Ink developments

Ink developments

Andy Thomas rounds up the latest developments in ink technology, where key trends include low migration UV inks, opaque UV flexo whites and use of renewable resources to formulate inks

Flint Group has made a major push in low migration ink technology with the launch of its Flexocure Ancora UV flexo line of inks, which comply with the Swiss Ordinance on Materials and Articles (SR 817.023.21). The Flexocure Ancora line additionally provides good adhesion and scratch resistance on synthetic materials, says the company. Flint has also announced the global availability of its BioCure F UV flexo inks made up of 10 percent renewable linseed oil acrylate in place of traditional resin.

Sun Chemical has meanwhile introduced SolarFlex Nova SL, a low odor ink system based on Nestlé’s ‘positive list’ of photoinitiators. The company’s best practice guide to low migration printing –  ‘Designing Packaging with Certainty’ – is now available in Italian, Turkish and German in addition to the English version launched last year.

Sun has also launched SolarFlex Lightning white UV flexo ink, as well as its SolarScreen range of UV screen whites. ‘This indicates that the market still requires solutions for both these print processes for clear label applications,’ says Jonathan Sexton, sales and marketing director, Narrow Web Europe.

From Ruco comes UVFX/MA, a line of low-migration and silicone-free ink systems which comply with Nestle’s EuPIA Photoinitiatior Suitability List 1A and SR 817.023.21. The UVFX/MA line offers high opacity, printability and chemical resistance, says Ruco.

Siegwerk now has a complete line of low migration inks, varnishes and coatings for UV flexo, UV offset and waterless UV offset printing, and for all substrates including paper, plastic and carton board. The Sicura lines are supported by low-migration gloss and matte varnishes and a metallic ink series, providing label converters and package printers with a wide range of options for the food packaging market. 

Looking at sustainable ink solutions, Siegwerk has launched its Sicura ECO series of UV flexo inks, manufactured from 50 percent renewable raw materials. The company is also promoting its Fast Match color management system which automatically calculates the amount of ink required for a given job and provides formulas to create the necessary color from left over ink.

Zeller + Gmelin has its own low migration products for UV flexo and UV offset printing and coating systems. The UVAflex Y71 series includes a high opacity UV flexo white ink for standard materials and a high opacity white ink specially designed for shrink sleeve applications. The UVAlux series U41 is designed for UV offset and screen printing on papers and films while the U71 series is tailored for UV offset printing on thin film materials.

Marabu is promoting its low migration UltraRotaScreen UVSF 174 rotary screen white ink for combined UV screen and UV flexo printing applications. The company is also promoting its recently launched UV LED curable inks.

Actega WIT has introduced a low migration UV ink called Pharmaflex Signature UV, as well as Performa Classic, a water-based system with enhanced rub resistance.  In addition the company has assembled a complete package of inks, coatings and adhesives specially formulated for wine label printing. The range includes inks for high definition printing, matte and gloss coatings with high rub resistance, and lamination and pressure sensitive adhesives.

Pulse Roll Label Products has launched a new silicone-free UV screen white ink. SF010 is formulated as a first-down white for subsequent over-printing by flexo, letterpress and litho, screen inks or varnishes, and can be used with a number of screens including Gallus and Stork.  A wide range of substrates can be processed including coated/treated PE/PP, PVC, Polyester and some foils.

FujiFilm Sericol is promoting its UVivid Flexo JD Supernova white as an alternative to UV screen white. The company also claims its JD flexo inks series can produce opaque prints on clear filmic materials without the need for a backing white.

Belgium-based UV Curable Systems (UCS), meanwhile, has introduced a range of products including primers and overprint varnishes for low migration food packaging applications, UV-curing primers to improve the adhesion and print quality of digital UV inks; and a white ink which can be overprinted with digital UV inks. Interestingly, the company is also offering LED-curing varnishes.

Inkjet specialist Domino Printing Sciences has added new inks for its high speed coding equipment. First up is a fast-drying black ink for plastic-based substrates for its A-Series range of CIJ (continuous ink jet) printers. The ink does not require an air dryer and remains moisture-resistant even in pasteurization and chilled storage situations. 

The second new product is a black Ethanol-based ink for Domino’s G-Series thermal ink jet (TIJ) printers. BK107 is resistant to abrasion and deterioration after application to a range of filmic substrates including PE, POPP, Cast PP and Polyester/PET. Both inks conform to EuPIA Guideline for Food Packaging Inks.

DNA security

A new printing system using DNA ink, derived from plant DNA, will be used by Nissha Printing in Japan to mark and authenticate labels on high value food products.

The DNA ink was developed by Nissha in partnership with APDN, and can be applied by offset, gravure and inkjet. Nissha has signed an exclusive agreement with APDN to become the sole provider of these ink products in publications, fish and fruit applications in Asia.

Counterfeiting of Japanese branded sea foods is a growing problem throughout Asia, and Nissha says its DNA ink printing system will allow instant verification of genuine products. A special handheld detector is used to identify the anti-counterfeiting ink, either at the point of sale or along the supply chain. A second, forensic level of authentication is also available by sending the suspect product to a secure lab. It is claimed to be entirely safe and non-invasive, and food is not altered.

Pictured: Modern inks need to be highly versatile to key to the wide range of substrates now being handled by label and packaging converters. Images courtesy of Domino Printing Sciences

This article was published in L&L issue 1, 2012

Andy Thomas

  • Strategic director