INDUSTRY / NEWS 10 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk March / April 2023 - Issue 341 The risk of 'non-genuine' consumables Are compatible inks as good as originals? Jill Woods, group product compliance manager of Domino Printing Sciences argues that whilst at face value, ‘compatible’ products may look like the genuine article but she says dig under the surface, and the differences become stark. Below, Woods offers five reasons why manufacturers should think before using these inks, despite the rising cost of living making this a tempting cost-cutting option for some manufacturers and print service providers. Using ‘compatible’ inks can affect print quality and cause rejections Missing, incomplete, damaged, or unreadable product codes can cause goods to be rejected further down the supply chain, increasing the risk of punitive fines, loss of custom, and costing manufacturers significant amounts in rework and wasted stock. Legitimate providers will carry out pre- and post-manufacturing testing of all formulations to ensure maximum performance and offer sample testing, using state-of-the-art analytical equipment to ensure the proper performance of the ink under the required conditions. Low-cost printer inks from unapproved third-party ink providers do not carry the same assurances. The formulations may not perform as expected or adhere properly to the substrate, leading to poor-quality prints or codes that can be easily smudged or removed. Using ‘compatible’ inks can cause damage to your printer Different printer types require different ink formulations. Using the wrong ink can cause unnecessary wear and damage to printer components, including pumps, pipes, and tubes, and lead to ink build-up and debris on print heads and nozzles. Aside from the cost of lost productivity and wastage resulting from poorly printed products, the cost incurred in fixing a printer fault without a warranty could be substantially more than the savings made from using low-cost inks. Clearly, this adds up to be a false economy. The use of ‘non-genuine’ inks can pose a risk to consumers The most concerning aspect of using unapproved third-party inks is that they could risk harm to retailers and consumers. Requirements for inks used on food and beverage products, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices are strictly regulated. Manufacturers within these industries have to ensure that inks are safe for their intended use – this means that ink formulations will not migrate through packaging or threaten consumer health if they come into direct contact with products. Non-certified inks may include unsafe or untested substances, making them entirely unsuitable for use in regulated industries and putting consumers at risk of serious harm. ‘Compatible’ inks can pose a risk to production line workers Printing inks may be composed of chemicals that, if mishandled, may pose a risk to workers on the production line. Refilling ink supplies and printer maintenance tasks bring production workers into close contact with inks and fluids. As such, it’s essential to ensure that they are fully equipped to handle these inks correctly and safely. Inks from reputable suppliers will come with individual product safety data sheets in line with current regulations and for all countries where products are bought and sold. Safety data sheets will provide information on chemical composition, potential health hazards, protective measures, and safety precautions for handling, storing, and transporting inks. Keeping costs down could cause thirdparty ink providers to take shortcuts, such as avoiding manufacturing compliance approvals, which adds risk to those handling the inks. There could be risks of negative environmental and social impact Third-party ink providers may operate outside regulations, potentially using unsustainable or environmentally polluting materials, machinery, and processes to produce cheap inks. Using untested, non-genuine inks can also create unnecessary waste further up the supply chain and on the production line through poor code quality, further compounding environmental impact. In addition, untested, third-party inks may be produced in dangerous conditions, or have illicit or unethical supply chains, undermining the health and wellbeing of individuals involved in developing, creating, and distributing products. Domino ensures that all our materials are ethically, sustainably, and responsibly sourced and voluntarily opens our supply chains up for independent audit. Does the reward outweigh the risk? Compatible inks and consumables might seem like a cheaper, cost-saving solution in the first instance. However, not only are they unlikely to award any cost savings in the long run, the risk to businesses from using untested, unregulated, largely unknown substances is much greater than poor-quality coding. Jill Woods, group product compliance manager of Domino Printing Sciences PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine Domino Printing Sciences' Jill Woods has offered some insight into the risk of using unapproved third-party inks and consumables as the cost of living bites By Carys Evans Domino has warned that non-genuine inks can affect print quality, damage printers, and pose a risk to customers
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