Feature
Ink and toner
Two key trends seen in today’s printing inks market are an
increase in flexographic printing inks and the shift towards
environment-friendly inks – such as water-based and UV-
cured that reduce the effects of toxic materials used in
conventional printing inks. Also, as more sophisticated press-
es emerge, inks and toner options are becoming more
specialized, especially for wide-format inkjet and textile print-
ing. Two recent toner releases include Neon Pink from Ricoh,
developed for the fifth colour station on its Ricoh Pro C7100X
Series of digital production presses. Plus, Heidelberg now
offers an optional new neon yellow spot colour for its Versafire
CV digital system. This toner glows under UV light and can
also be used as a security feature, since it’s almost impossible
to copy.
workflow and image quality. Ergo, many leading manufactur-
ers have gone to great lengths to certify or recommend
certain substrates for maximum on-press performance and
image quality. And there are literally thousands of choices
out there, especially for inkjet.
However, recent years have also seen an increase in the use
of specialty substrates (as opposed to purchasing expensive
finishing or embellishment presses). For medium or small print-
ers who don’t deal in larger runs, these specialty substrates
can be a path to differentiating themselves from their competi-
tors. Specialty papers are created or converted for a very
specific use. They’re either manufactured separately, or normal
paper is converted into specialty paper by coating it with certain
chemicals, making them ideal for a specific application. These
papers have specific characteristics (i.e. often lightweight with
high opacity) and can play a unique role in packaging, printing,
and industrial printing. One leader in this space is Illinois-based
GPA Specialty Substrates. Its most recent release, for example,
was an expansion of its pearlescent papers that feature a
shimmering pearl-like textured surface.
Synthetic substrates are also growing. New Jersey-based
HOP Industries is one major player in this space. Its papers
are made from polypropylene resin and calcium carbonate,
are totally “tree-free” and 100% recyclable. “The synthetic
paper market is expected to grow 10%-15% per year over the
next five years because of the demand for more environment-
ally-friendly plastics that are 100% recyclable,” said Jack
Smith, senior VP of HOP Industries. “They’re also popular
because of the growing trend in digital printing via laser,
Indigo, UV and latex inkjet, that are extremely printer-friendly.
Our Hop-Syn line is one of the most popular synthetic papers
because it includes a wide range of thicknesses and grades.”
Generally speaking then, synthetic papers combine the ver-
satility of traditional paper with the durability of plastic, which
makes them ideal for outdoor applications. They’re environ-
mentally friendly, waterproof, tear, scuff, and temperature
resistant, more durable than traditional papers, flexible, fold-
able, and can hold colours well regardless of the printing
process used.
@graphicarts
Of course, the most disruptive technology in this space is
Landa Nanography that utilizes tiny ink pigments that absorb
much more light than traditional inks. The ultra-small Landa
NanoInk pigments form a very thin layer of ink and allow digital
printing at very high speeds on ordinary untreated paper
stocks, and on just about any plastic packaging film or label
stock. The final images are abrasion-resistant and scratch-
resistant – and the overall ink cost savings are huge.
Also important in this
space is software and
technology that controls
the amount of ink used for
any given print project.
Agfa’s wide-format inkjet
printers are a leader in this
area, utilizing an extremely
low ink laydown that can
result in major ink cost sav-
ings for printers – all
without sacrificing print
q u a l i t y. A l s o key i n
reducing ink waste are
devices such as ink dispensers, ink levellers, agitators, foun-
tain liners and dosing equipment, which have proven their
worth over the years.
In the end, it’s all
about cutting costs by
reducing consumable
and substrate waste
while maintaining
optimal print quality
In the end, it’s all about cutting costs by reducing consumable
and substrate waste while maintaining optimal print quality.
And if you investigate further, you’ll discover that the cost
savings over a year can really add up. Look at it this way: If
you buy just one coffee each morning that costs from $3 to
$5, you’ll be spending from $1,095 to $1,825 a year. So you
see, consuming consumables can be an all-consuming (and
costly) habit.
Tony Curcio
Editor, Graphic Arts Magazine
[email protected]
GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE | October 2018 | 35