Toyo Ink has developed two new series of low-energy, UV-curable offset inks under its Flash Dry brand: the Flash Dry LPC EX for ozone-free curing systems and the Flash Dry LED EX for LED-UV curing systems.
According to the company, both product series realize an expanded colour gamut, high transparency and high gloss compared with conventional UV inks, making possible a level of colour reproduction comparable to oil-based inks. These advances were achieved by Toyo Ink’s adoption of a specialty pigment and fundamental change in pigment dispersion method.
In addition, new breakthroughs in polymer-structure control technology by Toyo Ink led to the development of an ink formulation that improved emulsification while exhibiting excellent viscoelastic properties, printability and surface print quality. As a result of all these developments, UV inks are now as easy-to-handle on the shop floor as oil-based inks.
“Developed under rigid field testing requirements, the two latest additions to the FLASH DRY family demonstrate our commitment and ability to deliver innovative solutions that support the needs of our customers,” says Katsumi Yamazaki, president of Toyo Ink Co. “As early pioneers in the development of UV and LED-UV curable technology, the UV ink market has emerged as a strong growth area for the Toyo Ink Group. Looking to become the leading global brand in the low-energy UV field, we aim to increase production volume for these new ink products by 2.5 times in 2020.”
With the aim of expanding demand for low energy UV inks in line with the growing industry demand for UV-curable technology, Toyo Ink installed a dedicated UV ink production line at the Fuji Plant, a facility in Japan operated by sister subsidiary Toyocolor Co. The two new products will initially be launched to the Japan market this October with a phased rollout to other regions planned for a later time.
