Paper packaging is becoming increasingly popular in the food sector due to its good recyclability. Web offset printers can now also benefit from this increasing demand as hubergroup Print Solutions is launching the first coldset and heatset inks for food-compliant paper packaging.

While printers can thus build up another mainstay, the food industry has a new opportunity to design sustainable paper packaging in a colourful and creative way. The mineral oil-free and low-migration ink series MGA FOOD NEWS and MGA EVOLUTION are initially available in Europe and Asia.

Until now, low-migration offset inks were only used in sheetfed printing. A new binder developed by hubergroup has paved the way for this innovation in web offset printing.

Thomas Stumpf, Director Web Offset at hubergroup, explains: "With the help of a special binder and the careful selection of raw materials as well as production methods, we have succeeded in developing the first low-migration and low-odour web offset inks. As safety and sustainability are our top priorities, we worked closely with our sheetfed offset experts who have been developing inks for food packaging for many years."

In addition to thorough laboratory work, hubergroup has carried out extensive practical tests in cooperation with well-known brand owners, printers, and the special paper manufacturer DREWSEN.