Flint Group Narrow Web will showcase its latest range of products for label printers, including EkoCure™, its high performance Flexo and Rotary Screen inks for UV LED curing, at Labelexpo Americas, taking place September 11-13.
In response to the increasing need for improved sustainable print solutions, Flint Group Narrow Web introduces a series of ink technologies for UV LED curing under the EkoCure™ brand. These inks are the first commercially available inks designed for combination print, formulated specifically for UV LED curing. The benefits with this technology are both economical (lower energy consumption), and ecological as the inks offer a viable and fully functional technology with less impact on the environment – lower energy consumption, no ozone development, and mercury-free lamps.
As a true innovator, we are pleased to present what may be the next generation UV ink technology, said Niklas Olsson, Global Brand Manager for Flint Group Narrow Web. While UV LED lamps have been used in other industries for some time, these are the first ever UV Flexo and Screen inks that are cured using UV LED and can be printed in perfect combination. Not only are we introducing this ink concept at Labelexpo 2012, we are proud to partner with Mark Andy and Phoseon in showing it in a live press run on the Mark Andy stand.
EkoCure™ is developed using specially selected photo initiators that match the narrow and targeted wavelength area that is typical for UV LED, said Olsson. The ink series is based on bio-renewable resin technology as an added effort to address sustainability. Bio-renewable resins for UV products are a new development that will increase in use in the future; by combining this aspect with lower energy consuming UV LED lamps, it was a natural fit to brand this technology as EkoCure™. Flint Group has a strong history of product leadership; with the launch of EkoCure™ we continue to make history in narrow web ink innovations.
In addition to the EkoCure™ launch, Flint will also showcase CombiScreen™, a silicone-free UV Rotary Screen ink with stunning colour strength and excellent printability. These inks are perfected for combination printing. The Flexo-to-Screen concept will also be showcased. The products are for those printers who run both UV Flexo and UV Rotary Screen and the concept involves taking a UV Flexo ink and converting this to a UV Rotary Screen ink, providing a robust screen ink which allows printers to reduce inventories.
Flexocure ANCORA, another product highlight being showcased, is a true low migration UV Flexo ink designed specifically for food packaging applications. The ink ensures that the final packaging construction passes the most stringent migration tests with no compromise in performance.
