2 min read

Explore The Benefits of Water-Based Thermal Inkjet Ink for Packaging

Explore The Benefits of Water-Based Thermal Inkjet Ink for Packaging

Water-based thermal inkjet inks are an increasingly popular option due to their environmental friendliness and their application versatility. The TIJ water-based inks are specially designed for the highest-quality marks, with strong adhesion, capable of printing onto surfaces of absorbent materials like wood, cardboard and outer boxes.

 

Why Water-Based Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) Inks Are Gaining Popularity

Water-based TIJ inks are becoming an increasingly popular choice across multiple industries thanks to their environmental benefits, printing precision, and versatile application potential. These inks are specially designed for use on absorbent materials such as cardboard, corrugated board, and wood—delivering clear, high-adhesion marks that meet modern production and sustainability standards.


What Is Water-Based Thermal Inkjet Ink?

Water-based inks use water as the primary solvent to carry pigment onto the substrate. Unlike solvent-based formulations, these inks are 100% solvent-free and pose significantly lower environmental and health risks.

Despite using water as the carrier fluid, these inks are fast-drying, allowing them to keep up with high-speed production lines without sacrificing quality.

Because of their low chemical risk and excellent recyclability, water-based inks are ideal for primary and secondary packaging, especially in food and beverage applications.


Advantages of Water-Based TIJ Inks

Here’s why manufacturers are increasingly adopting water-based TIJ solutions:

🌱 Environmentally Friendly

  • No VOCs or harsh solvents

  • Safer for operators and consumers

  • Suitable for food packaging and recyclable substrates

💷 Cost Effective

  • Water and co-solvent-based formulation keeps operating costs low

  • Fewer handling and disposal requirements

🧽 Cleaner Operation

  • No harsh chemicals = less wear on machinery

  • Extended decap times reduce downtime and ink waste

🎨 Bright, Clear Prints

  • High colour intensity and sharp contrast for visibility and branding

  • Suitable for logos, batch codes, expiry dates, and more

🌡️ Temperature & Chemical Resistant

  • Formulated to withstand high and low temperatures

  • Excellent resistance to alcohols and other cleaning agents

📦 High Adhesion

  • Excellent substrate bonding ensures the printed marks remain legible and durable, even in tough conditions

🧩 Versatile Substrate Compatibility

  • Performs exceptionally well on porous materials like:

    • Cardboard

    • Corrugated board

    • Outer packaging

    • Paperboard trays

  • Can also be used on some non-porous surfaces like plastic film, depending on specific formulations


Applications of Water-Based TIJ Inks

Water-based thermal inkjet inks are widely used across industries for a range of packaging and coding applications, including:

📦 Cardboard Packaging

Perfect for printing batch numbers, expiry dates, barcodes, or branding on outer cartons and trays. These inks eliminate the risk of harmful chemical migration, especially critical for food packaging.

♻️ Sustainable Food Packaging

Compatible with eco-conscious packaging strategies and widely recyclable, making them ideal for primary packaging of consumables.

🛍️ Secondary Labels & Shipping Boxes

Water-based inks are often used for logistics and retail applications, where clean, legible codes help maintain supply chain integrity.


How Cyklop Needham Can Help

At Cyklop Needham, we develop and manufacture a wide range of OEM-compatible thermal inkjet inks, including high-performance water-based formulations. With over 60 years of ink innovation, we provide tailored solutions that help reduce your costs, support sustainability, and deliver exceptional print quality.

Whether you need off-the-shelf inks or custom formulations for a specific substrate, our in-house chemists are ready to develop a solution that meets your operational and regulatory requirements.


Get in Touch

📞 Call: +44 (0)1948 662629
📧 Email: enquiries@needham-ink.com
🌐 Website: www.needham-ink.com

 

cyklop-logo-new-CMYK

 

 

 

Water-Based Inks: The Clean Revolution in Industrial Printing

Water-Based Inks: The Clean Revolution in Industrial Printing

As sustainability moves to the top of the agenda across industries, water-based digital inkjet inks are gaining traction — not just for their ...

Read More
Direct to Garment vs Dye Sublimation: Which Ink Is Best for Textiles

Direct to Garment vs Dye Sublimation: Which Ink Is Best for Textiles

Printing on Textiles with Wide Format Inks The demand for digitally printed textiles, fabrics, and garments continues to grow, especially in the ...

Read More
What Is Eco-Solvent Ink? A Guide to Benefits, Applications, and Why It Matters

What Is Eco-Solvent Ink? A Guide to Benefits, Applications, and Why It Matters

Eco-solvent ink has become a go-to solution in the world of large format printing, offering a low-odour, environmentally friendlier alternative to...

Read More