Water-Based Inkjet Technology Is Transforming the Outdoor Advertising Market: How SITECH SCAP Supports the Shift Toward Sustainable Printing

From environmental regulations and brand procurement requirements to production process improvements, water-based pigment inks are becoming an increasingly important part of the digital printing industry's future.

Green Printing Is No Longer Just an Option – It Is Becoming a Market Standard

The global printing industry is undergoing a transformation driven by environmental regulations and sustainability requirements across brand supply chains.

The revised EU Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) entered into force in August 2024, strengthening industrial emissions management and promoting energy efficiency, circular economy principles, and cleaner production processes. Meanwhile, the continued expansion of the REACH Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) Candidate List is encouraging businesses to pay closer attention to raw material composition, product safety, and environmental compliance.

These developments are influencing the way printing materials are selected.

In particular, the outdoor advertising and wide-format digital printing markets are seeing growing sustainability expectations from major brands and advertising operators. Procurement requirements increasingly include PVC-free substrates, recyclable materials, and water-based or bio-based inks.

In the past, environmentally responsible printing may have been viewed mainly as part of a company's sustainability image. Today, it is increasingly becoming an important factor in supply chain partnerships and market competitiveness.

For printing businesses, the real challenge is not simply finding a more environmentally friendly ink. It is finding solutions that reduce environmental impact while maintaining print quality, production efficiency, and commercial competitiveness.

Why Is Water-Based Ink Worth Considering?

Paper remains an important substrate in the outdoor advertising market.

For example, blue-back poster paper commonly used for traditional billboards, as well as backlit paper used in urban lightboxes, are potential applications for water-based pigment ink technology.

Compared with conventional solvent-based inks, water-based inks use water as their primary carrier, helping reduce reliance on organic solvents and offering printing businesses an alternative that supports the industry's sustainability goals.

However, transitioning from solvent-based to water-based printing is not simply a matter of changing the ink.

Several key factors must be considered:

• Drying Efficiency: Water-based inks require appropriate drying conditions to maintain production speed and avoid printing defects.

• Substrate Adhesion: Different paper types and coated materials have different ink adhesion requirements.

• Printing Stability: Printhead reliability and ink delivery systems are equally important during long production runs.

• Post-Printing Performance: Printed materials must also meet requirements for cutting, folding, handling, and their intended end-use environments.

Therefore, the next stage of competition in water-based inkjet technology will not simply be about who can supply water-based ink. It will be about who can deliver a complete ink solution that works effectively in real production environments.

SITECH SCAP: A New Technical Option for Water-Based Digital Printing

In response to the changing needs of the printing industry, SITECH continues to invest in water-based pigment inkjet technology and has developed SCAP (Self-Curable Aqueous Pigment) ink.

SCAP is developed with the aim of addressing some of the challenges associated with conventional water-based pigment inks, particularly in substrate compatibility, drying requirements, and printing processes, creating more possibilities for digital printing applications.

Unlike conventional solvent-based inks, SCAP uses a water-based pigment system, providing printing businesses with an option to explore reduced solvent usage and improved working environments.

Key technical features of SCAP include:

1. Water-Based Pigment Formulation

Built on a water-based pigment system, SCAP is designed to deliver the color performance and durability required for different printing applications, helping customers evaluate printing solutions that better align with sustainability trends.

2. Substrate Adaptability

Formulations can be developed and evaluated for different paper types, coated materials, and other application substrates to meet a variety of digital printing requirements.

3. Reliable Print Durability

Through formulation development and testing, SCAP focuses on improving ink adhesion and water resistance on suitable substrates, helping meet the durability requirements of different applications.

4. Customized Ink Solutions

SCAP can be evaluated and adjusted according to customers' printhead platforms, equipment conditions, and substrate characteristics, with testing conducted under actual production conditions.

For equipment manufacturers and printing businesses looking to gradually transition from conventional solvent-based technology to water-based digital printing, SCAP offers a technical solution worth exploring.

More Than a Solvent Ink Alternative – An Upgrade to the Printing Process

The value of water-based ink should not be measured solely by its environmental characteristics. What truly matters is whether the ink can be effectively integrated with existing printing equipment, substrates, and drying systems while delivering commercial value in actual production.

SITECH's development of SCAP focuses not only on ink formulation but also on compatibility with different printheads and printing equipment.

SCAP-related development covers applications on both piezoelectric and Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) platforms, with customized solutions being explored for different substrates and printing requirements.

For equipment manufacturers, this creates opportunities to explore additional water-based inkjet applications. For printing service providers, it offers an opportunity to evaluate how water-based technology can be introduced into existing production workflows.

Of course, every substrate, printhead, and production speed comes with different technical requirements. Actual drying temperatures, adhesion, and print durability should always be confirmed through equipment and substrate testing.

The Next Step Toward Sustainable Printing Starts with the Right Ink

As environmental regulations, brand procurement standards, and market expectations continue to evolve, the competitive landscape of the printing industry is changing.

For businesses in outdoor advertising, commercial printing, and industrial digital printing, future competitiveness will depend not only on faster printing speeds or higher resolution, but also on the ability to balance quality, cost, energy efficiency, and environmental responsibility.

Water-based inkjet technology is steadily demonstrating its market potential. Through SCAP water-based pigment ink, SITECH aims to work with equipment manufacturers, material suppliers, and printing businesses to explore new application possibilities.

Reduce Energy. Simplify Production.

Making more efficient printing technology part of sustainable manufacturing.

If you are looking for water-based pigment ink or considering a transition from solvent-based printing to water-based inkjet technology, we welcome you to contact SITECH.

We look forward to testing, developing, and creating ink solutions together for the next generation of digital printing.