Sun Chemical leaders honored by NAPIM

Four Sun Chemical leaders have received honors from the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM) for their contributions to printing ink technology, with Russell Schwartz winning the 2026 Ault Award, NAPIM's highest honor, and Dr Nikola Juhasz, Don Sierzega and Neil Forsythe each winning the 2026 George Fuchs Award (Printing Ink Pioneer).

The awards were presented at the 2026 NAPIM Annual Convention & Technical Conference. The Ault Award, established in memory of L.A. Ault, founder of the Ault and Wiborg Company, recognizes exceptional contributions to the printing ink industry. The George Fuchs Award honors Printing Ink Pioneers with at least 20 years of service, significant industry involvement and meaningful technical contributions.

Schwartz has spent more than four decades at Sun Chemical. He joined as a research chemist in 1981 and became chief technology officer in 2011 and oversees research and development across printing inks, pigments, coatings, electronic materials and other specialty products. He holds more than 60 US patents and received NAPIM's Technical Achievement Award in 2005.

Juhasz, global technical director for sustainability, has more than 30 years of experience in chemicals, polymers and materials, including a decade at Sun Chemical. Her work has supported washable inks, recycling-friendly coatings and nitrocellulose-free platforms designed to improve packaging recyclability while maintaining performance. Sierzega joined in 1988 as a color matcher and formulator and is now global category manager for packaging solvents and resins across North America and Europe. Forsythe, who has 40 years in the ink and pigment industries, began at Ciba-Geigy in Paisley, Scotland, and now leads ink business development in North America and manages several global key accounts.

'On behalf of Sun Chemical, I congratulate Russ, Neil, Don and Nikola on this well-deserved recognition. Their expertise, leadership and dedication exemplify the values that drive our company and strengthen the industries we serve,' said Myron Petruch, president and CEO of Sun Chemical.

'NAPIM creates valuable opportunities for our industry to exchange knowledge and celebrate the people moving printing ink technology and the broader graphic arts field forward. We appreciate the organization's continued commitment to that mission,' added Jim Van Horn, chief administrative officer, general counsel and secretary of Sun Chemical.