3215.19.90.30 - Gravure

This HTS code, 3215.19.90.30, specifically classifies gravure printing inks. Gravure ink is designed for the intaglio printing process, which utilizes engraved cylinders where ink resides in recessed cells and is transferred to the substrate. These inks are typically formulated with pigments, binders, and solvents to achieve specific viscosity, drying times, and adhesion properties suitable for high-volume, high-quality printing applications such as magazines, packaging, and decorative laminates.

Distinguishing this category from its siblings, gravure inks differ from flexographic inks (3215.19.90.20) which are designed for raised relief plates, letterpress inks (3215.19.90.40) used with raised type or plates, and offset lithographic inks (3215.19.90.50) that rely on oil and water repellency principles. While all fall under the broader category of printing inks, their formulation and application methods are distinct, leading to their separate classifications based on the printing technology they are intended for.

As this is a leaf node within the HTS, there are no further subcategories under 3215.19.90.30. Therefore, classification at this level is definitive for inks used in gravure printing processes, based on the printing method itself as the primary distinguishing characteristic.