NEW DIGITAL FORMAT – Ongoing Event
Inkjet Age of Materials Conference
2020-2021
November 18, 2020 – November 17, 2021
Bimonthly Digital Online
Conference Sessions
Speaker Biographies
Dr. Mark Bale, Founder & Director, DoDxAct, Hillsboro, Somerset, UK
After working many years for a leading ink company, Dr. Mark Bale founded DoDxAct Ltd, an inkjet technology consultancy in 2017. Based in Somerset UK, DoDxAct offers bespoke training and practical assistance in support for all aspects of inkjet R&D from ink formulation and manufacture through jetting & process integration to final application optimization. Working with start-ups to large companies with global reputations, his inkjet applications experience takes in production inkjet, wide-format graphics, labels & packaging, decorative surfaces, print-to-shape, electronics manufacturing, product coding, and 3D printing.
Dr. Bale earned his undergraduate degree and PhD in Physics from the University of Birmingham UK and is a published author of academic papers, patents, and online content on topics ranging from microfabrication, OELD devices to inkjet printing.
Paul Best, Director of Engineering, ImageXpert, Nashua, New Hampshire
Paul Best is Director of Engineering at ImageXpert Inc. in Nashua NH. In support of his role, he works on the design and implementation of machine vision systems, particularly for inkjet development. Before joining ImageXpert, he worked as an optical engineer and team lead at NASA's JPL in Pasadena, California designing large optical systems. Paul has an MBA, MS in physics, and BS in mathematics and computer science.
Stephen Buchanan, Business Development Manager, Kao Collins, Cincinnati, Ohio
Stephen Buchanan entered the scientific field as an Analytical Chemist upon graduation from Xavier University with a BS in Biochemistry. During his early career, he established and conducted analytical tests to validate nutritional and pharmaceutical products.
In 2014, he transitioned into the printing industry by joining Kao Collins. He initially worked as an R&D Chemist while developing energy curable inkjet formulations. During this time, his efforts were dedicated to output innovative solutions geared towards solving unique customer demands.
Entering into 2020, Buchanan has now transitioned into the role of Business Development Manager for Kao Collins. He is responsible for facilitating inkjet growth, exploring new commercial opportunities, and forming strategic partnerships within the digital space.
Anthony Carignano, Technical Director Marketing, ACTEGA North America Technologies, East Providence, Rhode Island
Anthony (Tony) Carignano is Technical Director of Marketing for ACTEGA North America Technologies (East Providence, Rhode Island), which operates as ACTEGA’s new technology incubator for consumer product printing applications. Tony represents a team of over twenty highly talented specialists in direct and indirect additive printing enabled by a world-class mechanical and electrical engineering team.
Tony has more than 20 years of global experience developing and growing new markets and applications within the specialty chemicals industry relating to printing and coating applications.
Tony has spoken and written on various topics ranging from chemicals of concern to bio-renewable building block chemistries for consumer product packaging. Before his tenure with ACTEGA, Tony held global business development and strategic marketing roles with ebeam Technologies and ALLEX USA, Inc.
Tony obtained his Masters of Business Administration from Loyola University Maryland.
Dr. Simon Daplyn, Product Marketing Manager, Sun Chemical, Letchworth, UK
Dr. Simon Daplyn Joined Sun Chemical in July 2020 as part of the acquisition of Sensient Imaging Technologies and is responsible for management of product and marketing output.
Having studied and worked in digital print for over 20 years, Simon has been responsible for development, commercialization, sales, and marketing of a wide range of digital inks with a particular focus on textile technologies. Currently Simon is responsible for defining the product strategy for Sun Chemical in Digital Textiles with a view to sustainable technology developments.
Dr. Daplyn received his PhD in Colour and Polymer Chemistry from the University of Leeds.
Grant French, Director of Digital Ink Sales, Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, New York
Grant French has 25 years of experience working in the digital print marketplace with focus on solvent, UV, sublimation, & water-based pigment inks. He has worked with small and large companies to develop innovative processes to digitally print products. He has worked at branded companies like Calcomp, RasterGaghics, DuPont, Lubrizol, and Kodak. Grant has also developed and ran two separate start up’s in the digital print industry.
Mark Geeves, Director of Sales & Marketing, Color-Logic, West Chester, Ohio
Mark Geeves is the Director of Sales and Marketing for Color-Logic and Touch7. Color-Logic is the developer of the Process Metallic Color System, plug-in and palettes for most popular design programs that enables graphic designers to produce striking metallic images using virtually any printing process. Touch7 is the developer of Touch7 Photo for ECG and Neon ink sets.
Mark has 28 years of experience in the measurement and control of color through his work at X-Rite, Color Savvy, GretagMacbeth, and Ciba. He had extensive involvement in bringing portable instrumentation, embedded instrumentation, and automated measurement devices into the graphic arts, and color & appearance marketplaces. Mark worked on making ICC color management technology affordable and continues to serve on committees to make implementation easier for printing and publishing applications. Mark has worldwide experience in the development and implementation of color programs in the graphic arts, plastics, automotive, and paint markets. As President of BestColor in the Americas he was involved in making inkjet proofing the standard for the Graphic Arts marketplace. In the past few years, he has been working in the field of three dimensional imaging for CAD/CAM and eCommerce applications.
Dr. Marc Graindourze, Business Manager Industrial Inks, Agfa, Mortsel, Belgium
Dr. Graindourze joined Agfa in 1988. After being R&D project manager for various graphic consumables (film, paper, and inkjet media), he has put his focus on inkjet inks.
In his current role, Marc is responsible for the Agfa ink business for various industrial applications, whereby he connects to the industries as well as the companies building inkjet printers to deliver inks which meet all printing and application targets. The list of applications includes packaging, decorative printing, security printing, document printing, marking & coding, and many more. The focus is on both UV curable inks and water-based inks, with a growing focus on aqueous pigment inks.
Dr.Graindourze earned Dr. Sc. at the Katholic University of Leuven (Belgium) in Physical Chemistry.
Mark Hanley, President, I.T. Strategies, Hingham, Massachusetts
Mark Hanley founded I T Strategies in 1992 in Boston as a strategic consultancy specialized in industrial digital printing, inkjet technology and early market development practices. The company is based in Boston & Tokyo & operates on a private partnership basis. ITS is a confidential practice with no publishing function and is expert in technology and market analysis based on a wide factual knowledge base.
Mike Higgins, Director of Sales, Americas, Phoseon Technology, Hillsboro, Oregon
As Director of Sales, Americas for Phoseon Technology; Mike is responsible for a team of direct field sales, agents and distributors in North and South America. Over the last eight years Mike has contributed to record growth rates by building relationships with industry leading companies who recognize the value of UV LED.
Previous responsibilities include sales and management positions with Sartomer Company, raw material supplier to the UV/EB industry. This combined experience gives Mike a unique perspective on the UV/EB curing market landscape. Mike holds an MBA from Michigan State University and is an active family man based outside Philadelphia, PA.
Dr. Christoph Hilgers, Global Technology Platform Leader, Momentive
Performance Materials GmbH, Leverkusen, Germany
Dr. Hilgers has served as Global Technology Platform Leader (UV and siloxane resin hardcoats) including digital printing technology since 2019. He joined Momentive Performance Materials (formerly GE Bayer Silicones) in 2000. Prior to his present position, he has served as R&D
Laboratory Manager, European Program Leader for Coatings in Automotive Glazing & Forward Lighting Applications, and Global UV Hardcoat Technology Leader.
Dr. Hilgers holds a PhD. in Macromolecular Chemistry from the RWTH Aachen University.
Terence Kenneth, Founder & CEO, Ink Intelligence, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Terence Kenneth is the Founder and CEO of Ink Intelligence (www.inkintelligence.com). Ink Intelligence is a formulation company formed in 2009 to assist companies with digital Ink formulation development - specializing in aqueous, solvent, eco-solvent and UV curable ink formulations.
Ink Intelligence has formulated inks for packaging, textiles and displays. It is a company of formulating specialists, dedicated to the development of specialized ink technologies in more than a dozen countries around the world.
Terence began his career in the ink business in the U.K. in 1984 and is now based in Toronto, Canada.
Dr. Simon Kew, Managing Director, Alchemie Technology, Duxford, Cambridge, UK
Dr. Kew leads Alchemie Technology's technical and commercial operations. He has over 15 years of experience in new product and process innovation applied to chemistry-enabled products.
Working across industries including consumer goods, foodstuffs, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors, he has been responsible for delivering new products and process innovation programmes worldwide.
He specialises in the delivery of innovation using digital manufacturing technologies including inkjet printing and additive manufacturing technologies. He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from University of Cambridge
Randy Norris, Regional Manager, Modnadnock Paper Mills, Bennington, New Hampshire
Randy Norris is a regional manager for Monadnock Paper where he has worked for the past 15 years. His focus is developing sustainable products and assisting brands, designers, and printers to implement projects that meet their environmental and sustainability goals.
When he is not working with clients to save the planet one piece of paper at a time he serves as the Chair of the University of South Florida National Alumni Association, mentors at risk high school aged students, and spends time with his wife Michele and their two English Springer Spaniels.
Randy is currently involved in introducing Monadnock’s Envisual Board, a fiber based styrene replacement product.
John Palazzolo, Director, Marketing & Sales, adphos North America, Brookfield, Wisconsin
John Palazzolo joined Adphos North America as Director of Marketing and Sales in June of 2006 after nearly six years as a product manager at Kodak Versamark and Scitex Digital Printing.
John has more than 25 years of experience in B2B marketing and sales within the digital and conventional printing industries where his customer focused vision has resulted in the successful development and launch of several new product lines and products. John is a regular speaker at various trade conferences and has written or contributed to articles in a wide variety of trade publications.
Paul Simutis, Technical Service & Applications Manager, DataPhysics Instruments USA Corp., Charlotte, North Carolina
Surface and interfacial science is both Mr. Simutis’ work and passion. He has worked with instruments for studying surfaces and interfaces almost 20 years and helped many scientists in different companies to learn proper techniques for these measurements, understand the results of the tests, advance their projects, and provided reliable data for contract testing services.
Paul received master’s degree in chemistry from Vilnius University in Lithuania and has been dedicated to chemistry his entire career.
Quinn Stewart, Content Marketing Manager, Digital Color Ink LLC, Baltimore, Maryland
Quinn Stewart is currently the Content Marketing Manager at Digital Color Ink, LLC where she is in charge of implementing the company's content strategy. Using 8+ years of marketing knowledge, she handles the creation and production of online and offline marketing content, shares relevant news to Digital Color Ink’s growing wide-format clientele base, and serves as the company’s e-commerce webmaster.
She has experience working with both federal and international governments as well as managing marketing materials for several large, well-known companies.
Debbie Thorp, Business Development Director, Global Inkjet Systems, Cambridge, UK
Debbie Thorp has worked in digital printing for over 30 years and is Business Development Director at Global Inkjet Systems (GIS). Earlier in her career, Debbie worked at specialist digital printing consultancy companies such as IT Strategies and was Head of Group Marketing at inkjet printhead manufacturer Xaar.
Debbie has a BA degree in Modern Languages from Manchester University and an MBA from Durham University Business School.