Suitable for small quantities: Inkjet marking ink saves resources

In addition to the inkjet solder resist, Peters will be presenting at productronica a white and a yellow inkjet marking ink. The marking print is used, for example, to indicate component positions or consecutive serial numbers on the solder resist. The marking ink is compatible with the Elpemer and Elpejet solder resist series, ensuring good adhesion to the board. This should also be the case when choosing a solder resist from a competitor.

"The inkjet process saves resources because a costly screen printing process doesn't have to be used for every PCB design," says Kevin Poth. The ELPEPCB? project manager has developed the marking ink in the Peters laboratory together with his colleague Jonas Sutman. Since the inkjet process is a digital process, smaller margins can also be printed. "The screen printing process only pays off from a certain quantity," emphasises coatings engineer Kevin Poth.

The marking ink is launched at productronica

From 14 to 17 November, the Peters team led by Kevin Poth will be demonstrating at productronica in Munich, the newly developed marking inks from the R&D department of the coatings manufacturer based in the Lower Rhine area. At this world's leading trade fair for the electronics manufacturing industry, the Peters specialists will be highlighting the advantages of the inkjet marking ink at stand B3-343. Besides the environmental aspect, it is possible to carry out the digital print process more quickly , thus saving costs. The bottom line: less waste, less energy consumption, and an economical use of a high tech product.

In combination with Elpejet? IJ 2467 inkjet solder resist, for example, which will play a special starring role at the two Peters stands at productronica, industrial customers can be provided with a perfect solution for reliable and durable solder resist and insulation coating and labelling of the printed circuit board. "The inkjet process really comes into its own in case of prototypes and very small quantities," says Kevin Poth.

Inks are applied in one process step Another advantage: With the flexible inkjet process, solder resist and marking inks can be applied in a single process step, which is followed by joint final curing at 150° Celsius for one hour. Kevin Poth: "This saves a considerable amount of energy as the process does not have to be repeated."

The 31-year-old graduate from the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, who, over the past seven years, has driven forward the inkjet methodology in Peters’ test facility of Research & Development, explains: "As a digital printing variant, the process involves a particularly low consumption of material and waste. The advantages for customers in the PCB industry are obvious." The project manager also points out that each coated PCB can be labelled individually. "This means it can be reliably identified and traced."

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