The Growing Demand for R&D Roles in Ink, Coatings, and Packaging Materials

In the printing and packaging industry, there's been a significant shift over the past few years--while skilled press operators, supervisors, and maintenance techs remain in high demand, there’s a new player rising in importance: R&D professionals focused on ink, coatings, and packaging materials.

From sustainability initiatives to performance-driven product innovation, companies are looking beyond production efficiency and into the science behind what they print and package. And that’s where the need for R&D talent is accelerating.

Why the Shift?

1. Sustainability Goals Are No Longer Optional

Packaging companies are under increasing pressure to reduce environmental impact. Brands want compostable, recyclable, or reusable solutions, and printers must keep up. That means developing new coatings, adhesives, and substrates that meet sustainability benchmarks—all of which starts in the lab.

2. Customization and Performance Demands

Customers want packaging that holds up in extreme conditions, stands out on the shelf, and works seamlessly on high-speed lines. Ink and coating chemists are tasked with making these visions a reality.

3. Increased Use of Flexible and Specialty Packaging

Shrink sleeves, pouches, and high-barrier films require technical formulations that function without compromising print quality. R&D teams must experiment with how inks cure, how substrates react, and how coatings perform under pressure.

What Companies Are Looking For

Whether it’s an Ink Lab Technician, Formulation Chemist, or Packaging Materials Engineer, the trend is clear: companies need candidates who bring more than just lab skills. They want:

• Hands-on experience with flexo, gravure, or digital printing

• Deep knowledge of polymers, resins, adhesives, or UV/EB systems

• Understanding of sustainability compliance (like FDA, compostability, recyclability)

• A collaborative mindset to work across departments, from pressroom to sales

  
  

Where the Talent Shortage Hits

This demand has exposed a real talent gap. Many R&D professionals are nearing retirement, and newer generations are only beginning to discover the wide career paths available in printing and packaging sciences. Technical colleges and universities are just starting to catch up with this trend.

As a recruiter, I’ve seen more companies get creative—either training up operators who show lab aptitude or expanding relocation packages to attract chemists and scientists from other regions or industries.

A Word to Candidates

If you’ve ever been the go-to problem solver in your pressroom—the one who tones ink, plays with pH, or gets excited about troubleshooting adhesion issues—R&D might be your next career step. And if you’re already working in a lab setting in another industry, this could be the time to explore packaging innovation.

A Word to Employers

Investing in your R&D pipeline isn’t just about hiring one chemist. It’s about cultivating a mindset of continuous improvement and innovation. Candidates in this space are drawn to companies that value experimentation, offer professional development, and support cross-functional collaboration.

Conclusion

The printing and packaging industry is evolving quickly, and the rise in R&D roles is a clear sign that innovation is becoming just as important as production. Whether you’re hiring or job hunting, it’s time to pay attention to the lab.