5P Showcase Expo – Sun Chemical Presentations:
“High Speed Printing is HERE!” (By Kim Barham and Steve Howell)
The sheetfed market created the need for shorter runs, no inventory in stock, and quicker turnarounds. As a result, the high-speed, quick-makeready machinery hit the market. Ultra high-speed machines and 5-minute makereadies were here before we knew it. This revolution intersected with a declining personnel skill level, old ink and consumable technologies which were not built for speed, and a demand for the creation of zero variable processes. During this presentation, Kim and Steve will share their knowledge and experience gained from developing a sheetfed focused team aimed at solving customer challenges. They will share products and processes developed specifically for these challenges along with how they are implemented with Sun Chemical’s high level of technical support.
Kim Barham, Business Development Executive:
I have been in the printing industry for 36 years, with my passion for the business stemming from my education in Graphic Communications at Clemson University. I began my career in Menasha, WI working in pressroom management for Banta Corporation. During my career, I have been blessed to have roles in Flexographic pressroom management, Prepress Management, and Digital Pressroom Management. Once entering sales in 1998 for Fujifilm, I found a perfect job where I can relay my passion for this unique business on a daily basis. Through the years, I have sold prepress supplies and capital equipment for FujiFilm, Rubber, Chrome and copper rollers for Rotation Dynamics, and now 14 years selling inks, coatings and adhesives for Sun Chemical. I enjoy selling with a team approach and lead a focused team of experts at Sun Chemical specializing in the sheetfed market-Team Scorpion.
Steve Howell, Advanced Application Specialist:
I have been in the industry for 31 years with most time spent in operations management with folding carton converters. I have worked extensively with high-speed OEM press installations. Currently, bridging the gap between ink development and press performance is of most importance in my role. Determining product “fit for use” and how SUN fits into the ultimate value proposition.
Rick Stokes, Vice President – Market Management
With over 34 years in the packaging industry, I’ve had the privilege of working across manufacturing, sales, and marketing for a wide range of adhesives, coatings, and inks. My career journey at Ashland Chemical and Michelman has been diverse, blending technical expertise with business strategy. At heart, I’m still an engineer (and always will be) but I also hold degrees in Economics and Marketing, which have shaped my holistic approach to problem-solving and innovation. In my current role, I lead a team focused on monitoring industry trends and developing strategies to meet evolving packaging needs for consumers, brand owners, and regulators.
