Printing on synthetic paper can open the door to profitable applications, but unpredictable dry times can bring production to a standstill. Waiting hours, or even days, to print the second side of a job disrupts workflows, delays finishing, and ties up valuable production space.
What if synthetic printing could move at a pace that works for your pressroom?
That’s where MGX UniSyn® OP Synthetic Paper changes the conversation. Engineered with a proprietary ink-receptive topcoat, UniSyn OP helps reduce conventional offset drying challenges while delivering the durability and print quality you expect from a premium synthetic substrate.
For one MGX customer, printing on competitive synthetic papers meant switching to higher-oxidizing inks and still waiting 24–48 hours before backing up a job.
After switching to UniSyn OP, the same customer reported being able to use their standard paper inks and print the second side within 30–45 minutes.
That’s a dramatic improvement in production flexibility.
Instead of spending valuable time waiting for ink to set, their operators could focus on keeping jobs moving. And for synthetic applications like printed hang tags, that made a noticeable difference in both productivity and operator confidence.
These results reflect one customer’s production experience. Dry times and readiness for second-side printing will vary based on ink, coverage, press conditions, and drying equipment.
Unlike traditional paper, many synthetic substrates have non-absorbent surfaces that can make conventional offset ink drying challenging. Inks must rely heavily on oxidation, which can prolong drying and increase the risk of set-off.
UniSyn OP takes a different approach.
Its proprietary topcoat is engineered to accept ink into the surface, promoting superior adhesion, faster ink setting, and improved drying performance.
The result is a synthetic substrate that can help printers:
Not necessarily—and that’s another advantage worth exploring.
Some MGX customers have successfully printed UniSyn OP using their standard paper-grade conventional offset inks, particularly when combined with appropriate trapping techniques.
Other printers have achieved better results using higher-oxidizing inks formulated specifically for synthetic substrates.
The important takeaway? Not all inks or pressroom conditions are created equal.
Proper ink selection, ink-water balance, coverage, trapping, and drying equipment all influence performance. With the right combination, UniSyn OP can make same-day work-and-turn production possible, particularly when supported by an extended dryer.
MGX recommends testing your specific ink and press configuration to identify the best combination for your application.
Sometimes, the most meaningful measure of a substrate isn’t just how quickly ink dries. It’s how much easier it makes the job for the people running the press.
After switching to UniSyn, one MGX customer shared:
“This has been a really nice move – what we save in dry time, print quality, color consistency, and operator confidence, is totally worth the extra money spent on this stuff!”
— MGX customer, conventional offset printing
For this printer, UniSyn helped turn challenging synthetic hang tag projects into a much more manageable production experience.
That’s the kind of performance improvement that goes beyond the printed sheet.
Your next synthetic job doesn’t have to be a waiting game.
Discover how UniSyn OP’s engineered topcoat could help improve drying performance, reduce production interruptions, and give your operators greater confidence.