Eco-solvent inks offer a powerful blend of vivid colour, durability, and lower environmental impact—making them the go-to choice for outdoor signage, banners, trade show displays, and more.
In this article, we take a closer look at how eco-solvent ink technology works, its practical applications, and the benefits it brings to businesses looking for high-performance print solutions without harsh chemicals.
Eco-solvent inks use pigments suspended in a mild, biodegradable solvent, significantly reducing the number of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) compared to traditional solvent-based inks. As a result, eco-solvent inks emit virtually no odour and can be safely used in confined or poorly ventilated spaces.
Originally developed in the early 2000s as a safer alternative to “aggressive” solvent inks, eco-solvent technology answered the call for more operator- and customer-friendly printing solutions—especially in signage and display graphics.
Today, eco-solvent inks are used widely in entry- to mid-level wide-format printers, while many industrial applications still use stronger solvents due to specific substrate requirements.
Eco-solvent inks are ideal for use across a wide range of indoor and outdoor media, especially where resistance to weathering, scratching, and fading is essential:
Outdoor Signage: Their water and UV resistance makes eco-solvent inks perfect for long-term display applications.
Vehicle Wraps: These inks offer excellent durability and flexibility, with no harsh VOCs that damage surfaces.
Banners: Vivid, eye-catching colours combined with robust print quality make them ideal for event and promotional use.
Textiles: Eco-solvent inks can be used with transfer printing techniques to create fabric prints for t-shirts, totes, and other garments.
Switching to eco-solvent ink provides several advantages for businesses operating in signage, promotional printing, and custom apparel:
✅ Lower Maintenance
Eco-solvent inks are kinder to printheads and internal components due to their lower volatility, resulting in less frequent repairs and cleaning cycles.
✅ Low Odour Operation
With fewer VOCs, eco-solvent printers can be placed in offices, studios, or smaller workshops without the need for industrial ventilation.
✅ High Durability
Once cured, eco-solvent prints are waterproof, UV-resistant, and scratch-resistant, making them ideal for harsh outdoor environments and long-term installations.
In a competitive print industry, your reputation depends on print quality, turnaround time, and cost efficiency. That’s where Cyklop Needham comes in.
With over 60 years of experience in ink design and manufacturing, we specialise in:
OEM-compatible eco-solvent inks
Custom-developed wide-format inkjet inks
British-made, quality-tested ink products
Bespoke formulations developed by our in-house chemists
Whether you need reliable off-the-shelf solutions or a custom blend to match your unique application, we can deliver cost-effective results—without compromising on quality.
Get in Touch Today
📞 Call: +44 (0)1948 662629
📧 Email: enquiries@needham-ink.com
🌐 Visit: www.needham-ink.com
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