Sun Chemical announces low migration UV flexo solution

At Labelexpo Europe 2007, Sun Chemical has announced the launch of Solarflex LM, one of the world’s first low migration UV curing inks for high-quality narrow web flexographic printing. As well as offering performance benefits, these new technologically-advanced inks will allow narrow web printers to expand into new markets, such as short-run flexible packaging, says the company.

Advances in technology have allowed Solarflex LM to overcome the barriers that have traditionally been associated with low migration UV flexo printing. There is no loss of running speed, on-press capability or print finishing, and cure speeds and mechanical resistance are equal to other UV flexo printing inks.  Solarflex LM uses Sun Chemical’s innovative M-Cure polymeric photoinitiators, which become locked into the cured ink film and so prevent migration. They are odor and taste neutral and do not use Benzophenone or ITX.

Jonathan Sexton, Sun Chemical’s business manager – Narrow Web Labels, said: ‘Flexible packaging has traditionally been printed using solvent gravure inks. The solvent gravure process is well suited to long print runs, which requires a significant investment in the press, print cylinders and solvent management systems.  With the growing requirement for shorter print runs, narrow web UV flexo is becoming a viable solution for flexible packaging printing.

‘The added benefit of Solarflex LM is that it also meets the needs of markets such as sensitive food and pharmaceutical packaging, for which high-quality print and low migration potential are so important.  With these inks, we believe we have one of the highest performance ink and coatings systems available for UV printing of flexible packaging.’

Solarflex LM is one of the latest innovations offered as part of Sun Chemical’s complete package for low migration printing. The company also offers offset inks – Suncure ULM and LMQ systems – that are also based on M-Cure technology. These are marketed to narrow web printers through the Solaris family of products, a global product line of inks and coatings formulated to meet the needs of narrow-web printers.

Solarflex LM is available in a full range of process and blending colors, including fully resistant shades. It is available for immediate delivery.