Flexible Packaging Inks & Functional Coatings

Inks, overprint varnishes and functional coatings for printed films and laminates: adhesion, resistance, low-migration documents and press trials.

Buyer summary

What it is: Printing inks, overprint varnishes and functional coatings for printed films and laminates, in solvent-based, water-based or energy-curable (UV/EB) systems.
Main applications: Food, beverage, snack and pet-food packaging; household and personal-care packs; industrial sacks and wrappers; labels and sleeves; pharmaceutical packaging with additional controls.
Critical purchasing specifications: Print process and substrate, including surface or reverse print and treatment
Ink chemistry and drying or curing method
Adhesion, resistance and lamination bond targets, as separate checks (for example ASTM F2252 tape adhesion)
Low-migration requirement, with market and regulatory basis
Colour standard
Qualification considerations: Laboratory drawdowns only screen candidates; run press trials on your own film and press. For energy-curable systems, cure is a quality variable.
First step: Name the print process, the film, the end use and the market whose regulations apply.
How PAXOMER can assist: Inks, overprint varnishes and functional coatings for flexible packaging are qualified on your film, press and end use. PAXOMER can help define the substrate, print process, resistance and low-migration requirements, identify ink and coating manufacturers with suitable systems, and coordinate press trials. Manufacturer-level discussions can then address pack sizes and recurring volumes. Manufacturer identification, qualification support and pricing discussions depend on manufacturer confirmation, specifications, quantities and terms.

Prepare an RFQ Send an Inquiry

Detailed technical guidance, data tables, FAQs and technical references follow below.

Food-contact and claim documentation. Food-contact suitability and environmental or recycled-content claims depend on the exact material, use and market. Request written documentation; this page confirms none.

General technical information published by PAXOMER Inc. to support preliminary material evaluation. It is compiled from the sources cited on this page and has not been independently reviewed or certified by a professional engineer, laboratory or certification body. Values marked typical, illustrative or requiring confirmation are not specifications. Confirm properties, standard editions, regulatory status and suitability for your specific application with the manufacturer and, where the use is regulated or safety-related, with a qualified professional or the relevant authority.

Printed flexible packaging depends on a chain of liquid materials: printing inks, primers, overprint varnishes (OPVs), barrier or functional coatings, and the additives that control wetting, flow, slip and foam. Each is applied to a specific film or paper, dried or cured on a specific press, and then laminated, sealed, filled and stored. Performance is therefore a property of the system, not of the ink alone.

This page is for converters, printers, brand packaging engineers and purchasing teams evaluating a new ink, varnish or coating, or replacing an incumbent. It explains how to define the print process and substrate, which properties and tests are commonly used, how press and lamination trials should be organised, and what a useful RFQ contains. It does not state that PAXOMER stocks, manufactures or has qualified any ink or coating, and its tables describe how a specification is written rather than confirmed values.

A. Product identity and terminology

1. What do inks, varnishes and functional coatings do in flexible packaging?

Inks carry colour and graphics. Primers improve adhesion to difficult surfaces. Overprint varnishes protect surface print and set gloss, matte effects, slip and scuff resistance. Functional coatings add properties such as heat resistance, barrier to oxygen or moisture, heat-seal capability, anti-fog or release. Additives inside each system control substrate wetting, levelling, foam, pigment dispersion and surface slip; additive manufacturers publish separate families for these functions (S4). Manufacturer literature for flexible film packaging groups these as inks, coatings and adhesives for surface and reverse print, lamination and specialty effects (S1).

2. Which terms appear in ink and coating specifications?

Surface print, reverse print, primer, overprint varnish (OPV), solids, viscosity (cup seconds or mPa·s), anilox volume, cell volume, coat weight (wet and dry), drying, curing, dyne level or surface energy, corona treatment, bond strength, scuff resistance, block resistance, rub resistance, gloss, coefficient of friction, residual solvent, odour, set-off and migration. Glossary: overprint varnish, migration.

3. Which ink and coating systems are available?

Common system families and what changes with each
System family	How it forms a film	Points to evaluate
Solvent-based	Solvent evaporation in dryers	Dryer capacity, residual solvent, emissions handling, odour
Water-based	Water evaporation, sometimes with crosslinking	Drying energy, wetting on low-energy films, resolubility, foam
UV-curable	Photo-initiated polymerisation	Lamp output, cure dose, photoinitiator choice, migration
EB-curable	Electron-beam polymerisation without photoinitiator	EB equipment, dose, oxygen inerting, substrate effects
Functional coatings	Varies by system	Coat weight control, barrier or seal performance after lamination

The same graphic can be achieved with different systems; the right choice depends on press equipment, structure, end use and regulatory requirements.

B. Properties and performance

4. How does composition affect performance?

Inks combine colorants (pigments or dyes), binders or resins, carriers (solvent or water) or reactive monomers and oligomers, and additives. The binder determines adhesion to the film and compatibility with the lamination adhesive; the pigment and its dispersion determine colour strength and transparency; additives adjust wetting, flow, slip and foam. A change in any component can move adhesion, bond strength or migration behaviour. Comparison: substrate wetting versus pigment dispersion.

5. Which properties should be specified, and how are they measured?

Typical properties include viscosity at press, colour against a standard, gloss, adhesion to the substrate, rub and scuff resistance, block resistance, COF of the printed surface, heat resistance against sealing jaws, lamination bond strength and residual solvent or odour. Gloss is commonly measured by ASTM D523 (S5); solvent resistance of organic coatings by solvent rubs according to ASTM D5402 (S6); tape adhesion of inks and coatings on flexible packaging by ASTM F2252 (S7). Coefficient of friction of film can be measured by ASTM D1894 (S9).

Ink and coating parameters a buyer should specify

Illustrative framework. Rows show how parameters are written; every value must come from the ink or coating manufacturer for the exact product and conditions.

Ink and coating parameters a buyer should specify
Property	Value or range	Unit	Test conditions	Test method	Grade or construction	Source	Verification status
Press viscosity	stated per press and anilox	s (efflux cup) or mPa·s	Temperature and cup or viscometer stated	Manufacturer method	Ink at press	None	Application-specific verification required
Specular gloss	stated per product	gloss units	Geometry stated (for example 60°)	ASTM D523	Printed and varnished film	S5	Manufacturer confirmation required
Tape adhesion	pass criterion agreed	rating	Tape type, dwell and substrate stated	ASTM F2252	Printed film	S7	Application-specific verification required
Solvent rub resistance	number of double rubs	double rubs	Solvent and pressure stated	ASTM D5402	Cured coating or ink	S6	Manufacturer confirmation required
Coefficient of friction	stated face combination	dimensionless	Static and kinetic	ASTM D1894	Printed or varnished surface	S9	Application-specific verification required
Lamination bond strength	to be agreed	N per 15 mm	Peel angle, speed and cure time stated	Converter method	Printed laminate	None	Application-specific verification required
Dry coat weight	stated per coating	g/m²	Measured after drying or curing	Gravimetric method agreed	Functional coating	None	Manufacturer confirmation required

6. Why do ink adhesion and substrate wetting fail?

Low surface energy films need treatment (corona, flame or plasma) or primers so the ink wets and adheres. Treatment decays with time and can be affected by slip additives migrating to the surface. Poor wetting shows as crawling, pinholes or poor coverage; poor adhesion shows as ink removal by tape, scuffing or delamination. Check the treatment level on the actual roll at the time of printing and record it. See the Solution Finder topics on poor coating or ink adhesion and poor wetting.

7. Why do drying and curing need their own controls?

For solvent and water systems, insufficient drying leaves residual solvent or moisture that can cause odour, blocking or reduced bond strength after lamination. For energy-curable systems, incomplete cure can leave unreacted components that affect odour, set-off and migration. Manufacturer troubleshooting guidance for energy-curable inks treats cure as a primary check when defects appear (S3). Lamp output, dose, line speed and ink film thickness should be recorded during trials.

C. Manufacturing and processing

8. How are inks and coatings produced and applied?

Producers disperse pigments in a binder and carrier, adjust colour and viscosity, filter and package the product. At the converter, the ink is adjusted to press viscosity, applied through anilox rolls and plates (flexographic) or engraved cylinders (gravure), dried or cured, and then the printed web is laminated or coated. Every step has variables: viscosity drift, anilox wear, plate or cylinder condition, dryer temperature and air flow, web speed.

9. Which press problems are common, and how are they investigated?

Press defects, possible causes and first checks
Defect	Possible causes	First checks
Feathering or dirty print	Viscosity, anilox volume, plate impression, ink drying on plate	Viscosity records; impression setting; manufacturer troubleshooting guide
Pinholing or crawling	Low surface energy, contamination, foam	Treatment level; substrate cleanliness; defoamer use
Poor ink adhesion	Treatment decay, wrong ink for film, incomplete drying or cure	Tape test per ASTM F2252; treatment level
Blocking or set-off	Residual solvent, under-cure, winding tension, temperature	Drying or cure records; rewind conditions
Low lamination bond	Ink and adhesive incompatibility, residual solvent, cure time	Bond strength by layer and over time
Odour	Residual solvent, photoinitiator by-products, adhesive	Residual solvent analysis; sensory panel

Manufacturer troubleshooting resources describe causes and corrective actions for defects such as dirty print and feathering (S2). Treat such guidance as a starting point, not a diagnosis for your press.

10. Which quality controls support consistent supply?

Batch certificates with viscosity, colour and solids; retained samples per batch; colour approval against a physical standard; incoming checks at the converter; and periodic adhesion, rub and bond tests on production. Change notification for raw materials is essential, because a pigment or resin change can affect migration and bond strength without changing colour.

11. How should inks and coatings be stored and handled?

Follow the safety data sheet and technical data sheet: temperature limits, shelf life, protection from freezing for water-based systems, protection from light for energy-curable systems, and safe handling of flammable solvents. Keep containers closed to avoid solvent loss and skinning. Rotate stock by batch date.

D. Applications and qualification

12. Where are these materials used?

Food, beverage, confectionery and snack packaging; pet food; household and personal care packs; industrial sacks and wrappers; labels and sleeves; pharmaceutical and medical packaging with additional controls. Functional coatings appear where a film must gain a property it lacks, such as heat resistance on a polyethylene outer layer or barrier on a mono-material structure.

13. Which requirements depend on the end use?

Food packaging needs documentation on the suitability of the ink, coating and structure for the intended contact and conditions in each target market; low-migration systems are often requested for indirect contact. Retort and pasteurisation demand heat and water resistance. Products with oils, fragrances or solvents need resistance tests with the actual product. Pharmaceutical and medical packs follow their own regulatory route.

14. How should a converter or brand select a candidate system?

Describe the press, process, substrate, treatment and print position (surface or reverse).
Describe the structure and lamination adhesive, and whether the print contacts the adhesive.
List end-use conditions: product, filling temperature, heat treatment, storage.
State regulatory and documentation needs, including any low-migration requirement.
Ask manufacturers to propose systems against these, with test data and conditions.

15. How should samples and press trials be organised?

Screen with laboratory drawdowns for colour, adhesion and resistance. Then run a press trial on the actual film with the incumbent as a control, recording viscosity, speed, dryer or lamp settings and treatment levels. Laminate the printed web with the production adhesive and test bond strength at defined cure times. Finally test the finished package for sealing, product resistance and odour. Record batch numbers for every material.

16. Why do printed packages fail in use?

Ink removed by scuffing in distribution; delamination after product contact or heat treatment; odour or taint complaints; colour shift between batches; blocking in the roll; or sealing jaws picking off ink. Most are traceable to a mismatch between the system and the press, structure or end use, or to an unrecorded change in one material.

17. Which documents should be requested?

Technical data sheet with methods; safety data sheet; batch certificate; statement on suitability for the intended packaging use, with market, regulation basis and scope; information on substances of concern where required; colour standard; and a change-notification commitment. Ask that every statement names the exact product code.

E. Procurement, comparisons and decisions

18. What determines total cost?

Ink consumption per square metre (driven by anilox volume, coverage and solids), drying or curing energy, press speed, waste during make-ready, wash-up time, and the cost of defects. A cheaper ink that slows the press or reduces bond strength can increase total cost.

19. What should an ink or coating RFQ include?

Press type, process, speed, dryer or curing equipment, anilox or cylinder data.
Substrate, treatment level, surface or reverse print and number of colours.
Structure, lamination adhesive and end-use conditions.
Required properties with test methods: adhesion, rub, gloss, COF, bond strength.
Regulatory and documentation needs, including low-migration requirements.
Annual volume by colour or product, pack sizes and delivery location.

Use the RFQ brief to prepare and submit these details to PAXOMER.

20. Which manufacturer qualification questions should be asked?

Product range for the process; technical service availability for press trials; colour-matching capability; batch traceability and retained samples; change-control practice; documentation for packaging regulations in the target market; and local or regional supply arrangements. PAXOMER does not confirm any manufacturer's capabilities on this page.

Guide: Printing inks, coatings and functional additives
Related page: Industrial coating additives
Related page: Silicone surface-control additives
Related page: Solvent-free laminating adhesives
Related page: Flexible packaging pouches and rollstock

Manufacturing Regions & International Supply

Countries where public company or trade sources document manufacturing relevant to Flexible Packaging Inks & Functional Coatings, with the form of material made there and the date of the evidence. A listing is market context only. It does not indicate a PAXOMER relationship, availability or price.

Japan: Printing inks for packaging. Product manufacturing · Company group listing, current · R16
China: Gravure inks from several group companies. Product manufacturing · Company group listing, current · R16
Thailand: Gravure inks. Product manufacturing · Company group listing, current · R16
Malaysia: Printing inks. Packaging-ink grades are not specified. Product manufacturing · Company group listing, current · R16

If you are evaluating manufacturers abroad, list in your RFQ brief the destination market, the documents you require and the delivery terms.

Engineering and purchasing FAQs

Each answer is general technical information, not a specification or a quotation.

Is water-based ink always the more sustainable choice?

Not necessarily. Water-based systems avoid solvent emissions but may need more drying energy and may perform differently on some films. Compare the full system, including energy, waste, emissions control and the recyclability of the finished package.

What is the difference between an overprint varnish and a functional coating?

An overprint varnish mainly protects surface print and sets appearance and slip. A functional coating adds a property the structure lacks, such as barrier, heat resistance or heat-sealability, and is usually specified by coat weight and a performance test.

Does a good tape-adhesion result mean the laminate will not delaminate?

No. Tape adhesion shows ink anchorage to the film surface. Lamination bond strength depends on the ink, the adhesive, cure and product contact, and must be tested separately on the laminate.

Why does print quality change between press runs?

Common causes include viscosity drift, anilox wear, plate condition, treatment decay on the film, ambient temperature and humidity, and batch differences in ink. Record these variables to find the cause.

What should a low-migration claim state?

It should name the exact product, the market and regulation basis, the structure and position of the ink, and the intended conditions of use. A general statement without scope cannot be relied on for a specific package.

Can I change ink supplier without changing my laminate specification?

Only after testing. A new ink can change bond strength, odour and migration behaviour. Run press, lamination and package tests with the incumbent as a control before changing.

How are energy-curable inks checked for cure?

Through agreed tests such as solvent rubs, tape adhesion, set-off and, where required, migration testing, together with records of lamp output or dose. The ink manufacturer should state the cure conditions the data are based on.

Can PAXOMER help source an ink or coating system?

This page does not confirm supply or qualification. Send your press, substrate, structure and end-use requirements and PAXOMER will review whether a suitable manufacturer-development opportunity can be explored.

Technical References

References below were opened on the access date shown. A source supports only the statement it is cited for. Standards are cited by number and title from public catalogue entries; their full text was not read unless stated.

S1. Solutions for Flexible Film Packaging. Sun Chemical. www.sunchemical.com/packaging_flexiblefilm/ (opens in a new tab) manufacturer literature · accessed 2026-10-28
Product overview opened 2026-10-28 to confirm title; cited only for the grouping of inks, coatings and adhesives for flexible film. Not an endorsement.
S2. Dirty Print – Feathering. Sun Chemical (Ink Troubleshooting App). inktsa.sunchemical.com/flexographic/dirty-print-feathering/ (opens in a new tab) manufacturer literature · accessed 2026-10-28
Troubleshooting page opened 2026-10-28; cited for the existence of manufacturer troubleshooting guidance on this defect. Causes listed on this page are general practice, not taken from S2.
S3. Curing – Ink Troubleshooting App. Sun Chemical (Ink Troubleshooting App). inktsa.sunchemical.com/energy-curable/curing/ (opens in a new tab) manufacturer literature · accessed 2026-10-28
Troubleshooting page for energy-curable inks opened 2026-10-28; cited for cure as a troubleshooting topic.
S4. Additives for industrial applications. BYK. local.byk.com/products/additives-for-industrial-applications (opens in a new tab) manufacturer literature · accessed 2026-10-28
Additive overview opened 2026-10-28; cited for the existence of wetting, flow and defoaming additive families.
S5. ASTM D523: Standard Test Method for Specular Gloss. ASTM International. store.astm.org/standards/d523 (opens in a new tab) standard catalogue · accessed 2026-10-28
Catalogue entry opened 2026-10-28 to confirm number and title; full text not read.
S6. ASTM D5402: Standard Practice for Assessing the Solvent Resistance of Organic Coatings Using Solvent Rubs. ASTM International. store.astm.org/d5402-19.html (opens in a new tab) standard catalogue · accessed 2026-10-28
Catalogue entry opened 2026-10-28 to confirm number and title; full text not read.
S7. ASTM F2252: Standard Practice for Evaluating Ink or Coating Adhesion to Flexible Packaging Materials Using Tape. ASTM International. store.astm.org/standards/f2252 (opens in a new tab) standard catalogue · accessed 2026-10-28
Catalogue entry opened 2026-10-28 to confirm number and title; full text not read.
S8. ASTM D3359: Standard Test Methods for Rating Adhesion by Tape Test. ASTM International. store.astm.org/standards/d3359 (opens in a new tab) standard catalogue · accessed 2026-10-28
Catalogue entry opened 2026-10-28 to confirm number and title; full text not read. Cited as the general coatings tape-adhesion method.
S9. ASTM D1894: Standard Test Method for Static and Kinetic Coefficients of Friction of Plastic Film and Sheeting. ASTM International. store.astm.org/standards/d1894 (opens in a new tab) standard catalogue · accessed 2026-10-28
Catalogue entry opened 2026-10-28 to confirm number and title; full text not read.
S10. Printing inks, coatings and functional additives (PAXOMER guide). PAXOMER Inc., 2026-10-28. /products/printing-inks-coatings-functional-additives/ technical literature · accessed 2026-10-28
PAXOMER’s own guide; not an external source and not independently reviewed.

Regional manufacturing evidence

Company and trade publications cited in Manufacturing Regions & International Supply. Each supports only the statement it is cited for (checked 29–30 October 2026). Naming a company here does not state or imply a relationship with PAXOMER.

R16. Group companies and products (printing and gravure inks by country). artience Group (formerly Toyo Ink). www.artiencegroup.com/en/group/ (opens in a new tab) checked 2026-10-30

Evidence notes and limitations

What the information on this page does not establish. Confirm these points with the manufacturer, the current standard or the relevant authority before relying on them.

Standards are cited by number and title only; scopes, conditions and editions were not read.
Defect causes in the press-problems table are general practice and were not checked against S2 line by line.
No regulatory statement is made for any market; low-migration and food-contact requirements must be confirmed for each product and market.
Manufacturer pages were opened only to confirm titles and topic coverage; no product data were taken from them.
This page has not been independently technically reviewed or certified.

Facts checked against the cited sources

Titles of ASTM D523, D5402, F2252, D3359 and D1894 were confirmed on the ASTM catalogue on 2026-10-28.
Sun Chemical flexible-film overview and troubleshooting pages (dirty print/feathering; energy-curable curing) were confirmed to exist on 2026-10-28.
The BYK industrial additives overview was confirmed to exist on 2026-10-28.

Where this connects to the full guide

The primary technical guide behind this page is Printing Inks, Coatings & Functional Additives. All its topics are indexed below.

Topics in the full guide

See all 40 topics in the guide

Glossary: Binder · Pigment dispersion · Overprint varnish · Blocking · Let-down · Energy-curable ink · Corona treatment · Coat-weight uniformity · Mass fraction

Tools: Product Finder (Printing inks, coatings and functional additives) · Solution Finder (Poor coating or ink adhesion; Poor wetting on a substrate) · Manufacturer Finder

How can I submit an inquiry?

Describe your application, the specifications above and the qualification stage. The material and this page are carried into the form for you. PAXOMER replies by email; the form does not confirm stock, representation or qualification.

Prepare an RFQ Send an Inquiry Product Finder Solution Finder Manufacturer Finder