Flexographic Printing Ink

Water base flexographic inks have been used for printing on the flexible packaging manufactured at the Custom Poly Packaging facility from the first bag printed in the late 1980's. We actually worked with water base ink manufacturers to help them develop their technology. The adhesion of the water base inks we currently use is durable enough to withstand the environment to which a shipper / mailer bag or an outdoor yard / lawn sign is subjected, for a year, two years and sometimes longer. Although significant improvements have been made to water base ink technology, the main prohibitive environment for water base inks is in freezer applications where there is a possibility that condensation will form on the poly film surface or where ammonia is present causing the ink to loosen its grip. In freezer applications, solvent ink is resistant to the effects of condensation.  Custom Poly can trap (overprint) water base ink colors by using a couple of the colors in the job. Very coarse screens of 35 to 65 lpi can be used to make an additional color.

Solvent inks are the best choice in a freezer application when flexo printing is required on polyethylene or polypropylene flexible packaging since solvent ink does not lift when the bag is subjected to the condensation from the freeze / thaw cycle.

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