Coatings can add a certain “je ne sais quoi” to make any packaging pop off the shelf.

By Megan Wolf

• Receptive UV coatings, for thermal transfer printing of variable information and foil stamping.

UV coatings, alone, can do big things on press, however, a more established, but increasing trend is using them with UV inks, said Paul Robinson, section manager, energy-curable products, Wikoff Color Corp. “While it is not really a new trend, in-line UV coating over UV hybrid inks is still growing,” he said. “The one-step process has significant cost benefits over the older, two-step process of applying a water-based primer over conventional oil-based inks and the UV coating off line.” n