Sun Chemical launches high performance UV flexo inks

Packaging Solutions

Based on an entirely new ink chemistry that delivers many benefits, Sun Chemical has added two new, high performance product ranges, SolarFlex Integra and SolarFlex FSP, to its global SolarFlex family of narrow web, UV flexo inks.

A leap forward in product performance, the new ranges are the result of two years of intensive development work and, as importantly, a year of optimisation through customer validation trials to ensure the ranges provide the robust characteristics required by customers.

Unrecognisable from their predecessors because of their advanced technology, SolarFlex Integra and SolarFlex FSP boast consistent flow and viscosity properties across the colour range, superb printability and ink transfer and extremely low foaming characteristics for the most reliable press performance.

The new SolarFlex Integra inks have been designed for label, sleeve and packaging markets that have no requirement for migration compliant food packaging and replace the SolarFlex Nova SL range. Primarily for surface printing on flexible films and labels where migration compliant food packaging is required, the new SolarFlex FSP offers a significant upgrade on previous migration compliant, UV flexo product ranges.

Produced from a new platform of pigment concentrates, both ink ranges benefit from increased colour intensity and density while maintaining the consistent rheology across the range of colours. As they are produced from a single range of concentrates, switching from SolarFlex Integra to SolarFlex FSP can be done without affecting the colours achieved on-press.

Adhesion onto impervious substrates and hold out on absorbent substrates have also both been significantly improved, broadening the range of substrates that can be used with both inks.

Mark Walkling, product manager, ECP Packaging & Narrow Web Labels, Europe, Sun Chemical Ltd, commented: ‘Having listened carefully to the varying needs of our flexo customers, we are excited to respond by bringing to market our new high performance, UV flexo product ranges, SolarFlex Integra and SolarFlex FSP. Representing a substantial leap forward in product development, the new inks deliver not only improved print quality and reliability, but also significantly upgraded adhesion and hold out robustness, thereby increasing the range of workable substrates.

‘During the rigorous validation process, we won new business at a major label and packaging customer and received great feedback from other participating customers – one even described the new products as ‘the best UV flexo inks I've seen’. This quality of feedback has filled us with confidence to take this new technology forward and we are delighted to be able to offer new and existing customers the opportunity to benefit from our development team's hard work and dedication.’

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