Lightfastness in Package Printing
When you take into account the time and effort spent on supplying packaging with precise colors, it follows the expectation that these colors should stay the same during the product use cycle...
Sun Ink an Award Winner
Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation announced that Sun Chemical was awarded a 2008 InterTech Technology Award for its Platinum White technology...
Donation Is a Hit
CHICAGO, IL Graymills Corp. has donated six of its Quick Change peristaltic ink pumps to Clemson Univ.'s flexographic lab. Jay Sperry of the Sonoco Inst....
European Ink Portfolio Is Announced
STUTTGART, GERMANY Flint Group's Packaging Inks Div. has completed a European project to identify the Best of 4 solutions for all standard application...
New Marking Process Is Patented
CHESHIRE, UK DataLase has been granted a patent for a new transparent pigment for application on clear films or substrates. The pigment undergoes a color...
Drying Part 3: Paste Inks
This column will review the two primary drying methods of paste inks. Oil-Based Inks The main application of oil-based inks is in litho printing, primarily...
Drying Part 2: Computer Simulation
Drying of liquid inks is a simple mechanism requiring complex engineering. About 20 years ago I worked on computer-simulated drying to develop ink formulation...
Process Management: Drying Part 1: Liquid Inks
In the next three columns, we will cover the basic mechanisms of ink drying. This month we look at inks drying primarily by evaporation and absorption...
Process Management: Opacity & White Ink
White ink is used extensively in printing plastic films for packaging. The role of the white print is to totally or partially block the package ingredients...
Sun to Support Pantone
PARSIPPANY, NJ Sun Chemical reports its worldwide sales force and infrastructure is ready to support Sun's customers as the new Pantone Goe color language...
The 7 Deadly (Converting) Sins
There are some basic problems that crop up over and over again, with costly results in wasted time and materials. Below are examples, in capsule form,...
Hierarchy of Value: Part II
Last month’s column offered a value model as a way of visualizing the value of a product or service based on price/performance ratio...
Wet on Wet
Uniprint Knauer (formerly UV-Flex) recently installed a Fischer & Krecke WetFlex ten-color Flexpress 16 S press. It features Sun Chemical’s WetFlex technology, Energy Sciences’ EZCure-I electron beam (EB) curing system, and Advanced Vision Technology’s PrintVision/Argus defect detection system. The flexographic printing process applies Sun Chemical’s UniQure inks wet-on-wet to the substrate; the inks are in-line EB cured, thereby reducing energy costs and improving quality....
Reduce & Comply
Going green? Be prepared to face the challenges of today’s complex environmental compliance regulations....
JDSU Introduces Color-Shifting Flake for Unique Color Differentiation
JDSU has introduced ChromaFlair ColorShift Glitter, a new color-shifting flake that gives paints, coatings, plastics, textiles, and packaging the ability to exhibit a wide range of hues when viewed from different angles. ...
Operators' Opinions Matter
Why consult operators? The best way to make improvements is to involve those actually performing the work....
Working Undercover
Brand security and authentication are integral features of product design in today’s global economy. Converters have a role to play....
FLexo Press for EB WetFlex Launched in Germany
UV-Flex GmbH held an open house event on April 18-19 to feature Fischer & Krecke's first CI flexo press designed to use Sun Chemical's EB curable WetFlex ink technology. ...
Color 101: Part I
It has been my experience that color theory basics are communicated well by suppliers of color measurement devices. This month we will explore the practical application of this information....
Ink Mileage: Measure & Manage
In we reviewed ink transfer. With this basic understanding, we can move on to actual numbers on the basis of that which can be measured can be managed. Skeptics abound who believe there are too many variables to get useful data. Others think this is an opportunity to isolate and minimize process variation and thus improve productivity and reduce waste....
Managing the Ink Films
Last month we discussed ink composition in relation to various printing methods. Now we’ll look at basic differences in ink delivery....
Ink 101: Part II
Last month we reviewed ink usage numbers as an input to converting, noting that as a percentage, ink purchases are small, especially when compared to...
Ink 101: Part I
It is estimated the total North American (US and Canada) market for packaging materials is approximately $125 billion in annual shipments. Ink is a relatively...
Are Universal Products Possible?
The question seems like a good one when we first hear it. Why is there not a universal adhesive, coating, or ink? Such a material certainly would make...
Inks Keep Getting Smarter
Advances in recent ink technology include scented inks, microbial and bacterial sensor inks, oxygen sensor inks, and microwave inks for “doneness.” Complementing this list is the growing interest in printed RFID tags, security packaging inks, and brand protection specialty inks. Even nano- techology promises a new generation for packaging inks incorporating quantum dot bar codes. ...
