Arcdeco SO 350 Deep-Draw Ink for Drawn and Redrawn Food Cans
A high-elongation stoving offset ink for pre-printed tinplate and tin-free steel sheet that is drawn and redrawn into two-piece food cans, typically fish cans. It is printed wet on wet from artwork distorted on the flat sheet, varnished wet and stoved, and is formulated to stretch with the wall and corner radii and then come through a full retort.
Grade Arcdeco SO 350 | Range Metal Decorating Inks | Technology Thermally cured lithographic paste ink, BPA non-intent polyester vehicle, or BPA-based epoxy where the market still permits it
Technical Data Sheet
Arcdeco SO 350
Issue 2026.09
1. Product description
A high-elongation stoving ink for pre-printed sheet that is drawn and redrawn into two-piece steel food cans, typically fish cans. The artwork is printed distorted on the flat sheet so that it corrects in the draw, all colours are printed wet on wet, and the ink has to stretch with the wall and corner radii and then come through a full retort with an oil or brine fill. Cracking at the corners or loss of adhesion after retort is the failure. The vehicle follows the market of sale: BPA-based epoxy only where still permitted, otherwise a BPA non-intent polyester, as in the EU under Regulation (EU) 2024/3190. The product side carries Arccan IL 330 or IL 450.
2. Features
- High elongation through draw and redraw at the wall and corner radii
- All colours printed wet on wet on a multicolour press, with the finishing varnish applied wet
- Retort resistance with oil or brine fills
- Vehicle chosen for the market of sale: a BPA non-intent polyester, or a BPA-based epoxy only where still permitted
- Qualified on cups drawn on the customer's own tooling and then retorted
3. Recommended uses
Printed decoration on two-piece drawn and redrawn steel food cans, typically fish cans with an oil or brine fill, where the product side carries Arccan IL 330 or IL 450.
Substrates. Tinplate and tin-free steel sheet for drawn and redrawn food cans, carrying a cured size or white base on the outside and the internal lining on the product side.
4. Typical properties
| Property | Typical value | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Thermally cured lithographic paste ink, BPA non-intent polyester vehicle, or BPA-based epoxy where the market still permits it | Formulation |
| Form and colour range | Paste ink in colours matched to an approved standard, for wet-on-wet printing | Visual |
| Vehicle | BPA non-intent polyester, as for the EU under Regulation (EU) 2024/3190, or BPA-based epoxy only where the market of sale still permits it; stated per order, with the regulatory declaration issued on request against the product supplied | Supplier formulation record, declared not tested |
| Tack | Stated per colour on a named instrument, speed and roller temperature, set against the customer's press and graded down the colour sequence for wet-on-wet trapping | ISO 12634, rotary tackmeter; readings compared only on the same instrument type, roller temperature and speed |
| Viscosity at 25 degrees C | 20 to 120 Pa.s, with yield value reported; stated per colour on the Certificate of Analysis | ISO 12644, falling rod viscometer |
| Fineness of grind | 5 micrometres or finer | ISO 1524 |
| Formability of the printed stack | No cracking or loss of adhesion at the cupping indentation agreed for the gauge and temper, within 6 to 9 mm and short of fracture of the metal itself, as a comparative bench check; acceptance on drawn and redrawn cups | ISO 1520 cupping, comparative on can stock; then cups drawn on the customer's own tooling |
| Retort resistance | No blush, blistering, colour change or loss of adhesion under the finishing varnish after steam retort, commonly 60 to 90 min at 121 degrees C, or the filler's own cycle | Customer or can-maker protocol on filled and processed packs, with cross-cut to ISO 2409 afterwards |
| Adhesion after drawing and retort | Cross-cut classification 0 to 1 on the full coating stack, on flat and drawn areas | ISO 2409 |
| Colour against the approved standard | ΔE00 1.0 to 2.0, agreed by colour and measured on the customer's own basecoat or metal | Measurement to ISO 13655, colour difference by CIEDE2000 to ISO/CIE 11664-6, against a signed standard on the production substrate |
Typical values, not a specification. Values for each batch are given on its Certificate of Analysis.
5. Application
| Parameter | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Application method | Wet offset with all colours wet on wet on a multicolour sheet-fed press, from artwork distorted on the flat sheet so that it corrects in the draw. |
| Surface preparation | Print on the outside over a cured size or white base, on sheet carrying the internal lining, Arccan IL 330 or IL 450, on the product side. |
| Dry ink film weight | About 0.5 to 2.0 g/m2 dry per colour, set by colour, coverage and press and confirmed at trial. |
| Overcoat | Finishing varnish applied wet over the ink, with ink and varnish stoved together. |
| Stoving schedule | 10 to 12 min at 180 to 205 degrees C peak metal temperature in a wicket oven, traced by thermocouple on a sample sheet. |
| Qualification | On cups drawn and redrawn on the customer's own tooling and then retorted with the intended fill, not on flat panels. |
Process. Wet offset with all colours wet on wet on a multicolour press, finishing varnish applied wet and stoved typically 10 to 12 min at 180 to 205 degrees C peak metal temperature. Qualification is on cups drawn on the customer’s own tooling and then retorted, not on flat panels.
6. Storage and handling
Store in the original closed containers in a cool, dry place away from direct sun and sources of heat, and keep lids closed between uses to limit skinning. Shelf life is stated on the label and Certificate of Analysis. Handle and use the product in line with its Safety Data Sheet.
7. Safety and regulatory information
Read the Safety Data Sheet before use. Safety Data Sheets and regulatory declarations are issued by our technical centre against the product and batch supplied, so they are sent on request rather than published. Request a Safety Data Sheet or declaration.
This Technical Data Sheet is published for on-screen reference. The information is given in good faith from laboratory and application experience and describes typical values; it is not a specification and does not replace a trial on your own substrate and line. Arctic Materials may revise this sheet without notice. Issue 2026.09.
Technical Data Sheets on this site are for on-screen viewing. For a controlled copy, write to tech@arcticmaterials.com.
Other grades in this range
Need a Safety Data Sheet, a regulatory declaration or a grade specified to your line? Contact our technical centre.