Inks and coatings developer Epple Druckfarben has had its Finishfit Microbe Protect 2400 anti-microbial and anti-viral coating tested on products printed on a Fujifilm J Press.
Epple Druckfarben has developed Finishfit Microbe Protect 2400 to ‘dramatically’ reduce the chances of bacteria or viruses being passed from person-to-person via printed media. This includes but is not limited to everyday printed products that are handled by multiple people, such as playing cards, magazines, food menus and packaging of all kinds – including pharmaceutical-based packaging and selected plastic films.
Now commercially available, the new water-based varnish has been tested to provide anti-microbial and anti-viral coating options on a variety of products printed on Fujifilm J Press. Print trials were conducted at Fujifilm’s Advanced Print Technology Centre in Brussels, Belgium, with numerous tests carried out, both on freshly printed samples, and with prints that were several days old. The coating has been proven to be effective in killing up to 99.9% of bacteria, and was equally effective with both old and new prints.
Finishfit Microbe Protect 2400 contains elementary silver-nanoparticles (Ag0), anchored in the varnish film. When activated by moisture – such as when they are touched – the silver-nanoparticles release positively charged silver ions (Ag+), which significantly reduce the number of bacteria and viruses on the surface of the varnish. The effect is constant and long-lasting because the silver-nanoparticles themselves are not released and can’t be rubbed off from the dried varnish, and because the coating is water-based, it is also environmentally friendly. It took 18 months to develop, and Finishfit is the first product in a planned Microbe Protect 2400 series.
Helmut Fröhlich, product line manager at Epple, said, ‘This coating is suitable for a range of substrates, and we are continuously testing it with other ink types and printing processes.’
Mr Fröhlich identified that, ‘being one of the leading companies in inkjet printing, Fujifilm was the logical choice for testing Finishfit Microbe Protect 2400.
‘Fujifilm suggested the testing should be undertaken on the J Press and it quickly became clear as to why. Unlike some other digital printing processes, the Vividia inks used by the J Press produce a smooth, neutral surface that is ideal for both aqueous and UV-based coatings. We were impressed to see that the high-quality print work produced by the J Press is further enhanced by the crucial, invisible protection that Finishfit provides.’
Taro Aoki, head of digital solutions, Fujifilm Graphic Systems EMEA, said, ‘The J Press has always been about maximising flexibility and adaptability for its users. Over the years we’ve continually pushed the boundaries, offering an expanded colour gamut, food safe inks and the ability to print to a huge range of standard offset stocks. So, it is fitting that J Press printed products were the first to be tested with this ground-breaking new coating that offers print businesses enormous reassurance as we all continue to manage the risk of living with COVID-19 in society.’
