Fighting the pandemic together

Anti-bacterial varnish for packaging products now available at Manroland Sheetfed’s Printcom

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to change the world in ways we’ve never imagined, overturning our traditional way of life.

Thanks to new technology, e-shopping and working from home have been incorporated seamlessly into our everyday life, satisfying the need for social distancing. In this so-called new normal, personal hygiene and sanitation are important for survival. These range from regular hand washing and the use of disposable gloves and masks to constant disinfecting of our surroundings to keep the virus out.

Manroland Sheetfed is united with customers in fighting this pandemic. So the company is introducing an anti-bacterial varnish application package to its printcom portfolio. This latest addition to press room consumables once again confirms that Manroland Sheetfed is true to its slogan: “WE ARE PRINT”.

Safeguarding by dual protection

The transport and handling of commodities carries the risk of microbe transmission. For added protection against microbes, Manroland Sheetfed infuses the protective varnish commonly used for packaging products with anti-bacterial solution.

To achieve this anti-bacterial effect, an active substance called silver phosphate glass is added to the varnish. The ingredient has a micron size of less than 5μm and contains a glass carrier that releases silver ions in a controlled manner through an ion exchange mechanism.

This potent combination of coating and anti-bacterial additives provides invisible protection on the printed surface during the lifetime of the printed work. As microbes of various types are effectively killed by the additives, it minimizes the risk of passing on such bacteria and viruses to the next users.

Proven effective and up to international standards

Having been successfully tested against ISO22196 by BioLab, it has proven effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as ESBL, CRE Klebsiella, MRSA and VRE. It also works against other bacteria that could be passed on by people and surfaces, such as Acinetobacter baumannii and Clostridium difficile, and viruses such as Influenza A H1N1.

Also printcom anti-bacterial varnish consumables, including the coating ingredients and additives, are compliant with different legislations and regulations of the European Union (EU). These include the REACH legislation (EU 1907/2006), Biocidal Product Regulation (EU Regulation 528/2012), Biocidal Product Regulation 528/2012, Swiss Ordinance (817.023.212), and Plastics Directive Commission Regulation (EU) 10/2011.

As silver phosphate glass is included in the European Food Safety Authority’s provisional list of substances in plastics, it is permitted for use in food contact applications within specified limits subject to national authorization requirements.

Added value to packaging products

The anti-bacterial varnish offered by Manroland Sheetfed is ideal for pharmaceutical, food and personal care packaging printers who are looking for solutions in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. This innovation helps forward-looking customers stay ahead of the competition. Brand owners also get added value for their products.

Five varnish products have now been launched corresponding to the common circumstances of usage in printing. They range from water-based printcom Varnish S 112H-AB and coated-paper varnish printcom Varnish S 247H-FP-AB to printcom Varnish S 317H-LM-AB, which can be used directly in food packing solutions. This selection provides further flexibility to printers who are targeting different market segments.

Because this is a biological-related application, Manroland Sheetfed strongly recommends test runs and case-by-case discussions. In-house pre-runs and demonstrations by our staff will give printers a better understanding of how the anti-bacterial varnish works to their advantage.

Contact your local Manroland Sheetfed representatives or drop us a short note to apply for a test run via printcom@manrolandsheetfed.com. Our technical experts are ready to answer your questions on how to use these innovative anti-bacterial packaging applications.

Joining in the ranks of print competence enhancements, the printcom anti-baterial varnish series bring further application flexibilities to those print houses who are seeking for technical innovations in the challenging time.