Sun Chemical has signed an exclusive agreement with German printing inks manufacturer Epple Druckfarben to combine their resources to make Epple’s series of sheetfed offset inks for direct food contact, BoFood Organic, available to a global audience.

BoFood Organic is a worldwide patented sheetfed offset ink for printing on the inside of folding carton food packaging, also allowing direct food contact. All the raw materials used in the manufacture of the ink have been approved for use in foodstuffs.

Under the agreement, ownership of the intellectual property in BoFood Organic remains with Epple, which has granted Sun Chemical a license to market BoFood Organic under the name of SunPak Organic, reflecting the ink’s food-safe qualities. The two companies have also agreed to work together to further develop the platform technology for other potential applications.

Carl Epple, member of the Management Board, Epple Druckfarben, says, “We see ourselves as pioneers in the development of sustainable sheetfed offset printing inks and are particularly proud of having created a worldwide patented offset ink that has been approved for printing on the inside of food packaging. It’s therefore gratifying that Sun Chemical, the world’s largest manufacturer of printing inks, has recognized the quality of our technology, and we look forward to cooperating with them around the marketing and potential future development of the inkset for the benefit of common customers and printer.”

Felipe Mellado, chief marketing officer and Board member at Sun Chemical, adds, “Having carried out the necessary due diligence to ensure that, as with all the products we offer, Epple’s food-safe ink technology conforms to the high standards our customers expect from Sun Chemical. We are delighted to be collaborating with Epple to market the technology under the SunPak Organic name and look forward to a fruitful relationship for both parties.”