Domino Printing Sciences reports its water-based BK651 black ink for Thermal Ink Jet (TIJ) applications, which was developed to withstand the rigors of the pharmaceutical market, has been awarded a grade A through to Blue Wool 4 during independent testing and evaluations on printed samples of the ink to establish its performance and light-fastness. The testing was done by PIRA Intl. packaging, paper, and print industry specialists.
The ink offers fast drying and decap times, as well as high contrast codes for thermal Inkjet application printing onto carton board and similar substrates, adding that packaged medicines and healthcare products in the pharmaceutical industry have to withstand significant wear from storage and transportation. At the end of these processes, it's vital that product codes are still readable and confirm to the top quality Grade A for light fastness.
Craig Stobie, Life Sciences Manager at Domino Printing Sciences, adds, "As the EU continues to contemplate requirements for its Falsified Medicines Directive [FMD], which will become legislation from 2013, product identification and traceability codes will be key. These inks will need to maintain their quality, ensuring consistent readability of codes throughout their lifecycle, from manufacture through to patient usage."