The world of printing technology has made huge advances in recent years, and one of the most important decisions you need to make when choosing a printer or printing method concerns the type of ink you want to use. Dye ink and (nano)pigmented ink are two common options, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the difference between these two types of ink to help you decide which is best suited to your individual requirements.

What is dye ink?

Dye ink, also known as dye ink, is a type of ink that uses dye molecules to produce the desired colors. These dyes are usually dissolved in liquid form and are applied to the print medium. Dye ink is often used for full-color and vibrant label printing as it can provide a wide range of colors and excellent color vibrancy. It is also less expensive than pigmented ink.

Advantages and disadvantages of dye ink.

• Advantages:
  1) Color brilliance: Dye inks produce vivid and rich colors that look particularly impressive on full-color labels.
  2) Smooth transitions: Dye ink can create smooth color gradients and transitions between different color tones.
  3) Cost-effective: Dye ink is generally cheaper to produce, which is often reflected in lower printing costs.
• Disadvantages:
  1) Sensitivity to UV light: Dye inks can fade over time due to exposure to sunlight and UV light, which can lead to a loss of print quality.
  2) Water solubility: Dye ink is water soluble, which means that printed materials may be susceptible to smearing or running if they come into contact with moisture.

What is pigmented ink?

Pigmented ink contains tiny solid particles called pigments to create colors. Unlike dyes, these pigments are not dissolved in the liquid but are suspended in the ink. Pigmented ink is often used for commercial labels where durability and resistance to environmental influences are important.

Advantages and disadvantages of pigmented ink.

• Advantages:
  1) Light resistance: Pigmented inks are much more resistant to UV light and sunlight, resulting in longer-lasting prints without the colors fading.
  2) Water resistance: Pigmented inks are water resistant and do not smudge as easily as dye inks when they come into contact with moisture.
  3) Longevity: Prints with pigmented ink can retain their quality and color intensity for decades.
• Disadvantages:
  1) More expensive: Pigmented ink is often more expensive to produce, which can result in higher printing costs.
  2) Reduced color vibrancy: Pigmented inks may not produce the same vivid color vibrancy as dye inks, especially for photo prints.
  3) Reduced color vibrancy: Pigmented inks may not produce the same vivid color vibrancy as dye inks, especially for photo prints.

NEW! What is nano-pigmented ink?

Advanced print quality and durability
Nano-pigmented ink is a development in the world of printing technology that further enhances the benefits of traditional pigmented ink through the integration of nanotechnology. This innovative type of ink uses nanoparticles to offer even better print quality, durability and versatility.

What are nanoparticles?
Nanoparticles are tiny particles in the nanometer range (1 nanometer corresponds to one billionth of a meter) that can achieve special effects due to their small size and unique properties. In printing technology, nanoparticles are often used to improve inks and coatings as they are able to change the physical and chemical properties of the materials they come into contact with.

• Properties and advantages of nano-pigmented ink:
  1) Improved color brilliance and accuracy: Nanoparticles enable an even distribution of pigments in the ink, resulting in improved color quality and accuracy.
  2) Extended color palette: Thanks to precise control over the size and properties of the nanoparticles, printed products can be created with a wider range of colors and tones.
  3) Higher resolution: The fine nanoparticles contribute to a higher resolution, allowing details to be printed sharper and clearer.
  Faster drying time: Nano-pigmented ink can dry faster than conventional inks, which increases productivity and reduces the risk of smudging.
  4) Improved resistance: By using nanoparticles, the pigments can be better bonded to the printing surface, resulting in increased resistance to UV light, water and abrasion.

Conclusion:

The choice between dye ink and (nano)pigmented ink depends on your individual requirements and preferences. If you need vivid colors and photo prints, dye ink might be the right choice. However, if resistance to environmental influences and longer durability of your prints are important, pigmented ink might be the better option. It’s also important to consider the intended use of your prints, budget and desired durability before making a decision.

In today’s diverse world of label printing, choosing the right material is crucial to ensure that your labels are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also meet the requirements of your products. Inkjet label materials offer a wide range of options, each with their own benefits and applications. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the differences between various inkjet label materials to help you choose the optimal material for your labeling needs.

• Glossy paper:
  Glossy surface for vivid colors and razor-sharp text.
  Suitable for high-quality packaging, cosmetics and gift items.
  Emphasizes the aesthetic appearance of labels.
• Matt paper:
  Matt surface for a professional look without gloss.
  Ideal for labels with lots of text or detailed information.
  Well suited for bottle labels and product descriptions.
• Transparent material:
  Transparent surface for creative design options.
  Perfect for products where the contents should be visible.
  Suitable for glass bottles, plastic containers and other transparent surfaces.
• Vinyl:
  Robust and weather-resistant material.
  Water, oil and UV-resistant.
  Ideal for outdoor use, in damp or extreme conditions.
• Removable labels:
  Can be easily removed and repositioned.
  Perfect for temporary labeling or promotions.
  Applications in retail environments or on sales floors.
• Water-soluble labels:
  Dissolves when it comes into contact with water.
  Suitable for food products or containers that are reused.
  Minimizes the need to remove or clean labels.

Conclusion: Choosing the right inkjet label material depends on your specific requirements. The different materials offer a wide range of options, from high-quality packaging to robust labels for outdoor use. Make sure you choose the material that best suits your products, your brand identity and the environmental conditions in which the labels will be used.

Dear readers,

It gives us great pleasure and we are proud to inform you that our company is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year! This special event marks a milestone in our company journey and we would like to take this opportunity to look back on a successful quarter of a century journey, say thank you and look to the future.

A quarter of a century of innovation and collaboration:

Since our founding 25 years ago, we have worked tirelessly to put innovation, quality and customer satisfaction at the heart of our business. We are proud to say that during this time we have not only grown, but also built strong relationships with our customers, partners and the community. Our success story is the result of hard work, dedication and the constant pursuit of excellence.

Thanks to our customers and partners:

Our anniversary would not have been possible without our valued customers and reliable partners. We would like to thank you for placing your trust in us and accompanying us on this exciting journey. Your support has enabled us to grow and continuously improve.

A look into the future:

While we look back proudly on our past, we are just as excited for the future. The next 25 years offer us the opportunity to continue to develop innovative solutions and continue our mission to meet the needs of our customers. We are determined to maintain the quality of our products and services while looking for new ways to do so.

Our anniversary celebration:

To celebrate our 25th anniversary, we planned an anniversary celebration to remember. It celebrated our successes, honored our team members who have brought our vision and mission to life, and recognized those who have accompanied us on our journey. It was a moment of gratitude, joy and anticipation for the years to come.

Thank you for being part of our journey. Here’s to the next 25 years!

With best regards,

KOMDRUCK AG

Links to this article:

Wirtschaftsregion Bergstraße / Wirtschaftsförderung Bergstraße GmbH

One code for each individual product

KOMDRUCK AG from Fürth is impressive proof that innovation does not always have to come from the giants of the technology sector. The medium-sized company is currently developing a special marking and decoding module for plastic products together with its project partners Formconsult Werkzeugbau and the Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences in Thuringia. The abbreviation PUDIS stands for “Plastic packing Unique Device Identification System”. This involves the unique traceability of plastic products or packaging.

To support their innovative research in this field, the federal government is now contributing 948,000 euros. Dr. Michael Meister (CDU) handed over the funding decision on Wednesday in his capacity as Parliamentary State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research at the KOMDRUCK offices in Fürth. The funds come from the “KMU-innovativ Produktionsforschung” (SME-innovative production research) funding pot, which aims to strengthen the innovative power of SMEs.

Science and business

“At the same time, the aim is to build a bridge between science and industry,” explained Dr. Meister. He hopes that in two years’ time, at the end of the funding period, there will be a product whose development will pay off. He confirmed that PUDIS has great potential on the international market. Stefan Schneider, CEO of KOMDRUCK, agrees. “Research funding is nice, but we want to use what we develop now to make a profit later on,” says the company founder.

To ensure this, KOMDRUCK has brought specialists on board whose expertise complements its own. Thomas Seul, Professor of Production Engineering and Tool Design, joined the event online from Thuringia. He explained the idea behind the project.

Put simply, the aim is to develop a marking and coding system that allows clear traceability, for example for medical products, but also for the automotive industry and other sectors of the plastics processing industry. Complete traceability is of great importance, particularly in terms of protection against plagiarism and claims for damages. However, there is currently no cost-effective marking system for plastic products that covers the entire process from coded marking during injection molding through to verification of the marking.

The aim of the PUDIS project is therefore to develop a process module for a new type of marking and demarking system that guarantees the application of forgery-proof coding to plastic components during the injection molding process. This system thus enables clear identification and traceability of each individual product.

Prof. Seul is certain: “We are creating faster, safer and less risky production processes. Mix-ups can no longer occur”. Seul’s colleague Professor Andreas Wenzel from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences also emphasized the clear identifiability already in the manufacturing process. He sees KOMDRUCK AG as a competent partner for building a corresponding demonstrator, which will then be tested and validated by associated companies.

Before the test phase

Stefan Schneider doesn’t want to give too much away, but explains that they have found a way to realize the idea. Schneider: “We are now facing a long test phase. Although the first steps have been taken, Mount Everest still looms ahead of us.

District Administrator Christian Engelhardts described the Fürth-based company as a technology leader in the Bergstrasse district. And Mayor Volker Oehlenschläger promised that KOMDRUCK would continue to have a good home in Fürth, even in the event of expansion. Oehlenschläger: “We will make this possible.”

The KOMDRUCK IDP-2103 is a multi-document printer in which printing in professional photo quality as well as ease of use and paper handling have been realized in a future-oriented way. The entire operation and input of documents is carried out on the front of the housing.

Automatic feed, alignment and edge detection mean that there is no need to set up and adjust different paper sizes, making it easy to use while seated. This makes it ideal for a wide range of documents such as children’s passports.

The all-rounder at a glance

• Development and production in Germany
• Optionally with integrated paper tray for standard printing (sheet feeder)
• Security ink infrared readable, meets ICAO standards
• Separate ink cartridges with large volume (CMYK)
• Easy to replace print head
• High print quality up to 1200 dpi
• Print speed up to 15 pages/minute
• Manual single-sheet paper feeder with edge detection and automatic document alignment thanks to sensor-monitored document handling
• Almost completely recyclable
• Up to 84% less energy consumption and 94% less consumables and packaging waste than a laser printer

Während der Corona-Pandemie ist das alt eingesessene Bergsträßer Unternehmen in ihre neuen Räumlichkeiten in der Lise-Meitner-Straße 17 innerhalb Heppenheim umgezogen. Für die Geschäftsführer Bernhard Schnabel und Tobias Keil ist klar, dass die Sicherheit von Mitarbeitern, deren Familien, Kunden und Partnern auch in den neuen Räumlichkeiten an oberster Stelle stehen muss.

Neben der Arbeitssicherheit bezieht sich das natürlich auch auf entsprechende Hygienemaßnahmen. Um der unkontrollierten Ausbreitung von Infektionen vorzubeugen, hat die Firma SCHNABEL für die neuen Räumlichkeiten von Anfang an die KOMDOSYS Desinfektionssäule eingeplant. „Mit der Desinfektionssäule der Firma KOMDRUCK möchten wir unseren Teil dazu beitragen, dass Hygienevorschriften eingehalten werden,“ sagt Bernhard Schnabel.

Außerdem integriert sich die Säule stilvoll in unseren neuen Eingangsbereich, da wir die Farbe exakt mit dem Stil und Charakter der neuen Räumlichkeiten abstimmen konnten. Die Säule passt sich hervorragend an und vermittelt bei unseren Besuchern keinen „Krankenhauscharakter,“ so Bernhard Schnabel weiter.