Chimigraf

Chimigraf is a Spanish multinational manufacturer of printing inks and related ink technologies. The company was established in 1970 in l'Hospitalet de Llobregat by Orazio Samoggia, an Italian businessman associated with the printing industry. Its early development centered on polyamide inks for flexographic printing, a field in which it built a substantial market position during the 1970s. Over time, Chimigraf expanded beyond its original specialty into a broader portfolio serving packaging, commercial, industrial, and digital-printing applications. The company’s production and technical footprint developed through several stages. In the 1980s, it moved its facilities to Rubí, near Barcelona, and strengthened its manufacturing capabilities. A new factory for pigment-dispersion chips was created as part of the company’s 1986 expansion, followed by a dedicated section for water-based flexographic inks. These developments allowed Chimigraf to address changing requirements in packaging and printing, including demand for alternative ink systems with different environmental and application characteristics. The company also opened factories in Valencia and Madrid in 1985, broadening its Spanish industrial presence. Chimigraf subsequently expanded into international markets including France, South America, North Africa, and Eastern Europe. Its products and technologies have been marketed in more than 40 countries. The company’s scope includes inks for flexography, rotogravure, digital systems, and screen printing, as well as technology for ink-jet formulations. Its digital activity became more prominent around 2000, when Chimigraf created a dedicated structure for manufacturing ink-jet inks. Chimigraf Ibérica developed proprietary technology for drop-on-demand ink-jet systems using formulations based on water, solvents, oils, or ultraviolet curing. The company has also participated in industry and sustainability-related initiatives. Its solvent-based Omniflex liquid-ink series received recognition in 2006 after being certified as compostable or biodegradable, with the related packaging application earning an Oscar for Packaging for the participating packaging manufacturer and Chimigraf. In 2007, Chimigraf received an HP Platinum Winner award in the manufacturing category. It later exhibited at MINIMIZAR, a trade fair focused on technologies, products, and processes intended to reduce waste, and was associated with the Catalonia food-packaging cluster in 2012. Chimigraf’s positioning is that of a specialized, technology-oriented ink supplier rather than a consumer-facing brand. Its offering combines conventional printing inks with digital ink-jet development and application-specific formulation capabilities. Publicly available reference material identifies the company as operating internationally, but does not provide reliable current ownership, revenue, executive, listing, or official website information.

Chimigraf was founded in 1970 in l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain, by Orazio Samoggia, an Italian businessman known for his involvement in the printing sector. During its first decade, the company developed a significant position in polyamide flexographic inks. This foundation gave Chimigraf expertise in a major packaging-printing technology while establishing the basis for later diversification. The company expanded its industrial base during the 1980s. Its facilities were transferred to Rubí, near Barcelona, and the company opened factories in Valencia and Madrid in 1985. In 1986, Chimigraf created a new plant for pigment-dispersion chips and later added a specialized section for water-based flexographic inks. The move into water-based systems reflected the company’s effort to broaden its technical range and respond to evolving requirements in the printing and packaging industries. Chimigraf also began international expansion, entering markets in France, South America, North Africa, and Eastern Europe. Its international presence eventually extended to more than 40 countries. The business developed products for flexography, rotogravure, digital printing, and screen printing, allowing it to serve multiple printing processes rather than relying on a single ink category. Around 2000, Chimigraf entered the digital-ink market and established a dedicated structure for the production of ink-jet inks. Chimigraf Ibérica developed proprietary drop-on-demand ink-jet technology covering water-, solvent-, oil-, and UV-curable formulations. This digital specialization complemented the company’s established conventional-printing activities and positioned it within the transition toward digitally controlled printing systems. The company’s later public profile included recognition for product and manufacturing developments. In 2006, its Omniflex series of solvent-based liquid inks was associated with compostable or biodegradable packaging applications and received an Oscar for Packaging together with the participating packaging manufacturer. In 2007, Chimigraf received an HP Platinum Winner award in manufacturing. The company also exhibited at the MINIMIZAR trade fair, which promoted methods for reducing waste, and was linked with the Catalonia food-packaging cluster in 2012. Public reference material does not establish a detailed current management structure, ownership history, financial profile, or official web presence.

• 2012

  Association with Catalonia’s food-packaging cluster

  [1]Chimigrafen.wikipedia.org

  Chimigraf was identified as vice president or a leadership participant in the Catalonia food-packaging cluster.

• 2007

  HP Platinum Winner award

  [1]Chimigrafen.wikipedia.org

  Chimigraf received an HP Platinum Winner award in the manufacturing category.

• 2006

  Oscar for Packaging recognition

  [1]Chimigrafen.wikipedia.org

  The company’s Omniflex solvent-based liquid inks were associated with compostable or biodegradable packaging and received an Oscar for Packaging with the participating packaging manufacturer.

• 2000

  Entry into digital ink-jet inks

  [1]Chimigrafen.wikipedia.org

  Chimigraf established a dedicated structure for manufacturing ink-jet inks and expanded its technology into digital printing.

• 1986

  Expansion of production and water-based ink capability

  [1]Chimigrafen.wikipedia.org

  After moving to Rubí, the company created a pigment-dispersion-chip factory and later added a dedicated water-based flexographic-ink section.

• 1985

  Factories opened in Valencia and Madrid

  [1]Chimigrafen.wikipedia.org

  Chimigraf expanded its Spanish manufacturing footprint with facilities in Valencia and Madrid.

• 1970

  Company founded

  [1]Chimigrafen.wikipedia.org

  Orazio Samoggia founded Chimigraf in l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.

• 1970

  Initial specialization in polyamide flexographic inks

  [1]Chimigrafen.wikipedia.org

  During the 1970s, Chimigraf grew into a significant supplier of polyamide inks for flexographic printing.

A specialized international supplier of printing inks and ink-jet technologies, with emphasis on formulation expertise, packaging applications, and adaptable systems for conventional and digital printing.

• Printing inks · 1970

  Flexographic inks

  Chimigraf’s historical core includes inks for flexographic printing, including early polyamide systems and later water-based formulations. These products serve packaging and other applications printed from raised flexible plates.

• Printing inks

  Rotogravure inks

  The company supplies ink systems for rotogravure, a process widely used for high-volume packaging and publication printing. The available reference material does not identify individual current formulations or product names.

• Digital printing inks · 2000

  Digital and ink-jet inks

  Chimigraf entered the digital-ink market around 2000 and developed proprietary drop-on-demand ink-jet technology. Its formulations are described as including water-, solvent-, oil-, and UV-curable systems for digitally controlled printing applications.

• Solvent-based liquid inks

  Omniflex

  Omniflex is a Chimigraf series of solvent-based liquid inks. In 2006, the series was associated with compostable or biodegradable packaging applications and received packaging-industry recognition.

• Printing inks

  Screen-printing inks

  Chimigraf’s stated product scope includes inks for screen printing. Public reference material does not provide detailed product names, formulations, or market-specific launch dates.

• MINIMIZAR trade-fair participation

  Spain

  Chimigraf exhibited at the first MINIMIZAR trade fair, an event focused on technologies, products, and processes intended to reduce waste and promote environmental improvements.

  Source

• 2000

  Move into digital ink-jet technologyStrategy

  Background

  Chimigraf sought to extend its conventional printing-ink business into the growing digital-printing market.

  Action taken

  The company created a dedicated structure for manufacturing ink-jet inks and developed drop-on-demand technology using several ink chemistries.

  Aftermath

  Digital ink-jet became an identified part of Chimigraf’s technology portfolio alongside flexographic, gravure, and screen-printing inks.

  Source

• 1986

  Expand manufacturing into pigment dispersion and water-based inksStrategy

  Background

  The company was broadening its capabilities after relocating its facilities to Rubí.

  Action taken

  Chimigraf established production for pigment-dispersion chips and later created a dedicated section for water-based flexographic inks.

  Aftermath

  The move diversified Chimigraf’s manufacturing base and expanded its offering beyond its earlier polyamide flexographic specialization.

  Source

1. 1Chimigrafen.wikipedia.org