Consumables

InteliCoat Technologies has partnered with Exopack Advanced Coatings to improve InteliCoat’s manufacturing capabilities. The strategic relationship strives to strengthen product development and customer service levels across InteliCoat’s award-winning Magic, Magiclée, Museo and JetSet brands of digital imaging media for maximum on-time delivery and inventory control.

As part of the exclusive agreement, all Magic, Magiclée, Museo and JetSet offerings will remain unchanged, consisting of the same base papers and coating processes. InteliCoat will also continue to manage all aspects of product development, converting and customer service in its South Hadley headquarters. The improved manufacturing efficiencies afforded by Exopack include new coating technologies, accelerated product development capabilities and improved response to market changes.

“Our new relationship with Exopack Advanced Coatings enables InteliCoat to continue to uphold its long history of delivering the utmost in innovation, performance and quality, while improving on-time delivery and inventory levels,” said Joe Lupone, President of InteliCoat Technologies. “The partnership also provides access to new coating technologies and accelerated product development capabilities to ensure the delivery of the same Magic, Magiclée, Museo and JetSet products that customers have come to rely on, along with additional new and exciting product options to come.”

“With over 75 years of designing and engineering coatings and coating processes, Exopack Advanced Coatings is uniquely qualified to partner with InteliCoat to optimise the manufacturing processes of its well-respected digital imaging media,” said David Neal, President of Exopack Advanced Coatings. “We look forward to employing our technical and manufacturing know-how to enable InteliCoat to not only improve its on-time service levels, but to uphold the long-standing commitment to excellence InteliCoat has delivered throughout its history.”

For more information, please visit www.intelicoat.com

HP has announced that its new HP FB225 Scitex Ink meets AgBB criteria for health related evaluation of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions of indoor building products.

Testing was carried out by Air Quality Sciences, Inc., which used the AgBB Evaluation procedure for VOC emissions and determined that HP FB225 Scitex Ink met the AgBB requirements. The AgBB Committee, established in 1997, comprises representatives from seven German national and regional health and environmental organisations and its testing procedures and standards are regarded as an international standard for health-related VOC emissions.

AgBB compliance follows the GREENGUARDSM Children & Schools certification received earlier by HP FB225 Scitex Ink in the United States. The ink also received certification under the GREENGUARDSM Indoor Air Quality Certification Program for Low Emitting Products.

HP FB225 Scitex Ink was developed for the new HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial Press, a versatile, high-production machine for the production of high-quality graphics on a wide range of substrates from standard POP/POS corrugated board and papers to backlit films and plastic and coated materials. These materials include foam PVC, PVC sheets, polystyrene (HIPS), fluted polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyethylene, synthetic paper, SAV, foamboard, paper, corrugated, PETG, Yupo and Alu-Dibond.

Large format print service providers (PSPs) with HP Scitex FB7500 Industrial Presses that have been upgraded with the HP Scitex FB7500 Industrial Press Upgrade Kit option may also enjoy the differentiation and expanded application range enabled by HP FB225 Scitex Ink. Flexible and rigid materials can be printed with cross-hatch level adhesion, enabling them to expand their offering.

HP FB225 Scitex Ink also is more flexible after curing than its predecessors, so the chances of chipping and cracking during folding and creasing are greatly reduced.

"This is the first UV-curable ink ever that complies with both these indoor air emissions standards," said Xavier Melisse, EMEA Scitex Supplies Category Manager. "Prints produced with HP FB225 Scitex Ink on low emitting media have reduced odour and the fact that the inks used to produce them meet these standards offers additional reassurance about their suitability for indoor use. This opens new opportunities to HP Scitex FB7600 and upgraded HP Scitex FB7500 Industrial Press users."

With increasingly environmentally conscious end-users, the ability of PSPs to offer products that use materials designed with the environment in mind can provide differentiation and a competitive edge.

"The fact that the inks have met these standards underlines the point that signs and displays produced with them are suitable for use even in a sensitive indoor environment such as a school or hospital," said Stephen Goddard, environmental leadership programme manager for HP's Graphics Solutions Business.

More information is available at www.youtube.com/hpgraphicarts or follow HP on www.twitter.com/hpgraphicarts.

[Image caption: Users of the HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial Press can enjoy expanded applications possibilities thanks to new HP FB225 Scitex Ink]

Fisher Textiles, one of the leading suppliers of fabrics for digital printing, has replaced style GF 6640 Poly Linen with GF 6640 Poly Canvas (FR) in its line of Grand Format fabrics for Dye Sublimation and UV printing.

GF 6640 Poly Canvas (FR) is 8.4 oz/yd2 and 121 inches wide. The new GF 6640 is whiter than the original and an ounce heavier. It is flame retardant and passes NFPA 701. The base fabric is 100% polyester and has a soft cotton, linen-like feel, excellent for home furnishing applications. Additional applications include banners and table covers.

Sample rolls are available for testing.  For more information, please visit www.fishertextiles.com

[picture shows printed example of GF 6640 Poly Canvas]

Cut and applied etch effects should really look anything but cut and applied if the material is doing its job properly. Thanks to some recent and novel innovations in face-film and adhesive technology reported by Metamark, you get results that are said to look just like real chemical or mechanical etching.

Metamark believes that applied etch effects should look just like the crisp results you’d expect to see were you to acid-etch or sandblast a glazed surface and most do when they’re freshly cut and carefully applied. All too often though, according to Metamark, the applied graphics eventually end up looking less than second rate because the adhesive turns milky, conspicuously betrays its presence and so fails complete with the job. Metamark says that its adhesive has always resisted such problems but, rather than leave a good thing alone, Metamark has apparently now made it even better.

Metamark’s new Apex generation adhesive delivers all the benefits that make Metamark etch effects so popular and improves ease of application and removal thanks to its fully cross-linked genetics and Metamark’s manufacturing disciplines. Metamark’s latest etch effect films are said to cut easily, weed effortlessly and are apparently very easy to apply. When the time comes to remove them, they leave no trace on the glazed substrate - an important consideration given the time that clean-ups can consume.

Samples of the new films are available free of charge from sales@metamark.co.uk

Metamark has introduced a new solution for challenging surfaces.  Branded as Metamark MDP-H, this new addition to Metamark's digital portfolio prints brilliantly whether using solvent, EcoSolvent, UV or Latex ink. All MD class materials have a generous appetite for ink - so liberating more of the printer’s available gamut - and they dry easily too. Where Metamark MDP-H presses home a distinct advantage is in the area of applications it can address.

Metamark MDP-H features a novel adhesive system that’s expressly formulated to be broadly compatible with so-called apolar, or low energy surfaces that are known to challenge conventional adhesive. Products and substrates featuring low energy surfaces are commonly encountered. Moulded wheeled bins, re-cycling receptacles and sports goods such as canoes are among the most frequently seen.

A typical self adhesive material applied to such a surface will, in a short time, react with the plastics and plasticisers present causing the face film to shrink. This leaves an exposed outline of adhesive that soon picks up dirt and lint and mars the result. Metamark MDP-H builds to a tight ultimate bond and doesn’t shrink back so its adhesive stays exactly where it’s supposed to be - under the super-white, hundred micron face film.

Metamark MDP-H is now available in 760, 1370 and 1600mm widths. Samples are available free upon request from sales@metamark.co.uk.

Fisher Textiles, one of the leading suppliers of fabrics for digital printing, has added styles 1010 Element and GF 7110 X-Out to its line of fabrics for Dye Sublimation and UV printing.

1010 Element is Fisher's newest awning fabric, excellent at withstanding the elements of outdoors. It is 8.5 oz/yd2, 60" and 100% Polyester. In addition to awnings, it can also be used for street pole banners and patio furniture. It is very sturdy, whiter and more cost effective than Fisher Textile's other awning fabrics. It has been tested in accordance with several AATCC test methods for water repellency and produced fantastic results. The first, Impact Penetration, (AATCC 42-2007) showed 0.0 grams of weight gain. The second, Water Repellency, (AATCC 70-2010) showed 29.19% water absorbed. The third, Water Repellency (Spray), (AATCC 22-2010) showed 100 - No sticking or wetting.

GF 7110 X-Out is 6.7 oz/yd2, 110" wide and is comparable to Fisher’s style GF 4100 Sheeting although unlike GF 4100, GF 7110 can be sublimated. The base fabric is polyester with viscose/rayon flocking. It is FR, passes NFPA 701 and is formaldehyde free. Applications include block out liner and opaque single sided banners.

Sample rolls of these materials are available for testing.  For more information, please visit www.fishertextiles.com

[picture shows example print on 1010 Element media]