Certifications - the way forward
Laurel Brunner discusses the importance and benefits of certifications.
Companies in the graphics industry are not particularly keen on certifications, generally citing cost and hassle as reasons not to bother. This is short sighted because certifications provide various assurances, not least for safety and process reliability and quality assurance. We are seeing a rising number of certifications in the business, particularly as packaging innovations grow. These are for digital printing systems using ISO 12647-2 (Process control for offset printing) as well as for materials and consumables such as inks.
Koenig & Bauer Durst, the joint venture that puts together Koenig & Bauer’s press expertise and Durst’s digital nous, is joining the certifications club. The joint company’s food safety water-based printing inks are now UL Ecologo certified. The Koenig & Bauer Durst ink certification has been awarded by a third party accredited certifying body, which means it is hard won. This type of certification is the most robust available. Accredited third party certification means it is not just Koenig & Bauer Durst saying that their inks are safe, or some consulting group slapping a logo on the inks to signal safety. Accredited third-party validation of a product’s sustainability performance and safety can be completely and unequivocally trusted.
The inks in question are Durst’s WT Food SP and WT Food MP water based inks. Their certifications are based on lifecycle assessments which take into account a wide range of environmental performance criteria as defined in UL’s ECOLOGO Standard (2801 – 2012 Standard for Sustainability for Printing Inks). Black, cyan, light cyan, magenta, light magenta and yellow inks have all been assessed and are all confirmed to contain no hazardous components, as defined by the ECOLOGO Standard.
Koenig & Bauer Durst uses these inks in the single pass Delta SPC Flexline Automatic 130 press. This is a digital postpress system for industrial applications. Durst has already used the imaging system for printing ceramics and labels and Koenig & Bauer have added the necessary mechanics to make the Durst technology suitable for postprint corrugated printing. Food safety, sustainability and flexible production models are priorities for brand owners and converters, and increasingly they rely on proven and tested technologies. Adding certifications whether it’s for process control or ink safety should be a no brainer. It is an obvious means for developers and service providers alike to provide assurance for customers.
Source information: This article was produced by the Verdigris Project, an industry initiative intended to raise awareness of print’s positive environmental impact. This weekly commentary helps printing companies keep up to date with environmental standards, and how environmentally friendly business management can help improve their bottom lines. Verdigris is supported by the following companies: Agfa Graphics, EFI, Fespa, Fujifilm, HP, Kodak, Miraclon, Ricoh, Spindrift, Splash PR, Unity Publishing and Xeikon.
Topics
Interested in joining our community?
Enquire today about joining your local FESPA Association or FESPA Direct
Recent news
Personalisation with Neil Reynolds from Sky Sport
FESPA's Personalisation Experience Ambassador, Richard Askam speaks to Neil Reynolds, NFL Presenter at Sky Sports about all things personalisation.
FESPA Global Print Expo and European Sign Expo to return in Berlin, Germany in May 2025
FESPA has today announced that its flagship annual FESPA Global Print Expo and European Sign Expo events will return to Messe Berlin, Germany, from Tuesday 6 – Friday 9 May 2025, covering screen, digital and textile printing, signage and visual communications. Confirmed features include Personalise Make Wear, World Wrap Masters, Club FESPA and the return of the bi-annual FESPA Awards.
New technologies and materials rewire and remap the silk road
Debbie McKeegan speaks to Thomas Poetz about the changes within the textile sector in the last 30 years. Thomas shares his insights and discusses the latest innovations in textile fibres.
FESPA Global Print Expo, European Sign Expo and Personalisation Experience 2024 - Day 1 Highlights
It is the first day at the FESPA Global Print Expo, European Sign Expo and Personalised Experience 2024, Europe's leading printing and signage exhibitions. Taking place at the RAI, Amsterdam in the Netherlands from 19th - 22nd March.