DIC Corporation announced that wholly owned subsidiary Nantong DIC Color Co., Ltd., based in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), has commenced construction of a new printing inks production facility in the southern area of the Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area (NETDA).
The new facility is scheduled to begin production in 2025, after which Nantong DIC Color will shutter its existing production facility in NETDA’s northern area.
Since its establishment in 2002, Nantong DIC Color has manufactured printing inks, focusing on offset and gravure inks, at its existing production facility, functioning as one of the DIC Group’s principal printing inks production centers in the PRC. In 2021, the company received a request from the city of Nantong to relocate this facility, citing its proximity to the Yangtze River, in line with its environmental protection efforts for the river. After internal discussions, the decision was made to move to a site provided by the city in the southern area of NETDA. Construction began in November 2023.
The design concept incorporated throughout DIC Nantong Color’s new production facility emphasizes the streamlining of production processes and ancillary equipment. On the production floor for the facility’s core liquid inks, for example, plans are to incorporate cutting-edge design for raw materials preparation and filling processes, as well as to automate production lines. Utility systems will employ the latest motors, air conditioners, and lighting and other equipment to boost energy savings across the entire facility and to increase production efficiency, thereby strengthening cost competitiveness.
With the aim of establishing a robust foundation as the PRC’s leading comprehensive printing inks manufacturer, the DIC Group is building a three-pronged production network comprising bases in the eastern, southern and north/northeastern parts of the country. Nantong DIC Color’s new production facility will serve as the production hub of the eastern base. For certain products, the facility will also serve as the mother plant for the entire country.
Profile of new facility
Location: Southern area, Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, PRC
Site area: 86,668 m2
Principal products: Offset inks, gravure inks, flexo inks, others
Start of construction: November 2023
Start of operations: First half of 2025 (scheduled)