Consumables

INX International Ink Co. and INX Digital International Co. have successfully introduced the EVOLVE branding concept to help traditional printers and converters evolve to digital printing with industrial inkjet systems. A comprehensive effort at a number of industry trade shows took place in the last several months to roll out a full range of resources, including integrated systems, chemistry, parts, services and consulting, that are being utilised to help support printers as they transition to new levels of production excellence.

The EVOLVE concept was developed to assist conventional impact printers with the integration of digital inkjet printing into their company's capabilities. EVOLVE Advanced Digital Solutions is made possible through consultation and, if suitable, the development of technology, equipment, ink and support. Whether a company wants to integrate digital technology into its existing operation or explore digital capabilities for the first time, INX stands ready with products, technologies, systems and services to help evolve to new levels of production excellence.

"EVOLVE is a concept that will help our traditional customers make the transition into the digital world," said Rick Clendenning, President and CEO of INX International. "We see EVOLVE as an opportunity to introduce new technologies and opportunities to our customers. Digital technologies such as our CP100 UV cylindrical printer can help them expand their portfolios, giving them some new capabilities to develop niche markets."

"These customers want to go digital. They have the need and the will, and our job is to help them succeed," said Ken Kisner, President of INX Digital International Co. "EVOLVE Advanced Digital Solutions will promote the wide array of high quality products to help our customers make money. Our expertise is in ink, but we have developed software and machinery for specialty applications and we can make customised inks to meet our customers' needs."

INX Digital's experience with innovative design and development of inkjet systems can provide customer-driven solutions for inkjet printing, production workflows and material handling, and inkjet print engines and printers as standalone products or for customisation and integration into existing printing operations. Digital provides operational flexibility for a host of manufacturing and niche capabilities including wide format, super-wide, narrow web, UV flatbed, pre-press and others. From textiles, wall coverings and flooring to folding cartons, flexible packaging and cylindrical printing, EVOLVE Advanced Digital Solutions covers it all.

INX Digital also makes customer-driven ink and coating solutions designed for every type of digital printer and print-head technology. This includes solvent, UV-curable, UV LED-curable, aqueous, and thermal and oil piezo inks. Its uses cover a large universe of large-scale exterior and in-store media such as POP, billboards, building wraps and fleet graphics to packaging. The company will offer solutions for printing on vinyl, paper, corrugated, plastic, carpet, fabric, cylinders and other unique substrates.

For short-run digital prototype packaging and production, EVOLVE was recently used to introduce the NW100, a new high-speed, single-pass UV LED-curing narrow web printer at Labelexpo 2010 and the new MD1000 UV flatbed printer at Graph Expo.

Avery Dennison has introduced the next generation of premium opaque screen and cut films, expanding its Supercast technology into the new Avery 900 Supercast Opaque films. These cast films now feature enhanced conformability and stay-down over deep channels, complex curves and rivets without the need for applying primer – a new option that is ideal for applications in fleet graphics, wraps, outdoor and architectural signage, and public transportation.

The new 2.1 mil Avery 900 Supercast films are suitable for 3D applications because of their high conformability and are available in the industry's broadest range of colors, with custom color matching available upon request. The films are high-gloss with durability from ten to twelve years.

Avery 900 Supercast Opaque cast films feature a range of adhesive options—Permanent, Hi Tack, and Permanent Long Term Removable adhesives. Kraft, StaFlat and Easy Apply liners provide easier application and long-term removability. Easy Apply air egress technology helps eliminate wrinkles and bubbles, which decreases installation time for vehicle wraps and large decals.

"This is one of the best cast products I have ever used," said Roy Nethaway of Cutting Edge. "The new Avery 900 Supercast Opaque cast films are very easy to work with."

Key features of the Avery 900 Supercast Opaque cast films include:

• Enhanced conformability allows the films to stay down over deep channels, complex curves, and rivets without the need for applying primer
• Outdoor durability of up to 12 years (black & white) and 10 years (colors)
• High gloss and smooth face provide paint-like finish
• Excellent cutting and weeding for drum and flatbed processing
• New 83# Kraft liner for sign cutting with a smoother backside to retain film gloss

XenInx Onyx metallic silver ink is designed for a range of applications including packaging, graphics, labeling and product decoration. XenInx Onyx can be used in combination with XenInx Diamond or XenInx Alexandrite CMYK inks to produce a coloured metallic appearance. The ink works with a wide range of piezo printheads, and is recommended for use with Xennia printing systems and XenJet inkjet modules using Xennia's proprietary recirculating inkjet technology.

"XenInx Onyx offers excellent print quality on a variety of porous and non-porous substrates, with reflectivity to rival that of metallic inks printed by screen, gravure or other traditional printing methods," explains Dr Alan Hudd, Managing Director of Xennia. "The ink also offers reliable and consistent print performance with good adhesion and durability. XenInx Onyx metallic inkjet ink allows users requiring metallic decorative effects to reap the benefits of digital printing."

Dr Hudd comments "Brand owners need to print shorter packaging runs every year, and demand a solution able to do this economically, while providing all of the capabilities of their traditional printing technology. XenInx Onyx metallic ink is part of a range of products offered by Xennia allowing cost effective, low risk digital solutions to be introduced into the packaging industry. Package printers can keep producing attractive and creative packaging while addressing the need for customised, personalised printing for their customers."

"XenInx Onyx has been developed based on advanced dispersion technology and formulated with carefully selected metallic pigments to ensure high reflectivity of the printed ink. Onyx prints reliably at high speed, has excellent dwell performance and requires minimal need for printhead maintenance," adds Dr Hudd.

Antalis McNaughton’s Sign and Display division has launched Antacote Lite, a 100% recyclable retail hanging signage solution that combines ecology with dimensional stability.

Antacote Lite offers all of the benefits and printability of traditional foam centred products such as flatness, good rigidity, lightweight and excellent dimensional stability, but unlike the polystyrene or rigid polyurethane foam (PUR) centred alternatives Antacote Lite is 100% recyclable and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) accredited.

Antacote Lite was developed by Antalis McNaughton in conjunction with Germany’s KATZ Group, an internationally renowned manufacturer of recyclable wood pulp products, to meet the increasing corporate responsibility needs of the retail sector and as such has attracted significant interest from several leading international retail supermarket chains.

Chris Green, market manager for Antalis McNaughton says: "Antacote Lite offers a genuine environmental solution for hanging signage. It’s more environmentally friendly than using foam boards, but also much stronger and lighter and unlike standard display board or corrugated products used in retail hanging signage, Antacote Lite remains flat and dimensionally stable.”

All raw materials produced by The KATZ Group are fully recyclable and biodegradable which means that Antacote Lite can be fully recycled along with standard paper and board waste. In addition to helping to reduce landfill, the more environmentally astute retailers have taken to selling the end of life board for recycling purposes. One such major retailer reported a £250,000 saving on waste management following its move to Antacote Lite.

“Antacote Lite is a welcome addition to our ever growing portfolio of environmentally beneficial products and strengthens our commitment to meeting our customers’ corporate responsibility requirements,” says Mr. Green. “We take our responsibility to the environment seriously and have successfully integrated environmental management into our entire range of business activities. This means our procurement policy states that wherever possible we uphold our corporate responsibility to the environment by selecting recycled products; products with FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification) schemes; and biodegradable products and greener plastic alternatives.”

 

Neschen has added new fabrics to its range with the addition of 'DYEtex flag 110 B1' and 'DYEtex display 220 B1' to complement the  'VARItex decoframe 250 B1 CA' launched at Fespa.

All three are entirely manufactured in Germany to ensure consistent high quality.

The new DYEtex flag and DYEtex display are knitted polyester fabrics with excellent print through characteristics which allow them to be printed onto directly using dye-sublimation inks to produce brilliant colourful output.

The resultant flags, banners and other display systems are durable and as equally suitable for outdoor use as they within commercial and retail premises.

Each is available in a choice of four widths including XXL in 50m rolls.

 

Wide format inkjet printer manufacturer Mutoh Belgium nv announces immediate availability of its new Bio-Lactite™ inks, which were first presented at the past Fespa 2010 show in Munich, Germany.   Mutoh’s new Bio-Lactite™ ink is a renewable resource based ink – made from corn – capable of printing on both flexible and rigid materials.

“Our new organic Bio-Lactite inks are the result of Mutoh’s ongoing commitment to develop sustainable and environmentally friendly printing solutions for both installed base Mutoh users and new users”, says Arthur Vanhoutte, President of Mutoh’s European operations.

“The inks will offer print providers a sustainable print solution that will enable them to reduce the entire environmental footprint of their daily production. The new Bio-Lactite inks will enable users to explore green output on recyclable media whilst keeping the performance features of typical solvent-based inks and keeping an efficient energy consumption.  The ink’s attractive price setting will furthermore enable printer users to reduce their cost for print figures. Last but not least, Mutoh’s award-winning and so far unrivalled Intelligent Interweaving print technology will avoid trial and error printing and therefore reduce media waste”, Vanhoutte concludes.

The new Bio-Lactite™ ink is compatible with Mutoh Rockhopper 3 Extreme roll printers and the Mutoh ValueJet Hybrid roll to roll and rigid printer. Available in 220 & 440 ml cassettes, 880 ml bags and in litre bottles, the inks will be marketed all over Europe, the Middle East and Africa through Mutoh’s authorised distributor channel.

Key Characteristics of Mutoh Bio-Lactite™ Inks

Ink Composition & Safety Aspects

• Mutoh’s Bio Lactite™ inks are non-petrochemical based inks.  50 % of the inks is ethyl-lactate, a component which is derived from corn.
• The inks do not spread any harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in the working environment and therefore do not require any forced or special ventilation.
• Non ODP inks (non Ozone DePleting), meaning the inks do not contain products which are considered as harmful to the earth's protective ozone layer.
• Rapid drying; no external drying equipment is required to dry the inks.
• Inks are fixed and dried at regular heating temperatures.  For roll printing, only 600 W is consumed during printing.
• Wide colour gamut with unique media gloss preservation.
• Low maintenance – same ease of use as Mutoh Eco Ultra inks.

Unique Ink Fixation Process

• Selected binders contained in the Bio-Lactite™ inks ensure an optimized chemical interaction among the pigments and the media surface.
• For roll media, the ink is fixed and dried by the printer’s conventional integrated heating elements.
• For rigid media printing and for insulating roll media such as polypropylene, Mutoh proprietary rapid response heated air knives (ValueJet Hybrid only) deliver instant heating from the top, fixing and drying the ink.

Multi-Purpose Ink

• Mutoh Bio-Lactite™ inks are suited for both roll and rigid printing.
• Unlike other “green” inks, the unique ink formulation of Mutoh Bio-Lactite™ inks, specifically tuned to piezo drop-on-demand inkjet head technology, will enable printing on a wide range of conventional solvent-compatible media.
• The inks will also be the obvious choice for customers demanding “green output” on recyclable media and for high quality direct printing on “exotic” media not typically intended for inkjet printing.
• Unrivalled media compatibility range - Uncoated rigid materials : Acrylic glass - PMMA, aluminium sandwich board, foam board, cardboard, ABS, polycarbonate - PC, polypropylene - PP, etc… Uncoated flexible substrates : Non-PVC & PVC based self-adhesive media, recyclable fibre-based paper,  banner, polyethylene - PET, polypropylene - PP, etc....

Performance

• Suitable for indoor and outdoor applications.
• Suited for 3D wrap applications and for unique thermo-deformation applications.
• For high quality prints for close viewing distances (< 1 meter), typical production speeds of 9 m² per hour at 720 x 720 dpi can be reached on flexible substrates.  For rigid substrates, speeds of 8 m²/h at 720 x 720 dpi can be reached.
• Outdoor durability of up to two years, without lamination.  For fleet, floor graphics or other applications where prints are exposed to intensive mechanical stress or abrasion, lamination is recommended.

Availability

• 220 ml cassettes
• 440 ml cassettes
• 880 ml bags (for ValueJet Hybrid only)
• 1 litre bottles (for use in combination with Mutoh’s bulk ink system).

About Mutoh’s Bulk Ink System (BIS)

Mutoh’s BIS system was developed for speed-intensive, volume oriented users that require a high-volume ink delivery and refill system.  The bulk ink system can be easily mounted on top of the printer.