What Is Water-Based Gravure Ink?
Water-based gravure ink is a rotogravure printing ink that uses water as its main carrier instead of organic solvent. The ink is transferred from an engraved cylinder straight onto the substrate, which is why gravure remains the process of choice for long-run, high-definition packaging work.
StarColor water-based gravure inks are built as a low-VOC alternative to conventional solvent systems. They keep the colour strength, fine dot reproduction and press stability that converters expect from gravure, while sharply reducing solvent emissions, press-room odour and on-site fire risk. The range covers both surface printing and reverse (inner-layer) printing for laminated structures, and is formulated to meet food-contact safety requirements.
Core Advantages of StarColor Water-Based Gravure Ink
Engineered for long-run stability, lamination strength and food-contact compliance.
Low VOC & Low Odour
Water replaces organic solvent as the carrier, so solvent emissions, press-room odour and fire risk drop sharply — well suited to food, pharmaceutical and personal-care packaging lines.
High-Speed Gravure Stability
Stable viscosity, clean transfer and fast drying on presses running 150–300 m/min, with good re-solubility that keeps cylinders and doctor blades clean over long runs.
Strong Adhesion & Lamination Bond
Excellent wettability on treated PE, PP, BOPP, PET and nylon films, aluminium foil and coated paper. Compatible with dry, solventless and extrusion lamination.
Food-Contact Compliant
Formulated with low-migration raw materials and tested against FDA, EU REACH and RoHS requirements. Test reports are available for food-contact and hygienic packaging projects.
Substrate Compatibility
Grades are matched to the film, foil or paper structure you run.
BOPP (Treated)
- High adhesion, no primer needed
- Surface and reverse printing
- Snack and confectionery packaging
PET (Treated)
- Retort-ready, stable at 121°C
- Pouches and lidding films
- Good clarity on transparent structures
CPP / MCPP
- Lamination-grade formulations
- High interlayer bond strength
- Multilayer flexible structures
Aluminium Foil
- Barrier-grade, low-migration
- High-barrier food packaging
- Strong adhesion on metallic surfaces
Paper & PE Laminates
- Surface and reverse printing
- Coated paper and paper/PE structures
- Fast drying on absorbent stock
Coated Paper & Board
- High colour density
- Low odour for food wraps
- Consistent ink transfer at speed
Gravure Ink Applications
Where StarColor water-based gravure inks are used today.
Flexible Packaging
Stand-up pouches, sachets and wrappers on PE, PP, PET, BOPP and nylon films.
Labels & Shrink Sleeves
Pressure-sensitive labels and shrink sleeves where sharp text and scuff resistance matter.
Laminated Structures
Reverse-printed inner layers for dry, solventless and extrusion lamination.
Paper, Carton & Corrugated
Coated paper, folding cartons and corrugated boxes where fast drying and low odour are required.
Essential FAQ for Water-Based Gravure Ink
Q1: Which substrates can StarColor water-based gravure ink print on?
A: Treated PE, PP, BOPP, PET and nylon films, aluminium foil, coated paper and paper/PE laminates. We supply both reverse (inner-layer) grades for laminated structures and surface-printing grades for single-layer packaging.
Q2: What press speeds do your water-based gravure inks support?
A: Our water-based gravure series is engineered for high-speed rotogravure presses running 150–300 m/min, with fast drying and stable viscosity so colour stays consistent across long production runs.
Q3: Are your gravure inks suitable for food packaging?
A: Yes. The series uses low-migration, low-odour raw materials and is tested against FDA, EU REACH and RoHS requirements. Low-migration grades are available for direct and indirect food-contact packaging, and the corresponding test reports can be issued on request.
Q4: Do you support dry lamination and solventless lamination?
A: Yes. Our gravure lamination inks are compatible with dry lamination, solventless lamination and extrusion lamination, delivering strong interlayer bond strength on PET, BOPP and nylon structures.
Q5: Can I get a sample and a TDS before ordering?
A: Yes. We provide free 1 kg samples for press trials together with the technical data sheet (TDS) for the recommended grade. Tell us your substrate, structure and press speed and our engineers will match the formula and send a tailored quote within 24 hours.
Contact Us
Our engineers are ready to help you optimize your ink viscosity, pH control, and adhesion for high-speed flexo presses. Tell us about your substrate, and we'll provide a tailored quote within 24 hours.
Phone/WhatsApp
+86 18011968332
Address
Huidong County, Huizhou City, Guangdong Province,China