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“We have high hopes for this acquisition,” states Jon Bultemeyer, Executive Vice President, Business Unit Screen and Pad Printing Inks. “We are always looking to identify segments with strong future prospects. Until recently, our focus had consciously not included textiles. But the market environment is very dynamic, and it is important that our business is broadly based. Textile printing remains one of the largest global screen printing segments. ICON Inks is a leading brand, and this acquisition gives us access to new markets and new skills. ICON Inks has a high profile in Asia and is a valuable addition to our existing Marabu ink offering. By expanding our product portfolio, we are now able to offer screen printing inks for textiles, in addition to our pad printing solutions.”

Marabu broadens its range of applications

The purchase of ICON Inks allows Marabu to expand its addressable segments to include textile printing. In 2020, Marabu launched its pioneering Maqua^® Pad MAP ink. This premium-quality solution is the world’s first water-based pad printing ink. ICON Inks products are an ideal addition to the existing portfolio, and will help Marabu extend its focus on water-based products and expand its textile printing footprint. As Jon Bultemeyer emphasises: “Textile printing is an exciting field for us. Inks vary by type, depending on the use case. They can be based on water, solvent, plastisol or silicone.” Current ICON Inks products are employed by many leading manufacturers, predominantly in Asia. Marabu will initially continue to offer the existing portfolio unchanged, so ICON Inks customers can be sure of consistently reliable quality. However, Marabu plans to take the product offering global and to extend its scope.

Enhanced customer service with local production and multiple sites

The integration of ICON Inks into the group will enable Marabu Shanghai to extend and improve its services in Asian markets. Ink formulations tailored to regional customer requirements and the use of local raw materials in production enhances business agility. Local manufacturing and logistics will ensure greater customer centricity and make a key contribution to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

The acquisition of ICON Inks strengthens Marabu’s Asian presence. To ensure high-quality local customer service and support, staff will be distributed across three sites. Eastern China will be advised and assisted from the regional headquarters in Shanghai, and South China from Shenzhen. Moreover, the ink manufacturer has a third site in Hong Kong. All three report to Alexandra Taulin, General Manager of Marabu Shanghai.