New HP UV large format ink meets AgBB compliance standards for indoor use

Testing was carried out by Air Quality Sciences, Inc., which used the AgBB Evaluation procedure for VOC emissions and determined that HP FB225 Scitex Ink met the AgBB requirements. The AgBB Committee, established in 1997, comprises representatives from seven German national and regional health and environmental organisations and its testing procedures and standards are regarded as an international standard for health-related VOC emissions.

AgBB compliance follows the GREENGUARDSM Children & Schools(1) certification received earlier by HP FB225 Scitex Ink in the United States. The ink also received certification under the GREENGUARDSM Indoor Air Quality Certification Program for Low Emitting Products.

HP FB225 Scitex Ink was developed for the new HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial Press, a versatile, high-production machine for the production of high-quality graphics on a wide range of substrates from standard POP/POS corrugated board and papers to backlit films and plastic and coated materials. These materials include foam PVC, PVC sheets, polystyrene (HIPS), fluted polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyethylene, synthetic paper, SAV, foamboard, paper, corrugated, PETG, Yupo and Alu-Dibond.

Large format print service providers (PSPs) with HP Scitex FB7500 Industrial Presses that have been upgraded with the HP Scitex FB7500 Industrial Press Upgrade Kit option may also enjoy the differentiation and expanded application range enabled by HP FB225 Scitex Ink. Flexible and rigid materials can be printed with cross-hatch level(2) adhesion, enabling them to expand their offering.

HP FB225 Scitex Ink also is more flexible after curing than its predecessors, so the chances of chipping and cracking during folding and creasing are greatly reduced.

“This is the first UV-curable ink ever that complies with both these indoor air emissions standards,” said Xavier Melisse, EMEA Scitex Supplies Category Manager. “Prints produced with HP FB225 Scitex Ink on low emitting media have reduced odour(3) and the

fact that the inks used to produce them meet these standards offers additional reassurance about their suitability for indoor use. This opens new opportunities to HP Scitex FB7600 and upgraded HP Scitex FB7500 Industrial Press users.”

With increasingly environmentally conscious end-users, the ability of PSPs to offer products that use materials designed with the environment in mind can provide differentiation and a competitive edge.

“The fact that the inks have met these standards underlines the point that signs and displays(4) produced with them are suitable for use even in a sensitive indoor environment such as a school or hospital,” said Stephen Goddard, environmental leadership  programme manager for HP’s Graphics Solutions Business.

(1) The ink system using HP FB225 Scitex colour inks is listed in the GREENGUARD Product Guide for signage (see www.greenguard.org) and meets AgBB criteria for health-related evaluation of VOC emissions of indoor building products (see www.umweltbundesamt.de/produkte-e/bauprodukte/agbb.htm). Using a GREENGUARD Certified ink system, or an ink system that meets AgBB criteria, does not indicate the end product is certified or meets the criteria. Test prints submitted at POP17 print mode.
(2) According to D3359-02 ASTM Standard Test Methods for Measuring Adhesion by Tape.
(3) Cured HP225 Scitex colour inks have reduced odour compared to HP FB221 Scitex Inks.
(4) Printed on low emitting media.

HP Australia
www.hp.com.au/graphicarts