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Answering Ink And Coating Health, Safety Queries

A British Coatings Federation (BCF) product story

Edited by the Printingtalk editorial team Sep 3, 2007

The British Coatings Federation (BCF) members - manufacturers of inks, coatings and other related supplies - can help printers answer complex health and safety and environmental questions.

According to BCF, ink manufacturers and suppliers are co-operative and are keen not only to provide requested information but also to consult with fellow members to obtain fuller details when required.

Michael Craine, the managing director of Cranfield Colours in Cwmbran (Wales), explained: "The printing community faces not only increasingly complex legislation but also many clients who demand instant answers from their printers on an enormously wide range of environmental and health issues." The BCF added that on occasions, a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing, but at other times even a little knowledge amongst specifiers and users would be helpful.

Some of the various assurances, declarations and disclosures demanded of printers (and indirectly of ink manufacturers) are sometimes ill-informed or irrelevant and theydisplay a lack of understanding of basic ink chemistry.

Nonetheless the printer is obliged to investigate and report back with answers to what can be quite bizarre questions, such as the percentage of chlorine gas in litho printing ink, said the organisation.

However, as well as answering such queries, when appropriate, BCF members are also able to provide a more balanced perspective, exploring why the original query was raised.

On some occasions it can be hard for a printer to respond to the customer to explain why a print proposal is unsafe, unworkable or ill advised.

In the same way, it can be awkward for a printer to discuss chemical components and terminology with which they may be unfamiliar.

"In such cases BCF said that its members are generally able to establish a dialogue directly with the source of the original enquiry, which will ensure accuracy and openness, whilst avoiding what could otherwise become a long paper trail," added Craine.