Monarch Color
Monarch Color is a privately held, family-owned US manufacturer of plastisol screen printing inks, offset and flexographic inks, and print coatings, operating four plants and serving over 1,000 commercial printers and apparel decorators across North America through distributors and direct sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersCharlotte, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Monarch Color does
Monarch Color Corporation is a privately held, family-owned manufacturer of printing inks and coatings founded in 1977 by Jack West in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company produces plastisol screen printing inks, offset printing inks, flexographic printing inks, print coatings (UV, aqueous, specialty, and security), and specialty inks (heat-resistant, security, pearlescent, thermochromatic, glitter, light-fast, IR), along with ancillary pressroom consumables through its wholly owned subsidiary Accurate Printing Supply. Its technology platform is anchored by proprietary low-temperature curing formulations (the ULT series curing at 270-280°F) that prevent dye migration in polyester fabrics while reducing energy consumption, complemented by non-phthalate and lead-free plastisol formulations compliant with CPSIA, CA Prop 65, HR-4040, FDA, Nestle, REACH, and COGNEG standards. The company operates four manufacturing facilities across the eastern and southern United States (Charlotte NC, Pennsauken NJ, Memphis TN, Nashville TN) and serves over 1,000 customers globally across lithographic, flexographic, and screen printing sectors.
Monarch Color generates revenue through one-time product sales of inks, coatings, and consumables, with pricing set via quote-based transactions through an extensive distributor network spanning the United States and Canada, supplemented by direct enterprise sales through Accurate Printing Supply. The go-to-market is sales-led, leveraging technical sales specialists, industry trade show presence at events such as ISS Long Beach and Impressions Expo, a preferred-partner ecosystem (COROB, X-Rite PANTONE, ANATOL, ROQ US, SAATI), and content marketing through an in-house blog and industry podcast appearances. Customer segments span garment screen printers (from small operations to 50,000 sq ft production facilities), commercial offset printers, flexographic printers serving packaging and labels, and specialty applications requiring custom color matching via the proprietary online Formulator tool. The company is currently led by President Ian West, representing the third generation of West family ownership, with no institutional investors, no external funding rounds, and no public listing disclosed.
Monarch Color firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Monarch Color
- Legal name
- Monarch Color Corporation
- Website
- https://monarchcolor.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Monarch Color is a privately held, family-owned US manufacturer of plastisol screen printing inks, offset and flexographic inks, and print coatings, operating four plants and serving over 1,000 commercial printers and apparel decorators across North America through distributors and direct sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Monarch Color industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Printing Inks and Coatings
- NAICS
- Printing Ink Manufacturing (325910), Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Printing Inks (IMAEAHAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital & Specialty Inks (Inkjet, UV, Conductive) (IMAEAHAI), Packaging Inks (IMAEAHAH)
Keywords
Where Monarch Color is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Charlotte
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Monarch Color business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Printing Inks and Coatings Sales: Monarch Color manufactures and sells a comprehensive range of printing inks including plastisol screen printing inks, offset printing inks, and flexographic printing inks, along with print coatings (UV, aqueous, specialty, security). Products are sold through an extensive distributor network across the United States and Canada, serving over 1,000 customers globally.
- Press Consumables and Ancillary Products: Through subsidiary Accurate Printing Supply, the company sells pressroom consumables including press blankets, fountain solutions, press washes, dampening supplies, and custom ink dispensing systems. Products are designed to complement and enhance printing operations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Monarch Color product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Monarch Color manufactures and sells a comprehensive range of printing inks including plastisol screen printing inks, offset printing inks, and flexographic printing inks, along with print coatings (UV, aqueous, specialty, security) and ancillary pressroom products distributed through its subsidiary Accurate Printing Supply. The company serves over 1,000 customers across lithographic, flexographic, and screen printing sectors through an extensive distributor network covering the United States and Canada.
Product overview
Monarch Color is a comprehensive printing ink and coatings manufacturer serving the lithographic, flexographic, and screen printing sectors. The company operates as a single unified manufacturer with multiple product lines: plastisol screen printing inks (including low-temp ULT/Yeti, Apocalypse, Stark, and Vivid series), offset printing inks (conventional, UV/LED, and soy-based), flexographic inks (aqueous and UV), print coatings (aqueous, UV, and specialty), and specialty printing inks (heat-resistant, security, pearlescent, thermochromatic, glitter). The product portfolio is complemented by ancillary pressroom products through subsidiary Accurate Printing Supply, including printing blankets, fountain solutions, and press washes. An online Formulator tool enables color matching and PMS color mixing for customers. Monarch Color serves over 1,000 customers globally across various printing applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Accurate Printing Supply: A wholly owned subsidiary of Monarch Color providing press room consumables and custom-converted printing blankets since 1977.
Products and services
- Plastisol Screen Printing Inks
- Offset Printing Inks Complete range of offset printing inks including conventional oil-based inks, LED inks, heat set inks, cold set inks, soy-based eco-friendly inks, and UV inks for various print substrates used in commercial offset printing.
- Flexographic Printing Inks High-performance flexographic inks including aqueous inks and UV-curable inks suitable for paper and film substrates, designed for high line anilox rollers with quick-drying and fade-resistant properties.
- Print Coatings Diverse array of coatings including UV coatings, aqueous coatings, specialty coatings, and security options for commercial printing, packaging, folding carton, label, publication, and specialty markets.
- Specialty Printing Inks Premium specialty printing inks including heat-resistant inks, security printing inks, pearlescent inks, thermochromatic inks, glitter inks, light-fast inks, and IR inks for unique and challenging printing requirements.
- Ancillary Products (Pressroom Consumables) Pressroom consumables and supplies including pressroom chemicals, cleaning solutions, printing blankets, dampening supplies, fountain solutions, and advanced ink dispensing systems offered through subsidiary Accurate Printing Supply.
- Monarch Color ULT3 White Ink Third-generation low-temp white ink that cures as low as 270°F, formulated for the most bleed-prone polyester including sublimated poly, with soft-hand, short-bodied formulation and excellent bleed-blocking properties.
- Yeti White LB Light weight, high opacity white ink for printing onto Polyester Blends, Cotton Blends, and 100% Cotton that cures as low as 280°F with soft hand, matte finish, and good bleed resistance.
- Apocalypse Low Temp Color System High-opacity color system available in ULT, LB, and Cotton formulations. Includes 38 standard colors, 12 blending colors, 10 fluorescent colors, 4 process colors, and 4 specialty colors, with custom colors available upon request.
- Formulator Online Color System Proprietary online color matching and PMS color mixing system that enables customers to accurately create most PMS colors. Registration required for access to color blending tools.
- Technical Services Comprehensive technical support including G7 Master Printer qualification, onsite and remote technical services, custom ICC profiling for offset and flexo, ink dispensing system installation and support, and press diagnostics.
Companies that use Monarch Color
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Monarch Color technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature7 records
Monarch Color partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- COROBcorePartnership enables Monarch Color to offer innovative ink dispensing and mixing technologies, streamlining the printing process for customers through automated solutions.
- ASCOLORcorePartnering with ASCOLOUR, a leader in premium apparel, to provide high-quality printing solutions. Collaboration ensures vibrant, durable prints on AS Colour's top-notch garments.
- X-Rite PANTONEcorePartnership ensures Monarch Color's color management solutions are second to none, providing access to the global color language for precise color matching.
- ANATOLsecondaryCollaboration with ANATOL enhances Monarch's screen printing capabilities, ensuring top-tier machinery and equipment recommendations for clients.
- Impressions ExposecondaryAs partners, Monarch Color participates in leading industry expos to showcase latest products and connect with professionals and clients.
- NOVAFLOWcorePartnership enhances precision in ink formulations through dispensers, ensuring consistency and quality in every batch of Monarch inks.
- ROQ USsecondaryPartnership delivers cutting-edge screen printing technology solutions that enhance efficiency and quality, ensuring exceptional results for clients.
- Nortech GraphicssecondaryCombination of Monarch's premium printing inks with Nortech Graphics' advanced printing solutions delivers superior quality and innovation.
- SAATIsecondarySAATI, a global leader in high-tech fabrics and chemicals, brings collaboration merging Monarch's top-tier printing inks with innovative screen printing solutions.
- GraphXSourcesecondaryCollaboration brings together Monarch's premium printing inks with GraphXSource's expert design and production support, ensuring top-quality results from start to finish.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Monarch Color competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Sun Chemical: World's largest printing ink manufacturer (DIC Corporation subsidiary) offering offset, flexo, gravure, screen, and digital inks across all geographies. Sets pricing benchmarks and competes broadly with Monarch in offset and flexo categories.
- Siegwerk: Global manufacturer specializing in packaging inks for flexo and gravure applications. Competes with Monarch's flexographic ink line in label, shrink sleeve, and flexible packaging end-markets.
- Toyo Ink (Artience): Japanese-headquartered diversified ink and chemicals manufacturer with global operations across offset, gravure, screen, and packaging inks. Indirect peer overlapping with Monarch in offset and specialty ink categories.
- Flint Group: Global ink and coatings supplier with comprehensive offset, flexo, gravure, and screen ink lines plus pressroom consumables. Overlaps directly with Monarch's offset, flexo, and Accurate Printing Supply consumables offerings.
- Huber Group: German-based global ink manufacturer serving offset, flexo, and packaging printing with strong sustainability credentials. Competes with Monarch in commercial offset and packaging ink segments.
Direct peers
- INX International Ink Co. Major US ink manufacturer with parallel coverage of offset, flexographic, and screen printing inks plus coatings. Closest comparable in terms of multi-process ink portfolio breadth and North American manufacturing footprint.
- Wikoff Color Corporation: Privately held US-based ink and coatings manufacturer serving offset, flexo, gravure, and screen printing. Highly comparable in scale, family/privately held ownership profile, and product mix to Monarch.
- Nazdar Ink Technologies: US-based manufacturer specializing in screen printing, digital, and narrow-web inks. Directly competes with Monarch across plastisol and specialty screen ink lines and serves the same SMB-to-enterprise screen printing customer base.
- Marabu GmbH: German-headquartered manufacturer of screen printing, pad printing, and digital inks with significant US presence. Direct competitor in screen printing inks serving industrial, graphic, and textile applications.
- Wilflex (Avient): Plastisol screen printing ink brand now part of Avient's specialty colorants portfolio. Head-to-head competitor in garment-decor plastisol inks with comparable low-bleed and white-ink product lines targeting apparel printers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Monarch Color social profiles
Digital presenceMonarch Color compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance11 records
Monarch Color financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Monarch Color leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Monarch Color subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Monarch Color funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Monarch Color M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Monarch Color
What does Monarch Color do?
Monarch Color manufactures and sells a comprehensive range of printing inks including plastisol screen printing inks, offset printing inks, and flexographic printing inks, along with print coatings (UV, aqueous, specialty, security) and ancillary pressroom products distributed through its subsidiary Accurate Printing Supply. The company serves over 1,000 customers across lithographic, flexographic, and screen printing sectors through an extensive distributor network covering the United States and Canada.
Is Monarch Color a public or private company?
Monarch Color is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Monarch Color founded?
Monarch Color was founded in 1977. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Monarch Color based?
Monarch Color is headquartered in Charlotte, United States, in the North America region.
How does Monarch Color make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Printing Inks and Coatings Sales are the primary driver. The others are press Consumables and Ancillary Products.
Who are Monarch Color's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Sun Chemical, Siegwerk, Toyo Ink (Artience), Flint Group and Huber Group. Direct peers are INX International Ink Co., Wikoff Color Corporation, Nazdar Ink Technologies, Marabu GmbH and Wilflex (Avient).
Does Monarch Color have an API?
No public API is recorded for Monarch Color.
What industry is Monarch Color in?
Monarch Color's product category is Printing Inks and Coatings. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAHAG, Printing Inks, with a secondary code of IMAEAHAI, Digital & Specialty Inks (Inkjet, UV, Conductive). Its NAICS code is 325910.