Consumables

3M has combined the 3M Scotchcal Graphic Film Series IJ40 with the new Scotchcal Over-laminate 8019/8020 to provide a more competitive integrated graphics solution. This latest offering again demonstrates 3M’s ability to meet a wider range of customer needs, including high-performance products at an accessible cost

Scotchcal Graphic Film Series IJ40 is a five-year polymeric film that is available in either a gloss or matte finish and with a permanent or removable pressure-sensitive adhesive, with or without 3M Comply air release technology. The majority of films feature a grey, pigmented adhesive that offers excellent hiding power for applications requiring this particular performance enhancement. Scotchcal Over-laminate 8019/8020 is a transparent polymeric laminate material, also available in either a gloss or matte format, with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Both films can be converted using solvent-based piezo inkjet printing systems and are covered by the renowned 3M MCS (Matched Component System) Warranty for appropriate intermediate applications.

This new integrated graphics solution can be used for a range of diverse applications involving flat or gently curved surfaces, including vehicle fleet and window graphics, interior and exterior signage and backlit signs and displays. The solution is available from 3M primary distributors William Smith and Spandex.

3M, Scotchcal, Comply and MCS are trademarks of 3M Company.

For further information, please visit www.3M.co./uk/graphicsolutions

The continuous transition to greener ink systems and the quest for new technologies has led Bordeaux Digital Printink, a creditable ink and solutions manufacturer, with proven in-house research and development achievements in the inkjet printing market, to its latest innovation: Latex water-based resin ink designed for Piezo Drop-on-Demand printheads.

The Bordeaux revolutionary Latex ink uses Piezo DOD instead of the commonly used Thermal Drop-on-Demand printheads. Bordeaux offers a prototype water based ink intended for adaptation on solvent based printers. The Latex ink benefits from the quality achieved with solvent based inks with the environmental advantage of water based inks.

"Since this is a generic technology, it can be customised according to specific printers or printhead technology specifications. The optimisation is necessary for a final product and positions Bordeaux's Latex ink in the front line of most ink manufacturers and in a lucrative position for printer manufacturers seeking a new or improved product which is in the forefront of technology," comments Moshe Zach, Bordeaux's CEO.

A new water-based adhesive heralds the start of Neschen's new generation of tried and tested premium surface-protection films. It is the result of years of continuous in-house research and development work aimed at supplying customers with top-performing products for their applications.

The new water-based adhesive offers superior adhesive power and noticeably improved water resistance.  From now on, the protection films "filmolux photo", "filmolux satin" and "filmomatt" will be coated with this modified water-based adhesive and marketed as "New Generation" filmolux photo gloss / satin / matt.

"This pioneering adhesive belongs to today's class of waterbased acrylic emulsions," explains Dr. Werner Markiewicz, head of Research and Development at Neschen AG in Bückeburg. "It opens up numerous opportunities for applications for which up to now protection films with solvent-based adhesives have been selected. We invite each of our customers to put our new protection films to the test."

Thanks to its enhanced adhesive power, this water-based adhesive can now also be used on many types of media printed with UV-curable inks. To date, additional mechanical protection of UV-curable inks using water-based adhesives has proved problematic. UV inks have a coarse structure which means that water-based adhesives stick badly or not at all. This is now a thing of the past, since such adhesion is possible with the newly developed water-based adhesive from Neschen AG. In addition, it makes for immediate and brilliant lamination results with almost no silvering.

The excellent water resistance of Neschen's acrylate adhesive even permits exhibits to be erected outdoors for up to two years, without additional edge sealing. Where edge sealing is used for outdoor applications, this figure increases to almost five years; in the case of purely indoor use, film durability lies at up to eight years – with guaranteed excellent optical characteristics.

The protection films are available in widths of up to two metres and with three different surface finishes. The glossy finish (filmolux photo gloss) delivers uniform lamination results since a PE covering gives the adhesive an even structure. The surface of the satin-finish laminate (filmolux photo satin) prevents unwanted reflections. The quality of the attractive matt finish of the new "filmolux photo matt" has been improved and enhances colour brilliance without excessive reflection.

[photo shows Dr. Werner Markiewicz, head of R&D at Neschen AG in Bückeburg]

Regulus has launched a new cost-effective, environmentally-friendly series of polypropylene films for large format printing applications.

The new range can be used for multiple applications including roll-up displays and simple displays to backlit fitting. It has the usual quality coatings customers are accustomed to from Regulus - ideal for ink reception, either for water-based inks or for solvent, UV-based and latex inks.

With basis materials produced entirely in Germany and with a pvc-free coating in accordance with the REACH criteria, the new films also meet the highest environmental standards.

Three versions of these products are now available from specialist dealers: a 180 micron white film with a grey back to ensure a higher degree of opacity as well as 140 micron and 230 micron completely white films.

For more information, please visit www.regulus.de.

It has been announced today that technical support provider Tech8 will merge with Colorific, a supplier of cost-effective, high quality alternative inks.  The merger, due to be finalised on 1st June 2012, will strengthen Colorific’s research and development capabilities and expands on the strategic alliance announced between the two businesses last year.

Shaun Holdom, Colorific’s business manager, comments, “The ink market has changed substantially with the widespread acceptance of proven alternative ink solutions such as those offered by Colorific. The demand for our quality inks has grown rapidly and - on the back of this success - our partners are now pushing for us to broaden our portfolio with additional inks offering the same high levels of quality, reliability and proven 'best in class' credentials.

Shaun continues, "We saw the need for a dedicated R&D resource to add the necessary pace to fully exploit these opportunities - so the absorption of Tech8 as an in-house R&D facility can only help in achieving these goals.  It will also allow us to cut the time to market for any new inks, without compromising the excellent reputation of Colorific.”

Following the planned merger, the Tech8 brand will continue and sales activity will be focused on positioning Tech8 as a reliable and cost-effective wholesale provider of printer spares.

Justin Atkinson, business manager at Tech8, says, “With our engineering resource focused exclusively on Colorific R&D, we will free up a lot of administrative and commercial time to further develop our successful wide format printer spares business. We will be announcing, amongst other things, details of a new e-commerce platform in the near future and the continued development of our international partner channel.”

Tech8’s warranty business customers in the UK have already received notice that warranty cover will no longer be available as a service from Tech8 as of 1st June 2012. However, much work has been done in the background to provide contingency for these customers, with the option of continued service provision via a reputable and established alternative warranty provider. For customers choosing this option, the transition will be seamless - with no loss of service and no change in warranty costs.

Fujifilm Corporation will be adding to its impressive range of inkjet equipment in the wide format zone on its stand in Hall 8b at drupa 2012 with a number of new high performance UV inkjet ink systems.

Fujifilm has developed a new generation of UV inks in response to the increased performance demands of today’s wide format printers. The new inks are the result of 'an intensive R&D programme' focused on 'maintaining the trademark bright vivid colours and excellent image quality' associated with Uvijet inks, whilst offering improved adhesion performance and excellent post-print finishing properties on a wide range of media.

During drupa 2012, Fujifilm will be demonstrating the performance advantages of four new Uvijet ink systems across the company’s range of wide format inkjet printing equipment.

Uvijet OZ is a new high performance ink for the new Onset S40i.  This new ink has been designed to give a higher degree of flexibility, enabling users to fold, crease, cut, drive and route printed media.

Uvijet QN will be running in the new Uvistar Pro8, where the eight colour ink set will deliver improved image quality, enabling superwide print produced by this machine to be used for indoor exhibition and display graphics.

Uvijet KA will be running on the Acuity Advance HS X2 hybrid printer, with demonstrations highlighting how this new ink system exhibits excellent adhesion to a wide range of rigid and flexible media.

Finally, Uvijet LL will be running on the new Acuity LED 1600. This eight colour ink system includes high opacity white and clear inks which have been tailored to deliver optimum performance with the Fujifilm proprietary LED curing system onboard the printer.

As more print service providers invest in highly capable inkjet printing devices, the performance of the ink within these systems is becoming one of the key differentiating factors in the production of wide format print.   The result of many years of continuous development, Fujifilm’s next generation Uvijet UV inks offer market leading performance in terms of colour vibrancy, image quality, adhesion flexibility and finishing capability performance.

Fujifilm’s next generation Uvijet inks will be available in Q2 2012.