Digital printing hasn’t replaced flexo printing as the preferred method when it comes to food packaging. But the former has made inroads as shorter run lengths can be printed digitally – and the process is even becoming more economical.   
 
“Inkjet is beneficial for any application that requires short run, on demand production and/or fast turnarounds,” said Victor Gomez, director, industrial labels, Epson America, Inc., adding that the demand is being supported by trends such as mass customization and personalization.
 
Recently Epson announced that the ink used in its SurePress digital inkjet label presses and ColorWorks on-demand color label printers are compliant with EU Regulation framework (EC) No. 1935/2004, Good Manufacturing Practices Regulation (GMP) (EC) No. 2023/2006, Plastics Implementation Measure Regulation (EU) 10/2011 and included in Swiss Ordinance (RS 817.023.21) on Food Contact Materials for food packaging printing inks. 
 
The company deemed these as major milestones in food contact materials compliance. “Epson is committed to the observance of corporate ethics, laws and company regulations,” Gomez said.
 
The requirements for food packaging inks, according to Gomez, can be categorized by ink components and the ink manufacturing process.
 
“Depending on the regulatory regime, there are positive and/or negative lists naming specific components of ink that are either acceptable or excluded from use in ink formulations for food packaging applications,” he said. “Epson formulates its SurePress and Colorworks inks within these parameters.
 
“Keeping inks free of contaminants is highly dependent on the ways in which inks are manufactured and packaged,” he continued. “Unique among digital inkjet press and printer manufacturers, Epson produces its own ink. Epson invests directly in systems and hygienic processes to produce ink for its SurePress and ColorWorks solutions.Our facilities meet the internationally recognized Good Manufacturing Practices standards. In addition, Epson SurePress and ColorWorks inks are manufactured with food grade hygiene management, implementing Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) risk assessment at each stage of production.” 
 
How challenging is it to become certified?
 
“Compliance can be quite a cumbersome process, as it requires the disclosure of proprietary information about ink components and manufacturing processes, in some cases,” Gomez said. “Additionally, extensive mathematical modeling, empirical testing and other methods to establish compliance are necessary.” 
 
Since Epson’s SurePress and Colorworks products are sold worldwide, the company has to be cognizant of the regulatory framework in place in different regions.
 
“European Union legislation, for example, has a very different approach than the way the U.S. Food and Drug Administration treats printing inks for food applications,” Gomez noted. “In Europe, the approach is hazard-based, whereas the U.S. FDA looks at risks. 
 
“The lack of harmonization, even within Europe, has led many companies to look to specific national legislation like the well-known Swiss Ordinance published by Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office.”
 
Epson is a member of the European Printing Ink Association (EuPIA), an industry group that upholds standards of health and safety in the printing industry.
 
The company serves many markets and Gomez said that, “Naturally, Epson’s digital inkjet printing technologies have made great inroads into the food label and packaging markets.” 
 
The SurePress production presses and desktop printers are used for a variety of boutique food product label and packaging applications, he noted.
 
“When it comes to determining the suitability of labels or packaging for the intended use, it’s important that the process of construction and components are compliant with applicable regulations,” Gomez said. “Epson’s inks are an important element of the construction.” 
 
Packaging for not only food, but “health and beauty – and other such applications where consumer safety is of paramount importance – are some of the largest and fastest growing segments of the packaging markets,” Gomez said. “Epson has identified enormous opportunities for its inkjet technology in these spaces.”
 

Epson SurePress L-6034VW/Courtesy Epson