Germ-free print products using only air and light - also in Japan after #drupa2024
Varcotec, the Stuttgart-based manufacturer of high-quality graphic coatings, has signed an exclusive agreement for the use of its “Lock 3” antimicrobial dispersion coating in Japan at #drupa2024. Without poisons, pesticides or other hazardous or volatile substances, it reliably protects readers and consumers from pathogens.
Imagine you are sitting in your doctor's waiting room and your eyes fall on the magazines on the table in front of you: Do you reach for them? If the pages are coated with "Lock 3" from Varcotec, you can start reading without hesitation. The innovative antimicrobial dispersion coating ensures perfect hygiene at all times. This also impressed the Japanese publisher Sinsei, who secured the exclusive rights for their home country directly at #drupa2024. "We are very proud to have Sinsei as our exclusive partner," said Joachim Frings, General Director Sales & Development at Varcotec, at the historic signing of the agreement on the AtéCé stand in Hall 13 at drupa. "'Lock 3' can help Japan to close hygiene gaps and break possible chains of infection, thus protecting Japan and its people, who are so proud of their traditions, from the invisible danger in the future".
Twelve years of searching for the right ingredient
The thought of harmful germs on menus, brochures on planes and trains, or magazines in waiting rooms has long preoccupied Joachim Frings. But his search for a durable, non-toxic antimicrobial coating for dry-printed surfaces had long been unsuccessful. In general, the printing industry seemed to have little interest in such a solution. Until Corona changed all that.
By chance, Frings came across the work of a research group at Regensburg University Hospital who were investigating how they could reduce the risk of infection for patients with a special solution that used light-stimulated oxygen to kill hospital germs. "I was immediately excited because this new technology did not require any toxic or harmful chemicals and had already been used successfully in complex operations," recalls Frings.
Countless experiments lead to the winning formula
Over the next few years, he experimented with different formulations to develop a water-soluble dispersion coating that was invisible, stable and reliably antimicrobial. After an extensive and sometimes difficult testing and certification process, Varcotec is now the manufacturer of the first working water-based antimicrobial dispersion coating that permanently disinfects dry paper and board surfaces. The effective variant of the oxygen molecule has been used routinely in medicine for more than 20 years to treat tumours and degenerative diseases, explains Frings. The development of resistance, as can be observed with antibiotics and conventional biocides, does not occur with this variant of oxygen and is not to be expected.
“Lock 3” is effective against bacteria, spores, viruses and fungi. As long as visible light is present and oxygen is supplied, there is a permanent disinfectant effect. The light activates the oxygen via a photocatalyst, which then destroys bacteria, viruses and fungi that come into contact with it. Even on dark days, the lighting in a waiting room is sufficient. In this way, “Lock 3” helps to effectively close hygiene gaps, reduce the risk of germ transmission and increase customer safety.
The benefits of “Lock 3” dispersion coating:
- Does not require harmful UV radiation, only visible light
- “Lock 3” shows reduction of micro-organisms even under room light conditions (99.99%)
- Resistance of micro-organisms to singlet oxygen is not known and not expected.
- Has controllable efficiency depending on light intensity
- Works on dry surfaces
- Does not contain toxic or mutagenic components
- Does not release toxic chemicals into the environment
- Does not produce odours or aerosols
- “Lock 3” is suitable for all types of printed products.
Varcotec and Sensei met at the world's leading exhibition for printing technology: Success stories like this once again underline the importance of face-to-face meetings and direct exchange with participants. Only at drupa do brand owners, designers and decision-makers from all over the world come together in such a concentrated way to present their own innovative solutions in the fields of digitalisation, sustainability and, of course, printing technology, and to gain an overview of the latest developments on the market.
