Kohl & Madden (K&M), a US subsidiary of the world's largest ink manufacturer, used Print 05 in Chicago to launch its new Liberty inks, a VOC-free ink that does not dry on-press, but is ready for finishing within minutes of printing.

The inks, developed in K&M's labs in Northlake, Illinois, use a proprietary formula which allows them to stay open on press for more than a month, according to reports from the show.

However, Sun has claimed that the inks dry almost instantaneously once printed. K&M director Les Watkins said that drying took "a matter of minutes, rather than the hours that are necessary with conventional offset inks".

Sun Chemical claims that the inks, which cost 30-40% more than standard inks, allow press start-up waste to be reduced because their stability allows them to come up to strength quicker than conventional inks.

K&M president Brad Bergey said that he expected Liberty inks to show "multiple productivity benefits" for printers, and would become "a new standard for the industry".

Sun Chemical has not yet set a launch date for the inks in the UK or Europe.

- Sun Chemical has also unveiled a UV ink for the packaging industry which it says will cure twice as quickly as standard inks. Solarcat launched last week at Labelexpo Europe in Brussels.

Liberty inks factfile
- for sheetfed presses
- cost 30-40% more than conventional inks
- stay open on press for up to 32 days, according to reports
- VOC-free
- dry within minutes
- allow reduced start-up waste