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No matter whether they are printing inks for direct food contact, for compostable packaging or for use with baking. The Doneck Network has developed proven ink series for these specialist applications.

Food packaging has to fulfil a variety of functions. Its primary task is to protect the respective product on its journey from packing by the manufacturer to consumption by the consumer. This protection may be against factors ranging from damage and contamination to environmental influences (temperature, precipitation, sunlight etc.). Nevertheless, the first priority is to protect people from migration of substances between the product and the packaging and resulting contamination. Packaging facilitates the transport of the products from the producer to the POS (Point of Sales) and thence to the consumer. Once they have arrived there, they should be storable. The packaging is, furthermore, also the source of information regarding ingredients, origin etc. In addition, it is the marketing instrument for sale at the POS and for advertising the product. The consumer decides whether or not to buy in just three to seven seconds. In a survey, 85% of consumers indicated that the coloured design was the main reason for their decision to purchase. If the packaging needs for a product are diverse, then the requirements for food packaging are just as varied. Added to these are the technical properties and requirements, such as materials (paper, films) and their usage from production to disposal. Will the packaging be exposed to high (e.g. when heated in an oven) or low (e.g. when cooled in a freezer) temperatures? It is in direct contact with the food? Must the packaging be compostable? These and many other questions underline the high demands that are made of food packaging.

Apart from the technical printing specifications, the printing ink manufacturer must take appropriate account of these requirements in particular. The Doneck Network, which enjoys a good reputation on the market for consumer goods applications and whose management system is hygiene certified to DIN EN ISO 22000, has been approached increasingly frequently in the past by packaging manufacturers regarding products for the specialised applications mentioned above and has developed a suitable ink series for this purpose.

The Euro-Contact series of water-based inks used in combination with an overprint varnish from Doneck are suitable for direct contact with food. This opens up entirely new dimensions for the food packaging industrial sector. The product safety management of the Doneck Network classes this product application as particularly sensitive and uses the services of an independent, accredited laboratory to ensure compliance with food safety law. The Doneck Network laboratory teams have carried out painstaking development work and have created an ink series that has been tested and certified by the ISEGA. These inks are used for the printing of cardboard; they can be used for post-printing on coated, uncoated and smoothed papers, and for pre-printing on uncoated papers. For example, fruit and vegetable trays, pizza cartons and cake mats may be printed with this printing ink series. The Euro-Contact range scores points for its excellent printability and very good stability at the printing machine.

A still greater challenge for the printing ink developers of the Doneck Network is presented by the use of printing inks for muffin cups. Because the paper muffin cups are heated together with the food in the oven to a temperature of 220°C for a significant length of time, the issue of migration arises once again under these more demanding conditions. Even at temperatures as high as this, there must be no detectable transfer of ink substances to the food or, as the case may be, compliance with the legally stipulated SMLs (specific migration limits) must be maintained. Furthermore, a special selection of raw materials must be evaluated with the purpose of ensuring that they cannot break down to produce harmful substances at temperatures as high as this. The ISEGA certificate that has been issued confirms the safety of the Euro-Food WSG ink series for printing muffin cups.

A completely different, but no less important market trend is the demand for the compostability of printed packaging. Of importance here is the printed inks that is used as well as the other packaging components. As the result of a lengthy series of tests by independent experts, the Doneck Network has been able to determine that, by making the appropriate selection of pigments, several ink series for different applications may be considered to be compostable in accordance with EN 13432 and can be marked with the “OK Compost” and “OK Compost Home” conformity marks. All of the components of the ink series have been undergone rigorous tests to check their respective heavy metal content and ecotoxicity. Evidence that there is no impairment whatsoever of plant growth is provided by 20-day cultivation tests of cress and spring wheat.

The water-based Euro Food ink series was developed accordingly for food packaging made of paper. This ink for bags and wrapping paper also meets the standard for bleeding resistance according to EN 646 and is odourless as well as low migration. The Euro Film printing ink series has been developed for the plastic film processing industry. It is characterised by good printability at the machine and good adhesion and resistance on PE/PP. The Euro Nap printing ink series has been developed for napkin and table covering applications. Used on tissue materials, such as paper napkins, pocket tissues, toilet paper or airlaids, this printing ink is odourless and gives good printing results on porous substrates.

“We have invested extensive development efforts and considerable testing costs in these product innovations in order to enable us to guarantee high product and consumer safety. I think that this effort has been very worthwhile for the consumer,” says Edgar Becker, Managing Director of Sales, with regard to the new printing ink series.

Photo: Paprika packaging for direct food contact

After years of consistent social commitment in the company's immediate surroundings, the mid-size printing ink manufacturer Doneck Euroflex, which is based in Grevenmacher and specialises in food packaging, has decided to take new roads. Together with CARE, the company has developed a concept that is tailor made for its strategy and with which management and employees can also show their solidarity on the international stage, too. 

Specifically, the Doneck Network is supporting two maternity clinics in Niger this year. Niger is the world's poorest country and has at the same time the highest rate of mortality of mothers and children during or shortly after birth. Statistically, one in seven mothers dies while giving birth. The two partners are tackling this problem in the first year of their cooperation. Thanks to a generous donation, the maternity clinics will be connected to a clean water supply so that the midwives no longer have to carry the water 400 or 1000 metres respectively from the well to the clinics themselves. In this way the hygiene in the clinics and thus the health of the newborn babies and their mothers will be improved. Day by day, with each new birth, the dramatic mortality rates are being reduced a little more. 

The cooperation is initially planned for three years and, apart from the water supply to the clinics, is also dedicated to supporting nutrition centres for children and improved nutrition in primary schools.  

photo: Doneck Euroflex Managing Director Arndt Breitbach and CARE President Robert Schadeck following the signing of the contract

The new chameleon "Jack" replaces the stolen "Freddy" in the Grevenmacher butterfly park.

On the first weekend in September, "Freddy" the panther chameleon was reported as having been stolen from the butterfly park in Grevenmacher. The 15 cm-long animal was stolen from its tropical terrarium. The police in Luxembourg are still investigating this case.

On hearing the news of the theft, Doneck Euroflex reacted immediately and made a gift of the new panther chameleon "Jack" from Madagascar. The attraction was missing from the butterfly park and the season wasn't yet over. The official presentation took place yesterday evening. "Jack has settled in nicely and feels right at home here", the animal keeper from the butterfly garden told us. "It was our pleasure to sponsor the new chameleon. We have some commonalities: our key visual is "Oscar" the chameleon. It is our image carrier and increases attention of our water-based and solvent-based printing inks. Amongst other things Oscar can be seen on our trucks, which drive all over Europe", commented Arndt Breitbach about this unusual sponsorship.

A chameleon can change its body colour very quickly and thus adapt itself to its environment, just as Doneck Euroflex adapts to the special wishes of its customers. The Doneck Network wishes "Jack" a long and happy life in the Grevenmacher butterfly park.

A healthy workforce for a healthy company – Doneck Euroflex has introduced its corporate health management system (health promotion) under this motto.

Arndt Breitbach, Managing Director, was able to welcome 125 employees in glorious summer weather on the company’s premises in Grevenmacher on Friday, 8th July, 2016. The aim was to rouse the awareness of the workforce to the topic of “Health” and to introduce the in-house health promotion program. For years, the medium-sized printing ink manufacturer has already installed a program including influenza vaccination, water, and ergonomic workplaces for its employees.

The 1st Health Day started off with a group of colleagues who came to work by cycle instead of using the car. They all enjoyed a healthy fitness breakfast from 8 a.m. The breakfast was rounded off by a lecture on “Nutrition”. Six health stations were available in total, offering advice and information to the Doneck staff. Eyesight and hearing were tested. The health check-up included the measurement of blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels. E-biking was called for at the cycling station. The employees had the opportunity to obtain ergonomic advice directly at their workplace to enable the correction of posture and equipment. The staff met up with two trainers for a sporty workout. All those who were particularly ambitious could have points entered on their “Active card” after the activities, enabling them to take part in the competition with ten sports-related prizes.

“I’m delighted that so many colleagues actively took part and that the first health day was so well accepted,” comments Rita Knippel, PR Manager. “A successful event and a great start to our health promotion program” adds Arndt Breitbach, Managing Director of the Doneck Network.

 

The German printing ink industry is celebrating a premiere at drupa 2016 in Düsseldorf. From 31st May to 10th June 2016, the specialist printing-inks group of VdL (the German varnish and printing ink industry federation) will present the versatility of printing inks and varnishes in twelve blocks of lectures. The themes of the presentations range from the composition of printing inks through their life cycle and to questions of the safety of packaging. Colour as a marketing tool will also be illuminated. In a look into the future the potential of digital printing and screen printing will be considered. The lectures are in German and in English and will be given on different days.

Arndt Breitbach, Managing Director of the Doneck Network will take the lecture prepared jointly with the specialist group of the VdL on the subject "The versatility of water-based printing inks: yesterday - today - tomorrow" and present it, in German, on Thursday 2nd June at 16:00. The credo of the European printing-ink specialists says: "The technical peak of water-based inks has not yet been reached!" 

The lecture venue "Link to ink - The combined ink know how" is in hall 3, stand B16.

The mid-size European printing ink specialist for high-quality water and solvent-based flexographic and gravure inks is taking part in the Proflex for the fifth time in 2016.

"Our solvent production has been in full swing again since the beginning of the year. Thanks to our modern machine pool we are thus equipped for even higher performance. Many foil processors can now avail themselves of our complete product range once again", reports Arndt Breitbach, managing partner in the company. 

The German-speaking sales team will inform trade visitors to the exhibition booth in Stuttgart of news from the Doneck Network.

"In research and development we have expertly extended and further developed the internal analysis in our modern laboratories, in particular in the water-based printing inks segment. We are thus at the cutting edge in incoming pigment checks with regard to avoiding undesirable contamination. In addition, we have taken a further step towards product and consumer safety this year with the certification to DIN EN ISO 22000 Hygiene", comments Edgar Becker, Managing Director Sales of the Doneck Network.

 

Dutch manufacturer of flexible packaging, Kivo, has taken out 1st prize in the 1st EFTA Benelux Flexo Awards using printing inks by the Doneck Network.

The European Flexographic Technical Association Benelux (EFTA-Benelux) currently has 90 members, and was founded in 1981 for flexographic printing companies in the Benelux countries. Its aim is to inform and continue to educate the industry on technical innovations and developments.

The first ever EFTA Benelux Flexo Award was presented at the Hilton Hotel in Antwerp on Thursday 26 November 2015, with flexographic printing providers from Belgium and the Netherlands competing for it in seven different categories. The winners are also nominated for the 2016 European Flexo Award Europa.

Kivo Verpakkingen claimed first prize in the category for flexographic printing on short-grain film with “Chicken Wings”, which was printed using inks supplied by the Doneck Network. The judges comprised experts from various disciplines within the flexographic printing industry.

The winning food packaging was printed on Windmöller & Hölscher’s Miraflex using the four-colour process with a 122-lpi cliché grid and a 400l/cm anilox roller. 

“We’re pleased about our customers’ high quality standards, and like the fact that our products are contributing to such outstanding print results. Our very positive expectations for our solvent-based ink systems have been confirmed,” says a happy Arndt Breitbach, Managing Director of the Doneck Network.

The relaunch of the new Doneck Network website sees the company present a modern design and high level of customer service.

 

Doneck Euroflex’s new website features a modern design and technical advancements. The clear layout allows visitors to quickly gain an overview of all services, while the Applications section provides detailed information on Doneck’s product range. 

 

Corporate responsibility in terms of quality, the environment, staff, products and sustainability is a key focus area, and one in which the Doneck Network commits to continuous improvement. In addition to regular certification assessments, Doneck was also the first printing ink manufacturer to be certified for food safety under ISO 22000 in spring 2015.

 

“The relaunch not only offers our clients an improved service, but also a modern, informative website. The new login enables our customers to track their printing-ink orders – is it still at the production plant, or already in a truck making its way across Europe to the print shop? And the five language versions allow us to speak to our European customers in their native language,” says Arndt Breitbach, Managing Director of the Doneck Network. 

 

The website is extremely user-friendly, as it can also be retrieved on-the-go via mobile end devices (Smartphones and tablets), while the responsive design creates absolute added value for users.

 

There’s a lot more to discover on the new Doneck website: See for yourself at www.doneck.com

The Europe-wide manufacturer of water-based and solvent-based flexographic and gravure printing inks has becoming the title sponsor of Trier’s successful Doneck Dolphins in the national wheelchair basketball league. Both crews have a lot in common. Speed, team spirit and an international squad are all guarantors for fair contests, whether on the court or on the printing ink market. The Doneck Network has supported the Dolphins as a jersey sponsor for the last two years, and in doing so has come to know and appreciate this fascinating, fast-paced and exciting sport. 

“We are pleased to have now been able to further develop the two-year-old partnership as title sponsor of the Dolphins. We hope the new Doneck Dolphins will gel together quickly, and have a successful season. Like the Doneck Network, the Dolphins have in recent years also proven that, with team spirit and passion, even underdogs can counterbalance the financial advantages enjoyed by the top dogs”, says Arndt Breitbach, Managing Director of the Doneck Network.

The medium-sized printing ink specialist for high-quality water-based and solvent-based flexographic and gravure printing obtained DIN EN ISO 22000 certification in February 2015.

Ensuring safe, hygienically flawless food for consumers is the top objective of HACCP. A HACCP plan includes risk analyses to identify and prevent chemical, physical or biological contamination. In order to comply with these requirements, Doneck Euroflex put all its business processes to the test, optimised them where necessary, and introduced systematic control points. This has been formalised in an ISO 22000-compliant hygiene management system and assessed by an accredited certification centre.

As a manufacturer of printing inks for of packaging, the Doneck Network feels particularly responsible for strengthening consumer safety in relation to food packaging.

“We are proud to be the first printing ink manufacturer to be certified under ISO 22000. Product safety is a key focus of our company policy!” says Arndt Breitbach, Managing Director of Doneck Network.