RUCO Druckfarben at Glasstec 2008: Special focus on UV printing inks

Special focus will be placed on the company's 935UV ink series which offers a number of advantages over conventional printing inks, both for printers and end users.









Ever since the debut of UV-curable inks for the decoration of glass and ceramics a couple of years ago, printers have enjoyed the benefits of switching from ceramic and solvent-based printing inks over to organic UV inks. At the same time, users have been able to enjoy higher gloss levels and lead-free formulations as well as high chemical resistance and improved dishwasher resistance.



RUCO's 935UV screen printing ink series represents a new generation of inks that do not require any thermal post treatment and offer high chemical and abrasion resistance. Curing under standard UV bulbs, these inks eliminate the need for expensive and slow gas lehrs or batch ovens and thus allow for even more streamlined, cost-effective manufacturing processes.



In addition to cost reductions, these UV-curable inks also enable innovative special effects to be achieved. In the flat glass industry, which undertakes the decoration of gaming machines, furniture, shower doors and mirrors, there is a high demand for opacity, brilliance of special colours, matt and frosted finishes as well as metallic effects. When it comes to mirror manufacturing, the UV printing inks also need to withstand silvering applications. RUCO's versatile 935UV inks can satisfy all these requirements.Contrary to ceramic-based inks, UV inks also offer the possibility of creating very special effects such as fluorescent and transparent colours as well as 4 colour images. Traditionally, acid etching was used for frosting shower glass. Now the use of UV screen printing inks offers a cost-effective alternative to this expensive etching process. Thanks to their water resistance, RUCO UV inks are ideally suitable for this application too.



In highly image-conscious sectors, such as the cosmetic industry, the use of RUCO UV inks opens up new and creative ways for decorating glass containers. At the same time, the inks offer the necessary resistance to chemicals, water and abrasion.



Much like the cosmetic industry, the advertising industry is looking for very special embellishments. Here too RUCO's UV-curable inks offer great advantages, enabling metallic effects and glitter effects as well as matt and frosted finishes, pearlescent effects and special textures to be achieved. DayGlo and fluorescent colours as well as high brilliance imitation gold & silver and tinted varnishes are also available.In addition to UV-curable inks, RUCO offers two types of conventional printing inks for glass decoration: The 110GE series of one-component oven-curing inks for screen and pad printing offers, which offers good chemical and mechanical resistance, as well as two-component screen printing inks of series 10KK, which satisfy the demand for excellent mechanical and chemical resistance.



All inks are free from heavy metals and comply with the limits specified by European standard EN 71, part 3.