Flint launches OneCode Universal Bases in Europe

Part of the company’s recently announced OneCode solvent-based ink and coating range in Europe, Flint Group’s Universal Bases are designed to be utilized for surface, medium, and high-performance lamination flexible packaging printing, including sterilization work. Flint Group said that it is extremely excited to offer this portfolio of multi-functional nitrocellulose-free concentrates which consist of dispersions made from select pigments in a superior resin.  

 

The company’s Universal Bases offer compatibility with a wide range of main and co-binder resins used in multiple ink formulations, including Nitrocellulose (NC), Polyurethane (PU) and other key chemistries. The Universal Bases offer the ability to blend a PU-based system for high-end lamination, pouches and retort.  

 

According to Flint, being monomeric plasticizer-free (molecular weight <1.000D), the bases guarantee low migration characteristics, making them suitable for printing on a wide range of film and foil materials. Furthermore, the mono-pigmented base scheme delivers very clean shades for a maximum color gamut.  

 

Stephen Butler, product manager Packaging Inks Europe, explained: ‘This is a breakthrough technology - a truly universal and standardized approach to ink formulation. Our OneCode Universal Bases enable printers to simplify their ink room processes, further deliver lean production principles, and drive continuous improvement across their print operations. Importantly, having only one base technology that can work with multiple ink systems facilitates improvements in overall equipment efficiency, as well as cost savings via the reduction of ink inventories and process waste.  

 

Butler added that the company is endeavoring to simplify the ink management process to create quality and consistency while enabling cost reduction for our customers. These universal bases allow converters to blend PU inks and NC inks from the same range of concentrates without duplication of products across their inventory.  

 

‘Finally, and importantly, this new range of bases meets all of today’s technical print requirements and regulatory compliance needs, as well as the future challenges of the packaging industry.’ 

 

These new bases are offered for Flint’s MatrixCode UNV (mono-solvent EtAC for simplified solvent recovery for gravure print processes) and HelixCode UNV (pluri-solvent for flexographic and/or gravure printing) flexible packaging products.