Ink World staff06.08.20
In times of health and social challenges, Epple Druckfarben AG, Neusäß makes its adequate contribution to safe printing: The product line Microbe Protect 2400 reduces bacteria and viruses with its exclusive nanosilver active ingredient complex.
The new gloss varnish Finishfit Microbe Protect 2400 is the start of this product line.
Further products will follow soon.
“Every sector must throw its full innovative power behind curbing the present and future pandemics," said Helmut Fröhlich, product line manager at Epple. “A first key element in sheet offset printing is the new gloss varnish Finishfit Microbe Protect 2400, which printing works or their customers can use instantly to create effective virus protection. The application of the varnish ranges from pharmaceutical and food packaging to magazines, playing cards dand other printed products that require active surface protection.”
Fröhlich’s colleague, Dr. Vroni Walter, head of Research and Development at Epple, has worked on the development of the product with her team.
“The varnish Finishfit Microbe Protect 2400 is based on a special formulation that contains nanosilver and an activated active ingredient. The antimicrobial and antiviral effectiveness of the active ingredient has been scientifically proven,” Dr. Walter said.
Finishfit Microbe Protect 2400 is the result of 18 months of development work with the renowned nanoscale research company RAS AG, Regensburg as well as state funding from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy as part of the Central Innovation Programme for SMEs.
Elementary silver has long been used as an effective antibacterial agent. This antimicrobial property was put to good use in dispersion varnishes in the joint development project.
Moisture dissolves and releases positively charged silver ions from the nanoparticles of elementary silver that are firmly anchored in the varnish film. These positive ions significantly reduce the number of bacteria and viruses on the varnish surface.
Finishfit Microbe Protect 2400 satisfies the exacting safety and sustainability requirements of our health policy and of society. The mode of action was tested according to ISO 22196 against the bacterial species Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) on a printed sample and showed a reduction in these species of up to 99.99%.
Its effectiveness depends on the concentration of the active ingredient and is permanent and long-lasting. It also greatly contributes to the protection of human health and the environment: No silver nanoparticles are released from the dried varnish film nor can they be rubbed off. [3] The varnish is marketable in accordance with the EU Biocidal Products Regulation No. 528/2012 (BAuA [German Federal Institute of Occupational Safety and Health] registration no.: N-91566).
“During the development phase the acute significance of the product in this urgency could not be foreseen,” said Stefan Schülling, member of the Executive Board responsible for sales and finance. “Now we are extremely pleased with the timely offering – further evidence of our innovative leadership. Our experience, in particular from our close partnership with the coatings manufacturer Pulse Printing Products Ltd., Bristol (UK), has been extremely helpful in developing this product, especially when it came to production.”