FAQ

The right NORIS ink depends on the specific application. The key factors are the surface to be marked, the application method or marking system used, and the requirements the marking must meet.

The NORIS range includes water-, alcohol- and oil-based inks for different applications and surfaces. You can find an initial overview of our ink series and their typical fields of use in the product section. For a specific recommendation, we always assess the application on a product-specific basis.

Describe your marking task to us – we will help you select a suitable ink.

The more precisely we understand your application, the more specifically we can select a suitable ink.

The following information is particularly helpful:

• the material to be marked and the exact surface,
• the type of marking and the marking system used,
• the desired colour,
• requirements for drying behaviour or resistance,
• special operating and environmental conditions,
• where applicable, the ink pad or accessories used.

If regulatory, customer-specific or industry-specific requirements also need to be met, please include them as well.

Do you not yet have all the technical details? No problem – describe your application as precisely as possible. We will clarify the rest together.

NORIS offers inks for a wide range of surfaces and marking tasks – from absorbent materials to smooth and non-porous surfaces.

Depending on the application, solutions are available for materials such as paper and cardboard, wood, textiles, metal and stainless steel, plastics or glass.

The suitability of an ink for a particular substrate must always be assessed on a product-specific basis. Even within one material group, surfaces can differ significantly, for example because of coatings or pretreatments.

Porous and non-porous surfaces differ mainly in their surface structure and their ability to absorb liquids.

Porous surfaces contain many small pores or cavities and are therefore absorbent. Stamp ink can penetrate into the material and is often absorbed quickly. Typical examples include paper, cardboard, untreated wood and fabric.

Non-porous surfaces absorb little or no stamp ink. The ink remains more on the surface and therefore has to meet a different set of requirements. Typical examples include glass, plastic and metal.

This distinction is an important starting point when selecting the right stamp ink. The decisive factor, however, is always the specific combination of surface, ink and application.

Some NORIS inks are designed for several materials and applications.

However, this does not mean that an ink will automatically perform equally well on every surface. Depending on the product, certain materials may be particularly suitable, only suitable with restrictions, or excluded.

If you want to use one ink on several materials, it is best to tell us all of them. This allows us to assess the combinations specifically.

Because drying time depends strongly on the ink, substrate and application, there is no single drying time that applies to the entire NORIS range.

On porous materials, ink can be absorbed into the surface, whereas on non-porous surfaces it remains more on the surface. Drying behaviour is also influenced by factors such as the ink system, the amount applied, the application method and environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity.

If a specific drying time is important for your process, we will take this into account when selecting the ink.

The right ink pad depends on the ink being used and the intended application.

NORIS offers different ink pad systems for office, industrial marking and special applications. Especially with solvent-based inks, we often recommend felt pads because they are more resistant to many solvents than foam pads.

A particularly high-quality and versatile solution is our VIPad for water- and alcohol-based inks. It combines a special pad material with solvent-resistant plastic, a rubber sealing ring and a snap closure for easy and secure closing. The VIPad is particularly popular with many of our customers.

Tell us which ink and application you use and we will help you select the right ink pad.

Many stamp inks contain pigments, for example to provide greater opacity or resistance. Pigments do not dissolve in the liquid phase; instead, they are finely dispersed throughout the ink.

After longer storage, gravity can cause them to settle at the bottom. This sedimentation can occur with pigmented inks and does not mean that the ink has become unusable.

Thorough shaking will generally homogenise the ink again. We therefore recommend shaking NORIS inks well before use, especially after longer storage or if visible separation can be seen in the ink.

If the first impression appears unusually transparent, uneven or different in colour, the ink should also be shaken thoroughly again before further use.

Many stamp inks contain volatile solvents. Because an ink pad has a relatively large exposed surface, these solvents can evaporate over time – in some cases even when the pad is closed. The pad then becomes drier and ink transfer may decrease.

If only ink is replenished over a longer period, the less volatile components can become relatively concentrated in the pad. Depending on the ink series, it can therefore be useful to occasionally replenish the pad with the appropriate NORIS solvent or rejuvenator in order to specifically replace evaporated solvents.

Only use the product intended for the respective ink series. Unmatched third-party solvents can alter the ink system and cause unwanted interactions.

It is also important to close the ink pad properly after use.

Ink residues are generally easier to remove before they have dried completely.

For stamp cleaning, NORIS offers products including NOREX #110RX stamp cleaning spray. For many ink series, we also provide solvents or rejuvenators specifically matched to the respective solvent system. Their primary purpose is product-specific thinning or reconditioning, but because their solvent base is matched to the ink, they can also assist in removing ink residues.

On sensitive materials, compatibility should first be tested in an inconspicuous area. Always follow the relevant safety and application instructions.

As a general rule, the sooner ink residues are removed, the better the chances of successful cleaning.

From surfaces:
On absorbent materials such as paper or cardboard, complete removal is often not possible because the ink penetrates the material. On non-porous surfaces such as metal, an attempt with a suitable thinner or cleaner, or with our NOREX #110RX stamp cleaning spray, may be successful. The result depends on the surface, ink and degree of drying. Always test cleaning products first on an inconspicuous area.

From skin:
Ink on the skin should be washed off as soon as possible with water and ordinary household soap. In industrial settings, suitable professional hand cleaners may also be used according to their instructions. Solvents or ink thinners should not be used to clean the skin. If skin reactions or persistent irritation occur, stop contact with the product and follow the product-specific information in the safety data sheet; seek medical advice if symptoms persist.

From clothing and textiles:
Cleaning should also be started as early as possible. Whether the ink can be removed completely depends on the ink used, the fabric and the degree of drying. For sensitive textiles, follow the care instructions and first test any cleaning attempt on an inconspicuous area.

There is no single shelf life that applies to the entire NORIS range. Shelf life depends on the specific product and storage conditions.

For the best possible storage, we recommend:

• keeping inks in their original containers wherever possible,
• closing containers securely again after use,
• protecting inks from direct sunlight and strong heat sources,
• avoiding unnecessary large temperature fluctuations,
• keeping containers and closures clean so that no foreign matter enters the ink,
• using unopened original containers wherever possible for longer-term stockholding.

Careful resealing is particularly important for solvent-containing inks in order to reduce unnecessary evaporation losses.

If you need a specific shelf-life statement or special storage conditions for a particular product, please contact us.

There is no general approval for children to use the existing NORIS range. Whether a product may be considered for an application involving children depends on the specific product, the children’s age, the intended use and the evidence available for that use.

If you need an ink for an application involving children, please tell us the age group, type of application and intended conditions of use. We will then assess which products and supporting evidence may be suitable for the specific case.

The relevant product and safety instructions must be observed. NORIS inks are not intended for ingestion.

Yes. In addition to our standard range, we develop custom inks for industrial identification and marking applications.

The starting point is always the specific task: Which material has to be marked, how will the ink be applied, and which properties must the marking provide in later use? Depending on the project, factors such as colour, drying behaviour, adhesion, resistance and regulatory or customer-specific requirements can be taken into account.

This can result either in adaptations of existing ink systems or in solutions specifically tailored to industrial applications.

We also have experience with special fibre-tip pen inks, permanent marker inks and writing inks. Individual fibre-tip pen inks have already been successfully developed and implemented according to specific customer requirements.

We assess whether an existing NORIS ink is suitable or whether a tailored development makes sense based on your specific technical requirements.

The starting point is the specific application and the question of which properties the ink needs to provide.

Together, we clarify aspects including:

• the substrate to be marked,
• the marking system used,
• the desired colour,
• special technical requirements,
• regulatory or customer-specific specifications.

On this basis, we assess technical feasibility and, where necessary, develop a solution tailored to the application. The subsequent development steps are then agreed with you on a project-specific basis.

Do you have a special marking task? Contact us even if not all technical details have been defined yet.

Different external test reports and product documentation are available for selected NORIS products and colours.

Depending on the product, these may include tests on the migration of certain elements in accordance with DIN EN 71-3, RoHS conformity testing, MOSH/MOAH analyses or dermatological test reports.

We will be happy to check which documentation is available for your specific application or ink.

No.

A test report or certificate applies to the scope that was actually tested and documented. This may include factors such as the product, colour, formulation version, batch, sample condition and test method.

A test on one colour or product therefore cannot automatically be transferred to other colours, formulations or products.

NORIS therefore evaluates regulatory statements and documentation only within the product and test scope actually supported by the evidence.

Yes. In addition to statutory and standards-based requirements, NORIS also handles detailed customer-specific specifications, corporate requirements and requirements from industrial supply chains.

These may range from individual substance or material requirements to extensive technical and regulatory requirement catalogues.

We assess such requirements in a structured way against the intended application, target market and available product and test information. This can include checking whether an existing NORIS product meets the requirements or whether a different or customer-specific solution is needed for the application.

If additional investigations or external testing are required for a reliable assessment, this is clarified as part of the review.

The first point is to understand exactly what your application has to comply with.

The following information is particularly helpful:

• the surface to be marked and the specific use case,
• the target market or destination country,
• the exact standard, regulation, customer specification or internal requirement, including the version where available,
• the type of evidence or confirmation required,
• any additional technical requirements for the marking.

If you are already using a specific NORIS ink, please also tell us the product and colour.

If you have not yet selected an ink, that is not a problem. In that case, we assess your application and the specified requirements to determine which existing NORIS ink may be suitable or whether an individual solution makes sense.

NORIS provides the product information required for the respective product and applicable regulatory framework.

This includes in particular safety data sheets and, where available for the specific product, further technical or regulatory product information and suitable test or supporting documentation.

For special customer requirements, we assess which documents are required and available for the product concerned, the target market and the intended use.

The appropriate ordering route depends, among other things, on the product and the market concerned.

Depending on the country and distribution situation, NORIS supplies customers either directly or through international partners. If you already know which product you need, you can contact NORIS directly or the contact available for your market.

If you are not yet sure which ink is suitable for your application, first describe your marking task to us. We can then determine together which product may be suitable.

Yes. NORIS supplies customers on every inhabited continent.

Depending on the market, products are supplied either directly or through international partners. The exact supply and ordering route can therefore vary from country to country.

If you would like to obtain NORIS products in your country, contact us with your location and the product you require.

No. NORIS does not have its own dealer or distributor in every country.

Depending on the market, customers are supplied directly by NORIS or through international partners. An international supply area therefore does not automatically mean that a local NORIS distributor is available in every country.

We will be happy to tell you which purchasing route is suitable for your country.