Astro-Med’s Kiaro! D printer receives maritime certification

WEST WARWICK – Astro-Med Inc.’s Kiaro! D color inkjet label printer has received certification allowing it to be transported by sea.
The printer, according to a news release from the manufacturer, attained International Maritime Dangerous Goods BS 5609 certification – a global standard for labeling of chemical products and other hazardous goods for marine transport.
“Achieving this important certification further demonstrates the quality of our Kiaro! D, and opens new vertical market opportunities for our high-durability products,” Gregory A. Woods, the company’s CEO, said in a statement.
“We developed the Kiaro! D line in response to customer need for rugged, high-quality color labels capable of withstanding harsh conditions. We look forward to expanding our customer base to include customers in markets such as chemicals, cleaning products and perfumes where this certification is critical for distribution,” he added.
According to a news release from Astro-Med, by June 1, all U.S. manufacturers of chemical products must be in compliance with the international standard when their labels are used on hazardous chemical containers transported by sea.
The labeling standard requires visual, color-coded hazard warnings as part of its aim to make chemical hazard warnings universally understood.
The Kiaro! D labels and pigment-based inks underwent a series of independent tests including immersion in an estuary off of the British coast for three months, sand abrasion, exposure to artificial salt spray and sunlight, and prolonged exposure at temperatures of 32 degrees and 140 degrees.
The black and the red inks of the Kiaro! D remained colorfast throughout the test, Astro-Med said.