New products

Ahlstrom launches Acti-V Bio

Piotr Wnuk — Mon, 09 Nov 2026 21:44:00 +0000

Ahlstrom has developed Acti-V Bio, a controlled-bioburden release liner paper for demanding pressure-sensitive adhesive healthcare applications, in collaboration with Solventum, to support contamination control and effective sterilization.

The new grade expands Ahlstrom's Acti-V range of release base papers, a proprietary technology platform that serves a broad range of release liner applications. Ahlstrom says it combines optimized material design, robust manufacturing controls and stronger contamination-prevention practices to give consistent purity and support sterilization of downstream converted products. Microbial load on the materials is assessed before sterilization using accredited procedures, which measures how effective upstream hygiene practices are. Possible end uses include wound care products, transdermal patches, surgical tapes and wearable or diagnostic devices that use adhesive components protected by a peel-off liner.

Solventum, a global healthcare company and a downstream user of pressure-sensitive adhesive technologies, contributed application expertise that helped define the bioburden expectations and testing methods.

'Acti-V Bio reflects our commitment to developing innovative specialty materials that help customers meet increasingly stringent healthcare requirements,' said Marco Martinez, head of product, sustainability and marketing, release liners at Ahlstrom. 'This product is the result of a comprehensive development program focused on supporting contamination control in demanding healthcare customer applications while preserving the sustainability advantages of renewable cellulose-based materials.'

'As healthcare applications demand the highest standards for contamination control, the quality and consistency of materials throughout the supply chain are critically important,' added David Brodersen, senior director, global sterilization and microbiology at Solventum. 'We worked with Ahlstrom to reduce bioburden variability at the material level, helping manufacturers maintain greater consistency in finished product bioburden and reduce the potential for unexpected microbial challenges to validated sterilization processes.'

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Release paper with controlled bioburden developed with Solventum.

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Maxcess unveils Magpowr Maxtrac

Selah Zighelboim — Mon, 09 Nov 2026 18:11:31 +0000

Maxcess has launched Magpowr Maxtrac, a modular tension readout and control system designed to simplify tension management for converters, machine builders and integrators. Combining five selectable tension control methods in one platform, the Maxtrac offers the flexibility to support applications ranging from standalone, single-zone installations to complex, multi-zone systems.

The Maxtrac supports five control methods, including open loop follower arm and diameter-based control, as well as closed loop load cell, dancer and free loop control. The platform provides standard outputs for controlling magnetic particle brakes and clutches, differential shafts, motor drives (AC, DC and servo) and pneumatic brakes and clutches. This versatility allows users to standardize on a single controller family across a broad range of web handling applications.

Designed with scalability in mind, the Maxtrac is available in DIN rail, panel and wall mount configurations. Panel and wall mount versions provide standalone control with a high-resolution, 5in color touchscreen rated IP65. The slim DIN rail configuration conserves panel space and supports expansion into multi-zone systems through stackable tension control modules, shared operator interfaces and communication modules. This modular approach allows machine builders to configure the system to meet their application requirements while providing flexibility for future expansion.

For OEMs and system integrators, the Maxtrac offers integration into modern machine architectures through an available communication module supporting Modbus TCP, EtherNet/IP, Profinet, EtherCAT and CC-Link. Connectivity to PLCs, HMIs and industrial networks helps simplify machine integration and provides greater flexibility in system design and operator access.

Beyond its flexible architecture, the Maxtrac incorporates tension control capabilities designed to improve performance and simplify operation. Features include weightless load cell calibration, auto tune with direct access to PID parameters, gain scheduling, inertia compensation and out-of-round roll compensation. Advanced turret and splicing functions, programmable alarms and automatic backup of system settings and calibrations further support reliable operation, streamlined setup and faster controller replacement.

'With the Maxtrac, we wanted to give customers greater flexibility without adding complexity,' said Chris Harper, technical product manager. 'Whether they're managing a single tension zone or integrating multiple zones into a fully automated machine, the Maxtrac brings the control capabilities, connectivity and scalability together in one platform that can adapt to their needs.'

Backed by the global application engineering and service capabilities of Maxcess, the Maxtrac provides converters and machine builders with a versatile tension control technology supported by technical expertise across North America, South America, Europe and Asia.

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Experts launch algae UV ink

Akanksha Meena — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 11:11:55 +0000

Inks & coatings 06 November 2026

Experts launch algae UV ink

Collaboration between Actega, Living Ink Technologies and Waiākea has brought algae-derived UV flexo ink technology from concept to reality.

The search for more sustainable packaging materials has largely focused on substrates and recycling infrastructure. Equally important are inks, an essential component of every printed package and label.

A new collaboration between inks and coatings manufacturer Actega and bio-based pigment expert Living Ink Technologies has introduced what the companies describe as the first commercially-available UV flexo ink formulated with carbon-negative algae-derived black pigment.

The launch of ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink marks the commercialization of a technology years in development, overcoming technical barriers that had limited the use of algae-derived pigments in demanding UV flexo printing.

US converter NextGen Label Group has already commercially validated the ink for Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Beverages labels, the first food and beverage brand to adopt algae-based ink commercially across its label supply chain.

From concept to reality

The innovation was sponsored and supported by Waiākea, which first began R&D with partner Living Ink Technologies five years ago to replace petroleum-derived carbon black ink with an algae-derived alternative for all flexo applications.

Ryan Emmons, co-founder and CEO of Waiākea, says: ‘From the beginning, we’ve felt a responsibility to build a brand that constantly pushes sustainability forward in CPG. After becoming the first beverage brand in North America to commercialize 100 percent post-consumer recycled bottles in 2012, we began an eight-year R&D cycle focused on nano-additives that could address end of life while simultaneously focusing on rigid biopolymers derived from algae.’

Ryan Emmons, co-founder and CEO of Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Beverages

The brand selected 100 percent rPET for its environmental benefits and existing infrastructure, then focused on carbon-based inks used in flexographic and lithographic label applications, which are among the broadest applications across CPG products globally.

The brand had experimented with multiple sustainable inks starting in 2018, but none offered print quality, production reliability and measurable carbon reduction required for large-scale deployment.

We brought together Living Ink Technologies, Actega, and NextGen Label Group because each organization saw the opportunity to help move the packaging industry forward

The previous iterations failed across three critical performance standards unique to the beverage industry. Early water- or soy-based eco-inks completely broke down when exposed to the heavy condensation of a refrigerator or an ice bucket. The labels would bleed or smudge when a consumer gripped the bottle. Bottled water undergoes immense vibration and friction during transit. Previous sustainable options lacked the rub and friction resistance of carbon black ink. By the time the pallets arrived at retail, the text on the back labels was scuffed, scratched and unreadable.

Water bottles are handled, squeezed and twisted by consumers. Early sustainable formulations were brittle; they didn’t bond seamlessly with recyclable polypropylene (plastic) labels. The ink would flake off under physical stress.

In 2024, Actega, Living Ink Technologies, NextGen Label Group and Waiākea partnered to combine bio-based pigment expertise, ink formulation capabilities and packaging technology to develop a high performance, UV-curable flexo ink with reduced carbon emissions.

This project has replaced 100 percent of Waiākea’s black ink with ACTExact UV black algae ink

Carbon-negative pigment

Unlike conventional carbon black, derived from petroleum, Living Ink’s Algae Black pigment is produced from discarded algae biomass generated as a by-product of large-scale algae cultivation for the natural food colorant and nutrition industries.

‘It is a true waste product that would otherwise go to a landfill,’ explains Dr Scott Fulbright, CEO and co-founder of Living Ink Technologies. ‘To ensure consistency as we scale, we work with a large commercial partner for a reliable, high-volume supply. We put this raw biomass through a strict purification and stabilization process to normalize any natural variances and meet a precise chemical profile, ensuring every batch performs identically on press.’

According to Dr Fulbright, this approach contributes to the pigment’s carbon negative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which reports a net footprint of -4.16kg CO2 equivalent per kilogram of pigment.

‘This calculation accounts for the carbon absorbed by the algae during photosynthesis minus any emissions generated during our pigment manufacturing process. Because we use discarded waste biomass, our model includes landfill avoidance, preventing the release of methane and CO2 from decomposition. The amount of carbon the algae permanently traps outweighs the emissions generated during our processing, making our pigment into a tool for permanent carbon sequestration on the printed packaging,’ he adds.

Dr Scott Fulbright, CEO and co-founder of Living Ink Technologies

UV flexo challenge

Although Living Ink had previously commercialized algae-based inks for conventional flexo, offset and screen printing, UV flexo presented an entirely different challenge.

The biggest challenge was ensuring consistent performance in flexo and litho label printing under demanding commercial conditions. Key hurdles included formulation, curing, print consistency, scalability and compatibility with existing manufacturing systems.

‘UV flexo printing runs at ultra-high speeds with very thin ink layers, requiring instant curing without smudging,’ Dr Fulbright explains. ‘The algae biomass itself remains the same, but at a later stage, Algae Black pigment is surface-treated to be compatible with Actega’s UV materials and formulation. This ensures it doesn’t interfere with the UV chemistry and allows it to cure flawlessly on high-speed presses.’

Actega’s R&D team tackled these formulation challenges to successfully integrate the algae-derived pigment into a commercially viable UV-curable ink.

We’ve even received feedback from some partners that Algae Black actually surpasses the depth and richness of the petroleum-based standard they used previously

‘The pigment did not originally provide an intense black color; it was a bit grayish. Also, the UV inks made with it had a very high viscosity, which would increase even further in a relatively short time,’ explains Claudio Kristeller, head of global R&D technology group – inks at Actega.

The development focused on achieving optimal pigment dispersion to address formulation challenges. Rather than redesigning the ACTExact ink platform, Actega developed a pigment dispersion that closely replicated the physicochemical properties of conventional pigments, for seamless integration into a commercially viable UV ink.

‘The ACTExact system, its resins, photoinitiator packages and additives, already had a robust performance that allowed the final ink to run on press directly replacing a standard carbon black-based ink,’ Kristeller says.

This compatibility means converters can integrate the algae-based ink into conventional UV flexographic production without modifying existing equipment or press configurations.

According to Dr Fulbright, another hurdle was overcoming perceptions of bio-based pigments. Early alternatives often produced a washed-out charcoal gray that brands found unacceptable. Through proprietary milling and formulation techniques, Living Ink optimized pigment loading and dispersion to match the performance of conventional carbon black.

‘We’ve even received feedback from some partners that Algae Black actually surpasses the depth and richness of the petroleum-based standard they used previously,’ he notes.

Commercial validation on press

Commercial acceptance of the ink depended on press performance, and NextGen Label Group subjected the new ink to extensive qualification before approving it for Waiākea’s labels.

‘The product ran with minimal operational changes,’ says Paul Roux, chief technical officer at NextGen Label Group. ‘By final qualification, we were using press settings consistent with conventional UV-cured products, which made integration straightforward for our press team.’

Importantly, throughput remained comparable to existing conventional UV inks and coatings.

Before commercial approval, the ink successfully met the requirements for workability, durability and fitness for the intended application. That included multiple press trials, environmental simulation studies and standard pressroom testing such as density, rub, coefficient of friction and tape testing to confirm consistent on-press performance.

The current formulation replaces 100 percent of Waiākea’s conventional black ink with algae-derived pigment.

‘With our penultimate algae-based ink, we successfully developed a high performance, UV-curable flexo ink. It provides the exact same rich visual density, high rub resistance and waterproof adhesion as traditional carbon black, but with a net positive environmental footprint. It is a seamless “drop-in” replacement that withstands freezing, squeezing and shipping friction without changing printing equipment,’ Emmons explains.

While the technology is presently limited to black, Living Ink Technologies confirmed that development of additional colors is already underway.

‘We brought together Living Ink Technologies, Actega and NextGen Label Group because each organization saw the opportunity to help move the packaging industry forward, and a big part of this was the understanding that we would commit our entire supply chain yet also open source to the public,’ Emmons says. ‘NextGen understood that if we could successfully commercialize a carbon-negative pigment that performed at the same level as conventional inks, the impact could extend far beyond Waiākea. They invested their time, expertise and press capacity because they believed in the long-term potential of the technology.’

Barrier to adoption

Despite its technical success, the companies acknowledge that widespread adoption will depend on the economics of scale.

Because production volumes remain relatively small, the algae-based UV ink carries a premium over conventional petroleum-based carbon black inks.

Kristeller of Actega believes this cost gap will narrow as manufacturing scales up. ‘While this ink currently carries a higher cost than traditional carbon black-based

alternatives, primarily because the technology is still scaling and economies of scale have not yet been fully realized, we anticipate that costs will decrease as adoption grows.’

He also notes that black ink represents only a small proportion of the overall label cost, making its impact on finished packaging relatively limited compared with substrates, coatings and other converting materials. ‘Importantly, this innovation enables a meaningful reduction in carbon footprint, which is increasingly significant for brand owners and, ultimately, for society as a whole,’ he adds.

NextGen Label sees a similar picture. ‘Like many emerging sustainable technologies, this ink carries a premium versus conventional alternatives, so adoption depends on a brand’s willingness to balance environmental benefit with commercial realities,’ Roux says.

Paul Roux, chief technical officer, NextGen Label Group

Beyond flexo

The innovation could extend further than UV flexo.

Because the breakthrough lies in the pigment rather than a specific ink chemistry, NextGen Label Group believes algae-derived products could eventually find applications in digital inkjet and other printing technologies.

For now, ACTExact UV Black Algae Ink is available for commercial trials and bulk ordering across North America, with wider geographical rollouts planned.

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Wanjie India showcases Advanced-350 shaftless intermittent rotary offset label printing press

Piotr Wnuk — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 23:43:52 +0000

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Gallus launches Flexomaster at Loupe India 2026

Adyasha Sinha — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:02:59 +0000

Gallus Group has launched the Gallus Flexomaster, a flexographic label press, on Day 1 of Loupe India 2026. Designed for the Indian market, the press offers converters expanding into targeted label and packaging applications, as well as established converters moving beyond basic production platforms, a new entry point into the Gallus and Heidelberg ecosystem. It is engineered by Gallus and assembled in India.

The company also announced the sale of the first Gallus Flexomaster to Samyak India, based in Pune.

The company said the press is aimed at converters in India’s label market, with the country’s wider packaging sector forecast to grow from around 12 billion USD today to 20 billion USD by 2030. According to the company, the Gallus Flexomaster combines Gallus’ production capabilities with a focused architecture that supports efficient, cost-effective production across key application areas. The press is available in a 440mm printing width and runs at speeds of up to 200m/min.

The machine offers flexo and screen printing capabilities, along with a selection of embellishment modules including cold foil, lamination and a web-turn mechanism, which extend the range of applications and value-added effects available to customers. It supports the production of pressure-sensitive, shrink sleeve, glue-applied and in-mold labels, as well as suitable flexible label and packaging applications, including roll-to-roll production of sachets and pouches.

The Flexomaster serves four core segments: logistics, household and technical products, pharmaceuticals and selected health, beauty and cosmetics applications. It can be upgraded to up to 12 stations, combining printing and processing units. According to the company, this approach is designed to provide dependable, efficient production and consistent quality while reducing operational complexity, giving customers the capacity and capabilities required for their specific applications.

'India has been a successful market for Gallus solutions for more than three decades, with over 150 installations across the country,' said David Schmedding, chief technology and sales officer, Heidelberg. 'There could be no better platform for us to showcase the Gallus Flexomaster, engineered with Gallus technology and fully assembled in India. This milestone reaffirms Heidelberg and Gallus’s commitment to playing a significant role in the growth and transformation of the Indian labels and packaging market – and reflects our confidence and investment in its future.'

Samir Patkar, president, Heidelberg India, said: 'India’s label and packaging market is developing at a remarkable pace, but growth alone does not define the opportunity. Converters need technology that is aligned with the realities of their businesses – from investment and operating costs to the applications they produce every day. The Gallus Flexomaster has been developed with those requirements firmly in mind, combining focused performance with the quality and support of Gallus and Heidelberg to give customers a strong platform for profitable, long-term growth.'

The company stated that its exhibition presence reflects the wider commitment of Gallus and Heidelberg to supporting customers across India, including strengthening local sales and service capabilities and expanding the partner network to provide machines and technologies tailored to the production requirements, investment priorities and growth ambitions of Indian converters. Together, Gallus and Heidelberg offer an integrated ecosystem spanning conventional, hybrid and digital printing, software, consumables, service and training.

The Gallus Flexomaster creates an additional pathway into this connected production environment, enabling the companies to support a broader spectrum of converters with technology aligned to different applications, business requirements and stages of growth. According to the company, this approach allows customers to work with a single partner across technology selection, workflow optimization, application development, operator training and long-term production development, reducing operational complexity while supporting productivity and return on investment.

'Loupe India gives us the ideal setting to introduce the Gallus Flexomaster directly to the converters it was designed to serve,' said Uwe Börner, CSO, Gallus Group. 'For us, this launch is about listening closely to what customers in different markets genuinely need and responding with the right offering for their business. The new solution extends the Gallus portfolio with a focused, efficient conventional platform, while opening the door to the wider expertise, service and capabilities of the Gallus and Heidelberg ecosystem. It is another important step in making our portfolio more accessible, relevant and adaptable to the realities of today’s label market – not through a one-size-fits-all approach, but by developing the right solutions for the specific realities and growth opportunities of each market.'

Following its launch in India and subsequent installations throughout 2027, Gallus plans to gradually introduce the Gallus Flexomaster across selected markets globally, extending its proposition to converters with similar production needs.

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Gallus launches Flexomaster at Loupe India 2026

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The company also announced the sale of the first Gallus Flexomaster to Samyak India, based in Pune.

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Meteor supports Kyocera recirculating printhead

Piotr Wnuk — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 21:30:55 +0000

Meteor Inkjet has announced that its PDC-2K600EX drive electronics will support Kyocera's new KJ4A-EX600RC-HX recirculating printhead, which is aimed at label and packaging embellishment and expected to go on sale in November 2026.

OEMs and print system builders can integrate the new head using the same Meteor hardware, software and APIs they already use, which Meteor says removes much of the cost, time and risk of bringing a new printing system to market. The PDC-2K600EX is already available in stock, and Kyocera is due to begin commercial sales of the printhead in November 2026.

The printhead suits demanding embellishment fluids such as white ink, varnish and foil adhesives. Its internal recirculation keeps fluid moving close to the nozzles and at a consistent temperature, which helps prevent pigment settling and nozzle drying and reduces maintenance with heavily pigmented or high-viscosity fluids.

Compared with Kyocera's earlier KJ4A-AL printhead, the new head has a maximum drop volume of 21 picoliters, an increase of 23 percent, which supports greater white ink opacity and thicker, more tactile varnish and foil effects. Its operating frequency has doubled to 40 kHz, supporting production speeds of up to 100 meters per minute.

'Embellishment is one of the fastest-moving areas of label and packaging print, and it puts real demands on a printhead. The KJ4A-EX600RC-HX handles thick, heavily loaded fluids at production speeds, and with the PDC-2K600EX our customers can put it to work straight away on the Meteor platform they already know. That means less engineering effort and a faster route to market,' said Jonathan Wilson, sales director at Meteor Inkjet.

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Domino launches MEK-free inks

Piotr Wnuk — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 20:46:16 +0000

Domino Printing Sciences has launched a range of MEK-free, low-VOC inks for its Ax-Series CIJ printers, including the new Ax560i, to help manufacturers ease regulatory and administrative requirements and cut solvent use without losing drying speed or adhesion.

MEK-free inks have historically struggled with drying times and reliability, particularly formulations with high levels of ethanol in the solvent base. The latest inks in the range use low-impact pentanone-based solvents, and Domino says they deliver adhesion, print performance and drying times close to those of traditional MEK-based inks.

‘Our new MEK-free ink range has been developed to help ease the compliance burden for our manufacturing customers. While there is currently no globally unified regulation imposing restrictions on the use of MEK, in some regions the use of MEK-based inks comes with additional administrative and monitoring requirements. Choosing alternative solvent bases can alleviate this workload, but historically alternatives have often included performance trade-offs,’ said Karen Davey, product manager, fluids at Domino.

The range covers industrial applications and direct and non-direct food packaging, with formulations designed to support compliance with the German Printing Ink Ordinance, subject to final migration testing of the finished packaging. 1BK112 is a general purpose black ink with good adhesion on metal, glass and some plastics. 7CL103 is a clear fluorescent ink with retort and alcohol resistance. 7BK107 is a black ink with oil and alcohol resistance for more demanding food packaging, with strong adhesion on metal, glass and plastics.

Customer field trials have confirmed the performance across a range of real-world applications. ‘Food packaging trials with the new 1BK112 resulted in top-tier adhesion and fast-drying performance, even in demanding freezer-grade flow-wrap environments,’ explained Rajesh Saini, deputy general manager, technical services at Domino Printech India.

Domino says the inks can reduce VOC emissions and cut make-up usage by up to 35 percent, compared with traditional MEK-based inks, which are associated with high VOC emissions and significant make-up consumption. The Green Pack solvent recovery add-on, available for the Ax350i and Ax550i, can reduce make-up usage further, to as much as 50 percent. The Ax560i adds Enhanced Solvent Recovery, and its CleanAssist function reduces wash solvent used in printhead cleaning by recycling make-up within the ink system.

‘At Domino, we are committed to helping our manufacturing customers improve sustainability, reduce waste and remain compliant, so they can continue serving consumers worldwide. Our in-house product compliance team closely monitors the global regulatory landscape and works with our ink development team to anticipate changing requirements. This helps ensure we can continue to provide compliant, reliable products that also support our customers’ sustainability goals,’ added Jill Woods, product compliance training manager at Domino.

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Fast-drying inks for Ax-Series CIJ printers cut VOC emissions.

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ColorJet shows latest Pro Prime digital press at Loupe India

Akanksha Meena — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:24:25 +0000

ColorJet Group, with three decades of experience in printing technology, has confirmed that it will present its expanding range of digital inkjet label printing at Loupe India 2026. Its new industrial-grade digital inkjet label press, Pro Prime, will take center stage at Hall 10, booth H16.

Built for the changing needs of label converters, Pro Prime combines speed, resolution and colour flexibility. It prints at up to 60m/min, at resolutions up to 600x1200 DPI, and is available in 5- to 8-color configurations. This helps converters respond quickly to shifting job requirements and market demands.

With Pro Prime, converters can take on a wide variety of work, from short-run and variable-data labels to premium multicolor applications for bottles, boxes and other packaging. The platform supports quick job changeovers and helps reduce material waste, keeping printers productive and profitable as order patterns change.

Visitors to the ColorJet stand during Loupe India 2026 can witness ColorJet Pro Prime in action and discuss a wide range of applications, including fine 2-point text printing for injection labels, eye-drop labels and other pharmaceutical, hospitality, food and beverage, customizations and other specialty uses. They can also run through their production requirements with ColorJet’s team of experts.

ColorJet backs the press with dedicated service and technical support, drawing on decades of digital printing experience to help customers get the most from their investment.

‘Our entry into digital label printing is an expansion of ColorJet’s printing expertise and our commitment to evolving with converters,’ said Anirudh Dadu, business head, ColorJet. ‘With Pro Prime, we aim to pair capable digital printing technology with the service and back-end support customers value in a long-term partner. Loupe India is an important platform for us to meet label converters, understand their requirements and serve future-driven technology.’

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ColorJet shows latest Pro Prime digital press at Loupe India

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Company to showcase its new industrial-grade press and digital label portfolio at Loupe India 2026.

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Company to showcase its new industrial-grade press and digital label portfolio at Loupe India 2026.

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UPM tests starch barriers

Piotr Wnuk — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 21:15:03 +0000

UPM, Ingredion and Paramelt have co-created a paper-based food packaging structure with a plant-based starch grease barrier that has passed Part 1 recyclability testing at Western Michigan University.

The structure is based on UPM Solide Lucent 78 gsm paper, and the three companies also worked with UPM Asendo 65 gsm paper. Ingredion contributed its starch-based barrier coatings, which show promise for improving grease resistance, and Paramelt added its bio-based heat-seal and barrier coatings. The aim was to understand how complementary technologies from across the value chain can work together in paper packaging for demanding food applications.

'Expanding the range of paper-based packaging options available to converters and brand owners requires innovation across the value chain. This collaboration with Ingredion and Paramelt demonstrates how complementary technologies can help broaden the possibilities of paper-based packaging for food applications in the Americas and globally,' said Sarah Dembroski, sales director, packaging papers Americas at UPM Specialty Materials.

'By combining Ingredion's plant-based starch barrier coatings with UPM's Specialty Materials substrates and Paramelt's heat-seal coatings, we have demonstrated a paper-based packaging structure that supports the transition to more sustainable food packaging. This collaboration highlights how complementary technologies can help accelerate the adoption of renewable, fiber-based packaging,' noted Anand Sundararaman, project leader, sustainable packaging coating applications at Ingredion.

'At Paramelt, we believe the future of packaging lies in combining renewable materials with high-performance functionality. By bringing our expertise in bio-based heat-seal and barrier coatings together with UPM's advanced paper substrates and Ingredion's starch-based technologies, we have created a compelling structure that helps brand owners meet both performance and sustainability objectives,' added Neill Dutton, research and innovation director at Paramelt.

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UPM tests starch barriers

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Paper packaging structure combines starch barrier with heat-seal coating.

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Paper packaging structure combines starch barrier with heat-seal coating.

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From concept to reality

Carbon-negative pigment

UV flexo challenge

Commercial validation on press

Barrier to adoption

Beyond flexo

Akanksha Meena

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Wanjie India showcases Advanced-350 shaftless intermittent rotary offset label printing press

Valco Melton unveils Lamix 550 converting machine at Loupe India

Gallus launches Flexomaster at Loupe India 2026

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Domino launches MEK-free inks

ColorJet shows latest Pro Prime digital press at Loupe India

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