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Plastic film Water-based gravure printing ink features advantages
Date: Oct 23 2023 From: Star Color Views:
Star Color plastic film water-based gravure printing ink is a high-solid-content, low-viscosity surface printing ink designed for universal printing applications. By eliminating organic solvents, this innovative ink from Star Color not only improves the working environment but also eliminates toxic and harmful substances commonly found in solvent-based inks—effectively preventing contamination of packaged goods. Specifically formulated for rotary gravure printing machines, it is ideal for printing on corona-treated BOPP, PE, and PVC films, widely used in food bags, medicine bags, beverage bags, and other packaging products.
Star Color's water-based gravure printing ink adapts to printing speeds ranging from 80 to 250 m/min, making it suitable for low to medium-speed printing operations. It boasts non-combustible, non-explosive, non-toxic, and odorless properties, paired with excellent ink stability, bright color reproduction, no plate corrosion, and easy operation. Post-printing, it delivers strong adhesion, superior water resistance, and fast drying speeds that meet the high-efficiency demands of printing plants—supporting both four-color overprinting and spot color printing with consistent, high-quality results.
Four Core Advantages of Star Color Plastic Film Water-Based Gravure Printing Ink
1. Zero Atmospheric Pollution (VOC-Free)
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are widely recognized as one of the primary sources of global air pollution. Unlike solvent-based inks, Star Color’s water-based gravure printing ink uses water as its main solvent carrier—emitting almost no VOCs into the atmosphere during both production and printing. This eco-friendly feature is unmatched by traditional solvent-based alternatives.For low-concentration VOC treatment, only a small number of packaging and printing plants use activated carbon adsorption—a method that requires large investments, high operation and maintenance costs, and produces recovered solvents with high water content that are unfit for reuse or further processing. Most enterprises simply vent low-concentration VOCs directly into the atmosphere. In contrast, solvent-based inks contain 25%-35% organic solvents, which volatilize completely during printing, resulting in massive VOC emissions. Star Color’s water-based ink eliminates this critical shortcoming, making it the preferred choice for environmentally conscious printing and packaging enterprises worldwide.
2. Minimized Toxic Residues on Printed Materials
Since Star Color’s water-based gravure printing ink contains no organic solvents, toxic residues on printed surfaces are significantly reduced. This feature is particularly valuable for packaging and printing products with strict hygiene requirements, such as tobacco, alcohol, food, beverages, medicines, and children’s toys—where health and safety are paramount.As global attention to food safety continues to grow, regulations on harmful substance residues in packaging materials and printing have become increasingly stringent. Star Color’s water-based ink provides a safe, compliant solution that meets these strict standards, ensuring the integrity and safety of packaged products.
3. Reduced Resource Consumption & Environmental Costs
Star Color’s water-based gravure printing ink has an inherent advantage: high solid content, which allows for thin ink film deposition. Compared to solvent-based inks, it requires less coating volume (ink consumed per unit printing area). Tests show that Star Color’s water-based ink reduces coating volume by 10-30%—meaning less ink is needed to print the same number and specifications of products, reducing material waste and costs.Printing plates require frequent cleaning, and solvent-based ink printing relies on large amounts of organic solvent cleaning solutions. In contrast, Star Color’s water-based ink can be cleaned primarily with water. From a resource conservation perspective, this not only reduces operational costs but also aligns with the global focus on building a resource-efficient society.
4. Enhanced Operational Safety
Organic solvents and solvent-based inks are flammable liquids. Their high volatility creates explosive gas mixtures in the air, which can ignite or explode if exposed to sparks at concentrations above the explosion limit. This makes solvent-based inks inherently dangerous during both production and printing.Under current Chinese regulations, the production of solvent-based inks is classified as hazardous chemical production, requiring strict compliance with hazardous chemical management standards to obtain a production license. Additionally, the toxicity of organic solvents poses significant health risks to production personnel, with such operations classified as occupational hazard work by national health authorities. Strict limits are imposed on workplace VOC concentrations, and operators must undergo regular occupational health checks.
Star Color’s water-based gravure printing ink effectively addresses these safety concerns. By eliminating flammable organic solvents, it greatly improves the safety of the operating environment, protecting the health and well-being of production personnel.
Key Certification Note: Star Color plastic film water-based gravure printing ink is fully compliant with international safety standards—it is currently the only non-toxic ink approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for food and pharmaceutical packaging applications.
As the global packaging industry shifts toward environmental protection, safety, and efficiency, Star Color’s plastic film water-based gravure printing ink stands out as a sustainable, high-performance alternative to traditional solvent-based inks. Its unique combination of eco-friendliness, safety, cost-effectiveness, and operational efficiency makes it an indispensable choice for modern printing and packaging enterprises seeking to meet regulatory requirements and enhance brand value.
