PrintWeek Awards 2023: Afflatus Gravures wins Most Challenging Project of the Year (Joint Winner)

Noida-based Afflatus Gravures and the researchers of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee, have developed an environment-friendly technology for flexible printing while using water-based ink with laser cylinders.

30 Oct 2023 | By PrintWeek Team

Afflatus Gravures wins Most Challenging Project of the Year

The research was conducted under the Uchchatar Avishkar Yojana programme of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. A patent has also been secured.

The objective of the project was to develop a sustainable, environmentally friendly and cost-effective printing solution. Hence, it aimed to replace solvent-based ink with water-based ink to reduce volatile organic compound emissions and carbon footprints in gravure printing without affecting the overall printing quality.

Thus, the polyethylene terephthalate film was printed by an Afflatus laser engraved cylinder with reduced engraving cell depth compared to other electronically engraved printing cylinders, resulting in less printing ink consumption, thus reducing raw material consumption.

The cost of printing one-kg of polyethylene terephthalate film with water-based ink was reduced by USD 1.85 and volatile organic compounds emissions were reduced from 3373- to 2478-ppm compared to solvent-based ink. The use of water-based ink also reduced carbon footprint by 3.04-kg.

The study has proved useful for the development and commercial production of water-based ink and also, Afflatus laser engraved cylinders having reduced engraving cell depth compared to other electronically engraved printing cylinders.

Commended