UV/EB inks seem to do it all, but will they ever become FDA-approved for direct food packaging?

By Missy Smith

Both UV and EB inks are mostly used in flexographic printing. “EB inks are very well-suited for the flexo printing process and work best in long-run applications where multiple cleanups are not necessary. UV inks can also be advantageous for long runs due to the fact that they require less maintenance than most conventional ink products,” says Ron Zessack, manager of energy-curable products, Environmental Inks and Coatings. “The use of UV/EB inks in flexo printing markets has been increasing at a steady pace and we anticipate this trend to continue with UV/EB becoming a larger part of our business and product mix.”