NachDruck – Sustainable and regional solvents for web offset printing inks

Web offset printing is the key technology for high print runs such as newspapers, magazines, and advertising inserts. Until now, mineral oil-based printing inks have been predominantly used for this purpose—up to 100,000 tons annually in Germany alone. Economical and sustainable alternatives are currently lacking, as the vegetable oils available are only suitable to a limited extent in terms of availability and ecological impact.

This is where the “NachDruck” project comes in:

he consortium is developing a new, economically viable printing ink system for the coldset process, in which the mineral oil content is completely replaced by bio-based solvents. These are produced from residues from food processing and biodiesel production – in particular from waste fats and oils. This results in an innovative approach that does not rely on primary vegetable oils, but instead makes sensible use of existing waste streams.

In the laboratory, the waste materials are first examined in detail, cleaned, and specifically modified using various chemical processes to achieve the properties required for printing. On this basis, defined component mixtures are created, from which the first printing inks are produced on a laboratory scale. The most promising formulations are then gradually scaled up and tested on an industrial web offset newspaper press.

A key advantage of the project is that the entire value chain remains in the region.

All participating companies, research institutions, and associated partners are part of the BioZ alliance and are located in the BioZ region. From raw material extraction to research and development to application, this creates a completely regional, sustainable, and economically stable structure.