Markem-Imaje Expands Sustainable Ink Production and Launches New R&D Hub in New Hampshire
Markem-Imaje, a global leader in supply chain solutions and industrial marking and coding systems and a subsidiary of Dover Corporation —has announced a major expansion of its operations in New Hampshire. The company is making a significant investment in its Keene facility to enhance production capacity for its innovative and eco-friendly Touch Dry® wax-based inks. In tandem with this move, the company also revealed plans to open a new research, development, and engineering office in Salem, New Hampshire, by the end of 2025.
This dual expansion initiative underscores Markem-Imaje’s ongoing commitment to innovation, environmental sustainability, and support for regional economic development. The upgrades to its Keene manufacturing site—recognized with a prestigious Platinum sustainability rating from EcoVadis—will help the company better respond to rising global demand for high-performance, environmentally responsible coding and marking solutions.
Touch Dry® inks are a signature technology for Markem-Imaje, widely used in sectors such as logistics, warehousing, and consumer-packaged goods. These inks, which dry instantly on contact and are free from volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are increasingly favored by manufacturers seeking to reduce environmental impact without compromising on quality or performance.
The expansion of wax-based ink production in Keene will not only increase capacity but will also optimize operational efficiency and reinforce the company’s leadership in sustainable consumables. With market demand for greener and safer printing technologies continuing to grow, Markem-Imaje is positioning itself to serve customers more effectively across a wide range of industries.
Dane Hileman, Product Division Director at Markem-Imaje, emphasized the importance of this strategic development in a recent statement:
“We’ve seen consistent global growth in demand for our Touch Dry® ink technology and consumables, driven by our customers’ increasing emphasis on operational efficiency,” Hileman said. “Our expansions in both Keene and Salem will enable us to strengthen our global production capabilities while continuing to invest in the local community.”
The new R&D and engineering center in Salem will serve as a hub for innovation. It will bring together interdisciplinary teams specializing in electrical, mechanical, and software engineering. These teams will focus on advancing the company’s next-generation printing technologies and ink formulations, ensuring Markem-Imaje continues to deliver solutions that meet the evolving needs of modern supply chains.
By housing R&D operations close to its existing facilities and customer base, Markem-Imaje aims to foster faster innovation cycles and deeper collaboration between its development teams and end users. This co-located approach allows the company to accelerate the commercialization of new products and fine-tune solutions that address specific industry challenges.
Beyond operational benefits, these expansions also represent a major investment in the local New Hampshire economy. The upgrades to the Keene site and the establishment of the Salem office are expected to create new high-skilled jobs and support the development of a stronger local talent pool in engineering and advanced manufacturing.
Markem-Imaje’s continued focus on integrating sustainable practices into its manufacturing and product development strategies aligns with broader trends across the industrial and packaging sectors. As businesses increasingly prioritize eco-conscious solutions, Markem-Imaje is proactively delivering technologies that support cleaner operations while enhancing performance and reliability.
