Hubergroup relaunches its offset ink portfolio with new resin technology, reducing misting, make-ready sheets

GERMANY – Hubergroup has relaunched its conventional offset ink portfolio with new resin technology, reducing misting and make-ready sheets across commercial and packaging applications.

Resins define fundamental ink characteristics, including viscosity, tack, misting resistance, setting speed, and adhesion. 

Hubergroup develops its own resins in-house, allowing precise formulation control across its ink portfolio. 

The new technology has demonstrated a measurable reduction in misting, a wider water window for more stable printing, lower dampening levels, fewer make-ready sheets, and more consistent colour density during long-term production testing. 

The portfolio covers established series including Resista, Rapida Eco, Eco-Perfect-Dry, Packaging Plus, MGA Natura, and MGA Corona. Product names and sales codes remain unchanged across the portfolio, ensuring a smooth transition for existing customers. 

The global rollout is taking place during the first half of 2026.

Why Resin Technology Matters

Offset printing inks consist of pigments (colour), resins (binder), and solvents (vehicle). 

The resin determines how the ink transfers from the plate to the blanket to the substrate, how quickly it sets, and how it resists misting (the formation of fine droplets during high-speed printing). 

Misting is a persistent problem for packaging printers running at high speeds; ink droplets can settle on press components, reduce print quality, and increase cleanup time. 

A wider water window means the press operator has more latitude before the ink either emulsifies (too much water) or starts picking (too little water), reducing waste during make-ready. 

Lower dampening levels reduce the amount of water required to keep the non-image areas of the plate clean, which speeds drying and reduces paper curl.

Tailored Formulation Control

Richard Gill, product manager sheetfed at hubergroup, explained that an improved resin means an improved ink. 

As the company manufactures its own resins, it can tailor the formulation to precisely meet the performance characteristics it wants. 

With this new technology, hubergroup is one step ahead of the market and fully aligned with the current and future needs of print and packaging companies. 

Most ink manufacturers buy resins from third-party suppliers; hubergroup’s vertical integration gives it control over formulation at the molecular level. 

Changes can be made without renegotiating supply contracts or waiting for supplier development cycles.

Commercial and Packaging Applications

The portfolio covers both commercial printing (brochures, catalogues, magazines) and packaging applications (folding cartons, labels, paper bags). 

Packaging printing often requires higher ink film weights than commercial work, making misting and setting speed even more critical. 

The reduced make-ready sheets directly lower waste and shorten job turnaround times, which are key cost drivers in packaging where runs can be as short as a few thousand sheets.

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