Category: Cleaning Products | Packaging & Printing
Reading time: about 5 minutes
Target audience: Operators and technical managers in the flexography industry
Do you use water-based, UV, or solvent-based ink? It may sound like a minor detail, but it completely determines which cleaning agent you need. If you use the wrong product, not only will your cleaning be ineffective, but you also risk damaging print heads, incurring unnecessary costs, and creating stubborn residue that becomes increasingly difficult to remove.
In this article, we explain why ink type is so important, which products are compatible with which inks, and how you can make the right choice in just a few steps.
Why ink type is so important
Ink isn’t just ink. The chemical composition varies significantly depending on the type of ink, and that determines how the ink behaves within the cells of your anilox roller, how quickly it cures, and what chemicals are needed to dissolve it.
A cleaning agent that works perfectly on water-based ink may have no effect whatsoever on cured UV ink. And using a powerful solvent-based product on a water-based process is expensive and unnecessarily harsh. The compatibility between ink type and cleaning agent is therefore not a matter of preference—it is a technical requirement.
Water-based inks (WB)
Water-based inks are the most common type used in the corrugated cardboard and flexible packaging industries. They are relatively easy to clean as long as they are still wet, but once they dry, they bond firmly to the cell walls and form a stubborn layer that is difficult to remove.
Daily cleaning
For the daily cleaning of anilox rolls used with water-based inks, the **FC 1000 SL** (item no. 91111) and **HQ Power SP** (item no. 91551) are the recommended products. FC 1000 SL has a unique property: it actively binds limescale, preventing it from accumulating in the cells—a common and often underestimated problem in water-based printing environments. HQ Power SP has been specially developed for machines using high-pigment inks that require extra cleaning.
Do you use coatings instead of ink? Then the **Coating Cleaner** (item 91600) is the right choice. This product is completely free of butyl glycol and suitable for both manual and inline application on anilox rolls and machine parts.
Periodic cleaning
For periodic cleaning—once a week or every two weeks—use stronger cleaning agents. The **Anilox Periodic Special** (item no. 92327) is specifically designed for use in the Heating Bucket (inline). For manual periodic cleaning, use the **Anilox Power Boost** (item no. 92442).
UV inks
UV inks cure under ultraviolet light and are extremely difficult to remove once cured. The challenge lies in speed: as soon as UV ink comes into contact with light or heat, the curing process begins. With UV inks, regular cleaning and using the right product are not a luxury but a necessity.
Daily cleaning
The **FC Multicleaner UV/SB-AS** (item no. 91855) and **FC4059 Multicleaner UV/SB-AS** (item no. 91875) are designed for daily cleaning with UV inks. Both are also suitable for solvent-based inks. For polymer or rubber printing cylinders: the same products. For printing plates: **FC9128** (item no. 91852).
For machine parts contaminated with UV ink, the **Environmental Cleaner** (item no. 91805) or **UV Wash** (item no. 91700) is the recommended choice.
Deep cleaning
If UV ink has been allowed to dry for too long, deep cleaning is required. The **Anilox Cleaner** (item 92200) has been specially developed for use with the Jet-Flow machine and effectively removes water-based, UV, and solvent-based inks, coatings, and adhesives from ceramic rollers.
Solvent-based inks (SB)
Solvent-based inks are used less frequently in Western markets, but are still common in specific applications such as flexible packaging and gravure printing. Their solvent base makes them more chemically aggressive than water-based inks, which requires the use of specific products.
Anilox rolls (ceramic)
For manual cleaning of ceramic anilox rolls with SB inks: **Anilox Power Boost** (item no. 92442). For mechanical deep cleaning: **Anilox Cleaner** (item no. 92200) in the Jet-Flow machine.
Printing cylinders
For chrome cylinders (rotogravure), manual cleaning: **Anilox Power Boost**. Mechanical cleaning: **FC Multicleaner UV/SB-AS** (item no. 91855). For polymer sleeves and rubber rollers: manual **Multicleaner UV/SB-AS**, mechanical **FC4059 Multicleaner UV/SB-AS** (item no. 91875).
Printing plates and machine parts
Printing plates used with SB inks should be cleaned manually or mechanically using **FC9128** (item no. 91852). Machine parts: **Environmental Cleaner** (item no. 91805).
The flowchart: the right choice in seconds
Flexoclean has developed a downloadable flowchart for each production environment, with separate versions for WB, UV, and SB. Just enter what you’re cleaning and how you’re cleaning it, and the flowchart will immediately show you the right product.
👉 Download the Flexoclean flowcharts
Or use the interactive **Product Selector** on the Flexoclean products page —just answer three questions, and you’ll immediately know which product is right for your situation.
Not sure yet which product is right for you?
Your ink type, water composition, production speed, and equipment all play a role in determining which product works best. Our specialists will analyze your situation and provide a concrete, customized recommendation.
Please contact our specialists.
Clean Solutions Group, the leading platform for cleaning solutions in the industrial, packaging, and printing sectors.