Fujifilm US-based subsidiary Imaging Colorants (FFIC) is ploughing 19m dollars into the creation of a new production plant in the US for pigment dispersions - a colorant for water-based pigment inkjet inks. Construction will start next month and is scheduled for completion by 2022.
Currently, FFIC is a water-based inkjet ink manufacturing facility. By adding the new production plant for pigment dispersions it will be able to produce water-based pigment inkjet inks made with Fujifilm’s own core dispersion technology.
Fujifilm's pigment dispersions are based on its RxD (Reactive Dispersant) technology, which cross-links polymer dispersants adsorbed on the pigment particles. The dispersant prevents desorption from the pigment, creating a very stable dispersion. This technology makes RxD dispersions suitable for multiple applications. Fujifilm uses RxD dispersions not only for its own inks, but also supplies to ink manufacturers around the world, and they are used in many water-based pigment inkjet inks.
Currently, the development and manufacture of pigment dispersions using RxD technology is limited to Fujifilm Imaging Colorants (Grangemouth, Scotland) in the UK. With the establishment of a dispersion plant at FFIC in the US, Fujilfilm aims to have the capacity to meet the future needs of the growing industrial inkjet market.
Ian Wilkinson, president and COO of FFIC, said: “Expansion of our manufacturing capacity is part of a commitment to ensure we can meet increasing demand to support our global customer base. We are already manufacturing a very high-quality, high-purity product in the UK. In this venture we are using the design and project management expertise of our UK team to execute this project in the US. This, alongside expert knowledge, technology and processes will ensure that we manufacture RxD dispersions to the same exceptional standard across both sites.”