During the 10th India Corr Expo 2023 at the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida, hubergroup launched its eco-friendly water-based ink HYDRO-i. “This versatile ink, made out of carefully chosen raw materials, is well-suited for various applications including labels, paper cups, tea tags, ice-cream cones, wrappers, carry bags, e-commerce envelopes, sacks, and corrugated boxes,” said Pratip Dey, business head for labels and water-based inks at hubergroup India.
Dey explained that they introduced the HYDRO-i range of water-based ink in response to the growing demand for environmentally friendly packaging solutions. With the global shift away from plastic materials, paper has become a pivotal component in this transition, and “HYDRO-i offers top-tier technology for paper-based package printing applications.”
He added, “Since its launch at the India Corr Expo in 2022, HYDRO-i has swiftly established a strong foothold in the market segments it currently serves. It has garnered enthusiastic acceptance from leading converters and is on track for rapid growth in India. Furthermore, it is set to expand its presence in the international market in the near future.”
Dey emphasized that the technology was jointly developed by experts from hubergroup India and hubergroup Germany, making it compatible with the latest printing and converting machinery available in the market. Notably, it has been successfully integrated into sophisticated Bobst machines for corrugated box production.
Although HYDRO-i is primarily designed for paper-based printing by flexography process, hubergroup has expanded its application to gravure printing as well on paper substrates, such as paper sachets for items like bubble gum, tobacco and mouth fresheners. “The response from the market has been excellent, particularly among high-end customers who value quality,” said Dey.
Dey acknowledged certain challenges in the market, including the availability of paper and the increasing demand for high-quality graphics jobs traditionally printed using sheetfed offset methods. “Despite these challenges, hubergroup has successfully adapted to meet market needs and provide cost-effective solutions,” Dey said.
Meanwhile, hubergroup also offers comprehensive support, including development assistance, printing solutions, and on-site troubleshooting to its customers. This customer-centric approach ensures a seamless experience for their clients.
In terms of product safety compliance, hubergroup’s inks meet the challenges of various global standards which facilitates the export of printed products to the international market. Additionally, the company has established Ink Matching-Blending Centers in key cities – Noida, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata. These centers cater to the packaging industry’s need for customized colors/products suitable to desired print quality and unique process conditions, allowing customers to obtain specific shades quickly and in the required quantities. Two more ink-matching centers in Pune and Ludhiana are also in the pipeline to further support its customers’ color-matching needs.
