northlake, IL, along with labs and mother-plant ink and coating production in that location. Sun Chemical also produces inks for packaging at its Monitor branch in Chicago and publication gravure inks at its mother-plant in Kankakee, IL. Altogether, Murphy pointed out, Sun Chemical employs about 540 persons in Illinois.

"Sun Chemical will continue to consolidate operations in certain local markets across the country to improve its efficiency," Murphy continued. "Sun Chemical, Kohl & Madden and Coates Screen are all brands that customers in different segments of the printing industry have come to know and trust. They can continue to rely on these products because we will continue to offer innovative inks and coatings, with the local service that our customers expect."

The new plant has been designed to improve the flow of materials handling, said Greg Winer, project manager. Additionally, manufacturing equipment from the closing facilities will be rebuilt and automated to improve performance before reinstallation in the new plant. Sun Chemical will manufacture sheetfed, screen and water-based flexo inks in St. Charles.