Our story

Iran Shoraka was founded in October 1982 by Engineer Hossein Ghareh Mohammadlou. Established during the challenging years of the Iran–Iraq war, the company began without government financial assistance, drawing on the scientific knowledge, technical expertise and determination of its founders.

That commitment shaped the company’s growth. In 1993, Iran Shoraka opened a modern factory equipped with advanced printing-ink production technology, while expanding its work in raw materials for the printing industry and related sectors.

Our production facilities use equipment from specialist manufacturers, including Bühler of Switzerland, alongside Swiss and German production technologies. We manufacture inks with raw materials sourced from established European suppliers, supported by laboratory testing and quality control.

The Safadasht industrial site covers 32,000 m², including 14,000 m² of buildings. The company’s published factory profile records a licensed annual capacity of 6,000 tonnes and a production capacity of 12,000 tonnes. Alongside serving the Iranian market, Iran Shoraka exports to neighbouring countries, the United Arab Emirates and markets across Africa.

Products are manufactured to the applicable German DIN specifications, with quality control carried out in our laboratories. The company’s quality-management history includes certification to ISO 9001:2008. Continued investment in technology, product development and staff training remains central to our approach.

• Sheetfed offset inks for absorbent and non-absorbent papers.
• Coldset and heatset web offset inks.
• Sheetfed and web letterpress inks.
• Metal-decorating offset inks.
• Letterpress and flexographic inks for cartons.
• Flexographic inks for metal and polymer films, including cellophane, PE and PP.
• IR printing inks for offset and letterpress applications.
• Pantone colour inks made to order.
• Pressroom products, including overprint varnishes, ink reducers, anti-set-off additives, driers, fountain-solution additives, roller washes and specialist solvents.
• Water-based pigment products for textile, leather and paint applications.
• Dry offset inks for printing on disposable containers.
• Water-based overprint varnishes.

To supply printing inks that meet European quality expectations at competitive prices, backed by responsive technical support and after-sales service.

To become a leading printing-ink supplier in the Middle East by strengthening local manufacturing and complementing it with established German products where local production is not available.

We put customers at the centre of our work, focusing on dependable quality, competitive costs and practical support. We also work to improve our environmental performance and explore safer solutions as our products and processes develop.

Born in March 1944 in a village near Khoy, Hossein Ghareh Mohammadlou grew up with a strong sense of responsibility and a deep enthusiasm for learning. He began working at the age of seven, helping with gardening, farming, bookkeeping and writing petitions for local villagers.

His daily journey to school covered three kilometres, often through difficult winter conditions. After helping his father on the farm, he studied by the light of an oil lamp. An outstanding pupil, he developed an early interest in teaching and went on to train as a teacher before spending several years in the classroom.

His desire to keep learning took him to the University of Tehran, where he studied chemical sciences. He also joined the university wrestling team and admired the celebrated Iranian wrestler Takhti. Work, learning and sport remained important throughout his life.

After graduation, he joined Iran Ink Company and later travelled to Germany for technical training. On returning to Iran, he began producing black printing ink in a small workshop in Malard, near Karaj, before founding Iran Shoraka in 1982.

He believed that inks made in Iran could compete internationally on both quality and price. He expanded the factory, developed export markets and established a resin-production plant, pursuing his ambition to manufacture more of the industry’s raw materials locally.

Alongside his industrial work, he researched, wrote and translated books and articles about printing. He also taught at the Technical and Vocational University and the University of Applied Science and Technology without seeking payment, believing that sharing knowledge and encouraging young people were essential to economic progress.

Engineer Mohammadlou died in February 2021 after a long illness. Iran Shoraka continues the legacy of his determination, technical curiosity and belief in the capabilities of Iranian manufacturing.