When chemicals are shipped by sea, their labels are required to meet BS5609 marine durability standards, ensuring they remain legible and securely attached even after prolonged exposure to seawater, sunlight and abrasion.
Hibiscus-Plc’s innovative Aquajet material has been specifically developed to meet this challenge, providing BS5609-standard while being fully compatible with Epson ColorWorks printers. This means you can produce high-quality, compliant labels on demand without compromising on durability or performance in marine transport conditions.
Why BS5609 Compliance Matters
BS5609 is the globally recognised standard for marine durability of labels used on chemical drums. Labels must survive extended exposure to saltwater immersion, abrasion, UV light, and harsh environmental conditions while remaining fully legible.
Achieving this level of durability is critical for:
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Chemical and hazardous goods manufacturers
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Drum and container suppliers
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Logistics and export operations
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Companies shipping hazardous materials internationally by sea
Without compliant labels, shipments can be delayed, rejected, or fail regulatory checks.
The Challenge with Inkjet Label Printing
Many businesses have adopted Epson ColorWorks printers for their ability to produce high-quality, on-demand colour labels. However, achieving true BS5609 label performance with inkjet printing has historically been difficult.
Traditional BS5609-compliant labels have typically relied on pre-printed stock or thermal transfer printing, which can reduce flexibility and add complexity to label inventory. Standard inkjet printers and materials often struggle to meet the demands of marine environments, particularly when it comes to water resistance, ink durability and adhesion under exposure to moisture or saltwater. As a result, many organisations are forced to choose between the flexibility of on-demand colour printing and meeting marine durability requirements.
Until now.
Meet Hibiscus BS5609 Aquajet
The innovative Hibiscus BS5609 Aquajet material has been engineered specifically to bridge this gap. It combines excellent inkjet print compatibility with the durability required to meet BS5609 marine standards.
Key Features
- Outstanding Adhesion – Even Underwater
One of the standout features of Aquajet is its ability to adhere even when applied in wet environments. The adhesive system is designed to bond securely to containers and drums, even in challenging conditions. - Designed for Epson ColorWorks
Aquajet has been optimised for Epson’s pigment-ink ColorWorks range, delivering sharp graphics, vibrant colours, and excellent ink anchorage. - Marine Durability
The material is engineered to withstand saltwater exposure, abrasion, and environmental stress, making it ideal for chemical drum labelling and other demanding applications. - Reliable Compliance
Aquajet provides one of the most effective solutions currently available for achieving BS5609 performance using Epson inkjet technology.
Ideal Applications
Hibiscus BS5609 Aquajet is perfect for organisations that require durable, compliant labelling without sacrificing the flexibility of on-demand colour printing.
Typical applications include: Chemical drum labels, Hazardous goods labels, GHS/CLP compliant labels, Marine and export logistics, Industrial container identification.
By pairing Aquajet with Epson ColorWorks printers, businesses can print compliant labels in-house, reduce inventory, and respond quickly to changing regulatory or customer requirements.
The Hibiscus Advantage
At Hibiscus-Plc, we specialise in developing label materials that work seamlessly with modern print technologies. Our goal is simple: help customers achieve compliance, reliability, and efficiency without compromise.
With BS5609 Aquajet, Epson ColorWorks users finally have a material that delivers the performance required for the most demanding labelling environments.
Learn More
If you’re looking to achieve BS5609 durability with Epson ColorWorks printers, Hibiscus BS5609 Aquajet could be the solution your operation has been waiting for.
To learn more about this new material or request samples, contact the Hibiscus team today.
