Wetflex technologies make first public demonstration at drupa

Sun Chemical is partnering with Energy Sciences Inc (ESI), an electron beam supplier, and Comexi Group, a provider of machines dedicated to the flexible packaging sector, to showcase the Wetflex flexographic printing technology at drupa – its first public demonstration.

Being shown on the Comexi stand (Hall 10, Stand C62), WetFlex is a technology which delivers wet-on-wet flexographic printing. It is designed to meet the needs of the flexible packaging market for improved print quality, efficiency, and low environmental impact. WetFlex uses energy curable ink technology specially developed and patented by Sun Chemical for the process. At drupa, the inks will be wet trapped using Comexi’s new iF2 Icube concept Central Impression (CI) cylinder press and cured instantly by exposure to ESI’s EZCure-DF EB in-line electron beam, which is installed in a ‘short web path’ press layout. Comexi will show the new optimized EVertical EB inking system and, the system on display will also feature a nitrogen delivery system from Air Liquide, an industrial gas supplier. The WetFlex process can be adapted to specially designed modern presses in order to get the maximum performance from the new technology. Comexi Group will also show a wide range of new devices and processes to reach ‘efficiency through technology’, one of which is the potential capabilities of inks.

One customer already using the WetFlex process and in the process of retro-fitting a second press is Schulz Konstantin Druck GmbH. The owner, Jrgen Schulz, said: ‘Since we started using the Wetflex process, we have opened up a number of new business opportunities. We are now able to offer high quality, VOC-free low migration printing for food packaging quickly and efficiently. The process also allows us to comply easily with the increasing number of environmental regulations as well as helping lower our carbon footprint. In our experience, printers can achieve many advantages from a relatively small investment.’