Labelexpo Europe 2011 review: Inks

Danielle Jerschefske explains how ink manufacturers at Labelexpo Europe were launching inks to meet the continent’s strict migration standards

Ink suppliers presented in unison low migration solutions for the food packaging market, which has especially felt legislative pressures in Europe regarding contamination of products packaged with volatile inks that can infiltrate food and harm consumers. Most suppliers complete internal R&D and migration testing, but also support their findings through third-party evaluations.

Current legislation for migratory inks & food packaging in Europe include:

•          Commission Directive 97/48/EC

•          EuPIA Photoinitiatior Suitability List 1A

•          Swiss Ordinance on Materials and Articles in contact with food (SR 817.023.21)

Flint Group introduced its Flexocure Ancora low migration UV flexo line of inks that offer high performance while in compliance with the Swiss Ordinance on Materials and Articles (SR 817.023.21). The Flexocure Ancora line additionally provides good adhesion and scratch resistance on synthetic materials.

Christina Eriksson, R&D manager of Flint Group Narrow Web, explains the migration studies conducted on Flint Group’s new Flexocure Ancora line: ‘For this new ink series we have conducted migration tests at several independent institutes, as well as in our own analytical laboratories. The migration measurements have indicated, that when correctly applied on suitable packaging structures migration levels with Flexocure Ancora are below currently accepted limits. This was verified based on the standard migration test method using the food stimulants 95 percent ethanol and Tenax as set out in Commission Directive 97/48/EC. Furthermore we have the confirmation of leading end users that the ingredients used in Flexocure Ancora are meeting their company guidelines.’

Ruco launched its new UVFX/MA line of low-migration and silicone-free ink systems that complies with Nestle standards, EuPIA Photoinitiatior Suitability List 1A and too with SR 817.023.21. The UVFX/MA line offers high opacity, printability at effective printing speeds and good chemical resistance properties.

SunChemical promoted its various lines of low-migration inks: SunCure FLM for UV offset, SolarFlex LM for UV flexo and SunBeam ELM for EB offset printing. The supplier issued a ‘Best Practice Guide to Food Packaging Printing’ to help converters better understand the complex issue gaining strength, particularly in Europe. The guide was fortified by a presentation on the first day of the show in the new Package Printing Zone ‘Safe printed food packaging – how safe am I?’. Also, the company enlisted the support of Muller Martini on its stand to demonstrate the benefits of using SunChemical EB curable offset inks for food packaging.

Pulse’s SLM line of low migration compliant inks offers also offer good shrink characteristics of more than 70 percent, with good adhesion on filmic materials and with metallic options available.

Siegwerk exhibited for the first time at the show since its acquisition of Environmental Inks and Coatings in December 2010.  The company has full lines of low migration inks, varnishes and coatings for UV flexo, UV offset  and waterless UV offset printing and for all substrates including paper, plastic and carton board. The various Sicura lines – 39-10 LM, 39-20 LM, LM 361, Plast LM and Plast 41 WL LM – are supported by low-migration gloss and matte varnishes and a metallic ink series, providing label converters and package printers with myriad options for effectively servicing the food packaging market. 

Zeller + Gmelin too has lines of low migration products for UV flexo and UV offset printing and coating systems. UVAflex Y71 for UV flexo has a high opacity white ink for standard materials and also a high opacity white ink specially designed for shrink sleeve applications. The UVAlux series U41 is designed for UV offset and screen printing on papers and films while the U71 series is especially for UV offset printing on thin film materials.

Marabu promoted its rotary screen printing opaque white UltraRotaScreen UVSF 174 low migration ink for combined UV screen and UV flexo printing. 

Sustainability

FINAT featured a Sustainability and Recycling Desk at its both to provide converters with information on the growing number of liner recycling programs now available in Europe. The global association has joined the European Recovered Paper Council (ERPC) and used this desk to educate attendees on its support of the European Declaration for Paper Recycling, which sets out measures aimed at optimizing the management of recovered paper throughout the value chain

With the support of Channeled Resources Group (CRG) as the facilitator of the association’s liner recycling program, the interest in the opportunities was high as converters continue to search for options beyond liner land-filling and incineration.  CRG, winner of the Global Green Award in 2010, educated attendees on the waste-to-energy programs for matrix waste in the United States. The company works with a number of firms to recovery matrix waste from converters to be reprocessed into pellets that can be used to produce energy to replace coal. The pellets can be used in existing coal burning infrastructures and burn at a higher BTU.

The Flint Group announced the global availability of its BioCure F UV flexo inks made up of 10 percent renewable linseed oil acrylate in replace of traditional resin. Siegwerk too promoted its Sicura ECO series of UV flexo ink consisting of, it says, 50 percent renewable raw materials. Siegwerk also educated customers on the ink waste reduction and reduced downtime possibilities using its Fast Match color management systems that automatically calculate the amount of ink required for a given job and can provide formulas to create the necessary color from left over ink.

A number of ink suppliers touted UV LED curable inks, including Marabu, which promoted its inkjet and new screen printing lines.  UV LED curing technology is mercury free and therefore does not generate ozone-harming emissions. Newly developed ink systems make it possible to run at more regular production speeds. Sun Chemical is also working on systems for UV LED inkjet systems.

The quest to increase the opacity of UV flexo white as a replacement for rotary screen continues, with FujiFilm Sericol promoting its UVivid Flexo JD Supernova white. The company also claims its JD flexo inks series can produce opaque prints on clear filmic materials without the need for a backing white.

Linerless was another key them at Labelexpo Europe. Pulse showed its linerless varnish products, while ETI Converting promoted the capability to produce linerless label material with its Cohesio system. Aero and Avery Dennison promoted linerless self-adhesive material lines and Prati demonstrated its new Saturn linerless label rewinding system with two interchangeable rewinding shafts to avoid labels sticking together.

Nearly every material supplier touted thinner constructions to reduce waste from the onset.

MIS/ERP systems development

As label converters look to streamline their production and more effectively manage the myriad variations now found in shortened product life-cycles, industry leaders are beginning to better understand the value that can be found in dedicated software solutions.

Tailored Solutions introduced its Version 6.1 of Label Traxx, a print business management software for narrow web label converters. Now in beta testing and scheduled for full release following the Brussels exhibition, the Label Traxx Version 6.1 includes:

•          Expanded JDF integration and communication between Label Traxx and digital partners HP Indigo and EskoArtwork

•          Upgraded database engine technology, for increased speed and functionality

•          An entirely new E-Traxx module, providing a web portal through which brand owners can access and manage their label orders and quotations online

•          A new report writer, offering expanded capability and a simple user interface

Label Traxx demonstrated a new Visual Scheduling module set to be released in a subsequent version update. It was featured in the popular Digital Print Workshops and provided kiosks for attendees to navigate its systems while visiting its partner HP Indigo.

Shuttleworth, a UK-based MIS system supplier, demonstrated its new user interface based on Microsoft Outlook for familiarity and ease of use by customers interested in obtaining real-time information pertaining to their label order. It also introduced its new web-based Supply Chain Management software for converters to receive immediate price quotes on varies supplies.

EFI Radius - an MIS supplier specializing in software development for larger label and packaging companies utilizing multiple print processes and having multiple locations - promoted its integration into the Esko Automation engine, which allows order details to be sent with a one-up PDF file via JDF messaging for proofing. Once
approved the order is stepped and repeated while sending status messages back to Radius.

This article was published in L&L issue 5, 2011