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HP Commits $200 Million to Developing Water-Based Inks

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HP Inc. today announced it’s committing $200 million over five years to a next generation of water-based ink solutions. The solutions will be designed for printing digitally on corrugated packaging and textiles.

HP says the new commitment complements its ongoing in other printing technologies and markets aimed at creating sustainable digital print solutions. It notes that traditional textile coloration makes use of technologies that can be problematic from a water emissions perspective. The World Resources Institute estimates that about 20 percent of industrial water pollution comes from garment manufacturing.

“Investing in water-based solutions that meet market needs and the increasing sustainability requirements of graphics customers is expected to propel business growth for HP,” says Santi Morera, general manager and global head of graphics solutions, HP Inc. “We will be dedicating resources toward continued innovation and industry disruption to accelerate safer, simpler and more sustainable water-based printing technologies that meet the quality, performance and economics needed by these markets.”

Future of the market

HP says its true water-based inks for corrugated package printing have already shown leadership for sensitive applications such as food packaging. The company is committing resources to enable the next major generation of ink, print-head and press technology, with improved quality, performance and sustainability. HP believes that  inwater-based solutions are the long-term future of this market.

While executing plans for transforming the textiles market, HP says it’s  mindful of the technology options from both the traditional analog and digital perspectives. As such, HP is collaborating with the textile industry in order to make the right choices for water-based digital platforms.

The announcement also builds on HP’s existing innovation in water-based ink technology, such as for the sign and display market. Water-based HP Latex Inks, for example, are said to have established a durable, versatile and safer alternative for existing inks used for signage and displays. Additional sustainability achievements across HP’s graphics business allow brands to reduce waste and minimize their environmental impact.

Robert Seay, general manager, Georgia-Pacific Hummingbird said, “Water-based inkjet inks are a technology differentiator in corrugated packaging, enabling us to confidently address a broader range of applications from food and beverage to personal care products.”

HP believes that investing in water-based ink solutions for the corrugate and textile printing markets will have beneficial effects along the entire product lifecycle, for the people who operate printing systems, for the end users of the printed product, and ultimately for the final reuse, recycling, or disposal of that product.