Ink

After extensive field testing across a range of Mimaki and Uniform wide-format solvent-based ink-jet printers, Tech8 has accepted Colorific inks onto its approved product programme. This brings user benefits that remove warranty issues and the opportunity for extended cover for these machine and ink combinations.

Colorific is now the second leading supplier to be granted approval by Tech8, a status only granted when the product matches warranty specifications. Already in place is support for wide-format printers using Sun Chemical’s Streamline ink series.

Available from specialist distributor, IGS UK, the Colorific products which now meet the criteria required by independent warranty specialist, Tech8, include Bio-U, Elite, Fresh and ProJ3 inks. The first three of these products are being used increasingly in Uniform Grenadier and Cadet printers whilst the ProJ3 version is growing in popularity amongst owners of Mimaki JV3 machines.

Tech8’s warranty schemes encompass most of the wide-format printers currently in use today, with manufacturers including Roland, HP, Mimaki and Mutoh’s own and private label products. Where investors in printing equipment have wanted to reduce ink costs by changing to a reliable third-party solution, existing manufacturers’ warranties are usually invalidated when an after-market alternative is used.

The approval by Tech8 of Colorific inks means that full warranty cover can be maintained, including mechanical, electrical and electronic components. Standard on-site response time is eight hours, and additional services include full installation and training on common hardware and software plus ICC colour profiling for most common RIPs.

Full details on the Tech8 service and warranty registration information is available by visiting www.tech8.eu. More information about IGS UK is available from www.igsuk.net

 

 

 

The latest additions to the Colorific range of inks suitable for Roland, Mutoh and Mimaki solvent-based printers now confirm these products as being the most widely available for the most popular ranges of machines in everyday use. Available through IGS UK’s approved reseller network, these inks are produced from the highest grade chemistries, catering for users who want lower cost alternatives which meet the most demanding standards in terms of colour gamut and durability.

Since its introduction to the market as a reliable and consistent after-market range of inks, Colorific has continually grown its portfolio of solutions to encompass the majority of eco- and mild-solvent printers currently in use today. Additionally, there are products now available for the majority of machines using popular print-heads such as those from Epson, Seiko, Fujifilm Dimatix/Spectra, plus Xaar and its licensees which include Konica Minolta and Toshiba Tec.

Because the formulation of Colorific inks match or are identical to their original, more expensive counterparts, some printer models are able to switch products on the fly. This mix and match capability means that Colorific Pro versions can be used alongside original products, thus saving time and money when transferring from one to the other.

Unlike the majority of third-party inks on offer, the Colorific brand encompasses probably the most comprehensive families of solvent products on the market, with a growing portfolio of UV-curable options being added to the portfolio. Fully tested on every available printer and print-head configuration prior to availability, these inks are formulated and manufactured from the highest grade ingredients to guarantee accurate colour, consistency in use and longevity on the finished print.

For further information about Colorific inks, contact IGS UK via www.igsuk.net or visit www.colorificink.com

 

 

 

In response to demand for plug-and-play compatibility in a high quality independent ink with more eco-friendly properties, Colorific’s latest Bio-U formula has been formulated as an exact colour match to the original Uniform ActivaSol / Colorific Elite formula , allowing existing colour profiles to be used, for a true plug and play solution.

Bio-U is now available for both the Uniform Cadet and the Uniform Grenadier. Able to be swapped on the fly, these non-hazardous cost-effective inks can be implemented quickly and easily as an alternative solution by users of Uniform ActivaSol and Colorific Elite products.

Colorific’s Bio-U inks are formulated from more than 90 percent biodegradable ingredients which contain only food and cosmetic grade solvents. This means that they can be used safely in environments where there is no external ducting or extraction, yet still meet health and safety requirements. Depending on materials being used, these products are also compliant with many recycling schemes.

By combining a chemically balanced blend of biodegradable solvents with the highest quality pigments, exacting performance and reliability are both guaranteed. Extended field testing has proven greater adhesion complemented by improved chemical, scratch and scuff resistance. The formulation used in Colorific Bio-U is non-flammable and non-toxic, enabling the inks to be classified as non-hazardous.

Uniform Grenadier and Cadet users changing from their existing products to Colorific Bio-U are guaranteed accurate colour matching without the need for reprofiling. Previous inks do not need to be flushed from the machine, and tests have shown that print-heads and nozzles are subjected to reduced blockages.

Colorific Bio-U inks, which are fully ISO9001 compliant, are available in CMYK plus LcLm. There are also Orange andf Green alternatives for users looking to achieve Hexachromatic colour gamut.

Despite their biodegradable chemistry, they offer excellent adhesion and photo-realistic results across a broad range of materials, plus excellent durability.

As well as benefiting from more environmentally friendly properties, Colorific Bio-U inks are also cost-saving alternatives to Uniform Grenadier and Cadet users as they carry the additional advantage of being fully covered by Tech8’s warranty programme.

Further information and full reseller details are available from www.colorificink.com

 

 

Sawgrass Technologies Consumer Division has joined forces with Econscious to showcase a whole green-product solution at the ISS tradeshow in Long Beach, CA. Sawgrass’ SubliJet technology was used to decorate hundreds of Econscious reusable tote bags made from recycled polyester. The result is a beautiful and affordable tote, with vivid and durable images, with a very low environmental footprint.

"It is a win-win situation, both for our companies and the environment," said Mike McEvoy, vice president of marketing for Sawgrass Technologies. “Recycled polyester is far less energy-intensive than virgin polyester, and diverts waste from the landfill. In turn, the water-based SubliJet sublimation ink eliminates the use of screens and associate chemicals."

 

 

New Triangle aqueous inks from INX Digital International Co. for HP 5000 and 5500 series printers are now available throughout North America. The T81 dye inks and T83 UV pigmented inks are chemically compatible with OEM options and can extend printhead life up to twice as long compared to other non-OEM alternatives.

"These new inks are colour compatible with OEM options," said Ken Kisner, president, INX Digital Americas. "They can be run using existing HP OEM ink profiles and no additional work is needed. Users can easily save 20 percent or more on our T81 and T83 inks compared to OEM."

Karla Witte, marketing director - aftermarket products, INX Digital, said chip technology for the cartridges is developed and manufactured in the USA. In addition to being 100 percent colour compatible, the T81 and T83 inks also are chemically compatible with OEM options and will help extend the life cycle of printheads.

"The new inks come in 680 ml remanufactured direct replacement cartridges for the HP81 dye and HP83 pigmented inks," said Witte. "Users can add new colours as needed, one by one, without having to flush lines or throw away unused ink. These new colours can be run simultaneously with HP's printers."

Witte said HP 5000 and 5500 users can count on comparable-to-OEM printhead life with the T81 and T83 inks and up to double the life when compared to other non-OEM options. She noted the new inks not only match, but exceed OEM print quality in some cases.

 

"The T81, for example, has a very jet black and provides truer blacks and grays. Unlike many other OEM-alternative offerings, the new Triangle formulations are micro-porous approved. They dry instantly and work well on micro-porous materials," said Witte.

"Saving 20 percent or more while running our colour compatible alternative inks will give HP 5000 and 5500 users a timely advantage," said Kisner. "We anticipate introducing more advanced options, such as ink sets designed for the HP Z6100, sometime later this year."

 

 

Sensient Technologies Corporation has opened new facilities in China, located in Guangzhou and Shanghai. The new 62,000-square-foot Guangzhou location includes a four-story office and laboratory building, a manufacturing plant and a separate fragrance building. These first-class facilities were built to Sensient's specifications when the company outgrew its original facility and relocated.

The laboratories include a flavor creation center, a pharmaceutical laboratory, a color research center and a quality control lab. Warehouses for raw materials and finished products have also been completed. These facilities will produce colors, flavors, pharmaceutical coatings and fragrances, primarily for the Chinese market.

Sensient has also opened a state-of-the-art Technical Center and sales office in Shanghai, China. The new Technical Center will feature the latest lab equipment and an ultra high temperature process pilot plant. Customers will be able to custom-tailor and sample foods and beverages featuring Sensient colors and flavors in a sophisticated application kitchen.

Kenneth P. Manning, Chairman and CEO of Sensient Technologies Corporation, said, "These new facilities highlight China's increasing role in Sensient's continued strategic growth. China's emerging middle-class constitutes an important new market for our products, one that has already begun to contribute to Sensient's growth and will gain in importance going forward."

With the addition of these facilities in Guangzhou and Shanghai, Sensient now has a presence in five locations in China, including a plant for processing precursors to flavors in Qingdao, and offices and laboratories in Beijing and Hong Kong. Around the world, Sensient has over 70 locations that provide specialized flavor and color applications in 30 countries, selling to more than 150 nations.