Our history and some milestones

1938

The company ‘Drukinkten Arets’ is established by Jos Arets as a trading company of printing inks from Farbianca Holland. It is located in the Sint Thomasstraat in Antwerp.

1953

‘Drukinkten Arets’ moved to the Bredestraat in Antwerp and started its own production of oil based inks. A collaboration with Jänecke and Schneemann Germany to produce under their license was set up.

1962

‘Drukinkten Arets BVBA ’ moved to the Boomsesteenweg in Wilrijk. Shareholders: Mss. A. Arets and Frau. I. Tiemann (sister F. Jänecke).

1974

The first production of UV ink by ‘Drukinkten Arets BVBA’.

1989

‘Drukinkten Arets BVBA’ changed its name to Arets Graphics N.V. and its shareholders were Jänecke and Schneemann GMBH Hannover and Mr. Luc Dehandschutter. Arets Graphics expanded its international network as a supplier of printing inks.

1990-1995

Arets Graphics expanded its international sales network by trading graphical products like plates, films, blankets, foils, pens, etc and selling self produced offset conventional and UV inks and all kind of press chemistry.

1995

Building and inauguration of the new warehouse finished goods in Niel.

1998

Move from Wilrijk to the industrial park Krekelenberg in Niel. Inauguration of the new administration building, laboratory and production plant in Niel.

1999

Arets Graphics N.V. became member of Next Group.

2000

Focus on radiation curing business, mainly UV curing inks and varnishes.

2001

Installation of 4 UV inks production lines with bead mills (batch size max. 1800 kg).

2002-2003

Installation of the first storage tanks for UV raw materials and the first 10 tons mixing reactor for UV varnishes.

2004

The expansion of the laboratory and the installation of 5 new storage tanks for raw materials of 27.000 litres.

2005

Installation of 4 extra UV ink production lines with bead mills (batch size max. 4000 kg).

2006

Installation of the second 10 tons mixing reactor for UV varnishes.

2007-2008

Extension of the warehouse finished goods, new space for waste containers and 3 new storage tanks for UV raw materials of 50.500 litres.

2010

Installation of a third 10 tons mixing reactor for UV varnishes.

2011

Building and set-up of an analytical Lab (UPLC/MS/MS).

2013

On April 25th 2013 all shares of Arets Graphics NV were sold to Toyo Ink SC Holdings Ltd. Toyo Ink Group is a giant in this sector. It has more than 7000 employees around the world, and reaches a turnover of around 1.9 billion Euro. With these figures, it is said to be the number three in the worldwide inks and coatings market.

2014

Expansion of the analytical lab with a GC/MS with a sniff port.

2015

Company name change to TOYO INK ARETS.

2017

Company name change to Toyo Ink Europe NV.  Today Toyo Ink Europe is an important player in the low energy curing market and is continuously investing in new technologies.

2019

Establishment of the North African branch office in Casablanca, Morocco, in May 2019 with a local technical and sales team to better serve our African customers.

2020-2023

Creation of the Spanish branch office in Malaga in April of 2020, with local sales team.  

2024

In the year 2024, our parent organization, Toyo Ink Mfg. Co., Ltd, underwent a name transformation and became artience Co., Ltd. This change reflects our expanded range of services and products since the inception of Toyo Ink. By merging the terms "art" and "science," our aim is to comprehensively represent the varied subsidiaries within the artience Group.