A supplier of water-based textile inks claims to be “addressing long-held, industry-wide frustrations” with the launch of a new range that it describes as environmentally friendly.

MagnaColour said its four new inks had been developed to address problems met by textile printers, manufacturers or brands.

These include finding slow-drying water-based inks to suit high-detail printing and printing light colours on dark materials with a formaldehyde-free water-based ink.

Sales director Jeanette Hardy said: “We’re known as a leading advocate of environmentally sensitive inks, for which there’s a strong retailer and consumer demand. “In the past, performance has been used as an excuse for not using water-based inks. As technology and processes advance we’re making the impossible possible, with water-based technology.”

She said the inks were used on nearly all garment machines but not through dye-sublimation techniques and added that the inks work on most fabrics including cotton, polyester and technical nylon treated to make it waterproof, for example.

The four new inks address different industry concerns. MagnaPrint Aquaflex achieves the performance of PVC with a water-based ink.

MagnaPrint ULF Discharge has been designed to avoid the use of formaldehyde when printing on darker materials. The ink features superior wash-fastness, according to Hardy.

MagnaPrint HB is a slow-drying water-based ink, formulated for use when fine detail and high definition printing is required.

MagnaPrint ND Soft Bases is a ‘non-drying’ ink that can print onto white or pale garments as well as any PVC ink, but is more economical.

Tom Abbey, MD said the range was developed in his company’s laboratory, called the MagnaLab. MagnaColour has worked exclusively with water-based ink since it launched in 1978.