Tower Products has been a leader in pressroom chemistry since 1986. From fountain solutions to roller care to wipes, products meet every pressroom need with unmatched reliability. The company is now formulating its Knockout Pressroom Cleaner in wipes form to conveniently clean and degrease the  most hard surfaces including: vinyl, rubber, metal, porcelain, fiberglass and plastic in the pre-press, pressroom and bindery departments. Kristin Kott, business development at Tower Producs, and the Queen of Wipes, discusses the new produdct with Household and Personal Care Wipes.

HPCW: What is the formula behind Knock Out Wipes? What is the main application for this product? It looks like it was originally a liquid formula?  

KK: Knockout pressroom cleaner was made over a decade ago to dissolve ink, adhesives, paint, dirt, grime, and grease. We quickly learned that it worked just as well outside of the printing industry. Automotive, marine, to clean bathtubs, tools, etc… Tough enough to get the job done, yet safe enough to be California compliant.

HPCW: Why did you think this was a product that would find success in a wipe format?

KK: When I, aka “The Queen of Wipes,” joined the Tower family, I became obsessed with knockout and knew it had to be turned into the perfect wipe to enhance performance.

HPCW: Was it challenging to incorporate this formula into a wipes format? 

KK: We tried many substrates and saturation levels until we found the “perfect wipe/solution ratio.”

HPCW: How was Tower able to overcome these challenges? 

KK: We had many employees and customers test our knockout wipes in and outside of pressrooms to give honest advice and feedback. They were even tested by students at Clemson University, one of the top-tier educators in the print industry.

HPCW: Does Tower have plans to introduce more wipes product? Or do you have a lot of wipes products already? 

KK: Tower already offers a two-sided press and hand wipe with an abrasive side for cleaning presses and surfaces and smooth side for cleaning and softening hands, dry cloths and lint free digital wipes for digital presses that have been pre-laundered with sealed edges. We have extensive plans to increase our wipe products both in and out of the pressroom.

HPCW: Can you discuss the market for industrial wipes? Do you feel there are a lot of opportunities still in this category. What is driving this demand? 

KK: The wipe industry will continue to grow in years to come. Wipes are an easier and more convenient option than old school ways of cleaning, without the risk of cross contamination. Tower wants to help lead the plastic free wipe initiative in the next 10 years. Especially when it comes to the marine industry. 90% of marine debris is plastic. Marine industry… we have a plastic free solution for you!

Kristin Olson-Kott, known as the “Queen of Wipes” on LinkedIn with over 115,000 followers, is a business development and sales expert at Tower Products LLC, specializing in wipes, chemicals  and toll blending across various industries. She is a recognized influencer in the industry, focusing on product-based business development and unique formulations. More info: [email protected]

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