The printing ink manufacturer, Zeller+Gmelin GmbH has formulated a new ink series in a two-year development phase for label and packaging printing. The UV-curing flexo inks of the Uvaflex Y80 series are designed for non-food applications and supports printing speed up to 150 meters a minute.
Due to its high color strength, anilox rollers with a lower cell volume can be used. This reduces dot gain for fine details and facilitates the printing of sharp negative fonts. Together with surface gloss, this results in detailed print results. The optimized flow behavior of the inks also contributes to better print results. It also ensures stable ink transfer and eliminates ink spitting at high printing speeds in both open and chambered doctor blade systems. Furthermore, the fast curing feature of the inks allows sufficient safety reserves at press speeds above 100 meters a minute.
The Uvaflex Y80 is suitable for combination printing with various processes such as UV screen printing, UV offset printing, UV letterpress printing and UV overprint varnishing. They can also be combined with common converting and finishing processes in label production such as hot or cold foil stamping or thermal transfer printing. The universal ink series can be used in a wide variety of applications from wine labels on uncoated paper and packaging materials to wrap-around labels and shrink sleeves. In addition, a variety of thermal paper can also be printed.
The Uvaflex Y80 series is available as a complete product range. In addition to process colors and Pantone colors of the digital fan, it also includes monopigmented base inks for color mixtures and various opaque white grades, including a special white for sleeve applications.
The ongoing evaluation of chemicals within the framework of the EU chemical regulation, REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals), also affects raw materials for the production of printing inks. Therefore, a key requirement in the development of the new Uvaflex Y80 was that all components be kept up to date with REACH and that all requirements of the EuPIA Exclusion Policy be complied with. The ink series Y80 was presented at Labelexpo Europe 2019 in Brussels at Stand 11A47 in Hall 11.
