Aquacolor is the Z&S water-based digital inks range launched in 2013.

The ceramic industry can no longer turn a blind eye to sustainability issues. By now, it’s a foregone conclusion, a larger transformation that already involves many different industrial sectors.

Zschimmer & Schwarz Ceramco has long believed that environmentally friendly, low impact technologies are the only viable solution in the future. A mission that is inspired by an innate sense of responsibility.

THE FUTURE IS WATER-BASED

Our journey towards sustainability began in 2013, when we undertook a study on digital inks. The research’s positive results materialized into a structured product line, which in turn led to the development of the first collection of glues. That leads us to today, where our focus is on water-based glazes that are also intended for digital technology.

From a chemical point of view, Z&S digital inks are nanometric suspensions of water, pigments and polar solvents marked by the reduction of about 50% of organic components. A feature that, together with other aspects, leads to a significant reduction of odorous and polluting emissions.

The use of water-based inks also improves several production performances. The compatibility of the inks with the water vapour that rises from the ceramic support towards the print heads, for example, limits ink’s flocculation phenomena on the nozzle-plate without change the viscosity values.

The chemical nature of the product also positively promotes the reduction of defects such as black core or the presence of bubbles due to an improper degassing process but, above all, it improves the printing performance in terms of resolution and color spectrum.