Expands PantoneLIVE for Digital Color Communications to Brand Owners and Packaging Converters in Asia

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., May 9, 2016 – X-Rite Incorporated, a global leader in color science and technology, and its subsidiary Pantone LLC, today announced Toyo Ink Co., Ltd has joined the PantoneLIVE™ Accredited Partner Program. Toyo Ink is part of a select group of international partners and becomes the first PantoneLIVE accredited ink manufacturer in Japan. This enables Japanese-based brand owners and packaging converters to more easily use the PantoneLIVE ecosystem for digital color communications to accurately define, develop and share precise spectral definitions for brand color palettes based on specific substrates, print processes, inks and application methods.

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“We are extremely proud to become an Accredited Ink Manufacturer partner for PantoneLIVE,” said Takashi Yamauchi, General Manager, Planning Department, Corporate Planning Division, Toyo Ink Co., Ltd. “PantoneLIVE revolutionizes the way color is communicated and ensures accurate color in printing across multiple geographic locations and printing partners. Using PantoneLIVE our customers worldwide will be able to speed print production times and improve overall workflow efficiencies.”

Toyo Ink has supported its customer by offering a total color management solution and a range of printing inks for commercial printing and packaging for over 20 years. To support customer demand for a wide color gamut, Toyo Ink is an expert organization in spot color formulation and offers color services. Toyo Ink will use PantoneLIVE internally to help match PANTONE Colors, including options for a variety of substrates and printing processes.

“We have enjoyed a longstanding business relationship with Toyo Ink and are excited to now have Toyo Ink as a accredited partner for PantoneLIVE,” said Fumiteru Minami, General Manager for Japan and Korea, X-Rite Pantone. “In addition, Toyo Ink will offer Japanese brand owners PantoneLIVE solutions to help communicate color across the entire packaging supply chain. This broadens PantoneLIVE’s presence in the growing Asian marketplace and provides our customers the assurance needed that the inks they are using meet brand owner standards regardless of the substrate or printing technology used.”

For more information about PantoneLIVE visit http://www.pantone.com/pantonelive or http://www.xrite.com/packaging.

About PantoneLIVE
The Accredited Program is part of PantoneLIVE. PantoneLIVE, part of X-Rite is Incorporated, is a cloud-based color management solution. It enables the universal PANTONE Color language to be accurately communicated across the entire packaging workflow – from design concept to retail store shelves. PantoneLIVE extends the PANTONE PLUS SERIES Color Library, mapping critical color information to packaging-specific substrates. The PantoneLIVE ecosystem is supported by licensed hardware and software that enables each area of a packaging supply chain to access the same PantoneLIVE Colors, in addition to brand specific palettes. This results in consistent and repeatable color across product families, regardless of media or print technology, providing a cohesive brand approach.

About Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.
Toyo Ink, a core operating companies of the Toyo Ink Group, oversees the Group’s Printing and Information- and the Packaging Materials-related business segments. It is the driving force behind the Group’s graphic arts companies in Japan and abroad. Delivering inks of high technical expertise since its establishment, the company brings color and function to virtually all aspects of life. In addition, as a world-class color specialist, Toyo Ink provides unique color design tools free-of-charge such as the TUBUCOLOR™ color communication app, and the UDing™ and UDing Dither series of universal color design software. For more information, seewww.toyoink.jp/en/.

About X-Rite
Founded in 1958, X-Rite, Incorporated is a global leader in color science and technology. With its wholly owned subsidiary Pantone, X-Rite employs more than 800 people in 11 countries. The company’s corporate headquarters are located in Grand Rapids, Mich., with regional headquarters in Europe and Asia and service centers across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas. X-Rite Pantone offers a full range of color management solutions used by manufacturers, retailers, printers, photographers and graphic design houses to achieve precise management and communication of color throughout their processes. X-Rite Pantone products and services are recognized standards in the printing, packaging, photography, graphic design, video, automotive, paints, plastics, textiles and medical industries. For further information, please visit www.xrite.com. For the latest news, information and conversations, connect with X-Rite on LinkedIn, Vimeo, Twitter, and Facebook.

About Pantone
Pantone LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of X-Rite, Incorporated, has been the world’s color authority for nearly 50 years, providing design professionals with products and services for the colorful exploration and expression of creativity. Always a source for color inspiration, Pantone also offers paint and designer-inspired products and services for consumers. More information is available at www.pantone.com. For the latest news, trends, information and conversations, connect with Pantone on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

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©2016 X-Rite, Inc. All rights reserved. X-Rite is a registered trademark of X-Rite, Inc. PANTONE®, PantoneLIVE and other Pantone trademarks are the property of Pantone LLC. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Pantone is a wholly owned subsidiary of X-Rite, Incorporated. Licensed under US Patent Nos. 7,034,960; 7,268,918; 7,202,976; 7,417,764 and their foreign equivalents. © Pantone LLC, 2016. All rights reserved.