DECORATION AND INTERACTIVITY | INNOVATION


Decoration processes are no longer just about simple visual communication.Peter Mapleston reports on developments in technology, inks and printing


Surface technologies unite aesthetics and functionality


In-mould and post-processing decoration tech- nologies associated with injection moulding continue to make important progress. One promi- nent trend is to integrate functionality into decora- tive films that are subsequently back-moulded to create packaging and technical parts. Functionality in in-mould decoration (IMD) for rigid packaging may comprise things like “hidden” coding that can be read by smartphones to provide consumers with information that cannot fit in the normal way onto the label. Functionality in films and foils for technical parts – the technology is often called Film Insert Moulding (FIM) – can be activated by touch; in one example, it enables LEDs embedded in the foil to be turned on and off. Visitors to the Arburg stand at K2019 could see FIM using TactoTek’s IMSE (Injection Moulded Structural Electronics) technology in a clean room


www.injectionworld.com


cell based on an electric Allrounder 470 A. Output was a demonstrator night light for a writing desk, in which the brightness of the light could be changed simply by stroking the surface of a dial integrated into the surface of the part. Pre-formed 3D films with integrated electronic functions and five LEDs were fed into the cell from trays. After being cleaned with air jets, the films were in-mould laminated with a special polycar- bonate from Covestro called Makrolon LED 5012. With IMSE, printed conductor paths and electron- ic components that were applied to the film before deformation can be seamlessly integrated on 3D component surfaces. A re-working of the in-mould laminated films – coating or painting, for example – is not required. (For an introduction to IMSE, see E&E feature in Injection World October 2016.) “As the cell at K2019 demonstrated, even in a


Main image: In-mould


labels enable packaging to be interactive with the


consumer via a smartphone


October 2020 | INJECTION WORLD 15


IMAGE: VERSTRAETE IML


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62