What Void Pattern Ink does on pack
Void Pattern Ink is made for packaging applications where the message must show after opening. It is applied to a substrate or closure area so that when the pack is lifted, peeled or separated, the printed area shows a void pattern or repeat warning. That gives a direct visual cue that the pack has been opened. For goods moving through Durban, Johannesburg or Cape Town distribution routes, that visible change is useful on cartons, labels, overwraps and security seals.
The formulation is suited to packaging converters working on printed film, paperboard, self adhesive labels and coated surfaces. It can be built into a wider security system with matching ink cues, batch retain samples and verification checks. For buyers in pharmacy, personal care, food service, industrial spares and promotional packaging, it is often the simplest way to add tamper evidence without changing the whole pack structure.
- Clear opened pack warning for retail and distribution use
- Works as part of a broader security print system
- Suitable for cartons, labels, seals and select coated films
- Can be paired with visible or covert authentication features
Sizes, pack formats and output options
Void Pattern Ink is supplied for production use in formats that suit small press trials and regular converter output. The exact pack size depends on the line speed, coverage and the print method in use, so ordering is normally set against the job specification. For most converters, the practical choice is to start with a trial batch, confirm adhesion and then move into repeat supply once the void image is reading cleanly across the pack.
Typical options include smaller sample packs for press testing, mid size production containers for short runs, and bulk supply for ongoing contracts. If you are running multiple SKUs from Jacobs or Prospecton, the same formulation can often be set up across more than one substrate, provided the coating and drying window are checked first. We also support drawdown panels and retain samples for repeat reference.
- Trial pack for lab and press checks
- Production pack for short and medium runs
- Bulk supply for ongoing national supply
- Custom matching where the void message must align with brand colours or panel layout
Where the formulation suits best
This product suits converters and packers who need a visible tamper message on opened areas. It is used where product integrity matters and where the buyer needs to see if a seal has been disturbed before the pack reaches the shelf or the end user. It is especially useful where packs are handled in warm loading bays, humid coastal stores or mixed warehousing conditions, because the message must hold up through transport and normal handling.
Void Pattern Ink is commonly used on:
- Security labels for cartons and transit packs
- Closure areas on consumer packaging
- Outer packs for controlled goods
- Promotional packs where opened status must be obvious
- Warehouse and dispatch seals for batch control
For Durban operations, coastal moisture and heat can affect ink laydown and adhesive performance, so the product is normally tested on the exact substrate before full production. That includes checking whether the pack will face cold room storage, rough handling in transit, or longer shelf time in retail backrooms.
Installation, press setup and utility needs
Void Pattern Ink is not a stand alone device, so there is no power draw or gas requirement from the product itself. It is applied through standard print or coating equipment already used by the converter. What matters is the setup around the press, drying and curing conditions, plus the surface energy of the packaging material. In many cases the job needs a clean line, correct film tension and stable web handling to keep the void image consistent.
Before full run, the technical team normally checks the following:
- Substrate compatibility and coating readiness
- Drying or curing window for the press speed
- Adhesion on the final pack surface
- Rub resistance after packing and transport simulation
- Readability of the void message after opening
Where the line uses heat or forced air, the converter should confirm that the pack material can handle the set temperatures without curl or distortion. If the pack is going through a humid coastal route or a cold storage chain, it is worth checking performance after conditioning, not just on the press room floor.
Care, servicing and repeat use on production lines
Void Pattern Ink should be kept in closed containers, away from direct sun and heat build up in the warehouse. For sites in Jacobs, Pinetown or Prospecton, that matters during summer when storage rooms can get warm by mid afternoon. The product should be mixed and handled to the production sheet, with records kept for batch number, date opened and job reference. That makes repeat runs easier and reduces avoidable waste.
For servicing and ongoing support, converters usually need help with drawdown checks, threshold tuning and press startup support. The aim is to keep the void message opening cleanly without smearing or partial transfer. If the ink is being used with overprint varnish, laminating films or other security layers, those should be tested together rather than one at a time. Small changes in coating weight can affect how the opened area reads.
- Store sealed and out of direct heat
- Log batch details and retain samples
- Check every new substrate before full production
- Re test after changes to varnish, lamination or supplier stock
What to check before you place an order
Before ordering Void Pattern Ink, it helps to have a clear pack brief. The more detail you give at the start, the faster the line can be set up and the fewer surprises you get on press. For converters supplying national customers, it is worth confirming what happens in storage, on the road and at the point of opening, because the message must still work after handling in warehouses, depots and shops.
Please check the following before ordering:
- What substrate you are printing on, including paperboard, film or label stock
- How the pack is opened, peeled or broken
- The message text or pattern required on opening
- Target run size and expected re order volume
- Whether the job needs UV verification, rub testing or coating compatibility checks
- Any colour matching or security pattern design work needed alongside the void feature
If you are sending work to Durban, Johannesburg or Gqeberha, include the delivery location and whether the job is for one site or several branches. That helps with scheduling, batch control and stock planning. Where a customer needs ongoing supply, a batch retain library is useful for future checks and complaint resolution.
Supply and support from Jacobs to the rest of South Africa
ThermoInk supplies packaging converters nationwide from our Jacobs base in Durban. We work with operations in Durban South Supply, Pinetown Supply, Prospecton Supply and further afield in Cape Town, Gqeberha, Johannesburg and Pretoria. The focus is on practical production support, so the product is backed by technical checks before it goes into regular use.
That support can include security pattern design, production troubleshooting, drawdown panels and trial batch making. If your site needs to test more than one pack format, we can work through the options and confirm what gives the clearest opened-pack result. For order placement and quotations, clients reach us through the enquiry form on our contact page.
Key facts
| Product type | Security ink for opened-pack void messaging |
|---|---|
| Primary use | Tamper evidence on packaging, labels and seals |
| Suitability | Paperboard, labels and selected coated packaging films |
| Verification | Can be checked with UV verification setups where specified |
| Quality checks | Adhesion tests, rub resistance checks and press trials |
| Supply area | Jacobs, Durban with deliveries nationwide |
