Industry News · Printing Review
WAN-IFRA transfers printability testing equipment to Anna University, Chennai
By Aultrin Vijay, WAN-IFRA · October 21, 2026
WAN-IFRA has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Anna University, Chennai, India, to transfer an IGT Printability Tester to the Department of Printing and Packaging Technology at the College of Engineering Guindy (CEG). The agreement includes technical knowledge for operating the equipment and leaves scope for future joint projects and testing.
Investing in the next generation of print professionals
The transfer follows WAN-IFRA’s decision to close its print quality laboratory at the RIND premises in Chennai, which had carried out paper and ink testing, research projects and printing workshops. The equipment will give Anna University additional resources for practical learning, technical research and industry-oriented training.
Strengthening industry-academia collaboration
Anna University Registrar V. Kumaresan said the equipment would strengthen laboratory capabilities and support print quality testing, collaborative research and consultancy. M. Kanchana, Head of the Department of Printing and Packaging Technology at CEG, said it would provide students with hands-on printability assessment experience and support research into print quality optimisation and sustainable printing materials.
WAN-IFRA South Asia Managing Director Magdoom Mohamed said the initiative builds on the organisation’s longstanding relationship with the department, which recently contributed to the evaluation and jury process for the International Colour Quality Club 2026–2028 competition. He added that the initiative reinforces WAN-IFRA’s commitment to industry-academia collaboration and developing future talent for the printing industry.
Supporting print quality assessment and research
Printability testing helps evaluate the interaction between paper, ink and printing processes. The equipment can help assess ink performance, paper runnability and other parameters that influence print quality under press conditions.
The IGT High Speed Printing Unit IV simulates the dynamics of a full-scale printing unit, enabling the evaluation of ink performance and paper runnability at press speed.
The IGT AIC 2-5 Printability Tester applies a controlled ink film to paper using a disk, allowing measurements of parameters such as ink mileage, drying rates, colour gamut, set-off and print-through.
These capabilities can support the assessment of newsprint and ink against relevant ISO standards, including ISO 12647-3 and ISO 2846-2. This testing helps printers and publishers check paper and ink quality and improve print results.