PRESS RELEASE

Christopher Morrissey
Sun Chemical
Phone: 708-236-3533
chris.morrissey@na.sunchem.com

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

Sun Chemical Offers pH-Stable Paper Packaging Inks; Coates USA Introduces Inks for High-End Print

Northlake, IL - April 14, 2003 -- Sun Chemical has announced the introduction of Advantage® and Everest™ HiTone, two new ink systems designed to improve pressroom performance for converters of paper packaging. These inks will debut at the CMM Conference and Exposition 2003, to be held April 14-17 in Chicago, IL.

Sun Chemical's Advantage is a water-based flexographic ink formulated for pH stability during long press runs of mid to mid-high level corrugated and paper bag products. This creates consistent on-press performance, while reducing the need to constantly adjust pH in order to control viscosity and print characteristics.

Everest Hi Tone inks were developed by Coates USA, a member of Sun Chemical's North American Packaging Division. They are water-based flexo inks designed for vignette and process printing on paper and board for preprint, multiwall bag, post-print and narrow-web applications.

"These two inks systems represent substantial opportunities to improve print quality, run consistency and pressroom productivity across a wide range of paper packaging applications," said Jim Wegemer, director, paper packaging, Sun Chemical Ink (GPI).

He pointed out that Advantage, which is available in a full range of GCMI and custom special colors, offers consistent color strength and good coverage with very clean printed results. Due to the ink system's stability, monitoring at press side is reduced, minimal viscosity adjustments will be needed, and consumption of additives will be reduced. Advantage rewets well after shutdowns, but still dries quickly for good in-line die cutting on a variety of substrates.

The vehicle structure in Everest Hi Tone provides clean printing with crisp print definition and excellent rewetting for high-end prints, Wegemer said, adding that this ink system can be used on most coated and uncoated paper and board substrates. Everest Hi Tone inks are available as a full set of process inks and extender or as special matched shades.

Everest Hi Tone dries quickly to a rub-resistant film, which allows further finishing almost immediately after printing. The inks also can be overprinted with broad range of Sun Chemical top coats, including Coates Eclipse™ lacquers, for improved resistance properties.