UV digital inks meet increasing regulatory requirements

With upcoming regulations such as the Swiss Ordinance 2026 and the German Ink Ordinance 2027, regulatory compliance in label printing is shifting from a one-time requirement to a continuous operational task. BOBST addresses this development with its Thalia UV digital inks, designed for inkjet label printing while meeting both regulatory and industrial performance requirements.

Formulation aligned with regulatory compliance
The Thalia UV inks are formulated without TPO and exclude more than 20 groups of critical substances, including PFAS, phthalates, bisphenols, ITX, MOSH/MOAH, parabens, and primary aromatic amines. This composition aligns with current and upcoming regulatory frameworks, particularly in food contact materials.

The formulation supports compliance with relevant standards and regulations such as EU Regulation 1935/2004, REACH, and industry guidelines for good manufacturing practice. The objective is to provide label manufacturers with a basis for verifiable and documented compliance.

Performance in digital label printing
The ink system is designed for digital inkjet printing and supports industrial production requirements. Print speeds of up to 100 m/min at a resolution of 1,200 × 1,200 dpi enable use in high-volume production environments. The inks support wet-on-wet printing for extended color gamut and accurate reproduction of spot colors, while ensuring long-term color stability. In many applications, no primer is required, simplifying the printing process.

The inks can be used in existing BOBST printing systems without hardware upgrades or inert gas systems, facilitating integration into current production lines.

Migration control and process reliability
In addition to print performance, the system is designed to maintain controlled migration levels, which are critical for applications in food packaging, cosmetics, and toys. The combination of material formulation and process control supports compliance with defined migration limits.

BOBST also applies structured methods for compliance evaluation, including migration testing and predictive modeling, to identify and mitigate risks.

Data transparency and documentation
Increasing requirements for traceability and documentation in regulated environments require structured, data-driven validation. The ink system is part of a broader approach combining technical data, testing procedures, and documentation frameworks.

This enables label manufacturers to continuously demonstrate compliance to customers and regulatory authorities.

Impact on label production
Integrating compliant materials into high-performance printing systems allows production processes to adapt without compromising efficiency. It also reduces the risk of future adjustments due to regulatory changes.

The combination of compliance, print performance, and process integration supports the requirements of brand owners for transparency and safety across the digital supply chain and packaging ecosystem.

Outlook in a changing regulatory environment
As regulatory pressure increases and requirements across the value chain become more stringent, continuous compliance is becoming a key competitive factor. Solutions such as Thalia UV inks enable early alignment with regulatory developments and integration into existing production workflows.

By combining material innovation, process stability, and documented compliance, the system supports the sustainable evolution of label production in a changing regulatory landscape.

Edited by Maria Brueva, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.

www.bobst.com