Epple Druckfarben AG and Sun Chemical: New direct food contact printing ink system for packaging printing
Society and business are increasingly demanding sustainably produced, recyclable and plastic-free food packaging. Epple Druckfarben AG presents its BoFood® DFC system as a new printing ink system for printing on packaging. The offset printing inks for direct food contact (DFC) are suitable for paper packaging and are also available with immediate effect in Europe from Sun Chemical under the name SunPak® DirectFood Plus.
The BoFood® DFC system is the logical evolution of BoFood® Organic, the offset printing ink series by Epple for safe printing on primary food packaging. The new BoFood® DFC system allows for the safe, direct contact of inks with food on the inside of paper packaging. This system was developed thanks to a great deal of hard work by the analytical team at Epple Druckfarben AG and along with Sun Chemical, who analyzed and evaluated the raw materials, semi-finished products, and final printing inks. All the raw materials used in the BoFood® DFC system have been evaluated and approved for use in coatings with direct food contact. The raw material selection and entire manufacturing process as well as the incoming and outgoing goods inspections are subject to the strict requirements of GMP Regulation (EC) No. 2023/2006.
The new BoFood® DFC system with its greatly enhanced colour space offers impressive printing with stable pigmentation and exceptional runnability along with greater colour vibrancy and accuracy. The process stability of the new ink system rivals other proven low-migration standard inks. Sun Chemical, the partner for SunPak® DirectFood Plus has verified this stability in industrial tests with leading European finishing partners.
Major contribution to the sustainable printing of food packaging
Once again, Epple Druckfarben AG is helping to advance sustainable and safe packaging printing with its R&D work into DFC sheet-fed offset inks with a successful collaboration between Epple and Sun Chemical. The result of their ongoing partnership with Sun Chemical introduces even more printers to the application of this innovative technology. In addition, with its inks and coatings from the BoFood® product family, Epple Druckfarben AG provides its printing customers, distribution partners and brand manufacturers with a way of making full use of plastic-free packaging.
Partners highlight the successful collaboration
Stefan Schülling, Member of the Executive Board at Epple Druckfarben AG, welcomes the deepening collaboration with Sun Chemical: “We are extremely proud of creating a worldwide patented offset ink that has been approved for printing on the inside of food packaging. The new DFC ink systems from Epple and Sun Chemical enable printers to better address customer demands for eye-catching, high-quality and food-safe packaging.”
Nicolas Betin, Director of Product Strategy EMEA & Global Sustainability Business Leader at Sun Chemical: “These pigmented sheet-fed printing inks jointly developed with Epple enable our customers to offer a broader range of recyclable packaging to brand owners. We are delighted to be collaborating with Epple to provide our customers in Europe with the most advanced DFC ink technology available under the SunPak DirectFood Plus brand name.”
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Nicolas Betin, Director of Product Strategy EMEA & Global Sustainability Business Leader at Sun Chemical: “We are delighted to be collaborating with Epple to provide our customers in Europe with the most advanced DFC ink technology available under the SunPak DirectFood Plus brand name.” © Sun Chemical
Stefan Schülling, Member of the Executive Board at Epple Druckfarben AG: “The new DFC ink systems from Epple and Sun Chemical enable printers to better address customer demands for eye-catching, high-quality and food-safe packaging.” © Epple Druckfarben AG
ABOUT EPPLE
Epple Druckfarben AG stands for pure perfection in every detail. Since it was founded in 1870, the company has epitomized continuous development and the highest quality standards. As one of the leading producers of offset inks, Epple has demonstrated its innovative strength in the early development of its mineral oil-free eco series and special ink types for very long intervals between wash-ups in perfecting. Its innovation is shown once more in its range of inks for food packaging with the patented products BoFood® MU and BoFood® Organic. The medium-sized family-run company places a high priority on sustainability and a flexible approach. Epple is rare among companies in that it offers customized solutions for the individual requests of its global customers.
ABOUT SUN CHEMICAL
Sun Chemical, a member of the DIC Group, is a leading producer of packaging and graphic solutions, color and display technologies, functional products, electronic materials, and products for the automotive and healthcare industries. Together with DIC, Sun Chemical is continuously working to promote and develop sustainable solutions to exceed customer expectations and better the world around us. With combined annual sales of more than $8.5 billion and 22,000+ employees worldwide, the DIC Group companies support a diverse collection of global customers. Sun Chemical Corporation is a subsidiary of Sun Chemical Group Coöperatief U.A., the Netherlands, and is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, U.S.A.
