What Printcolor does

Printcolor is a privately held Swiss specialty chemicals manufacturer founded in 1932 and headquartered in Berikon, Aargau, that develops and produces high-performance printing inks for screen, pad, and flexo printing applications. The company serves industrial customers across five primary verticals: security documents and bank cards (with proprietary spectraCARD, IR-blocking, and IR-transparent ink systems validated for 10+ year product life cycles), medical technology (USP Class VI certified, FDA-compliant ink systems tested by TOXiCON for Class II/III devices), the toy industry (EN 71-3:2019+A1:2021 compliance), automotive (silicone-free Series 640 and 632 inks with silicone-coating compatibility), and consumer soft-goods (highly flexible Series 660 inks for umbrellas, sails, parasols, and leather goods). Its technology stack spans solvent-based, UV-curable, 2-component, and specialty effect inks (thermochromic, scratch-off, reflective), supported by the MS Modular Color Mixing System that enables on-site customer formulation and the easyMEMO color formulation software.

The business operates on a direct and channel-led B2B model. Printcolor sells directly in Switzerland and through its wholly-owned subsidiary Printcolor Deutschland GmbH in Germany (with named key account and sales managers), and through a deep global network of regional distribution partners spanning 25+ countries across Europe, Asia, North America, South America, and Australia. Revenue is generated predominantly through one-time sales of customized ink formulations, supplemented by technical services (formulation assistance, laboratory testing at the Berikon technical center, and HSE/compliance documentation). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quote-based. The company maintains ISO 9001:2015 certification, full FOGRA and ICMA memberships, and active R&D staffed by specialized chemists and chemical engineers, with recent product launches in 2024 signalling continued investment in glass and security substrate applications.

Name

Printcolor

Legal name

Printcolor AG

Website

https://printcolor.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1932

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Printcolor is a Swiss specialty chemicals manufacturer of high-performance screen, pad, and flexo printing inks serving security documents, medical devices, toys, automotive, and consumer goods verticals across a 25+ country direct and distributor-led sales network from its Berikon, Switzerland headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Printing Inks

NAICS

Printing Ink Manufacturing (325910), Printing Ink Manufacturing (32591)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Printing Inks (IMAEAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Flexible Packaging Printing (Film/Poly/Paper Print) (IMALAKAG), Printing Operations (Rotary/Flat/Digital/Sublimation) (IMAOACAC)

Keywords

• Screen printing inks
• Pad printing inks
• Flexo printing inks
• Security card inks
• Industrial coatings

Headquarters

HQ city

Berikon

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Printing Ink Sales: Printcolor generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of high-quality printing inks for screen printing, pad printing, and flexo printing applications. Products are sold directly in Switzerland and Germany, and through a global network of distribution partners. The company emphasizes custom formulations and technical support alongside product sales.
2. Technical Services: Printcolor provides technical services including customer support, technical consultation, color formulation assistance using their easyMEMO software tool, and access to their technical center for pre-production testing and product development support.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Printcolor manufactures and sells specialized printing inks and coatings for screen printing, pad printing, and flexo printing applications, marketed under three business units (Graphic Arts, Security, and Technology) and supported by a modular color mixing system, a color formulation tool (easyMEMO), and technical service. Products are custom-formulated and certified for demanding end uses including security and ID cards, medical devices, automotive parts, toys, and soft-material consumer goods.

Product overview

Printcolor is a Swiss manufacturer of high-quality printing inks offering three main product lines: Screen Printing Inks (Series 320, 388, 631, 632, 640, 660, 140-6125, 552 UVplast), Pad Printing Inks (Series 711, 712, 747, 751, 752, 784, 786, 792), and Flexo Printing Inks. The company also produces specialized inks for plastic cards (spectraCARD UV & SB, IR Blocking Inks), protective Coatings (easyPROTECT, Series 800, Series 2550), and a Color Mixing System 388 for on-site ink production. Supporting services include color formulation tools (easyMEMO), technical data sheets, HSE compliance support, and a global sales network spanning Europe, Asia, Australia, North America, and South America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Series 320 Screen Printing Ink Fast drying solvent-based 1C screen printing ink for plastics with silky glossy finish, optimized for high printing speed and excellent block resistance; suitable for EN 71-3:2019 toy applications.
• Series 388 Screen Printing Ink Universal solvent-based screen printing ink for plastics with glossy finish and high pigmentation, designed for various plastic materials including outdoor applications and compliant with EN 71-3:2019 for toys.
• Series 632 Screen Printing Ink Advanced, silicone-free 2C screen printing ink for glass, metal, and duroplasts.
• Series 140-6125 Screen Printing Ink IR-transparent, silicone-free 2C screen printing ink for glass substrates.
• Series 640 Screen Printing Ink Robust 2C screen printing ink for metals and plastics with high opacity, super gloss, and excellent chemical and weathering resistance; available in standard and silicone-free variants for automotive and demanding technical applications.
• Series 660 Screen Printing Ink Highly flexible solvent-based 1C and 2C screen printing ink for synthetic fabrics, with silky glossy finish for umbrellas, parasols, canopies, sails, and leather goods; EN 71-3:2019 compliant for toys.
• Series 552 UVplast Screen Printing Ink UV-curable screen printing ink specifically formulated for plastic substrates.
• spectraCARD UV & SB Card Inks Screen printing inks for plastic cards available in UV and solvent-based formulations for PVC and polycarbonate card systems with decorative, functional, and security features.
• IR Blocking Inks for Transparent Cards IR-absorbing screen printing inks for PVC cards with neutral gray offering high IR absorption and minimal visible color density; used as transparent barrier layer or base for PANTONE tints.
• Series 711 Pad Printing Ink Fast drying pad printing ink for plastics with high opacity and silky glossy finish; suitable for industrial and medical applications and EN 71-3:2019 compliant for toys.
• Series 712 Pad Printing Ink Pad printing ink specifically designed for non-pretreated polypropylene with high opacity and fast drying properties; EN 71-3:2019 compliant for toys.
• Series 747 Pad Printing Ink UV-curable pad printing ink suitable for cleanroom environments with wet-on-wet printing capability; EN 71-3:2019 compliant for toys.
• Series 751 Pad Printing Ink 2-component pad printing ink for glass, metals, and duroplasts; free of PAH and halogens; EN 71-3:2019 compliant for toys.
• Series 752 Pad Printing Ink Universal 1C and 2C pad printing ink for plastics, coatings, and metals with high user-friendliness and high opacity; EN 71-3:2019 compliant for toys.
• Series 786 Pad Printing Ink Highly resistant and user-friendly 2C pad printing ink free of PAH and Butyl Hydroxyacetate; suitable for automotive parts, childcare products, toys, and bottle caps; meets EN 71-3:2013 requirements.
• Series 792 Pad Printing Ink Highly flexible 2C pad printing ink for rubber-like materials and coatings with extreme resistance properties; EN 71-3:2019 compliant for toys.
• Series 660 Coatings and Protective Coatings Protective coatings including Series 460 for sails, easyPROTECT and easyPROTECT 2.0 for tarpaulins, Series 800 for PVC tarpaulins, and Series 2550 for plastic coating.
• Color Mixing System 388 (Modular On-Site Color Mixing System) Modular pigment concentrate and binder system allowing customers to produce Series 384, 386, 387, and 388 screen printing inks on-site by combining HP, HR, HT, and OR pigment concentrates with series-specific binders.
• easyMEMO Color Formulation Tool Color formulation software for matching and creating custom colors, used by customers and Printcolor's technical service team.

Quantifiable outcome

• Environmental footprint of 3264 g CO2 eq per kg of printing ink (EuPIA study)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ICMA (International Card Manufacturers Association)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2015Printcolor became a member of ICMA in July 2015, emphasizing the company's focus on card systems in the security division.
• FOGRA Forschungsgesellschaft Druck e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2014Full membership in FOGRA enables Printcolor to participate in research projects in the card sector and printing technology topics. FOGRA maintains an institute with approximately 60 employees including scientists from printing technology, engineering, chemistry, and physics. The cooperation improves understanding of simulating the long life cycle of card products (10+ years) and enables forecasting on durability and standards compliance of printing inks, coatings, and security features in early development phases.
• Squid Inks AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2014Squid Inks AG was founded on July 1, 2014 as an individual brand under the Printcolor group umbrella. The new company emerged from Dutch Squid Inks BV and specializes in UV inks, coatings, and adhesives for industrial, graphic, and technical applications. Synergies arise in Sales, R&D, and Technical Service which are fully integrated into Printcolor's processes. Founder and CEO Markus Hieronymus brings valuable experiences and broad knowledge to the partnership. Headquarters are in Berikon, Switzerland.
• MySign AGminorOthersMySign AG (4600 Olten) is responsible for the design and implementation of Printcolor's website.
• TOXiCONcoreTechnology or IntegrationTOXiCON is an American life science and contract research organization that conducted comprehensive toxicology tests (systemic injection, intracutaneous toxicity, implantation test) for Printcolor's USP Class VI certified ink systems. These tests ensure materials are non-toxic and biologically inert for medical device applications.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sun Chemical: World's largest printing ink manufacturer (part of DIC Group). Touches Printcolor's market in security inks, packaging inks, and specialty coatings, but operates globally with vastly broader product lines and R&D budgets.
• Siegwerk Druckfarben: Global printing ink manufacturer with strong position in packaging inks, including flexo and gravure. Overlaps with Printcolor in flexo printing inks and security/packaging applications, but operates at much larger scale across a broader portfolio.
• INX International Ink Co. Third-largest global ink manufacturer (Sakata INX). Competes in packaging, label, and specialty inks, including digital and screen. Comparable in flexo and some specialty segments but at significantly larger scale.
• Toyo Ink (Artience Group): Japanese global ink and pigments manufacturer. Overlaps with Printcolor in security inks (banknote inks), printing inks, and color materials; much larger scale with broader specialty chemicals portfolio.
• Hubergroup: German printing inks and coatings manufacturer serving packaging, commercial, and security printing. Overlaps with Printcolor in flexo, security inks, and packaging gravure; broader portfolio but similar European heritage.
• Fujifilm Specialty Ink Systems: Division of Fujifilm producing inkjet inks, UV inks, and specialty printing fluids. Comparable in UV-curable and digital inks where Printcolor's Series 552 UVplast and Squid Inks UV line compete.

Direct peers

• Epple Druckfarben: German family-owned manufacturer of offset, sheetfed, and specialty inks. Comparable family-owned specialty European manufacturer with strong regulatory and quality focus similar to Printcolor's positioning.
• Encres Dubuit: French specialist in screen and pad printing inks for industrial decoration, including cosmetics, automotive, and electronics. Comparable product portfolio and customer base to Printcolor in pad printing.
• Marabu GmbH & Co. KG: German-headquartered manufacturer of screen, pad, and digital printing inks for industrial and graphics applications. Closest direct competitor to Printcolor in screen and pad inks across Europe, with similar specialty focus on plastics, glass, and toys.

Emerging players

• Nazdar Ink Technologies: US-based specialty ink manufacturer focused on screen, pad, and digital printing inks. Comparable in screen and pad printing specialty inks for industrial graphics and signage, though smaller in European security and medical niches.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/printcolor-ag

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Printcolor