Flint Presents Narrow Web Ink Milestone Innovations at Labelexpo Americas

PLYMOUTH, MI—At Labelexpo Americas this past week, Flint Group Narrow Web showcased a wide range of products for label printers. Visitors to the booth were inspired by milestone developments and the in-depth guidance from Flint Group Narrow Web experts.

Introducing EkoCure™, high performance Flexo and Rotary Screen inks for UV LED curing.
In response to the increasing need for improved sustainable print solutions, Flint Group Narrow Web introduces a series of ink technologies for UV LED curing under the EkoCure™ brand. These inks are the first commercially available inks designed for combination print, formulated specifically for UV LED curing. The benefits with this technology are both economical (lower energy consumption), and ecological as the inks offer a viable and fully functional technology with less impact on the environment—lower energy consumption, no ozone development, and mercury-free lamps.

“As a true innovator, we are pleased to present what may be the next generation UV ink technology,” says Niklas Olsson, global brand manager for Flint Group Narrow Web. “While UV LED lamps have been used in other industries for some time, these are the first ever UV Flexo and Screen inks that are cured using UV LED and can be printed in perfect combination."

EkoCure™ is developed using specially selected photo initiators that match the narrow and targeted wavelength area that is typical for UV LED.“ Mr. Olsson continues, “The ink series is based on bio-renewable resin technology as an added effort to address sustainability. Bio-renewable resins for UV products are a new development that will increase in use in the future; by combining this aspect with lower energy consuming UV LED lamps, it was a natural fit to brand this technology as EkoCure™. Flint Group has a strong history of product leadership; with the launch of EkoCure™ we continue to make history in narrow web ink innovations.”

In addition to the EkoCure™ launch, Flint Group Narrow Web also showcased CombiScreen™, a silicone-free UV Rotary Screen ink with stunning colour strength, and excellent printability—these inks are perfected for combination printing. Also highlighted was Flex2Screen™, Flint's “Flexo-to-Screen” concept. For those printers who run both UV Flexo and UV Rotary Screen, Flint Group Narrow Web has also introduced to the North American market, the Flex2Screen™—taking a UV Flexo ink and converting this to a UV Rotary Screen ink, providing a robust screen ink which allows printers to reduce inventories.

Last, but not least, the North American introduction of Flexocure ANCORA™, a true low migration UV Flexo ink designed specifically for food packaging applications. Providing exactly what label printers have been looking for—an ink that ensures that the final packaging construction passes the most stringent migration tests with absolutely no compromise in performance!

"With the new innovations launched at Labelexpo Americas, we prove our focus on continuous improvement and our value added approach,” concludes Niklas Olsson, Flint Group Narrow Web global brand manager.

About Flint Group
Flint Group is dedicated to serving the global printing and packaging industry. The company develops, manufactures and markets an extensive portfolio of printing consumables, including: a vast range of conventional and energy curable inks and coatings for most offset, flexographic and gravure applications; pressroom chemicals, printing blankets and sleeves for offset printing; photopolymer printing plates and sleeves, plate-making equipment and flexographic sleeve systems; pigments and additives for use in inks and other colourant applications. With a strong customer focus, unmatched service and support, and superior products, Flint Group strives to provide exceptional value, consistent quality and continuous innovation to customers around the world. Headquartered in Luxembourg, Flint Group employs some 6900 people. Revenues for 2011 were € 2.2 billion (US $3 billion). On a worldwide basis, the company is the number one or number two supplier in every major market segment it serves.

Source: Flint.