ProductWatch: Hi-Tech Inks’ Lazer ink

Launched in 2012, Hi-Tech Inks’ Lazer ink is formulated for printing on PVC and PETG shrink films. Developed for the demands of the FMCG and beverage sectors, the system combines food safety with the press speeds required by high-volume production.

Its key differentiator is a toluene- and ketone-free chemistry. By using green solvents, Lazer helps reduce solvent retention, limiting odour migration and supporting sleeve stability during the heat-tunnel process. Strong adhesion and high scuff resistance help preserve graphic quality even after substantial shrinkage over contoured containers.

Lazer is designed to work across both rotogravure and flexographic processes, giving converters greater operating flexibility. In gravure, it typically runs with a simple ethyl acetate-based reducer system; in flexographic printing, it generally uses a Methoxy Propanol and Butyl Acetate blend.

The system offers a broad operating window, with supply viscosity ranging from 18 to 50 seconds and press-ready viscosity from 16 to 20 seconds. This supports smoother press performance, lower downtime and fewer wash-ups.

Lazer is suitable for a wide range of production environments, from entry-level presses to high-speed industrial lines. Its balanced solid content — from 18% in mediums to 64% in high-opacity whites — is intended to deliver good mileage and improved cost efficiency.

As compliance standards tighten in India’s packaging market, Lazer offers converters a practical route to safer, cleaner and more efficient shrink-sleeve printing.

Siegwerk signed a definitive agreement to acquire Hi-Tech Inks on 25 March 2026.