Talk about the latest progress of shrink label printing materials and inks

Contracting labeling is becoming more and more popular, and it is growing rapidly at a rate of two digits per year. The reason why such results have been obtained is at least due to two reasons. First, shrink labels can make full use of the surface of the entire container and play a very good role in the reproduction and transmission of images and information. On the other hand, the container itself can also be made into a variety of unique shapes that are not subject to subsequent labeling restrictions, which can greatly enhance the shelf appeal of the packaged product.

However, due to these special shapes, higher requirements and challenges are placed on the label materials and their printing inks. In addition to dealing with the problem of adhesiveness of non-porous film materials, shrink label printing inks also have to deal with several other factors in order to achieve better development, including deformation (scratches, delamination, etc.), paste, and low COF (Friction Coefficient) and low odor for food and beverage packaging. These requirements also promote the further development of printed materials and inks.

Suitable for specific materials

In terms of materials, PVC, PETG, and OPS account for most of the market for shrink labels. According to Manuet Rivas, technical director of the PPL division of Siegwerk, the former two occupy 90% to 95% of the market. Since each film has its own surface characteristics, Rivas stressed that each film requires the use of a specific ink composition in order to obtain suitable properties.

To meet changing needs, Siegwerk offers solvent-based inks specifically designed for each shrink-thinning material and printing process. In addition, flexographic printers using water-based inks can print on their corona-treated PVC and PETG films using their CWS-2100 series inks, while SICURA series inks can meet UV printing needs. In order to facilitate people's choice of ink, the company also introduced a solvent-based ink, AccessSleeve, which is suitable for all film materials.

INX International Ink Corporation has developed the ShrinkPac series of inks that can be used in a wide range of materials for a variety of printing processes, such as the ShrinkPac for gravure printing and the FlexoShrinkPac for flexographic printing. “At the same time as simplifying and accelerating the turnover of our jobs, our inks also solve many other problems that shrink label printers routinely encounter,” said Luigi DeFlaviis Jr., head of INX's liquid ink division.

Towards multi-purpose development

While ink suppliers offer a range of ink products to meet a particular shrink label print, inks that are suitable for a variety of shrink label materials are gaining momentum. “In the past, many inks were suitable for a specific material, but now, the newer series of inks exhibit multi-functional properties on a variety of materials,” said John Kalkowski, North American marketing manager at Sun Chemicals. “This helps Reduce the number of press cleanings, reduce cross-contamination, and help control the amount of ink used."

One of the latest developments from XSYS is Flexocure XSUV radical-curable ink, which provides 70% shrinkage and is suitable for a wide range of film materials, including PVC, OPS, OPP, PET, and PETG, while also being used for table printing and printing. India.

Fujifilm's Uvisleeve is another UV flexographic printing ink designed according to various characteristics of the shrinking process.

The company's marketing manager, Fultz, emphasized Uvisleeve's several key qualities, such as low COF, low chemical odor and maximum shrinkage, in order to facilitate shrinkage of the label material. In addition, they also provide high opacity white ink. The effect of low COF is mainly manifested in the process of sealing, which allows the sleeve to quickly pass through the labeling device after sealing.

Contracting labeling is becoming more and more popular, and it is growing rapidly at a rate of two digits per year. The reason why such results have been obtained is at least due to two reasons. First, shrink labels can make full use of the surface of the entire container and play a very good role in the reproduction and transmission of images and information. On the other hand, the container itself can also be made into a variety of unique shapes that are not subject to subsequent labeling restrictions, which can greatly enhance the shelf appeal of the packaged product.

However, due to these special shapes, higher requirements and challenges are placed on the label materials and their printing inks. In addition to dealing with the problem of adhesiveness of non-porous film materials, shrink label printing inks also have to deal with several other factors in order to achieve better development, including deformation (scratches, delamination, etc.), paste, and low COF (Friction Coefficient) and low odor for food and beverage packaging. These requirements also promote the further development of printed materials and inks.

Suitable for specific materials

In terms of materials, PVC, PETG, and OPS account for most of the market for shrink labels. According to Manuet Rivas, technical director of the PPL division of Siegwerk, the former two occupy 90% to 95% of the market. Since each film has its own surface characteristics, Rivas stressed that each film requires the use of a specific ink composition in order to obtain suitable properties.

To meet changing needs, Siegwerk offers solvent-based inks specifically designed for each shrink-thinning material and printing process. In addition, flexographic printers using water-based inks can print on their corona-treated PVC and PETG films using their CWS-2100 series inks, while SICURA series inks can meet UV printing needs. In order to facilitate people's choice of ink, the company also introduced a solvent-based ink, AccessSleeve, which is suitable for all film materials.

INX International Ink Corporation has developed the ShrinkPac series of inks that can be used in a wide range of materials for a variety of printing processes, such as the ShrinkPac for gravure printing and the FlexoShrinkPac for flexographic printing. “At the same time as simplifying and accelerating the turnover of our jobs, our inks also solve many other problems that shrink label printers routinely encounter,” said Luigi DeFlaviis Jr., head of INX's liquid ink division.

Towards multi-purpose development

While ink suppliers offer a range of ink products to meet a particular shrink label print, inks that are suitable for a variety of shrink label materials are gaining momentum. “In the past, many inks were suitable for a specific material, but now, the newer series of inks exhibit multi-functional properties on a variety of materials,” said John Kalkowski, North American marketing manager at Sun Chemicals. “This helps Reduce the number of press cleanings, reduce cross-contamination, and help control the amount of ink used."

One of the latest developments from XSYS is Flexocure XSUV radical-curable ink, which provides 70% shrinkage and is suitable for a wide range of film materials, including PVC, OPS, OPP, PET, and PETG, while also being used for table printing and printing. India.

Fujifilm's Uvisleeve is another UV flexographic printing ink designed according to various characteristics of the shrinking process. The company's marketing manager, Fultz, emphasized Uvisleeve's several key qualities, such as low COF, low chemical odor and maximum shrinkage, in order to facilitate shrinkage of the label material. In addition, they also provide high opacity white ink. The effect of low COF is mainly manifested in the process of sealing, which allows the sleeve to quickly pass through the labeling device after sealing.

In the design of UV inks for shrink label printing, UVitec general manager Bob Waddington pointed out that the choice of resin and photoinitiator must take into account the film shrinkage, will not scratch the material, while having a better performance in a relatively cold environment , if distortion does not occur. UVitec recently introduced a new series of UV shrink label printing inks that have improved scratch resistance and delamination resistance.

WaterInk Technologies offers both aqueous inks and UV inks, all of which are suitable for conventional shrink label printing. Processors can use the best features of each ink to meet their respective needs, such as the economics of water-based inks, the opacity of UV inks, or the efficiency of nested labels.