Payment, loyalty, gift, and identification cards (PVC, RPVC, PET) require inks with different properties than standard screen printing inks—they must withstand lamination at 125–140°C, embossing of the card number, and long-term use in wallets. Chemikonics is the exclusive distributor in Poland of VFP Ink Technologies (France, with over 25 years of experience in screen printing ink production), which are specifically designed for this process.
Below we answer the most common questions we hear from card manufacturers and production line integrators.
What ink is suitable for printing on PVC cards and will it withstand lamination?
Screen printing inks with high thermal and chemical resistance are used for PVC, RPVC, and PET cards, as the printed card is laminated under pressure at 125–140°C for 5–15 minutes. Chemikonics offers three variants, depending on the process:
- SOLVCARD — NON-CMR solvent ink, glossy or satin finish, coverage 20–55 m²/kg, adhesion approx. 10 N/cm, accepts offset, lamination and embossing.
- AQUACARD TF — hydro-UV NON-CMR paint (no VOC restrictions), dried by evaporation of water on IR bridges and hardened by UV radiation, coverage 30–40 m²/kg.
- UVICARD TF — UV screen printing ink, UV-cured (quick drying), glossy finish, storage 12 months at +5°C to +35°C.
The choice between them depends on the machine park (automatic cylindrical printing type SPS/SAKURAI) and on whether the line has a UV drying station or a thermal tunnel.
Are PVC card paints safe – what does NON-CMR mean?
All VFP card inks in the Chemikonics range have the status NON-CMR — They do not contain substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic (CMR categories according to the CLP Regulation). These paints are also non-flammable and not classified as hazardous for transport (this applies to, among others, SOLVCARD and IR BLOCKING V2). This is important for supplier audits in the banking industry and for exports.
Disclaimer: NON-CMR status does not exempt from the obligation to check the safety data sheet (SDS) and validate on the target substrate before production implementation - this is also indicated by the manufacturer.
Why do transparent payment cards need special IR-blocking paint?
Transparent payment cards are becoming increasingly popular in premium banking, but they have a technical problem: standard ATM and POS terminal readers partially read the card using infrared light, which penetrates transparent PVC differently than it does through a matte card. The solution is IR BLOCKING V2 — NON-CMR solvent ink printed inside the card structure, absorbing radiation in the 860–950 nm range, thanks to which the card is correctly read in accordance with the standard ISO / IEC 7810The paint is non-flammable, quick-drying, and available in gloss or satin finishes.
This is a separate issue from "anti-counterfeiting security" in the sense of document printing (holograms, microprinting) - IR BLOCKING V2 solves the issue card readability by machine, not visual authenticity.
What substrates support VFP card inks - PVC only?
Most commonly, PVC and RPVC (recycled PVC) are used, but UVICARD TF also works with PET, and some variants also support treated PP, PE, and PLA (biodegradable plastics)—important for card manufacturers claiming a lower environmental footprint. Each case requires validation of the specific ink-substrate-process combination before mass production.
Who supplies these paints in Poland and how can I order a sample?
Chemikonics Sp. z o. o. is the sole authorized distributor of VFP Ink Technologies for the Polish market and the CEE region, with a local warehouse and technical support at every stage of material selection. Full technical specifications (TDS/SDS sheets) for SOLVCARD, AQUACARD TF, IR BLOCKING V2, and UVICARD TF are available at product catalog in the category Payment cards and identity documents.
