What application is the ink designed for?
Domino’s BK107 ethanol-based thermal inkjet ink is designed for use on challenging high-gloss substrates, specifically shiny wrappers used for packaging confectionery, biscuits, bakery, beverage and pharmaceutical and healthcare products. Domino says this is one of the first thermal inkjet inks suitable for use on glossy substrates. Previously, waxjet, roller coding, laser printing or continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers would have been used to apply coding and logos to these kinds of materials.
What printers is it compatible with?
The ink is designed for use with Domino’s G-series range of printers, which consists of the G100, G200 and G300.
When was it launched and what market is it aimed at?
The ink was launched in November 2011. It is aimed at food and pharmaceutical manufacturers that need to apply date, expiry and batch codes to packaging to ensure products can be traced in the event of, for example, a recall. "Coding on sandwich packs is obviously very important because they have a faster sell-by date than confectionery items," says thermal inkjet product manager at Domino Alan Mutch. "The substrates used by pharmaceutical firms are becoming more and more glossy as they try to market their products better, so this is a widening market for the ink."
What are its USPs?
According to Mutch, the advantage of applying this kind of code with a thermal inkjet printer is greater print clarity and durability than alternative processes such as waxjet, roller coding and CIJ. With the exception of laser printing, which is quite an expensive alternative says Mutch, these other processes can lead to the code rubbing off. "If you look at the wrappers of a lot of chocolate bars, you’ll find you can rub the code off with your fingernail," he says. "BK107, on the other hand, has very good adhesion when used on glossy substrates and also dries very quickly. With a code that can’t be rubbed off you have the advantage of protecting both the general public and retailer better."
How easy is it to use?
Printing with the Domino BK107 ink is as easy as using a home or office desktop printer, says Mutch. "There’s no special knowledge needed for using the ink and G-series inkjet printers," he says. "It’s designed so that people working at the end of production lines can easily swap cartridges. And it doesn’t require any special conditions – reasonably ambient temperatures of 18-20°C will ensure the ink performs well."
How often the cartridge needs changing will depend, adds Mutch, on what exactly is being printed. "We have printing volumes from 100,000 prints per cartridge to 1m prints per cartridge," he says, "so it all depends on how many characters and logos are being printed and their complexity. Obviously, the greater the complexity, the faster the cartridge will be used up."
What is the sales target?
There are eight companies using this ink in the UK, says Mutch. "We’ve also had a number of people using the ink globally,"
SPECIFICATIONS
Printer compatibility Domino G-Series (G100, G200, G300)
Environmental standards Domino fluids are manufactured to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 18001
Price £242 for a box of five cartridges
Contact Domino 01954 782551, www.domino-printing.com
ALTERNATIVES
General Company Black Sapphire ink
Black Sapphire ‘heatless’ ink can print on non-porous substrates, such as blister foil, orientated nylon, varnish overcoat, clay coat, aqueous acrylic overcoat and polyester. The ink is filled into HP cartridges and, according to the manufacturer, performs well even when printing on coated substrates using a smaller industrial HP desktop printer, with no dryer set-up.
Printer compatibility Wolke, HSA, Markoprint, REA and other printers with HP TIJ 2.5 head
Environmental standards REACH, RoHS
Price up to €70 (£58) per cartridge, depending on supplier
Contact General Company +39 02 4548 6203, www.general.co.jp
Markem Imaje 9660 ink
Markem Imaje’s 9660 black ink is compatible with all of the company’s 9000 series continuous inkjet printers and, says Markem Imaje, delivers fast drying times and good adhesion on glossy and non-porous surfaces. The ink is also MEK- and Ketone-free which, says the company, significantly minimises the ink’s impact on the environment.
Printer compatibility Markem-Imaje 9000 series continuous inkjet range
Environmental standards ISO 9001, ISO 14001, RoHS
Price £233 for a box of 4x0.8l cartridges
Contact Markem Imaje 0161 333 8555, www.markem-imaje.co.uk
