Transforming Water-Based Inkjet Innovation: The Vera Inkjet Approach

At the recent FuturePrint TECH event in Cambridge, Dr Madhu Kaushik, Senior VP and CTO at Vera Inkjet, presented a talk on the advancements and challenges in the development of water-based ink technologies.

Vera Inkjet, based in Montreal, specialises in research and innovation, focusing on water-based pigment inks and fluids for piezoelectric printheads. This small yet powerful team pushes the boundaries of what's possible with water-based inks.

By applying principles from different scientific fields, Vera Inkjet has crafted a niche in creating high-quality, consistent, and sustainable ink solutions for various applications, including graphics, textiles, and packaging.

The push towards water-based inkjet inks stems from a growing demand for sustainable and regulatory-compliant printing solutions. Water-based inks are inherently safer, but the adaptation of these inks has been significantly bolstered by engineering advancements in printheads and printers, making high-quality water-based printing more feasible than ever.

Developing water-based inks is not without its hurdles, however. The formulation process involves balancing complex, multicomponent colloidal systems, ensuring stability, preventing sedimentation, and achieving desired performance on various substrates. The inherent contradictions in creating inks that offer both strong adhesion and optimal jetting performance highlight the intricate dance of chemical and physical properties that Vera Inkjet navigates.

At Vera Inkjet, the strategy is clear: tackle the chemistry first. The team's extensive work in polymer chemistry and pigment dispersion has led to a robust toolkit of formulations that address the core challenges of water-based printing. Vera Inkjet's approach ensures that the final ink products not only perform exceptionally on substrates but also meet the stringent requirements of jetting performance.

Madhu Kaushik mentioned several exciting developments in water-based inks for packaging, showing samples on non-porous substrates, clay-coated news back, and porous substrates like corrugated boxes. These examples demonstrate Vera Inkjet's ability to innovate across a spectrum of challenges, from adherence and wetting to preventing ink penetration on porous materials without the need for inkjet receptive coatings.

Vera Inkjet is a highly collaborative company and with their customer-centric approach, we are very excited to find out what this company will do next.