Technology's Edge
Lenticular Flexographic Printing
CHASKA, Minn.—Printing and converting companies now have the ability to manufacture 3D and motion images with flexographic lenticular, reports Lenstar.org, an industry organization providing information on lenticular technology. This can be accomplished by using lenticular roll stock from Pacur and interlacing technology with Kodak's new Flexcel-NX plates provided by Pixalen Studio.
Printing lenticular effects on flexographic presses has faced issues concerning print resolution, dot size, and press registration. The introduction of higher resolution imaging devices such as Kodak's Flexcel-NX Imagine System, combined with prepress and interlacing technology from Pixalen Studio, and rolled lens stock from Pacur, has overcome these barriers to "direct-to-lens" lenticular flexographic printing.
"The Flexcel-NX System is amazing. The dot size is extremely precise, and combined with our Chromalen interlacing technology, it's what you need to produce great looking flexographic lenticular," remarks Tim Goggins, director of Pixalen Studio.
The Chromalen technology developed by Pixalen Studio is key to the process. Chromalen eliminates the registration problems of conventional lenticular flexographic printing, while simultaneously eliminating "refresh" or "parallax shift" in images.
Pacur is currently stocking four standard roll widths from 10˝ to 20˝, and can manufacture custom roll widths based on order volume. Pacur and Pixalen have also established a starter package including roll stock, art files, Flexcel-NX plates, and press-side support.
"Adding motion or 3D effects to a label is going to be a great way to give a package design added value—just imagine walking in front of a store isle and having all the packages move as you are passing by! There is no doubt brand owners will see the value of motion graphics for higher-end packaging options, new product introductions, or a stealth tool to deal with a crowded category space," comments Bruce Hammerbeck, vice president of marketing for Pacur.
GSI Technologies Develops Fully Printed Numeric Displays
BURR RIDGE, Ill.—GSI Technologies, LLC announced the development of a fully printed numeric display based on NTERA's NanoChromics technology that is fully compatible with industry-standard, hot-lamination plastic card manufacturing. Segmented, numeric displays that are hot-lamination-compatible are an ideal solution for the emerging powered smart card market.
GSI Technologies printed the NanoChromics displays and validated them through a leading card manufacturer's hot-lamination manufacturing process. "An overwhelming majority of all plastic cards worldwide are produced utilizing hot-lamination production processes," says Jack Kraemer, president/COO of GSI Technologies. "The ability to accommodate this industry-standard production process is essential to ensuring the manufacturing capacity, volume, and price points that will support mass market adoption of powered smart cards."
"Our printing systems have proven to be ideally suited to produce the NanoChromics display technology in sheetfed or roll-to-roll formats," says Gordon Smith, PhD, chief technology officer of GSI Technologies. "The resulting displays, with their distinctive white background and high readability, are a perfect product solution for a wide range of powered smart card applications. Having now demonstrated the production printing processes and resulting compatibility with the severe conditions of hot-lamination, we believe this display will provide the high-volume, cost-effective solution the market requires."
Innovations in Print
At the official launch of Lumoza, a joint spin-off company from Belgium's Hasselt University, the IMEC nanotechnology research institute, and screen printing company Artist Screen, it was announced that Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) has been chosen as the technology partner for print. The new company specializes in large-format screen-printed electronics for novel forms of advertising and luxury goods. Potential applications include wafer-thin, luminous animated billboards or DVD covers that display special light effects in the dark. The effects, which are created by dielectric barrier layers between the individually applied inks, open up new perspectives in product marketing and presentation for both indoor and outdoor advertising and the packaging industry.
Disruptive Technologies Set to Transform Consumer Packaging
LEATHERHEAD, UK—Capable of eventually displacing an existing technology and transforming the industrial landscape, disruptive technologies are now revolutionizing the consumer packaging industry, according to a new study by Pira International.
Based on primary research and expert analysis, "Forecasts of Disruptive Technologies in Consumer Packaging to 2019," seeks to identify and assess the various disruptive technologies that are being commercialized in the consumer packaging sector. Classifying technologies on the basis of components (e.g., RFID labels, bioplastics) and end-use packaging products (e.g., beverage containers, blister packs), the study examines the possible integration of these innovative technologies into corporate business strategies and plans. It also seeks to provide roadmaps for each sector through patent and text analysis, explaining where they stand in 2009, and also forecasting short- and long-term scenarios in each case. In addition, the study discusses the new trends that are influencing the consumer packaging sector.
Pira's study covers consumer packaging, which encompasses all types and forms of packaging for consumer markets (food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, personal care, etc.). It includes all materials (plastic, paper, metal, glass, etc.) and processes, along with flexible and rigid packaging.
Recent trends impacting consumer packaging technology include material and energy cost fluctuations due to volatile oil prices, growth of sustainable packaging, and new innovations in materials and packaging formats (e.g., increased penetration of flexible packaging and rigid plastic in food packaging).
The technologies analyzed in the report have been grouped into categories that include: active packaging, intelligent packaging, new materials, and other technologies such as coatings/surfaces, food processing, design, and manufacturing.
Looking at intelligent packaging technologies, time–temperature indicators (TTIs) are now being widely used in diverse commercial applications. Biosensors are tipped to be a promising area for future development. Pira predicts that over time, the integration of indicators and data carriers will be an important step towards harnessing the full potential of these technologies.
In the active packaging technology arena, chemical absorbers and emitters are being currently used in niche applications to preserve shelf life and the quality of foods and beverages. The development of absorbers or emitters that can be suitably integrated into the packaging material is expected to be a major opportunity for packagers worldwide.
RFID technology usage has increased significantly in recent times, especially in the form of silicon chip devices with small batteries. However, the future of RFID will require chipless devices (i.e., printed electronics) without batteries. Barriers still remain for RFID, particularly the multiplicity of available formats and the problems with UHF interference.
The study adds that low-permeability (barrier) materials are being developed and commercialized. In addition, several new polymers based on renewable (non-petrochemical) feedstock have also been recently developed. These may stabilize the price of packaging, as they are unaffected by oil price movements. The most commercially successful polymer, which is both biodegradable and based on renewable feedstock, is polylactic acid (PLA). Pira points out that packaging materials produced from blends containing starch or cellulose materials are now being produced commercially.
Other disruptive technologies discussed in the study include conductive coatings and "effect" coatings used to enhance the aesthetic appeal of consumer packaging. In food processing technology, there have been notable advances in aseptic and retort packaging, self-cooling technology, non-destructive quality control mechanisms for monitoring contamination and bond strength of seals, etc., and adhesives based on PLA polymers and nano-starch.
Looking ahead, Pira predicts that the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical sectors have the greatest potential for adoption of disruptive technologies, primarily due to their high technical requirements and product volumes. Innovation in the personal care sector has been brought about through the usage of eco-friendly, new materials and intelligent packaging. Sensors and data carriers in the personal care sector are now increasingly conforming to new directives involving use-by-date labeling. pP
