Exclusives

Ink manufacturers look forward to Labelexpo Europe

Ink manufacturers will be among those in attendance, showcasing their latest products during the September 24-27 event in Brussels, Belgium.

September 16, 2019

By: DAVID SAVASTANO

Editor, Ink World Magazine

Labelexpo Europe, which will be held this year from September 24-27 in Brussels, Belgium, is the leading trade show for the label and narrow web field. Ink manufacturers will be among those in attendance, showcasing their latest products.

Siegwerk (Stand 6A/17) will highlight shrink sleeves, plastic tubes and laminates, digital printing and sustainable ink solutions for label and package printing.

“At this year’s show, Siegwerk will introduce its portfolio of UV, LED UV and solvent-based ink systems including special whites suitable for sleeves used for non- and food packaging applications,” says Guido Lander, VP Business Unit Narrow Web EMEA at Siegwerk. “All these inks and whites are available as both standard and low migration systems. Besides, the company will show its wide range of solutions for demanding high-end packaging, including its specialty UV varnishes that can be applied on various laminates and tubes based on various plastic substrates.

“With Sicura Nutritube, Siegwerk offers a new low migration ink series for dry offset printing especially designed for extruded (pre-formed) tubes as well as laminated tubes in web printing,” Lander adds. “Another focus will be on its digital printing offering of UV and water-based inkjet ink solutions for narrow web and large width packaging for both packaging and label applications. Moreover, Siegwerk will highlight its latest efforts and developments for optimizing the recyclability of packaging and developing eco-friendly inks to shape a future of sustainable packaging. With SICURA Low NRGY UV/LED UV the company lately launched a new UV/LED UV offset ink system with impressive deinking properties improving the recycling of UV cured prints. These are just a few examples of the company’s wide range of innovative and sustainable ink solutions addressing current and future packaging trends that will be highlighted at the show.”

INX International Ink Co. (Stand 4C25) will be showcasing its portfolio of conventional and digital products, including sustainable and dispensing solutions, at Labelexpo Europe 2019. Among the highlights will be INXhrc natural-based flexo inks, which utilize sustainable materials and can help reduce a company’s CO2 footprint by 20% to 30% compared to a standard water-based ink, the company said, while offering increased production efficiencies.

INX will also show Prodigy EBGA, its new EB low migration inkjet inks, designed for Uteco’s GAIA printer. Prodigy EBGA was named SGIA’s 2018 Product of the Year for Digital Inks – Industrial and Packaging.

Sun Chemical (Stand 5E45) will show its latest solutions for the narrow web label and packaging markets, beginning with SolarVerse, its new range of highly pigmented, low viscosity, multipurpose UV flexo base concentrates. By blending a SolarVerse base concentrate with a specific varnish, different, finished ink profiles can be produced, ready for use on press in whatever color specified. SolarVerse bases are formulated with materials suitable for migration-compliant applications when mixed with the appropriate technology varnish, so the range can be used for UV flexo food packaging and label applications. Sun Chemical will also introduce SolarFlex Zero designed for food compliant UV flexo products.

Sun Chemical will also highlight its UV LED curing SolarWave flexo and SunWave offset inks, as well as the fully EuPIA compliant SunWave Lumina offset inks for all sheetfed UV LED presses. In terms of inkjet inks, Sun Chemical will show its Etijet range of UV, e-beam and aqueous technology and its Amplio digital effects portfolio.

Flint Group Narrow Web, Flint Group Image Transfer Solutions, and Xeikon (member of Flint Group Digital Printing Solutions) will be on hand at Labelexpo Europe 2019 (Stand 5S24, 5C28 and 5C29), highlighting UV LED curable inks, VIVO ColourSolutions linkage with dispensers and Xeikon’s digital label printing solutions.

Gary Seward, managing director, Pulse Roll Label Products Ltd. (Stand 3C64) says that the 40th anniversary edition of Labelexpo Europe is a special one for Pulse Roll, as the company is celebrating its 18th anniversary.

“We’ve come a long way in that time,” notes Seward. “At Labelexpo Europe 2019, we’ll be introducing the next evolution of our PureTone UV flexo printing inks, with live color matching demos to showcase our updated PureTone food packaging compliant (FPC) color assortment. We’ll also be focusing on a closed loop color management approach that ensures print matches proof every time irrespective of the printing process.

Seward adds that for the first time, Pulse Roll will be performing live demos featuring its high-strength PureAqua water-based flexo ink system.

“Our PureAqua mixing bases are formulated for use on multiple substrates – a single ink system for color consistency and optimal print quality – providing potential cost-savings for converters,” Seward states. “We’ll also be promoting our new PureBright UV flexo metallics inks, which are manufactured in our UK factory and formulated to comply with the latest EuPIA guidelines and industry standards. Embellishment is a hot topic in the industry right now, so we are delighted to have teamed up with leading foil manufacturer, API Group, to launch our new PureFinish UV flexo cold foil adhesive. with a range of eye-catching labels showcasing a selection of TA Plus cold foils.”

Zeller+Gmelin (Stand 11A47) will be showcasing its new UVAFLEX Y80 ink series for UV flexo printing (non-food). UVAFLEX Y80 features excellent color strength and outstanding press performance, the company noted, adding that it performs flawlessly at speeds well above 100 m/min. The range of applications extends from wine labels on uncoated paper and packaging materials to wrap-arounds and shrink sleeves. The raw material base of the new UVAFLEX Y80 flexo series is completely up to date and fulfills all requirements of the EuPIA exclusion policy.

Zeller+Gmelin’s UVAFLEX FCM Y81 ink series contains significantly fewer migration-critical substances than common ink technologies. The cured ink film is low odor, and is suitable for the most sensitive applications.

Zeller+Gmelin also will present its new UVALUX LED U581 FCM inks for sheetfed and web offset printing for the first time. Its designed with high migration resistance and excellent drying. A further new development is Zeller+Gmelin’s LED cold foil adhesive UVALUX LED U0851FCM for sheetfed and web offset printing of food packaging on paper and film.

RUCO Druckfarben (Stand 6A27) will be showcasing its latest developments, introducing another new UV screen printing ink series with a unique selling proposition and various optimized inks.

RUCO reports that its new 963UV-SF color series is the only silicone-free low-migration rotary screen printing ink on the market. These low-viscosity inks are designed for printing onto plastic films. The 963UV-SF inks are formulated free from ITX, benzophenone and 4-methylbenzophenone and do not contain any bisphenol A. The ink series is especially suitable for combination printing with UV flexo inks.

RUCO will also show its silicone-free and low-migration opaque white 905UV1484LM for rotary UV screen printing, which comply with the latest testing requirements under REACH, the Nestlé Guidance Note on Packaging Inks and various other relevant regulations. The opaque white is formulated free of ITX, benzophenone and 4-methyl-benzophenone, and does not contain any bisphenol A. RUCO’s 900UV1487 ink is a low-viscosity and silicone-free formulation that is highly opaque white for universal use. It is suitable for printing onto plastic films using rotary screen printing and flexo printing.

Ink company executives are looking forward to Labelexpo. Lander said it is always Siegwerk’s goal to provide customers with the most efficient ink solution and support for their individual situation.

“That’s why Siegwerk attaches great importance to open dialog with its customers,” says Lander. “Understanding their needs is key to the company identifying trending topics and open issues that enable it to early channel its R&D activities into the market segments of the future. That’s why platforms like Labelexpo are ideal touchpoints for the company to share ideas and discuss newest challenges and requirements with customers and other industry experts. The company’s Labelexpo presence will be a touch point for conversations where visitors can exchange with experts to learn more about Siegwerk’s latest ink developments and how these can meet their individual needs and challenges.”

Sarah Harriman, marketing and communications manager, Pulse Roll Label Products Ltd., says that Labelexpo Europe is a key event in the global label industry calendar and plays a major role in bringing the industry together.

“The show provides an excellent opportunity to network, meet existing customers, develop new business plus showcase our latest developments in inks, coatings and varnishes. No other industry event offers such a targeted audience on a worldwide scale,” Harriman says. “So, as a narrow web ink specialist, Labelexpo is an incredibly important event for us. Every year our expectations are exceeded, attracting high quality visitors from the UK and international markets. It’s an excellent platform in terms of helping people to understand who we are and what we do. Exhibiting also enables us to showcase the next generation of products and present innovative solutions for the global label and package printing industry.”

Peter Lockley, president of INX Europe, reported that Labelexpo continues to grow every year so it is very important to INX.

“With technology and trends changing rapidly, you need to be front and center with customers at this type of event,” explains Lockley. “It’s also why we will have a full complement of products and solutions on display. For anyone who did not attend the show the last time it was held in Belgium, you’ll see some new products such as our natural INXhrc inks and the Ebeam low migration digital inks, demonstrating our determination to grow by creating innovative solutions to customers’ needs.”

Jonathan Sexton, marketing manager, Sun Chemical, said that Labelexpo offers an opportunity to share Sun Chemical’s technical expertise with narrow web, tag and label printers from around the world.

“As the largest label-focused show in the industry, it is a tremendous venue for reaching our customers and prospective customers in this market segment no matter what printing process they use,” Sexton adds. “We look forward to interacting face-to-face with a much broader global customer base and learning what needs and requirements they are looking for with their inks and coatings.”

Here are the companies that are exhibiting inks at Labelexpo Europe 2019: