The ink manufacturer will distribute inks that are compatible with MetalFX, which uses a silver base ink with overprinted CMYK to produce metallic colours, through its site at South Normanton in Derbyshire.

Sun Chemical joins Stehlin Hostag, ANI (now merged with BASF), Huber Group and Sicpa as producers of MetalFX base ink and process colours in the UK and Europe.

John Adkin, Sun Chemical European product director for sheetfed and UV inks, said that the deal would "open up more market opportunities and lead to some great printing".

Sun Chemical has also teamed up with Polestar to provide 24-hour computer-controlled ink supply for the print giant's Sheffield plant.

Between one and two tanker-loads of ink will be delivered to the plant every day. The ink will be stored in 11 tanks each containing 30 tonnes of ink.

A remote controlled telemetric control has been installed to make sure that the plant's super-wide gravure presses receive correct amounts of Sun Chemical's High Reduction Series inks.

Sun Chemical corporate vice-president and managing director Charles Murray said that the partnership demonstrated the firm's "ability to provide expertise on major capital projects".

Story by Josh Brooks