Pressrelease2May2016

ArmorGroupPressRelationsMélanieAlexandre(Giotto)

0148741862-m.alexandre@giotto-cr.com

Armorcreatesanewindustrialinksbusiness Fordecorating,drawingorcommunicating,whatever it isusedfor, inkswill in futurebeappliedtosurfacesmadefromevermorecomplexmaterials.Theywillalsobringfunctionsthatarestrategicforthedevelopmentofnew technologies inenergy, electronicsor airde-pollution.Armor'snewbusiness is a response to thesenewforward-facingchallenges,byprovidingindustrialcustomerswithstateoftheartexpertiseinindustrialinksfordigitalprintingapplications. ArmorisinitiatingarevolutionintheinksmarketForthefirsttime,Armorisopeningupitsinksexpertisetootherindustrialusers.TheGroupisdiversifyingandlaunchinganewbusinessdedicatedtothedevelopmentandtheproductionofhighqualityindustrialinks.Thisisa response to the expanding demands of themarket for inks, opening up to new applications in evermoreextensivefields.Thismayforexampleincludeinksforindustrialdecorsintendedforprintingonglass,forfloorcoveringsorwoodenfurniture,aswellastextiles.Armor'sexpertiseofferssolutionsforhigh-techmaterialslikeskis or heat shapeable items (helmets, phones, automotive parts, safety light units), as well as for digitallyprintingfoodpackaging.Armorsupportsthedevelopmentofstateofthearttechnologybringingmoreflexibilityandaddingwellqualifiedjobs.Thisishowdigitalprintinghascontributedtothe"fastfashion"phenomena,anapproachbettersuitedtochangingtrendswhileprotectingdesigner's industrialpropertythroughfastproductrange replacement, before low cost copies have had time to roll out. Other innovative applications over themediumtermforArmor'snewindustrialinksincludefunctionalinksthatarestrategicinthefieldsofenergyorcuttingedgeelectronics.Thesehighvalueaddedinkscanbefound,forexample,inconductiveinksintendedforprintedelectronics,insulatinginksorphoto-catalyticonesthatcontributetocleansingtheair.

A"MadeinEurope"projectwithasustainablegrowthfoundationTocomplete thisambitiousproject,Armorhasmobilised teamsofchemists throughoutEurope.EveryonehascontributedtothissuccessbybringingtheirownexpertiseattheARMORINKSLAB.R&DisledfromFranceandGermany, while final inks formulation takes place in Germany, ready for manufacture at the Group's Polishfacility,guaranteeingthehighestquality inksalongwith largescaleproductioncapacities.Thisnewbusiness isthe fourthpillar in theArmorGroup's expansion. "Thisnewbusiness is the fourthpillar in theArmorGroup'sexpansion. The company's ambition is to offer innovative technology grounded in sustainable growth. Digitalprinting is used to print "on demand", eliminating stocks and therefore encouraging material savings incolourings and substrates.We are aiming for very high growthmarkets,making available our world renownexpertiseininks,ourR&Dthatisresolutelytargetedatsustainablegrowthandourproductionmachinerythatisimmediately available." explains Hubert de Boisredon, Armor's Chairman & CEO. The business has alreadykickedoffwiththefirstindustrialpartnershipsinplaceatthestartof2016.

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ArmorGroupPressRelationsMélanieAlexandre(Giotto)

0148741862-m.alexandre@giotto-cr.com

AnaturaldiversificationforArmorSince1922,Armorhasspecialisedininkschemistry.Thefirstapplicationsrelatedtocarbonpaperandtypewriterribbons. In expanding its business, the Group has continually improved and expanded its expertise in inks,servingproductsandsolutions:inksjetandlaserprintercartridges,thermaltransferribbons,currentcollectorsforEn’Safebatteries,thirdgenerationphotovoltaicfilms.Today,Armorisopeningupitsin-houseexpertiseandR&D in inks toserve innovationsbyother industrialplayers, therebyopeningtheway forunprecedentednewapplications.

ARMORArmoristheworldleaderinThermalTransferbusinessribbonsforprintingonpackagingandbarcodelabels,theleading European producer of inks jet cartridges and the leading seller of remanufactured laser cartridges inFrance.This French intermediate size company is founding its growth on a strategy of co-industrialisation andsustainable innovation.Our2,000staffare locatedat24 industrialand logistics locationsonallof theworld'scontinents,with680staffinFrance.Armorannouncedaninvestmentof€35millioninFranceinOctober2015forthedevelopmentofitsrenewableenergybusinesses.In2015thegroupachievedturnoverof€240million,ofwhich80%camefromexports.