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Ink Manufacturers

Last updated: January 2026

This directory lists 84 ink manufacturers across the United States, from specialty custom formulators focused on niche industrial applications to high-volume producers serving the flexible packaging and commercial printing sectors.

Buyers arriving here are often solving critical formulation challenges related to product performance, regulatory compliance, or printability. This might involve optimizing pigment dispersion for maximum color intensity and stability, troubleshooting issues with ink migration in food contact applications, or developing UV-curable inks with specific spectral absorption for advanced curing systems. The complexity extends beyond basic color, delving into properties like lightfastness, chemical resistance, and the required surface tension for optimal wetting.

Supplier types in this space range significantly. You'll find large, multinational corporations offering a broad portfolio of standard inks for commercial printing, packaging, and digital applications. Then there are mid-sized regional manufacturers, often specializing in specific chemistries like water-based or solvent-based systems, or dedicated to particular markets such as flexographic or gravure printing. Further, smaller, highly specialized custom formulators exist, excelling at developing bespoke inks for unique industrial applications, often working closely with R&D teams on novel substrates or advanced functional requirements.

To ensure a successful engagement, buyers should come prepared with detailed specifications, including the exact substrate, printing method, desired drying or curing mechanism, and any performance requirements like scratch resistance or chemical stability. Suppliers, in turn, expect clarity on regulatory needs (e.g., FDA, Swiss Ordinance, toy safety standards like EN 71), target cost, and projected volume. Providing samples of the substrate and detailing any post-printing processes (e.g., lamination, heat sealing) will significantly aid in accurate formulation and quoting.

84 companies·60 emails·68 phones

Company Directory

84 companies nationwide

123 Refills manufactures and supplies inkjet printer ink, including their proprietary DuraFIRM dye bulk ink, engineered and made in the USA. They also offer a wide range of compatible and remanufactured inkjet and toner cartridges for various printer models, providing cost-effective printing solutions.

Los Angeles, CA

Based in Los Angeles, CA, Accent Ink is a regional manufacturer of high-quality printing inks and coatings. They specialize in tailoring solutions for diverse commercial printing needs, including flexographic, gravure, letterpress, and lithographic applications, serving industrial clients with specialized ink products.

American Coding & Marking Ink (ACMI) specializes in manufacturing specialty inks for a diverse range of industrial and forestry applications. They produce various ink types, including industrial, epoxy, and paste inks, alongside marking accessories. ACMI focuses on providing expert answers and solutions to complex ink challenges for their clients.

AmeriColor Corp manufactures high-quality edible inks, specifically formulating Stamp Pad Edible Ink for use in food decoration. Their specialized inks are designed for stamping various food products, including royal icing and fondant, serving commercial and food service industries with unique coloring solutions.

Loveland, OH

Based in Loveland, OH, BCM Inks manufactures water-based ink and coating technologies. The company specializes in advanced blending systems and solutions for the flexographic printing industry, helping clients optimize their production processes with high-quality products.

Boston Industrial Solutions manufactures high-performance silicone inks, coatings, and adhesives for various industrial applications. The company specializes in printing inks, offering custom color matching and ink formulation services with fast turnaround times. They also provide comprehensive adhesion testing and technical support to assist clients with their material needs.

Based in Lancaster, PA, Colorcon, Inc. manufactures No-Tox printing inks and specialized coatings. These formulations serve critical applications in food packaging, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. They also supply excipients and film coating systems, supporting stability and efficacy for various healthcare industries.

Chatsworth, CA

DoorStepInk manufactures high-quality ink cartridges for business and wide format applications directly in the U.S. Based in Chatsworth, CA, the company provides cost-effective alternatives to OEM cartridges, focusing on significant savings without compromising performance. They specialize in producing American-made ink products.

Austin, TX

Based in Austin, TX, Electroninks Incorporated specializes in developing and manufacturing proprietary metal complex conductive inks. Their high-performance solutions, including silver, gold, and platinum, offer cost-effective and highly stable options for semiconductor packaging, PCB manufacturing, consumer electronics, wearables, and medical devices.

El Monte, CA

Based in El Monte, California, Flexo Technologies is a privately-owned manufacturer specializing in a range of top-quality water-based products. They produce adhesives, inks, coatings, and bases for commercial applications, serving various industries with their specialized chemical formulations and manufacturing capabilities.

Based in Hanover, MA, Gem Gravure Inc. provides industrial inkjet fluids, marking fluids, and complete printing solutions. The company specializes in continuous inkjet printers and software for marking wire, cable, and applications in food packaging, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals.

Bensenville, IL

Gravure Ink is a Bensenville, IL-based manufacturer specializing in high-quality gravure printing inks. The company provides a comprehensive portfolio of inks formulated for diverse industrial and commercial printing applications, serving various sectors within the packaging and publication industries.

Greydon, based in York, PA, specializes in manufacturing flexographic inks. They provide a full line of water and solvent-based inks available in various PMS colors. These formulations are engineered for superior adhesion to a diverse range of substrates, meeting industrial printing demands.

Seattle, WA

Based in Seattle, WA, Great Western Ink is an ink manufacturer that has served printing companies across the West Coast since 1925. The company offers a comprehensive line of top-quality inks, including their in-house brands, complemented by technical expertise and solutions for various printing needs.

Horizon Printing Ink is a dedicated company specializing in the manufacturing and supply of ink products. They provide comprehensive tech support and customer service, ensuring product delivery and assistance whenever required by clients.

International Coatings specializes in developing high-quality textile screen printing inks, traffic paint and markings, and custom industrial compounds. Their innovative formulations enhance products across diverse sectors, including decorated apparel, athletic gear, automobiles, medical devices, and aerospace components.

Anaheim, CA

Headquartered in Anaheim, CA, Image Technology specializes in manufacturing and distributing high-quality plastisol and water-based screen printing inks. Their inks are formulated for vibrant colors, durable prints, and efficient workflow integration. The company also provides eco-friendly reclaiming chemicals and related equipment for commercial screen printers.

Gardena, CA

Independent Ink Incorporated, based in Gardena, CA, manufactures industrial inks for diverse applications. They produce high-quality coding, digital printing, and marking inks. The company also specializes in FDA compliant, USDA certified, Kosher approved edible inks for direct-to-food printing and water-based pigmented inks for textile applications.

Based in Danvers, MA, Inkcups manufactures Candymark edible inks for direct-to-food printing. These food-safe inks are designed to create full-color designs on bakery and confectionery products, serving commercial food producers. The company supports various regions globally.

Painesville, OH

Avery Dennison Digital Inks manufactures high-quality digital inks in Painesville, OH. The company specializes in custom formulations for OEM printer manufacturers and various industrial printing applications. Their offerings support direct-to-object, promotional items, and fabric printing.

Schaumburg, IL

Based in Schaumburg, IL, INX International Ink Co. manufactures high-performance printing inks and coatings. They provide a comprehensive range of products for commercial, packaging, and digital print applications, serving diverse industries from their numerous North American manufacturing facilities.

Caldwell, OH

Based in Caldwell, OH, Magnum Inks & Coatings® (MIC) is a full-service ink and coating manufacturer. A division of Magnum Manufacturing, the company specializes in aqueous and UV-cured products for various industrial applications.

Marabu North America manufactures a wide range of printing inks, including versatile screen printing, digital printing, and inkjet inks. With over 60 years of experience, the company also provides primers and liquid coatings for decorative and functional applications, serving OEMs.

Based in Baltimore, MD, Materic Group specializes in the custom formulation and production of specialty inks. The company provides tailored ink solutions for diverse industrial applications, including the textile, cosmetic, electronic, and biomedical sectors.

Minneapolis, MN

Based in Minneapolis, MN, Microtrace Solutions develops specialized security inks and coatings for anti-counterfeit product identification. Their proprietary embedded markers, including Microtaggant® and Spectral Taggant™, provide visible to covert protection. The company serves global brands and government agencies with advanced authentication and supply chain security solutions.

Charlotte, NC

Monarch Color Corporation, based in Charlotte, NC, manufactures high-quality printing inks for commercial applications. Their product lines include flexographic, screen printing, and offset inks, alongside specialty printing inks and print coatings. The company delivers custom-tailored, high-strength solutions for vibrant colors and superior performance.

Denver, CO

Based in Denver, CO, MTN Screen Printing Supplies manufactures plastisol screen printing ink in the USA. Specializing in formulations for textiles, they offer these products at competitive wholesale prices. The company also provides a variety of other screen printing and vinyl supplies, supported by dedicated customer service.

Nagase America provides innovative solutions, specializing in the manufacturing of dielectric inks for printed electronics. Partnering with customers, this company leverages its expertise in chemicals and electronics to create customized, sustainable technology solutions for various industries.

Dallas, TX

Oldham Group is a supplier offering a full range of ink, including custom ink mixing services from its Dallas plant. The company provides ink solutions for offset, digital, flexo, and sign and display applications, alongside color consulting services to maximize converter capabilities.

Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Pannier Corporation provides a wide variety of Master Marker inks designed for printing on plastics, metals, and porous industrial surfaces. They supply high-quality ink and integrated printing systems, including industrial inkjet coders and flexographic printers, to meet manufacturers' product marking requirements.

Sugar Land, TX

Phanan is a US-based manufacturer of solvent-base and water-base liquid inks. The company supplies pigments and chemicals for the printing industry, specializing in inks designed for plastic films. These products are suitable for various applications including shopping bags, fertilizer, cement, and woven bags.

Phoenix Inks and Coatings manufactures a diverse range of inks for flexographic printing applications. They offer specialized products, including glow-in-the-dark inks, serving the commercial printing industry. This company provides various ink solutions tailored for high-quality and unique printing demands.

Premier Ink Systems Inc. manufactures water-based inks and coatings, custom blended for various substrates. Serving the food packaging and party goods industries, their inks are suitable for printing on paper napkins, cups, plates, placemats, and packaging for frozen and ovenable food items.

Fort Worth, TX

Based in Fort Worth, TX, Prestige Printing Ink is a US manufacturer of offset web and sheet-fed printing inks for the professional industry. In business since 1969, they produce multiple lines of custom and Pantone®-licensed inks for diverse printing media including paper and plastic.

Sunnyvale, CA

Based in Sunnyvale, CA, Prism Inks produces inks for digital printing applications. The company specializes in customizable inkjet solutions for various industries, operating both in the United States and internationally.

Louisville, KY

Based in Louisville, KY, Quantum Ink Company manufactures and custom-tailors quality inks for commercial printers. Founded in 1997, they partner with clients to develop inks meeting specific equipment and environmental demands. The company also provides personalized training and technical service.

Fullerton, CA

Based in Fullerton, CA, Raw Pigments manufactures acrylic-free, vegan, and organic tattoo inks. Made in the USA and globally distributed, their pigments offer fast, solid saturation and vibrant, true-to-hue healed results. The company emphasizes relentless consistency, guaranteeing color matching across batches.

Newark, NJ

Based in Newark, NJ, Shamrock Technologies manufactures high-quality water-based flexographic and gravure inks. The company provides specialized ink solutions for industrial printing applications, focusing on product properties and performance tailored to client needs.

Austin, TX

Based in Austin, TX, Southern Ink Company manufactures high-quality letterpress inks and ink additives. Their proven formulations are designed to stay open on printing equipment while drying hard on the sheet, ensuring reliable performance for commercial and artisan printing operations.

Lodi, NJ

Based in Lodi, NJ, Spectrachem manufactures high-quality water-based pigment dispersions for textile, screen printing, and various printing inks and coatings. They specialize in custom-formulated dispersions, also producing Ready For Use Plastisol and Aqueous Inks for the textile printing market. Spectrachem also manufactures water-based adhesives.

Brooklyn Park, MN

Based in Brooklyn Park, MN, Squid Ink Manufacturing produces coding and marking systems for product identification and traceability. The company manufactures inks and inkjet fluids, along with low-maintenance printing equipment. Offerings include hi-res piezo, CIJ, TIJ, and DOD printing systems, and laser coders for diverse substrates like plastics, metals, and glass.

San Leandro, CA

Based in San Leandro, CA, Stewart Superior manufactures diverse inks, including craft, pigment, hybrid, and business inks. They also produce ink pads, clear stamps, and rubber stamps. The company provides custom color and packaging services for arts and crafts and commercial clients.

Boca Raton, FL

STS Inks manufactures premium quality digital inkjet inks compatible with most major brands of large format printers. Founded in 1999, the American company specializes in producing various ink types including solvent, eco-solvent, aqueous, UV, latex, and sublimation.

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Total Ink Solutions, based in Fort Lauderdale, FL, is a plastisol ink manufacturer specializing in high-quality, American-made plastisol inks. The company also serves as a distributor for a wide array of screen printing, heat transfer, and direct-to-film equipment, along with various garment decoration supplies.

Wallington, NJ

Based in Wallington, NJ, Triangle Ink manufactures a range of high-quality inks specifically for the screen printing industry. Established in 1978, the company is dedicated to providing customers with reliable products and impeccable service. They produce inks suitable for diverse screen printing applications.

Kansas City, MO

Based in Kansas City, MO, Vanguard manufactures flexographic and rotogravure inks. The company provides water-based flexographic ink and custom-formulated rotogravure ink solutions for high-quality commercial printing applications.

Van Son Ink Corporation manufactures specialty inks for offset printing on non-porous substrates like foils, self-adhesive vinyl, and plastics. They offer custom PMS mix orders in 5 lb increments, serving commercial clients with global operations and facilities in major US cities including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago.

Charlotte, NC

Based in Charlotte, NC, WM Plastics Inc manufactures high-quality screen printing inks, including plastisol, whites, blacks, special effect inks, mixing systems, additives, and bases. The company also provides custom color matching services for the screen printing industry, serving customers since 1983.

Petaluma, CA

Based in Petaluma, CA, Xandex Semiconductor manufactures specialized conductive inks and inking products for the semiconductor and solar energy industries. They offer DieMark inking products, including silver-filled conductive ink cartridges and small dot ink cartridges, for wafer marking and creating electrically conductive traces on circuit boards.

Irvine, CA

Located in Irvine, California, Amica Systems specializes in ink manufacturing and development. With over a decade of experience, the company offers comprehensive services including ink development, customization engineering, and production for various applications.

Hixson, TN

Based in Hixson, TN, American Printing Ink manufactures a wide range of offset and UV printing inks. They specialize in various process series inks, LED UV series, and provide expert Pantone mixing and color matching services. The company also offers digital aqueous coating and overprint varnish solutions.

West Chicago, IL

Based in West Chicago, IL, Central Ink Corporation has been manufacturing ink for over 80 years. Serving the printing industry, the company provides a choice of ink products, continuously innovating new lines and entering new markets with a commitment to quality and service.

DuPont provides Artistri® water-based inkjet inks, engineered to deliver durable image quality, jetting reliability, and fast drying. These advanced inks are designed for digital printers seeking high quality and speeds. The company serves the commercial printing industry with specialized ink solutions.

FIREBIRD Ink is a US-based manufacturer specializing in direct-to-garment (DTG) and direct-to-film (DTF) inks and pretreatments. Utilizing solar-powered production, the company provides high-quality textile inks, including compatible solutions for Brother, Ricoh, Roland, and Epson printers, along with essential DTG and DTF printing supplies.

Alpharetta, GA

Based in Alpharetta, GA, Graphic Solid Inks, Inc. specializes in color inkjet technology, providing inkjet inks and custom ink development services. The company also offers integrated printing, labeling, laser, and robotics systems for industrial identification, branding, and traceability applications.

Pontiac, MI

Based in Pontiac, MI, InkSupply has manufactured high-quality inkjet printer inks and bulk inks in the USA since 1994. The company offers these products along with refill kits, inkjet cartridges, and laser toner, emphasizing consistent color and OEM compatibility.

Berthoud, CO

Based in Berthoud, CO, Living Ink Technologies manufactures sustainable black inks and pigments from renewable algae waste. They replace fossil-fueled carbon black using a carbon-negative process. Their ALGAE INK™ products, including flexographic, screen, and offset printing inks, serve diverse industries such as packaging, textiles, footwear, cosmetics, and paints.

Cyklop Needham, operating as Cyklop USA, manufactures a complete range of industrial inks and fluids in the United States. These products are engineered for use with their own continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers and are compatible with systems from other major suppliers, providing reliable coding and marking solutions.

Henkel's Loctite Printed Electronics division provides functional ink samples for smart product solutions across multiple markets. These specialized inks offer diverse functionalities, including conductivity, heating, and medical electrodes. The company supports industries such as automotive, medical, and wearables, facilitating straightforward testing and application of printed electronics materials.

Highland, CA

Based in Highland, CA, Screen Print Direct manufactures non-phthalate RAPIDCURE and Ecotex Plastisol Ink in the USA for the textile screen printing industry. They provide a comprehensive range of screen printing supplies, offering same-day shipping and free domestic USA shipping on qualifying orders.

Woodland Hills, CA

Based in Woodland Hills, CA, 1ink specializes in premium-quality remanufactured ink and toner cartridges. Engineered in the United States, their products offer an affordable, high-performance alternative to original brands. The company sells directly online, providing cost reductions for printing needs, and has operated for over two decades.

Goleta, CA

Based in Goleta, CA, ACI Materials manufactures superior conductive materials, including specialized inks, coatings, and adhesives. The company serves brands, functional printers, and manufacturers across various industries such as medical, sports, fitness, mobility, printed circuit boards, biometric sensors, and aerospace applications.

Portage, MI

American Inks & Technology, based in Portage, MI, specializes in custom ink systems formulated for commercial and industrial clients. The company manufactures a diverse range of products including flexo, eco solvent, corrugated, tag & label, envelope, sustainable, and specialty inks, along with various coatings.

Florence, KY

Based in Florence, KY, Angstrom Technologies, Inc. manufactures luminescent pigments and dyes. The company specializes in custom taggant blends and inks for security product applications and detection technology, serving industries involved in secure documents, authentication, and process control.

LioChem manufactures quality printing inks, coatings, plastic colorants, and functional dispersions. The company utilizes innovative dispersion technology with manufacturing facilities in the US. LioChem serves diverse industrial applications, including automotive, plastic packaging, and laminate furniture finishes.

Wood Dale, IL

Based in Wood Dale, IL, Toyo Ink America, an artience Group company, manufactures a diverse range of printing inks, colorants, and functional materials. Serving various applications since 1976, their experts provide solutions to improve productivity and deliver value for B2B customers in the United States.

Avient Specialty Inks manufactures screen printing inks for the textile industry and specialty inks for industrial applications. The company operates globally, providing solutions under various brands including Wilflex™, Rutland™, and Zodiac™. They support commercial clients with high-quality ink products and technical services.

Blacksburg, VA

Based in Blacksburg, VA, CELLINK develops and manufactures specialized bioinks for advanced 3D bioprinting applications. The company produces a range of printable bioinks, including medical-grade options and materials tailored for bone tissue models, serving pharmaceutical, academic, and industry researchers.

Flint Group is a global leader in the production of print consumables for the packaging and printing industries. The company develops, manufactures, and markets a vast portfolio of printing consumables and equipment, focusing on sustainable innovation and enhancing a circular economy.

Inkproducts.com specializes in crafting high-quality, safe edible inks, proudly made in the USA. They provide these specialized inks, along with refill kits and continuous ink supply systems, for various printer models, serving customers in need of custom printing solutions.

Edina, MN

Based in Edina, MN, Ink Systems Inc. manufactures high-quality, sustainable UV, LED, HUV, and conventional lithographic printing inks. The company provides advanced performance inks and coatings specifically optimized for the offset printing industry, supporting pressrooms with innovative products and technical expertise.

Cincinnati, OH

Based in Cincinnati, OH, Kao Collins manufactures a diverse range of inkjet inks, including water-based, solvent-based, UV-curable, LED-curable, and EB-curable formulations. They provide inks for industrial applications like packaging, marking & coding, textile, and security technology, compatible with many major printhead brands.

Kao Print manufactures a comprehensive line of ink solutions for digital printing, utilizing TIJ, Piezo, and CIJ technologies, as well as flexographic printers. Their Ultra UV inks offer instant curing, high print quality, adhesion, and scratch resistance, addressing diverse printing challenges for commercial clients.

Middletown, OH

Based in Middletown, OH, Magnum Inks & Coatings is a full-service printing ink manufacturer. The company provides custom ink products and services for various commercial and industrial applications. They specialize in solutions for markets including linerboard, corrugated, flexible packaging, narrow web label, and commercial envelopes.

Louisville, KY

Based in Louisville, KY, One Stroke Inks manufactures plastisol inks specifically for the screen printing industry. Established in 1997, the company develops innovative ink products, including low cure, regular cure, eco-friendly, and special effect inks, serving B2B customers.

Top Level Printing Ink, Inc. specializes in manufacturing high-quality printing inks. The company is committed to providing exceptional customer service and support alongside its product offerings.

Superior Printing Inks specializes in manufacturing lithographic sheet-fed inks for commercial printers. The company also produces vehicles for printing inks, overprint varnishes, and various press-side ink additives, supporting the printing industry with specialized chemical solutions.

Fort Mill, SC

Based in Fort Mill, SC, Wikoff Color Corporation manufactures a diverse range of inks and coatings for various printing applications. The company offers specialized products including digital and graphic inks for flexible packaging, alongside comprehensive technical and analytical support services for its commercial and industrial clients.

Richmond, VA

Based in Richmond, VA, Zeller+Gmelin Corporation manufactures UV, LED, water-based, and conventional printing inks. With over 150 years of experience, the company provides tailored ink and coating solutions for commercial, packaging, and tag & label markets, focusing on performance and profitability for printers.

Paramus, NJ

DIC Corporation is a global fine chemicals company manufacturing a diverse range of printing inks. Through its subsidiary Sun Chemical, the company operates manufacturing facilities across the United States, producing flexographic, gravure, offset, and inkjet inks, including solvent and water-based formulations for industrial applications.

FN-INK manufactures a range of low-cure, creamy plastisol inks, catering to various printer types. Their product offerings include Classic and specialty inks, along with a comprehensive mixing system designed to provide cost-effective solutions for screen printers.

Maple Plain, MN

Based in Maple Plain, MN, MacDermid Alpha manufactures specialized screen-printable, Ultraviolet (UV) curable inks. They produce dielectric inks, including Autostat D5010-B, which is designed for crossover dielectric layers in fabrication. The company provides advanced ink solutions for various industrial applications.

Permaset Aqua USA / North America manufactures a comprehensive range of high-quality, water-based screen printing inks. Specializing in environmentally friendly, pigment-rich formulations, their product lines include inks for light and dark fabrics, papers, cardboards, plastics, glass, and wood. They also offer a precise color-matching system for diverse applications.

Houston, TX

Based in Houston, TX, Vibrantz Digital Inks develops inorganic pigmented inks for digital printing on glass using inkjet technology. They leverage expertise in particle engineering, glass and ceramic science, and color technology to create specialty chemical and materials solutions, enhancing color, performance, and vibrancy for countless applications.

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How to Choose a Company

  • Verify the manufacturer's expertise in specific ink chemistries and curing mechanisms. For instance, if your application requires immediate drying on a non-porous substrate, confirm their proven track record with UV-curable or electron beam (EB) inks, not just solvent-based formulations, and inquire about their specific lamp or accelerator compatibility.
  • Assess their capabilities for ensuring precise color gamut and batch-to-batch consistency, particularly for critical branding elements. Ask about their spectrophotometric quality control protocols, color management systems (e.g., X-Rite IQC, Techkon), and how they manage delta E values across production runs to avoid noticeable shade variations.
  • Investigate their regulatory compliance and testing procedures, especially for sensitive applications. For food packaging, demand proof of adherence to standards like the Swiss Ordinance or FDA guidelines for indirect food contact. For children's products, verify compliance with EN 71-3 (migration of certain elements) or ASTM F963.
  • Red Flag Warning: Be wary of manufacturers who provide vague or overly generic specifications regarding ink rheology or tack for your specific printing equipment. Inadequate control over these properties can lead to significant issues like dot gain, mottling, or poor transfer during high-speed production, resulting in costly material waste and downtime.

Supplier Types at a Glance

TypeBest ForTypical MOQ
High-Volume Commercial/PackagingLarge-scale print runs, standard ink systems (e.g., CMYK, common spot colors), established packaging applications.500-1000 kg+ per color
Specialty Industrial FormulatorsNiche applications (e.g., electronics, medical, automotive), functional inks (conductive, security, biocompatible), custom color matching for unique substrates.50-200 kg per color
Regional/Mid-Size PackagingMid-volume runs, specific chemistries (e.g., water-based flexo for corrugated), quick turnarounds for local markets.200-500 kg per color
Digital Ink SpecialistsIndustrial inkjet applications, custom ink sets for specific printheads (e.g., piezo, thermal), short-run variable data printing.10-50 kg per color

Frequently Asked Questions

How does ink rheology and tack influence printability on different types of printing presses?

Ink rheology, which describes how an ink flows, and its tack, or stickiness, are critical for optimal performance on different press types. For flexographic printing, low-viscosity, fast-drying inks with specific tack are needed to ensure clean transfer from anilox to plate. Gravure processes require even lower viscosity inks for smooth flow into etched cells and rapid solvent release. Offset lithography, conversely, uses higher viscosity, tacky inks that maintain a precise ink-water balance. Mismatching these properties can lead to issues like streaking, dot gain, or poor image resolution.

What specific regulatory certifications are most important when sourcing inks for consumer product packaging or children's items?

For consumer product packaging, especially food-related, look for compliance with the Swiss Ordinance on Food Contact Materials, FDA regulations (for indirect food contact), and potentially EU Framework Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004. For children's items like toys, critical certifications include EN 71-3 (migration of certain elements) in Europe and ASTM F963 for toy safety in the US, which covers heavy metal content and other chemical restrictions. Additionally, global chemical inventories like REACH and RoHS compliance are generally important for restricted substances.

How can I ensure color consistency when ordering custom ink formulations across multiple production batches and different printers?

Ensuring color consistency starts with providing a precise color target, ideally a physical sample or a spectrophotometric data point (e.g., Lab values). Reputable ink manufacturers will use advanced spectrophotometers and color management software to match and formulate. For ongoing consistency, demand that they provide a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) with each batch, showing the measured Lab values against your target. Establishing acceptable delta E tolerances (typically 1.0-2.0 for critical colors) and performing regular calibration of your own printing equipment are also vital steps.

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