Solvent inks, the different types available, the pending legislation, it is all becoming very confusing, and certainly getting definitive answers based on fact rather than conjecture and speculation is seemingly impossible.
To help separate solvent fact from solvent fiction, Uniform Digital have commissioned Paul Machin of Machin Consulting to write a series of definitive articles on the issues of the moment. Paul is an independent consultant with unimpeachable credentials, you can read more about him below.
Paul Machin started in the print industry in 1970 having already spent 15 years in the surface coating industry, he is also a qualified chemist and lawyer.
For 20 years Paul ran the regulatory affairs department of a leading ink manufacturer advising on labeling, shipping of hazardous goods and overseeing all health, safety and environmental issues worldwide.
Paul currently represents the industry on the HSE's Printing Industry Advisory Committee (PIAC) Health Committee and has been a major contributor to such HSE publications as COSHH Essentials for Printers, Printers Guide to Health and Safety, Control of Health Hazards in Screen Printing etc.
As an industry representative on the Environment Agency's consultative committees on the UK Government's Process Guidance Notes, he introduced the concept of the non-abatement strategy for the screen process as an alternative to using expensive abatement equipment. This will now be adopted for all forms of printing with the newly issued Guidance Note revisions.
Paul also represents both the screen and digital printing industry on the Environmental Committee of the European Union dealing with the preparation of best environmental practices.
