Nor-Cote International

What Nor-Cote International does

Nor-Cote International is a privately-held, family-owned specialty chemical manufacturer founded in 1976 by Norm Walcott, the inventor of UV curable ink. The company develops, manufactures, and distributes UV curable screen printing inks and coatings from its Crawfordsville, Indiana headquarters, with wholly-owned subsidiaries in the UK (Eastleigh), Singapore, and Mexico serving as direct regional sales and technical service hubs across four continents. Its product portfolio spans more than 30 named series organized into graphic inks (industrial graphics, container market, point of purchase, and universal/legacy products), specialty and conductive inks, UV coatings, and fiber optic cable coatings, differentiated by curing technology (UV, LED, dual-cure), substrate compatibility (polycarbonate, polyester, PVC, polyolefins, glass), and performance properties (matte/gloss, chemical resistance, exterior durability).

The company's core technology is centered on 100%-solids UV and LED-curable acrylate and urethane acrylate formulations, including NVP-free and TPO-free variants addressing tightening global chemical regulations. Its dual-cure systems (e.g., 70G, 77M series) can cure under both LED (365-405 nm peak wavelength) and traditional mercury vapor lamps, giving customers equipment flexibility. Specialized offerings include high-solids conductive silver inks (ELG-410S) for RFID and membrane switch applications, anti-slip and matte clears, backing layers for HP Indigo digital offset prints, and UV-curable coatings for fiber optic cables.

Nor-Cote generates revenue through direct one-time product sales of proprietary UV ink and coating formulations to industrial printers serving automotive, white goods, container decoration, signage, credit card, electronics, and packaging end markets. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with custom color matching and small-batch R&D services available on a 1-3 day turnaround. Go-to-market is sales-led, with Customer Service and Technical Service representatives supporting customers from pre-run laboratory testing through on-site production troubleshooting. The company became the first North American UV screen ink manufacturer to achieve ISO 9001 registration in 1996, underscoring its quality systems positioning. No public financials, headcount trend, or ownership transaction data is disclosed.

Name

Nor-Cote International

Legal name

Norcote International Inc.

Website

https://norcote.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nor-Cote International is a family-owned US manufacturer of UV curable screen printing inks and coatings, founded in 1976 by the inventor of UV curable ink, serving industrial graphics, container, point-of-purchase, and specialty electronics printers globally through wholly-owned subsidiaries in the US, UK, Singapore, and Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Printing Inks and Coatings

NAICS

Printing Ink Manufacturing (325910), Paint and Coating Manufacturing (32551)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital & Specialty Inks (Inkjet, UV, Conductive) (IMAEAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Packaging Inks (IMAEAHAH), Packaging & Can Coatings (IMAEAGAF), Sustainable Labels, Adhesives & Inks (Wash-Off Labels, De-inkable Inks, Low-VOC) (IMALAMAJ)

Keywords

• UV curable inks
• Screen printing inks
• Industrial printing coatings
• Conductive silver inks
• Container decoration inks

Headquarters

HQ city

Crawfordsville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. UV Curable Inks and Coatings: Sale of proprietary UV curable ink and coating products across multiple series (MSK, 70G, ELG, PPC, QS, and others) for industrial graphics, container, point of purchase, and specialty applications. Products are sold directly to customers with technical support and custom color matching services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Nor-Cote International manufactures and globally distributes UV curable screen printing inks and coatings for industrial graphics, container decoration, point of purchase, and specialty applications such as RFID, membrane switches, and fiber optic cables. The company sells more than 35 proprietary product series (including 70G, MSK, ELG, PPC, QS, UV9, LC, CC, and several NVP-free lines) directly to industrial customers, complemented by in-house custom color matching, R&D formulation, and technical service support.

Product overview

Norcote International is a manufacturer and distributor of UV curable inks and coatings with over 40 years of experience since its founding in 1976. The company operates as a family-owned business and offers a multi-line product portfolio organized into five main categories: (1) Graphic Inks — the largest product category encompassing Industrial Graphics (MSK, IM, IGX, M-14LV, M-14SR, M-20, T-255, NBW, MK8, PTX series), Container Market (70G, 77M, PPC, PPC7 series), Point of Purchase (DC/Dyno-Cote, GN, UV9, M-24, M-35, M45.2, MUV9, XL6, 1500 series), and Specialty/Matte Clears (CC, EFX-972, LQS-UV97198); (2) Universal/Legacy Products (O2, O4, 09, 80/88, LC series) spanning decals, book cloths, tags and labels; (3) Specialty Inks including Conductive Inks (ELG-410S, ELG-1400 Series) and Fiber Optic Cable Coatings; (4) UV Coatings; and (5) Value-Added Services including custom color matching and R&D product development. The product lines are differentiated by curing technology (UV, LED, dual-cure), substrate compatibility (glass, plastic, polycarbonate, polyester, PVC, polyolefins), application type (industrial graphics, container decoration, point of purchase, membrane switches), and performance properties (matte/gloss finish, chemical resistance, exterior durability). The portfolio also includes the NBW Kit as a specialized backing layer for HP Indigo digital offset printing. Beyond selling standard formulations, Norcote offers custom color matching and R&D services for new product development or modification of existing products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dyno-Cote Series: UV curable ink system for flat sheet high density polyethylene and polypropylene materials in Point of Purchase market
• 70G Series
• MSK Series
• ELG Conductive Silvers

Products and services

• MSK Series UV curable ink for second surface decoration in the Industrial Graphics Market, excelling in automotive, white goods, and user interface applications. Offers excellent adhesion to polycarbonate, treated polyester films, and polycarbonate blends and is fully compatible with most pressure-sensitive adhesives.
• 70G Series One-part dual cure ink system formulated for extreme requirements when decorating high end glass and plastic containers. Cures with UV, LED (peak wavelength 365–405 nm), or traditional UV mercury vapor / iron-dipped curing systems.
• ELG-410S Specialty Ink High-solids UV curable conductive silver ideal for RFID, EL, static shields, contact pads, and membrane switch applications. Offers low trace resistance and compatibility with solvent-based carbon resistive compounds and UV-curable dielectrics.
• IM Series NVP-free UV curable ink system for second surface decoration of polycarbonate and other plastic films in Insert-mold decoration applications. Provides excellent flexibility and durability for forming, trimming, and injection molding processes.
• IGX Series NVP-free UV curable ink for second surface decoration in the Industrial Graphics Market including automotive, white goods, and user interface applications. Provides excellent adhesion to polycarbonate, print-treated polyester films, and polycarbonate blend films; compatible with most pressure-sensitive adhesives.
• M-14LV 100% solids UV curable screen printing ink for overprint clear on polycarbonate and polyester films. Smooth matte finish with excellent fingerprint resistance, mar resistance, and surface durability; cures under standard medium-pressure mercury vapor lamps. Coverage of 2,000–3,000 sq ft/gal.
• M-14SR 100% solids UV curable screen printing ink overprint clear with smooth matte finish, excellent fingerprint and mar resistance, and superior surface durability and hardness. Designed for polycarbonate and polyester films; cures under medium-pressure mercury vapor lamps. Coverage of 2,000–3,000 sq ft/gal.
• M-20 100% solids UV curable screen printing ink for super matte finish with excellent fingerprint and mar resistance, superior surface durability, and hardness. For polycarbonate and polyester films; prints directly from container, cures under medium-pressure mercury vapor lamps. Coverage of 2,000–3,000 sq ft/gal.
• PPC Series UV curable ink designed for direct printing on common container applications. Suitable for treated HDPE, treated LDPE, treated polypropylene, styrene, PET, and PVC. The O4 Series ink is better suited for direct printing on PVC containers.
• PPC7 Series UV curable ink for direct printing on common container and tube applications. Suitable for treated HDPE, treated LDPE tubes and containers, treated polypropylene, styrene, PET, and PVC; flame treatment may be required for some PET applications.
• QS Series UV curable ink for adhesion to acrylic, PETG, and styrene requiring heat-bending, router cutting, and thermoforming for the sign and graphics market. Maintains excellent durability and flexibility for die-cutting. NVP-free.
• SPL-AS8 UV curable anti-slip clear for polycarbonate, treated polyester, and PVC. Enhances traction while maintaining compatibility with most Norcote screen printing inks. Rapid cure under medium-pressure mercury vapor lamps, excellent adhesion and flexibility. NVP and V-Cap free.
• T-255 100% solids UV curable screen printing ink for super matte finish with excellent surface durability, chemical and water resistance, and superior flexibility for die-cutting and embossing. Ideal for polycarbonate and polyester substrates in industrial graphics. Coverage of 2,000–3,000 sq ft/gal.
• NBW Kit Two-part UV curable screen printing backing layer system designed for HP Indigo ElectroInk digital offset prints. Provides superb adhesion and flexibility, resistance to blocking and adhesives, high opacity, fast curing, and excellent intercoat adhesion. Coverage of approximately 2,200 sq ft/gal.
• MK8 Series High-end second-surface UV curable ink system for industrial graphics on polycarbonate, print-treated polyester, and PC/PET blends. TPO-free, with excellent adhesion, superior intercoat adhesion, high opacity, and outstanding print definition. Extremely flexible, embossable, ideal for overlays, nameplates, and automotive applications. Coverage of 2,200–3,200 sq ft/gal.
• PTX Series 100% solids UV curable screen printing ink for second-surface decoration of top-coated and print-treated polyester, polycarbonate, and blended films in industrial graphics. Offers superior opacity, color strength, flexibility, and excellent resistance to adhesives. Cures under one- or two-lamp mercury vapor systems. Coverage of 2,000–3,000 sq ft/gal.
• 77M Series Dual-cure UV/LED screen printing ink system for high-end glass and plastic containers including HDPE, PET, and polypropylene. Delivers excellent adhesion, water resistance, and durability with proper flame treatment. Highly thixotropic, supports metallic and fluorescent pigments, and cures under both LED (365–405 nm) and mercury vapor lamps.
• PCI Series UV curable ink system for container applications with excellent performance on polyethylene, polycarbonate, and select PVC and polypropylene substrates. Offers flexibility, high gloss, outstanding print definition, chemical and abrasion resistance without additives, superb intercoat adhesion, and fast UV curing. Coverage of approximately 3,500 sq ft/gal.
• DC Series (Dyno-Cote) UV curable ink system for adhesion to flat sheet HDPE and polypropylene materials. Formulated with a resin system enabling excellent durability and flexibility for end use on polyolefin materials. Adheres to polystyrene, coated and uncoated card stock, rigid vinyl, PVC, and some coated materials.
• GN Series UV curable ink formulated for adhesion to fluted polyolefin and polyolefin banner materials with exterior light-fastness and weatherability. Provides excellent durability while maintaining flexibility. Adheres to most Point-of-Purchase substrates including polystyrene, card stock, rigid vinyl, PVC, pressure-sensitive vinyl, and some coated metals. NVP-free.
• UV9 Series Ultraviolet-curable acrylic screen printing ink for multi-purpose Point of Purchase printing. Excellent adhesion and flexibility for die-cutting, formulated with premium light-fast pigments. Extremely durable outdoor system with high opacity and fast cure speeds suitable for in-line or carousel-type printers.
• M-24 100% solids UV curable screen printing ink for super matte finish on polycarbonate and polyester films. Exceptional surface durability, water and chemical resistance, and superior flexibility for die-cutting and embossing. NVP-free, coverage of 3,200–3,600 sq ft/gal. Withstands moisture, pressure-sensitive adhesives, and household chemicals.
• M-35 100% solids UV curable ink for screen printing overprint clear on polycarbonate and polyester films. Produces smooth matte finish with excellent surface durability and resistance to fingerprints and marring. Superior flexibility compared to M-14 matte clear. Coverage of 2,000–3,000 sq ft/gal.
• M45.2 100% solids UV curable screen printing ink overprint clear with satin finish for polycarbonate and polyester films. Offers excellent fingerprint and mar resistance, chemical resistance, and long-lasting surface durability. Cures under medium-pressure mercury vapor lamps; gloss adjustable via IR heating. Coverage of 2,000–3,000 sq ft/gal.
• MUV9 Series Matte ultraviolet curable acrylic screen printing ink for multi-purpose Point of Purchase printing. Excellent adhesion properties with high flexibility for die-cutting. High reactivity for extremely high cure speeds suitable for in-line or carousel-type presses.
• XL6 Series UV curable ink system for pressure-sensitive decal applications requiring exterior exposure up to 5 years. Formulated with high-performance acrylate urethane providing excellent adhesion to pressure-sensitive vinyls and print-treated polyesters. Uses automotive grade pigments for excellent opacity and light-fast ink film. NVP-free.
• 1500 Series UV curable ink system for pressure-sensitive decal applications requiring exterior exposure up to 5 years. Provides excellent flexibility eliminating edge curl due to ink film shrinkage, and outstanding adhesion properties. NVP-free with automotive grade pigments for excellent opacity and light-fastness.
• O2 Series UV/LED curable ink for decoration of soft vinyls (French Calf, suedene, patent), most decal materials, print-treated and top-coated polyester, PSV, window cling, PVC, PET, and polycarbonate. Works especially well with heat sealing and flexibility requirements.
• O4 Series UV curable ink for PVC containers and flat sheets, static cling vinyl, pressure-sensitive vinyls, many polyesters (print-treated and top-coated), and some book cloths. Also works on some ABS materials. Preferred for PVC containers because it does not embrittle PVC material.
• 09 Series UV curable matte ink system for industrial graphics applications requiring a durable, abrasion- and chemical-resistant matte finish. Designed for polycarbonate, polyester, PVC, and some book cloths. Can be intermixed with 04 Series gloss inks to adjust gloss levels. Coverage of approximately 2,500 sq ft/gal.
• 80/88 Series General-use UV curable ink system suitable for decorating polyethylene (flat sheet and container), soft book cloth vinyl, flat sheet polypropylene, PVC, polycarbonate, PETE, PETG, most decal materials, print-treated polyester decal materials, paper and card stocks, styrene, some acrylic, and coated metal materials. The 88 Series is a matte general-use variant.
• LC Series High-gloss UV curable ink system for Tag & Label applications on polyethylene, polypropylene, polyolefin blends, vinyl, styrene, paper, and polyester. Superb intercoat adhesion, water and chemical resistance, fast curing, and high-speed performance up to 125 feet per minute. Compatible with metallic and fluorescent pigments.
• CC Series Non-yellowing UV curable ink system designed for the credit and plastic card market. Engineered for excellent intercoat adhesion and high-performance curing. Compatible with various mesh and stencil configurations. Coverage of 3,200–3,600 sq ft/gal.
• EFX-972 UV curable high-profile clear ink for creating raised or tactile images including Braille applications. One-part system with excellent clarity, durability, and flexibility; adheres to a wide range of substrates. Coverage varies by profile height from 200 to 800 sq ft/gal.
• LQS-UV97198 Series (Liquid Steel) UV curable screen-printable ink system for magnetic display applications. Known as 'Liquid Steel,' it allows printed graphics to adhere securely to magnetic surfaces without adhesives. Best printed in thick films on the reverse side of paper or vinyl substrates. Designed for paper stocks, polycarbonate, Lexan, and flexible or rigid vinyl.
• Fiber Optic Cable Coatings Specialty UV curable coatings designed for fiber optic cable applications within the Conductive Inks product line.
• UV Coatings UV curable coatings offered as part of the Beyond Inks category, complementing the company's ink portfolio for printing and coating applications.
• Color Matching Service Custom color matching service that delivers precise, consistent replication of desired colors using customer print conditions. Supports brand identity through consistent color usage with a turnaround time of one to three days and on-site training using the latest color measurement technology.
• Research and Development Service R&D team capable of modifying standard products or developing new solutions to meet demanding requirements. Specializes in small-batch production; no request is too small or too complex.
• Technical Services Technical Service representatives support customers from start to finish, including product selection for specific needs, pre-run testing, and production support. Includes on-site troubleshooting and application troubleshooting to enhance production efficiency.

Quantifiable outcome

• Color matching turnaround time of 1-3 days
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Nazdar Ink Technologies: Nazdar is one of the largest specialty manufacturers of screen printing inks in North America, with overlapping UV-curable graphic and industrial ink lines. Direct competitor in screen ink channels serving industrial graphics, container, and POP printers.
• Marabu GmbH & Co. KG: Marabu is a German specialty manufacturer of screen and digital printing inks, including a strong UV-curable portfolio. Comparable in product portfolio (UV screen inks for industrial graphics, container, glass) and small-batch custom color services.

Broad incumbents

• Sun Chemical (DIC Corporation): Sun Chemical is the world's largest producer of printing inks, with a broad portfolio that includes UV-curable screen and offset inks. A larger incumbent offering overlapping capabilities in industrial graphics and packaging inks.
• Flint Group: Flint Group is a major global supplier of inks and coatings for print and packaging, including UV-curable products. Wide-portfolio incumbent with overlap in UV inks for packaging and industrial segments.
• INX International Ink Co. INX International manufactures a full line of liquid inks and coatings, including UV and specialty graphic inks, with global operations. Broad incumbent overlapping with Nor-Cote in UV graphic and container inks.
• Fujifilm Sericol (Fujifilm): Fujifilm supplies specialty UV-curable screen and digital inks under legacy Sericol branding. Larger diversified incumbent in UV ink technology serving industrial graphics and packaging converters.
• Sakata INX: Sakata INX is a global printing ink manufacturer with a sizeable UV ink portfolio. Broad incumbent with overlapping UV-curable ink offerings for packaging, label, and screen-printing customers.

Emerging players

• Polymeric Imaging: Polymeric Imaging is a smaller specialty supplier of UV screen-printable coatings and inks for industrial graphics and electronic applications, directly comparable in niche specialty UV chemistry and membrane-switch markets.
• Color Converting Industries (CCi): CCi specializes in custom-formulated UV-curable coatings and inks for industrial and graphic applications. Comparable niche specialty manufacturer competing in UV coatings and inks.

Regional players

• TOYO INK / artience Co. Toyo Ink (now artience) is a major Japanese printing ink manufacturer with strong UV-curable ink offerings. Comparable UV ink technology and product portfolio, primarily competing in the Japanese and broader Asian-Pacific markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nor-Cote International