Sun Chemical launches new UV flexo inks
By Canadian Packaging staff
General Printing DIC Group SolarFlex FSP inks SolarFlex Integra inks Sun Chemical Sun Chemical Group Coöperatief U.A. UV flexo inksNew high-performance UV flexo inks are based on next-generation ink platform.
WEXHAM SPRINGS, UK—Based on an entirely new ink chemistry that delivers exceptional benefits, Sun Chemical has added two new, high performance product ranges, SolarFlex Integra and SolarFlex FSP, to its global SolarFlex family of narrow web, UV flexo inks.
An extraordinary leap forward in product performance, the new ranges are the result of two years of intensive development work and, as importantly, a year of optimization through customer validation trials to ensure the ranges provide the robust characteristics required by customers. Unrecognizable from their predecessors because of their advanced technology, SolarFlex Integra and SolarFlex FSP boast unparalleled, consistent flow and viscosity properties across the color range, superb printability and ink transfer and extremely low foaming characteristics for the most reliable press performance.
The new SolarFlex Integra inks have been designed for label, sleeve and packaging markets that have no requirement for migration-compliant food packaging and replace the SolarFlex Nova SL range.
Primarily for surface printing on flexible films and labels where migration-compliant food packaging is required, the new SolarFlex FSP offers a significant upgrade on previous migration-compliant, UV flexo product ranges.
Produced from a new platform of pigment concentrates, both ink ranges benefit from increased color intensity and density while maintaining the consistent rheology across the range of colors. As they are produced from a single range of concentrates, switching from SolarFlex Integra to SolarFlex FSP can be done without affecting the colors achieved on-press.
Adhesion onto impervious substrates and hold-out on absorbent substrates have also both been significantly improved, broadening the range of substrates that can be used with both SolarFlex Integra and SolarFlex FSP.
Delivering significant output and production improvements, both new product ranges include:
- a standard four-color process set;
- an intense four-color process set, which is approximately 15 per cent more intense than the standard set, enabling the use of a lower volume, finer anilox for high definition printing;
- products that match the SolarFlex Nova SL and SolarFlex LM blend inks. However, to benefit from the strongest, widest and purest color gamut, a set of full strength, single-pigment finished inks is available in each new SolarFlex Integra and SolarFlex FSP range.
Mark Walkling, product manager, ECP Packaging & Narrow Web Labels, Europe, Sun Chemical Ltd., comments: “Having listened carefully to the varying needs of our flexo customers, we’re excited to respond by bringing to market our new high performance, UV flexo product ranges, SolarFlex Integra and SolarFlex FSP. Representing a substantial leap forward in product development, the new inks deliver not only improved print quality and reliability, but also significantly upgraded adhesion and hold-out robustness, thereby increasing the range of workable substrates.
“During the rigorous validation process, we won new business at a major label and packaging customer and received great feedback from other participating customers – one even described the new products as ‘the best UV flexo inks I’ve seen’. This quality of feedback has filled us with confidence to take this new technology forward and we’re delighted to be able to offer new and existing customers the opportunity to benefit from our development team’s hard work and dedication,” sums up Walking.
The new SolarFlex Integra and SolarFlex FSP ranges are available immediately across Europe from Sun Chemical.
About Sun Chemical
Sun Chemical, a member of the DIC group, is a leading producer of printing inks, coatings and supplies, pigments, polymers, liquid compounds, solid compounds, and application materials. Together with DIC, Sun Chemical has annual sales of more than US$7.5 billion and over 20,000 employees supporting customers around the world. Sun Chemical Corporation is a subsidiary of Sun Chemical Group Coöperatief U.A., the Netherlands, and is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, U.S. For more information, visit www.sunchemical.com.
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