The next generation of printing inks

Horizon 1 · TRL 6 · Circularity

What it is. A black UV flexo and screen ink formulated without carbon black, using an organic near-infra-red-transparent pigment combination (perylene and azo blends) that reads as black to the eye but reflects in the 1100–1700 nm window used by NIR sorters.

Why it matters. Carbon-black prints absorb the sorter’s light, so dark-printed PE, PP and PET packs are ejected to landfill or incineration. PPWR recyclability classes and the RecyClass and CEFLEX guidelines now penalise carbon black on sortable plastics.

Target performance. Density at least 1.6 OD; NIR reflectance at least 50 % of unprinted polymer at 1400 nm; BWS 6 or better; cost within 1.5× standard black.

Applications. Shrink sleeves, mono-PE and PP flexible packaging, IML labels, closures by pad and screen.

Sustainability case. Keeps dark packs in the mechanical-recycling stream and enables the 2030 recyclability requirement without design compromise.

Horizon 1 · TRL 5 · Carbon footprint

What it is. UV flexo inks and coatings in which the acrylate oligomer and part of the monomer are built from renewable feedstocks — itaconic, succinic and fatty-acid-derived acrylates and bio-based polyols — verified by radiocarbon analysis to ASTM D6866.

Why it matters. Raw materials are 50–60 % of a UV ink’s cradle-to-gate footprint. Replacing petro-acrylate backbones is the largest single lever the ink maker controls.

Target performance. At least 40 % bio-based carbon by 2028 with no loss of cure speed, colour strength or resistance; at least 25 % cradle-to-gate CO₂e reduction versus the current series.

Applications. UniCure NX and FP inks, UniCure sheet-fed and narrow-web coatings.

Sustainability case. Direct product-carbon-footprint reduction with an ISO 14067 declaration per series.

Horizon 1–2 · TRL 4 · Emissions

What it is. Flexo inks in which a water-dispersed UV-curable polyurethane-acrylate carries the pigment: the water evaporates in a short dryer, then the film cures under an LED lamp to a cross-linked, resistant surface. Solids around 45 %, VOC below 2 %, no acrylate monomer, no odour.

Why it matters. The best of both systems — the resistance and instant handling of UV without monomer migration or skin-irritation hazard, and the low odour and food-packaging profile of water-based inks — on a press that already has dryers and LED lamps.

Target performance. Cure at 150 m/min with one 20 W/cm² LED after a 1 m dryer; at least 100 MEK rubs; migration below low-migration ink levels; adhesion on corona PE and PP and coated paper.

Applications. Food and pharmaceutical labels, lidding, paper-based flexible packaging.

Sustainability case. Removes acrylate monomer from the pressroom, low migration by design, cures at LED energy.

Horizon 2 · TRL 4 · Smart packaging

What it is. Flexo- and screen-printable conductive inks — silver-flake, silver-nanowire and copper-based — with sheet resistance below 50 mΩ/sq at 5 µm, formulated to print antenna coils in line on label and flexible-packaging presses and to accept chip attach.

Why it matters. Connected packaging — authentication, traceability, consumer engagement and digital product passports under EU rules — needs antennas at label-press speed and cost, not etched-copper inlays.

Target performance. Printed 13.56 MHz coil read range of at least 3 cm with a standard phone; UHF antenna on PET; cure by infra-red or hot air at 120 °C in under 10 s, or photonic sintering.

Applications. Pharmaceutical and spirits authentication, reusable-packaging tracking, digital product passport labels.

Sustainability case. Replaces etched copper inlays and supports reuse and traceability schemes.

Horizon 2 · TRL 5 · Smart packaging

What it is. Reversible thermochromic microcapsule inks changing colour at 8, 15, 25 or 40 °C for cold-chain and serve-cold cues, and irreversible TTI inks whose diffusion or polymerisation front records cumulative time above a threshold temperature.

Why it matters. Food waste and cold-chain failures are a sustainability problem as much as a quality one. A label that shows whether the pack stayed cold replaces guesswork with evidence.

Target performance. Thermochromic: at least 500 cycles without fade, BWS 4 or better. TTI: calibrated 24 h, 48 h and 7 d at 8 °C, ±10 %.

Applications. Dairy, meat, vaccines and biologics, beverage chilled-indicator labels.

Sustainability case. Reduces food and pharmaceutical waste through visible cold-chain compliance.

Horizon 1 · TRL 6 · Brand protection

What it is. UV flexo, screen and pad inks carrying up-converting phosphors that are invisible but emit under 980 nm infra-red, forensic rare-earth taggants and machine-readable spectral signatures, verified with a handheld reader or a phone app, layered with overt colour-shift and micro-text.

Why it matters. Counterfeit pharmaceuticals, spirits and auto parts cost brand owners and endanger consumers. An ink-level marker is applied in the normal print run and cannot be copied without the taggant.

Target performance. Detection in under 1 s with a handheld reader; taggant loading below 0.5 %; no change to colour, cure or migration profile; three security levels — overt, covert and forensic.

Applications. Pharmaceutical cartons and labels, spirits, lubricants and auto parts, tax stamps.

Sustainability case. Protects genuine, compliant products and supports serialisation and recall.

Horizon 1 · TRL 6 · Circularity

What it is. UV flexo and offset inks whose cross-link density and film flexibility are engineered so that the cured film fragments in the pulper into floatable 10–100 µm particles rather than fines or sheets, scoring good (71 or above) on the EPRC de-inkability scorecard.

Why it matters. UV-printed paper and board is the recycler’s least favourite input. PPWR moves de-inkability from preference to specification.

Target performance. EPRC score of 71 or above on coated and uncoated paper, with no loss of rub, gloss or cure speed versus standard NX and sheet-fed grades.

Applications. Labels, folding cartons, paper-based flexible packaging.

Sustainability case. Keeps UV-printed fibre in the recycling loop at full brightness.

Horizon 2 · TRL 3 · End of life

What it is. Water-based flexo and gravure inks for compostable substrates — paper, PLA, PBAT and cellulose films — in which binder, pigments and additives are selected from certified-compostable inputs so that the printed pack passes industrial-composting certification without ink-derived heavy metals or persistent residues.

Why it matters. Compostable packaging fails certification on the ink as often as on the film. Brand owners need the whole pack certified.

Target performance. Disintegration of at least 90 % in 12 weeks; heavy metals below EN 13432 limits; ecotoxicity pass; performance equal to UniLux and UniWet grades.

Applications. Tea and coffee sachets, produce bags, foodservice wraps, compostable mailers.

Sustainability case. Enables certified compostable packs and supports organic-waste collection systems.

Horizon 2–3 · TRL 3 · Digital

What it is. Low-viscosity LED-curable inkjet inks at 8–12 mPa·s at jetting temperature for single-pass label presses, built on the low-migration initiator platform of UniCure FP, with white and varnish, for short-run and variable-data labels.

Why it matters. Digital label printing is growing faster than any other label process. Converters want ink compatibility across their flexo and digital presses, and the same regulatory profile on both.

Target performance. Jetting reliability with more than 24 h open time; low-migration compliant initiator package; colour gamut matching UniCure FP flexo for hybrid jobs; adhesion on PE, PP, PET and coated paper.

Applications. Short-run and personalised labels, pharmaceutical variable data, hybrid flexo-digital presses.

Sustainability case. Zero make-ready waste on short runs, LED energy and low migration.

Horizon 2 · TRL 5 · Functional

What it is. UV and water-based overprint varnishes containing silver-ion, zinc or quaternary-silane actives that reduce bacterial and enveloped-virus load on the printed surface by more than 99 % in 24 h to ISO 22196 and ISO 21702, without leaching.

Why it matters. High-touch printed surfaces — menus, healthcare packaging, public signage, appliance overlays — carry pathogens. A surface that self-sanitises between cleanings is a functional benefit customers will specify.

Target performance. At least 3 log reduction to ISO 22196; no migration of the active; gloss and rub unchanged; two-year activity.

Applications. Healthcare and hospitality print, screen-printed overlays, pharmaceutical secondary packaging.

Sustainability case. Reduces cleaning-chemical use and supports hygiene without disposables.

Horizon 3 · TRL 2 · Functional

What it is. A UV coating with a dual network: a permanent acrylate network for hardness, and a reversible hydrogen-bonded or disulfide network that re-forms after damage, so that light scratches and scuffs recover at room temperature or with mild heat.

Why it matters. Scuff and scratch are the largest single cause of rejected labels and cartons. A surface that repairs itself extends shelf appearance and reduces returns.

Target performance. Full recovery of 5 µm scratches within 24 h at 25 °C; pencil hardness H or better; no loss of gloss; low-migration compatible chemistry.

Applications. Premium cartons and labels, cosmetics, electronics packaging, appliance overlays.

Sustainability case. Extends product appearance life, with fewer rejects and reprints.

Horizon 3 · TRL 2 · Air quality

What it is. Water-based coatings for signage, wallcoverings and large-format print containing visible-light-active photocatalysts — doped TiO₂ and carbon nitride — that oxidise VOCs, NOx and odours on the printed surface under room lighting.

Why it matters. Printed surfaces cover walls, vehicles and retail interiors. Turning them into air-cleaning surfaces is a new functional market and a strong sustainability story for interior print.

Target performance. At least 40 % formaldehyde and NOx removal in ISO 22197 chamber tests under 500 lux; no chalking of the print; five-year activity.

Applications. Interior wallcoverings, retail and transport graphics, hospital signage.

Sustainability case. Active indoor-air-quality improvement from the printed surface.