Dr. Glenn Wood
I
nnovation continues to drive the global print and ink market as
end-users strive to sate insatiable appetites for added value products that will give them any competitive edge in tough sectors
where margins are tight and demand is high. This article will
examine the latest developments in pigment technology emanating from China.
The US and China are home to the only
two manufacturers of optically variable
pigments worldwide—JDSU in the US and
FYOTEC in China. The pigment products
from JDSU and the corresponding ink formulations from Sicpa are well known, but
perhaps less well known are the features
and benefits of the products coming out of
the emerging powerhouse that is China. So
An example of the color changing emblem FYOTEC devised for the Hong Kong passport.
30
QUICK PRINTING / September 2013
the rebranding of the FYOTEC manufacturing company, based in the ancient historical city of Huizhou, near Guangdong,
China, has created a useful opportunity to
review the company, its products, markets,
and approach to the security ink business.
Branching Out
The Optical Technology Company Ltd.
was founded in 1996 as a subsidiary division of For You Group Co. Ltd. and now
employs more than 30,000 staff, of whom
more than 1,000 are employed in research
and development.
Now
boasting revenues in excess
of RMB 11
billion (USD
$1.75 billion),
such has been
the
compaMagnetic detection of covert
ny's success in
information.
developing and
bringing new products to the market in the
last 15 years that it is listed as one of the
Fortune 500 companies of China.
Now the firm is looking to the future as
it plans an expansion program fuelled by
investment in an infrastructure plan that's
already seen the advent of a new 25,000
square meter state-of-the-art pigment and
ink manufacturing facility completed in
2012. It has registered capital of USD $2
million and employs almost 400 staff,
including 32 working in the R&D; team.
Furthermore, the new trademark "FYO(continued on page 50)
w w w. M y P R I N T R e s o u r c e . c o m