According to Ross Hodnett, Product Manager, FLEXcon, converters have been hard-pressed to find an alternative robust enough to meet the demands of durable labelling. Flexcon Company, Inc. has introduced Flexcon® Nexgen™ Polypropylene Films – sustainable ‘greener’ non-vinyl alternatives for durable labelling applications.
‘We worked with one of our supplier-partners to develop a unique polypropylene film which is a true alternative to flexible vinyl for durable labels,’ said Hodnett. The films were subjected to rigorous durability testing side by side with vinyls that the industry has counted on for years, and it performed just as well.
The films offer equivalent performance (dimensional stability and exterior durability of five years based on 2000 hours) and physical qualities (surface smoothness and conformability) as vinyl. Furthermore, these polypropylene films can be laser die cut, eliminating the need for costly dies. This added benefit opens new possibilities that are inaccessible to vinyl since its formulation is inherently incompatible with laser die cutting.
The film is designed for consumer durables, electronics, industrial, and transportation applications including compliance labels, brand identity labels, and warning and instructional labels. The product line consists of gloss topcoated 4.0 mil white and frosty clear polypropylenes. Products are coated with Flexcon’s industry recognised permanent acrylic adhesive, L-344, and are backed with either a roll-form liner, made from up to 30% post-consumer waste (CPP344 and WPP344), or a first-in-the industry lay flat liner for roll-to-roll or roll-to-sheet converting (CPP344S and WPP344S).
The gloss topcoat provides excellent ink receptivity and consistent printability via resin and wax/resin thermal transfer; UV and solvent screen; UV, solvent and water flexo: laser (toner) and narrow format UV inkjet. With the physical performance covered, the topcoat ensures that the polypropylene films can be used as a sufficient replacement from the print technology standpoint.
FLEXCON
https://www.flexcon.com/
