Domino Printing Sciences plc, the leading ink jet and laser manufacturer, is launching a new white opaque ink - 253WT - designed specifically for use with Domino's A-Series continuous ink jet printers for specialist coding and marking applications that require a high-contrast code on dark surfaces such as cables and wires.
Providing fast, high-quality results, the 253WT ink achieves extremely sharp looking codes and exceptional adhesion, as well as scratch and smear resistance on many smooth surfaces such as metal, plastics, glass and porcelain. It also offers excellent water resistance, light fastness and is low offset. Depending on the substrate and ambient temperature, its properties provide a quick drying time of approximately one to two seconds. Comments Andrew Gunton, Domino's Fluids Product Manager: 'We work extensively with leading cable and wire companies and we continuously develop our ink jet printers and range of inks to produce high quality and high speed coding and marking onto a variety of substrates according to specific application requirements. 'It is therefore critical that we provide our customers with a specialist ink to provide a sharp looking white code mark which compares starkly with a dark background and ensures reliable performance.' Gunton concludes: 'When developing the ink, it was critical to keep the drying time as low as possible to maintain typical production speeds, allowing faster job turnaround and hence quicker factory-to-shelf time.
Additionally, the enhanced 253WT ink provides an even brighter white colour and offers superior levels of scratch resistance.' Domino offers four white inks for its A-Series printers - 209WT, 251WT, 252WT and now the 253WT - which are all general-purpose MEK-based white opaque inks. The heated print head technology in the A-Series printer guarantees optimum ink viscosity to ensure consistent print quality while the ink cartridge enables on-the-fly refilling without disrupting production process and guarantees consistency in print.