2017
Toyo Ink Develops Completely VOC-free EB-curable Flexo Inks
Announced: Jan. 30, 2017
Published: Jan. 30, 2017
TOYO INK CO., LTD.
January 30, 2017, Tokyo, Japan — Toyo Ink Co., Ltd., a member of the Toyo Ink Group, announced today the successful development of the Elex-one™ series of EB (electron beam) curable flexo inks. The new Elex-one series is completely VOC-free, making it an ideal solution for food-safe flexible and carton packaging applications.
The flexible package printing market has seen growing interest from package printers and converters in VOC- and CO2-reducing technology,due to increased environmental and safety concerns and regulatory requirements. Demand is particularly strong in North American and European markets, where flexo inks based on solvent materials are mainstream technologies. Since the drupa exhibition last May, industry demand for both water-based flexo and EB-curable flexo has been gaining momentum in these regions.
“Many of the EB flexo inks out on the market today containsmall traces of solventthat is chemically added into the ink during the curing process,” said Katsumi Yamazaki, president and CEO of Toyo Ink. “The Elex-one series was specially formulated by Toyo Ink engineers to cure using only EB irradiation — without the addition of a volatile component. As a result of this, we are able to offer a completely VOC-free solution that still provides the high print quality and performance results that are our customers require.”
EB flexo inks do not evaporate or volatilize on the printing press, so the ink does not change in consistency during processing. Since ink curing does not occur on the plate, stable print quality can be achieved even over long runs. In addition, EB inks are highly safe from chemical migration in that its composition is free of solvents or photoinitiators, making it a non-hazardous material suitable for use in food packaging materials and sanitary products.
Elex-one is currently undergoing trial testing for the European market. Once approved, Toyo Ink plans to begin the commercial release of the product in the region. Subsequent launches into new markets are expected once the company establishes a foothold in Europe.
About Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.
Toyo Ink, a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co., Ltd., oversees the Group’s Printing and Information- and the Packaging Materials-related business segments. It is the driving force behind the Group’s graphic arts companies in Japan and abroad. Leveraging its high technical expertise, the company brings color and function to virtually all aspects of life. In addition to high quality, high value-added, environmentally friendly printing inks for every type of printing, the company provides tools and solutions for consumer safety and security including printing process standards support, assistance with energy saving, materials saving and environmental response, universal design and food sanitation management. For more information, visit www.toyoink.jp/en/.
For more information on Toyo Ink SC Holdings, the parent company of the Toyo Ink Group, see schd.toyoinkgroup.com/en/.
- * Toyo Ink, the Toyo Ink logo and Elex-one are trademarks or registered trademarks of Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co., Ltd.
[Inquiries]
Takumi Miyagawa / Teppei Kusano
Flexo Ink Sales Department, High-performance Materials Sales Division
Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.
TEL: +81-3272-0724
[Press, publishers, and the general public]
Mayumi Mizutani
Group Corporate Communication Department
Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co., Ltd.
MAIL: info@toyoinkgroup.com
TEL: +81-3-3272-5720
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Update: Jan. 30, 2017
