Alex Balimwikungu
8 November 2009
Kampala — LARGE format printers have asked the Government to support local industries to manufacture solvent ink to reduce the overall cost of outdoor printing.
Silas Ngabirano of Hot Prints said with innovations and technological advancements in the large format printing industry world over, printers using colour machines were moving away from the use of cartridges to solvent ink.
He predicted that in five years, the industry would stop using cartridges in preference for the eco-friendly solvent ink. However, the exorbitant costs of importing the solvent ink from China and the delayed deliveries often peg back their operations.
This could be solved if the solvent ink is manufactured in Uganda. "Currently, a five-litre jerrycan of solvent ink costs sh300,000 from China. "If manufactured here, it could go as low as sh50,000. Since it is volatile, it comes by ship, which takes up to a month to deliver," Ngabirano explained.
He said the solvent ink was a derivative of solvent paint, which is manufactured in Uganda. He believes that with the Government support, the paint companies like Sadolin could develop capacity to manufacture the ink locally.
He said there were substantial investments in large format colour machines. He said some printing firms like his have since acquired the latest model six colour printers.
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