Nazdar OEM Technical Services Representative, Tony Parsons, partners with OMET Americas, Inc to discuss factors that need to be addressed when choosing the right ink for your job.
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Controlling ink migration and odor:
Low odor/low migration inks are formulated with higher molecular weight materials with binding agents to help control transmission onto or through barriers.
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"Low migration" however, can be confusing. Low odor/low migration inks are formulated with higher molecular weight materials with binding agents to help control transmission onto or through barriers. Larger pieces have trouble passing through smaller openings. While you may think that purchasing a low migration ink set means your product is also low migration, this isn't necessarily the case. Ink is only one piece of the migration puzzle. Substrate/structure transmission, cure capability, conformance to good manufacturing practices, and many more variables contribute to migration. The key is to not guess. Your ink supplier can help guide you through the uncertainty of low migration.
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Ink strength:
Strength does not just provide vibrant color; it also plays a key role in overall print capability and efficiency.
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Strength does not just provide vibrant color, it also plays a key role in overall print capability and efficiency. The tooling selection you use is directly dependent on ink strength. Strength influences image fidelity and ability to decrease decks through combining line and halftone on a single plate. It also impacts ink mileage and cost, as printers/converters can spend hundreds of hours a year wrestling with color strength. Proper pigment selection, particle size, and transparency are some of the factors that ink formulators consider to provide stronger inks. Collaborate with an ink supplier that offers strong inks, fully understands your process and who will be able to recommend the inks to fit your needs.
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Speed is everything when it comes to ink selection, but it is important to understand its true role.
Press manufactures continue to push speed capabilities higher and higher to increase efficiency without sacrificing performance.
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Press manufacturers continue to push speed capabilities higher and higher to increase efficiency without sacrificing performance while ink suppliers continue to keep pace. But, how often does your press operate at or near maximum speed? Die-cutting, slitting, sheeting, cold-foil, and other in-line processes help control cost and efficiency by preventing the use of secondary processing. However, this in-line method frequently limits speeds. Inks that perform well at 800 plus feet/minute may add piece of mind, but also may not be necessary. Inks requiring lower cure speeds are frequently more economical than high-speed inks. Your ink supplier should know your requirements and fit the ink system to your process.
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Substrates are specified by buyers to meet consumer needs.
With an ever-growing variety of substrates on th emarket, inks must become increasingly versatile, and a single ink system that meets all requirements is a challenge.
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More and more often, inks must adhere to both absorptive and non-absorptive substrates, while conforming to a wide range of regulatory and end-use requirements. Your ink supplier should have a strong understanding of the latest materials available on the market and be able to recommend the best options.
Conclusion: The best ink is the one that fits your specific process and service requirements. No two printers/converters, presses, or customer bases are the same. Your ink supplier should become a true partner of your company, in order to provide the ink that's right for your job.