ACTEGA North America

The full performance for general food packaging coatings

ACTEGA Metal Print's metallization technology, EcoLeaf, successfully went into beta at six print houses in Europe. EcoLeaf is a silver pigment that can be overprinted, leading to a rainbow of metallic colors, including gold.

ACTEGA North America will release its complete ACTExact UV ink system and ACTDigi narrow-web in-line primers at Labelexpo Americas. The company will also be featuring its special effect coating line, including MotionCoat Technology.

ACTEGA North America has launched MotionCoat, a UV coating that creates motion-like images when used in conjunction with vector-based artwork.

WESEL, Germany—The specialty chemicals Group ALTANA has entered into an agreement to acquire the business of the North American company Water Ink Technologies, Inc. The company produces primarily water-based and UV inks, coatings and varnishes for narrow-web applications at three sites in North Carolina.

Although it is difficult to define exactly what smart packaging is, one significant component of any smart package is its ability to communicate with the person interacting with it. In food packaging, some packages can communicate freshness, while others can communicate a product’s history or expiration. In terms of the pharmaceutical market, packages integrating RFID tags to verify authenticity is another example. Other smart packages combine communication with functionality, like self-cooling beer kegs or self-heating soups and coffees. According to a report from NanoMarkets, LC, titled, “Smart Packaging Markets; 2006-2013,” the global smart packaging market will grow to $4.8 billion in 2011 and reach

Water Ink Technologies recently signed FotoTec to be its distributor in Mexico. Fototec is a supplier to the graphic arts and printing industries throughout Mexico. FotoTec will supply and provide technical support for Water Ink Technologies complete line of water-based and UV flexo inks and coatings. FotoTec has facilities in Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara. FotoTec’s technical contact in Mexico is Benjamin Torres. For more information, visit www.waterinktech.com

A troubleshooting guide to coatings and adhesives. by Kate Sharon, Associate Editor COATINGS AND ADHESIVES are the unsung heroes of the packaging world. They protect a package and its goods, while making it look and perform exceedingly better than it would otherwise. But when a problem arises in the application or formulation of a coating or adhesive, those protective, enhancing, and functional substances can be the sole reason for a job's rejection. To get to the root of such costly issues and for ways to prevent them, packagePRINTING recently asked industry suppliers for their advice. Coatings Coatings play a very critical role in