With Saphira Low Migration, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is launching its own product line of consumables that meet the special requirements for the production of food packaging. In doing so, the company is rounding off its existing portfolio of equipment, service, and software solutions for packaging printing and is now able to offer customers in the food industry packaging solutions from a single source.

The production of food packaging is subject to the very strictest legislation. One of the key factors in the production process is the consumables used in the press and postpress stages. The aim is to prevent harmful substances in the consumables being transferred to the packaged foodstuffs and potentially altering their composition and/or taste and smell. Consequently, all consumables used must fulfill the strict requirements of EU Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004. At the same time, packaging printing in the food sector worldwide is a growth market that more and more print shops are keen to profit from.

Comprehensive portfolio of low migration products
Right from the start, Heidelberg is offering a comprehensive range of Saphira Low Migration products for press and postpress. Users can choose from various printing inks, dispersion coatings, dampening solution additives, washup solutions, cleaners, oils to protect rollers, and dispersion glues for folding carton manufacture. In addition to being suitable for use in the production of food packaging, all Saphira Low Migration products meet the high quality requirements Heidelberg places on consumables. Like all Saphira products, they are specially designed for use in equipment from Heidelberg and deliver high productivity and excellent print results. Saphira Low Migration products are identified with the symbol of a glass and fork on the label.

Independent testing institutes confirm compliance with European legislation
All materials bearing the Saphira Low Migration label are checked by independent testing institutes for legal conformity in line with Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004 and are therefore suitable and approved for the safe production of food packaging. The products ensure that neither the smell nor taste of the foodstuffs is affected, and that their composition does not change in any way. At the same time, the products do not pose any risk to health. All other legal requirements for the production of food packaging remain unaffected and producers of food packaging are not exempted from their duty of care.

"With Saphira Low Migration, we are responding to requests from many of our customers for consumables for the food packaging sector that are not harmful to health but are still of very high quality," says Peter Tix, head of Consumables at Heidelberg. "Users can rest assured that these products fulfill all the legal requirements for this sector and thus eliminate one of the biggest risk factors in the production process for food packaging."

Heidelberg plans to continuously expand the portfolio of Saphira Low Migration products. These products can be requested from existing contacts in the sales team, who will also be happy to provide information about the special conditions governing the production of food packaging.

For an overview of the available Saphira Low Migration products, please follow this link: www.heidelberg.com/saphira-low-migration