introductory:
At present, people's attention to food safety has never been higher. From production to packaging, every aspect of food has attracted much attention. Traditional printing inks can pose a risk of migration of harmful substances and threaten food safety. The food-grade offset printing ink came into being, which meets the strict requirements of food packaging printing with its safe and non-toxic characteristics. Whether it is food, medicine or children's product packaging, because of its emergence of an additional guarantee, not only can present exquisite patterns, but also let consumers eat at ease, use at ease, become an important change in the printing industry to adapt to social needs.
1. What is food-grade offset printing ink
Food grade offset printing ink is a special ink specially designed for the printing of food packaging and related products. Its ingredients have been strictly screened, and the pigments are mostly non-toxic inorganic pigments or organic pigments that have been certified for safety, and do not contain harmful heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium. The binders are generally made of biodegradable or environmentally friendly materials, and the solvents also follow strict safety standards to ensure that no harmful substances are released when in contact with food, ensuring food safety. Its production process follows a strict quality control system and has passed a number of food safety testing and certifications, such as the relevant standards of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
2. How food-grade offset printing inks work
The principle of printing plate inking
At the beginning of the offset printing, the ink roller rolls on the surface of the plate with food-grade offset ink. Due to the different physical and chemical properties of the graphic part and the blank part of the printing plate, the graphic part can adsorb the ink, while the blank part repels the ink. The ink roller evenly spreads the ink on the graphic part of the printing plate, so that the graphic part is inked.
The principle of ink transfer
The inking plate is in contact with the blanket, and under the pressure, the ink of the graphic part of the plate is transferred to the blanket. The blanket has good elasticity and adsorption, which can effectively accept the ink and maintain the pattern shape of the ink.
The final transfer principle
The blanket then comes into contact with the substrate (e.g. food packaging material), and under appropriate pressure, the ink on the blanket is transferred to the surface of the substrate to form a clear printing pattern. In the whole process, the transfer rate and uniformity of the ink are affected by various factors such as printing pressure, ink viscosity, printing speed, etc., through precise control of these factors, high-quality printing results can be achieved, and at the same time, food-grade offset printing ink ensures that it will not cause contamination to food when in contact with food due to its special safety components.
3. Use and storage of food-grade offset printing inks
How to use
When using food-grade offset printing inks, it is first necessary to select the appropriate ink variety according to the printing needs and the type of substrate. Before use, stir the ink thoroughly to make its composition uniform. After cleaning the printing equipment, pour the ink into the ink groove and adjust the ink roller gap to evenly distribute the ink. In the printing process, the printing pressure, speed and ink supply should be strictly controlled to ensure that the ink is transferred evenly and the pattern is clear. After printing, clean the equipment in time to prevent the ink from drying and affecting the next use.
The key points of storage
Food-grade offset printing inks should be stored in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated environment, avoiding direct sunlight and high temperatures. The storage temperature is generally controlled between 5°C-25°C, and the humidity should be kept at 40%-70%. The ink should be sealed and stored to prevent solvent volatilization and impurities from mixing. Different types and batches of ink should be stored separately, labeled, and followed the first-in, first-out principle to ensure that the ink is used within the shelf life.
4. What are the benefits of customers choosing food-grade offset printing inks?
Ensure food safety: For food production enterprises, choosing food-grade offset printing ink can avoid the migration of harmful substances in the ink to food, prevent food contamination, protect consumer health, and maintain corporate reputation.
Comply with regulatory requirements: With the increasingly strict food safety regulations, the use of food-grade offset printing ink is a necessary condition for enterprises to operate in compliance, which can avoid legal risks and economic losses caused by the illegal use of ink.
High-quality printing effect: The ink has good printability, bright color, high saturation and strong adhesion, which can present exquisite printing patterns, enhance the aesthetics and attractiveness of product packaging, and enhance the market competitiveness of products.
Environmentally friendly and sustainable: Most food-grade offset printing inks use environmentally friendly materials and production processes, which can reduce environmental pollution, conform to the current green consumption trend, and meet consumers' demand for environmentally friendly products.
5. Industry application of food-grade offset printing ink
Food packaging field: widely used in all kinds of food packaging, such as biscuits, candy, beverages, dairy products, etc. From cartons to plastic bottle stickers, food-grade offset inks provide a safe and beautiful "coat" for food, and convey product information and brand image.
Pharmaceutical packaging field: drugs are directly related to human health, food-grade offset printing inks are used in pharmaceutical packaging and printing to ensure that drugs are not contaminated by ink during storage and transportation, and at the same time, drug names, ingredients, instructions for use and other information are clearly and accurately printed.
Children's products packaging: Considering the special needs and safety of children, food-grade offset printing inks are often used for children's toys, stationery, food packaging, etc. Its safe and non-toxic properties can prevent children from being exposed to harmful substances and protect children's healthy growth.
6. The development prospect of food-grade offset printing ink
Market demand continues to grow: With the steady development of the global food and pharmaceutical industries and the increasing consumer concern about food safety, the demand for food-grade offset printing inks will continue to increase. Consumption upgrades in emerging markets and developing countries will also bring new growth opportunities to this market.
Technological innovation drives development: In order to meet higher food safety and printing quality requirements, the technological innovation of food-grade offset printing inks will continue to advance. The development of new environmentally friendly inks, improving the performance of inks (such as drying speed, abrasion resistance, etc.) and optimizing the printing process will be the key to the development of the industry.
Increasingly stringent regulatory standards: Tighter regulations on food safety by governments around the world will push the food-grade offset ink industry to comply with stricter regulatory standards. This will promote enterprises to improve product quality and safety, accelerate industry integration, and standardize market order.
Green environmental protection has become the mainstream trend: in the context of environmental awareness deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, food-grade offset printing inks will develop in a greener and more sustainable direction. Water-based inks, UV-curable inks and other environmentally friendly inks will be more widely used and promoted.
7. Conclusion
Food-grade offset printing inks play an important role in ensuring food safety and improving product packaging quality. With the growth of market demand, the progress of technology and the improvement of regulations, its development prospects are broad, and it will continue to provide safer and better printing solutions for food, medicine and other industries.
8. Related product recommendation
1.High Gloss Offset Ink
2.Medium Quick-Drying Offset Ink
3.Ordinary Economical Offset Ink
4.Offset UV Ink