Industries Ink, Paints, and Coatings

Precision Liquid Filtration for Inks, Paints & Coatings Manufacturing

Strainrite manufactures purpose-built filter cartridges, filter bags, hybrid elements, and industrial vessels engineered for the demanding particle-control and chemical-compatibility requirements of ink, paint, and coatings production. Featuring the Ink-Jet IKP, IKS, and IKG specialty cartridge series for inkjet inks, VISC-MAXX and Clari-MAXX hybrid elements for high-viscosity paints and coatings, BRB Resinator resin-bonded bags, and CRB-Pleat depth cartridges — all from our 81,000 ft² ISO 9001:2015 certified facility in Auburn, Maine.

The global paints and coatings market is projected to grow from USD 205 billion in 2025 to USD 250 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 4.0% (MarketsandMarkets), while the global printing ink market is expected to reach USD 31 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.5%. In ink and coatings manufacturing, even sub-micron particulate contamination can cause nozzle clogging in inkjet printheads, fisheyes and surface defects in coatings, and off-spec color in pigmented products — leading to costly batch rejections, equipment downtime, and customer complaints. As the industry shifts toward waterborne and low-VOC formulations to meet tightening EPA and CARB regulations, filtration systems must handle a wider range of viscosities and solvent chemistries while maintaining absolute-rated particle removal. With nearly 50 years of filtration expertise and a dedicated Ink & Paint specialty cartridge line — including the Ink-Jet IKP, IKS, and IKG series manufactured in ISO Class 7 (Class 10,000) clean rooms — Strainrite provides the precision filtration that ink, paint, and coatings manufacturers need to protect product quality and production uptime.

Key Filtration Stages in Inks, Paints & Coatings Manufacturing

Ink, paint, and coatings manufacturing requires filtration at multiple process stages — from incoming raw materials through dispersion, blending, and final filling. Each stage presents unique challenges related to viscosity, chemical compatibility, particle size control, and production speed. Strainrite offers solutions engineered for every critical stage.

01

Raw Material & Solvent Pre-Filtration

Incoming resins, solvents, pigment dispersions, and additives may contain particulate, gels, agglomerates, and impurities from transport and storage. Strainrite's chemically resistant filter bags — including Classic Felt bags in polypropylene and polyester (1–200µm), EVP/EVPA Enhanced Vertical Pleat bags with over 50% more surface area for longer service life, and AA Additional Area bags with 65% more filtration area — provide reliable bulk pre-filtration that protects grind mills, mixers, and downstream equipment. For higher-throughput resin and solvent filtration, the BRB Resinator resin-bonded bags offer non-compressible, gradient-density construction in polyester felt that resists the high differential pressures common in viscous fluid service.

02

Post-Dispersion & Process Filtration

After grinding and dispersion, paints and inks contain oversize particles, mill-media fragments, agglomerates, and gels that must be removed to achieve target particle-size distributions and prevent downstream defects. Strainrite's CRB-Pleat continuous resin-bonded depth cartridges (1–200µm nominal) excel in high-viscosity paint and resin filtration with their non-compressible phenolic-impregnated polyester media and 3.5 sq ft per 10" surface area — over 7x more than standard wound cartridges. The VISC-MAXX resin-bonded polyester hybrid elements (P1 through P4 sizes, 1–200µm) deliver 8–30 sq ft of filtration area per element with gradient-density construction, making them ideal for high-viscosity coatings, adhesives, and industrial paints. The Clari-MAXX multi-layer polypropylene microfiber hybrid elements (1.5–70µm) are a direct replacement for Pall Marksman elements and serve coatings, inks, and paint applications with up to 48 sq ft of surface area per element.

03

Precision Filtration for Inkjet Inks

Inkjet ink manufacturing demands the highest level of particle control — nozzle diameters as small as 20µm mean that particulate contamination must be filtered to well below 1µm to prevent clogging, misdirection, and print-quality defects. Strainrite's purpose-built Ink-Jet specialty series addresses every component of inkjet ink production: the Ink-Jet IKP absolute-rated polypropylene cartridges (0.3–90µm, BETA 100) filter carriers, resins, and colorants with zero fiber shedding. The Ink-Jet Select IKS dual-density polypropylene cartridges feature proprietary micro/nano-fiber composite media with graded pore density for superior gel removal. The Ink-Jet IKG borosilicate microglass cartridges (0.5–40µm, BETA 100) deliver graded-pore-density depth filtration for carriers and pre-blending stages. All three series are manufactured in ISO Class 7 clean rooms with no binders or resins, carry USP Class VI certification, and comply with FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 — with 316 SS inserts standard.

04

Final Product & Container Filling Filtration

The filling line is the last opportunity to ensure product quality before paint, ink, or coating reaches the customer. Surface defects, color inconsistency, and particulate contamination discovered after filling result in costly batch rejections and customer complaints. Strainrite's Glass-Pleat and Fiber-MAXX absolute-rated microglass depth cartridges (0.8–15µm, ASTM F795-88 validated, 99.98% efficiency) provide final polishing filtration for inks and coatings with non-calendared, thermally bonded media. For pre-blending final filtration in inkjet manufacturing, Pur-MAXX N Nylon 6,6 membrane cartridges (0.1–1.2µm) and Pur-MAXX E PES membrane cartridges deliver sub-micron absolute-rated retention. The Fiber-MAXX G nominally rated microglass cartridges (0.2–10µm, BETA 5000) are recommended for final polishing where the highest dirt-holding capacity is needed. NMO Monofilament Mesh filter bags serve traditional lithographic, gravure, flexographic, screen print, and pen ink filling applications with consistent, washable performance.

Engineered for Chemical Compatibility and High-Viscosity Performance

Engineered for Chemical Compatibility and High-Viscosity Performance

Ink, paint, and coatings production environments expose filtration equipment to aggressive solvents (MEK, toluene, xylene, acetone), high-viscosity fluids, and abrasive pigment dispersions. Strainrite's filtration products are constructed from chemically compatible materials — all-polypropylene thermal-bonded construction (no binders, adhesives, or fiber shedding), polyester felt for solvent-based systems, and borosilicate microglass for the finest particle control. Our Ink-Jet IKP, IKS, and IKG cartridges are manufactured with 316 stainless steel inserts as standard, ensuring structural integrity under the high differential pressures common in viscous ink filtration. For large-volume batch operations, Strainrite's SRX/SRMX "X-Tra Seal" vessels with Five Points of Seal bypass elimination and SRHD Heavy Duty vessels (150–1,000 psi) provide reliable, leak-free housing solutions designed for industrial-scale paint and coatings production.

Quality & Regulatory Compliance for Inks, Paints & Coatings Filtration

Ink, paint, and coatings manufacturers face increasing pressure to meet environmental regulations, customer quality specifications, and supply-chain traceability requirements. Strainrite's quality systems are designed to support these demands.

ISO 9001:2015 Certified Manufacturing & Material Compliance

All Strainrite filtration products are manufactured in ISO 9001:2015 accredited facilities with rigorous quality control protocols. Our Ink-Jet specialty cartridges are produced in ISO Class 7 (Class 10,000) clean rooms using thermal-bond construction with no binders, resins, or adhesives — ensuring zero fiber shedding and zero extractables that could contaminate sensitive ink formulations. All Ink-Jet series cartridges carry USP Class VI and FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 material compliance certification, with full lot traceability from raw material to finished product.

VOC & Environmental Compliance Support

As paint and coatings manufacturers transition to waterborne, low-VOC, and high-solids formulations to meet EPA and CARB emission standards, filtration requirements are changing. Strainrite's all-polypropylene construction eliminates solvent-soluble binders that can leach VOCs into product streams, while our chemically resistant polyester and microglass media are validated for compatibility with both traditional solvent-based and newer waterborne formulations. Our technical team provides filtration engineering support to help specify the right media, micron rating, and housing configuration for your specific chemistry.

Strainrite Filtration Solutions for Inks, Paints & Coatings

Ink-Jet IKP Absolute-Rated Polypropylene Cartridges

purpose-built for pigment-based, dye-based, and high-viscosity inkjet inks (0.3–90µm, BETA 100, 316 SS insert, USP Class VI)

Ink-Jet Select IKS Dual-Density Polypropylene Cartridges

micro/nano-fiber composite media with graded pore density for superior gel removal in inkjet inks

Ink-Jet IKG Borosilicate Microglass Cartridges

graded-pore-density depth filtration for inkjet carriers and pre-blending (0.5–40µm, BETA 100, 316 SS insert)

VISC-MAXX Resin-Bonded Polyester Hybrid Elements

gradient-density, non-compressible media for high-viscosity paints, coatings, adhesives, and inks (1–200µm, up to 30 sq ft per element)

Clari-MAXX Multi-Layer Polypropylene Hybrid Elements

direct Pall Marksman replacement for coatings and ink applications (1.5–70µm, up to 48 sq ft per element)

CRB-Pleat Continuous Resin-Bonded Depth Cartridges

7x surface area of standard cartridges for viscous paint, resin, and adhesive filtration (1–200µm nominal)

Glass-Pleat & Fiber-MAXX Absolute-Rated Microglass Depth Cartridges

final polishing filtration for inks and coatings (0.8–15µm, 99.98% efficiency)

Fiber-MAXX G Nominally Rated Microglass Cartridges

high dirt-holding capacity for post-dispersion and final filtration (0.2–10µm, BETA 5000)

BRB Resinator Resin-Bonded Specialty Bags

non-compressible gradient-density bags for resins, adhesives, inks, paints, and coatings (1–200µm)

NMO Monofilament Mesh Filter Bags

lithographic, gravure, flexographic, screen print, and pen ink filtration

Classic Felt & EVP/EVPA Extended-Life Filter Bags

bulk pre-filtration for incoming solvents, resins, and pigment dispersions

AA Additional Area Filter Bags

65% more surface area for longer service intervals in ink, paint, and coatings applications

Pur-MAXX N Nylon 6,6 & Pur-MAXX E PES Membrane Cartridges

sub-micron final filtration for inkjet and precision coating applications

SRX/SRMX "X-Tra Seal" Vessels

Five Points of Seal bypass elimination for high-efficiency ink and paint filtration

SRHD Heavy Duty Vessels

radial seal, 150–1,000 psi for large-volume batch paint and coatings operations