Labelling solutions
High expectations in narrow web
By Tom Kerchiss, Chairman of RK Print Coat Instruments Ltd
I
t doesn’t matter whether the narrow web converter needs to impart a gleam to a label for a lip-gloss and make up gift box or a poly crafted wraparound label for a take it into the shower shampoo: everyone has high expectations. Brand owners want the label or pack to show off their product to the best advantage; retailers also want to stock items that move from the shelf into the shoppers trolley as fast as possible; looks count but both manufacturer, brand owner and retailers want to ensure the provenance of an item. Everyone wants smart labels. They want data embedded bar codes, quick response QR codes; stock and waste management and RFID capability so that goods can be automatically tracked through a production line process, or tagged and with a reader to facilitate payment, or for inventory management, or for fraud and theft protection. Thermal transfer printing technology has much in its favour in that it’s fast and accurate and can be integrated in with hybrid fl exo UV /LED UV and other combination processing lines.
There are many opportunities in areas that were once considered specialist. Labels manufactured to indicate temperature changes and are useful for food items that have a limited harvest-to- distributor and retailer to consumer lifespan such as fresh fruit, are available.
Durability in a label is as important now as it was in the past. New constructs and formulae provide resistance to polar liquids such as water, still others to non-polar liquid; fatty esters; hydrocarbons and even alkali liquids. Polyolefi n is available as a crystal-clear material for the no label look and, of increasing importance, polyolefi n: PP and PE in varying grades can be recycled without too much trouble and without separation in conventional waste streams. Environmental compliance, statement of intent such as the aim to recycle and/or recycle and to manufacture, print and convert from sustainable resources are no longer phrases banded about to mollify the environmentalists, the media, concerned consumers and of course the label and packaging converters ultimate paymaster: the customer, the brand owner.
Some of the most interesting material developments that may be utilised for labels and packaging are in the area of bio plastics or plant based polymers and biodegradable materials and/or recycled structures, many of which are regarded as being sustainable, non-damaging to the environment and natural. Bio plastics or polymers are derived from a renewable biomass such as corn, starch, pea starch and even casein or milk and even clay. Starch based materials are
suitable for some applications. Derived from corn and potatoes, they are industrially compostable. A caveat with biodegradable or compostable materials is that in landfi ll situations care needs to be exercised as methane gas has been reported. Methane is far more worrying than CO2. To ensure a label is fully environmentally compliant, consumables such as inks and adhesive coatings and other materials need to be considered. Bio based and compostable labels as well as inks such as soy, water wash, and water based inks/adhesives and coatings are set to become more prevalent with AI shortening product development time.
A better understanding of light manipulation technology and heat management together with pre-press support has made implementing technology such as LED UV curing a realistic proposition. Ink manufacturers have developed inks formulated to react to the output from UV LED light/energy sources. These low odour and low migration products meet health & safety and performance requirements. A signifi cant benefi t of LED UV is the minimal heat transfer to the substrate.
LED UV lamps operate within a relatively narrow part of the UV spectrum. RK Print Coat Instruments FlexiProof LED UV colour communication, proofi ng and pre-press support device is a bench top device, incorporating fl exo press critical components and a miniaturised curing unit with lamps typically off ering a tailored output either at the important 385 or 395 nm wavelength. Quality control devices can play a critical role in ensuring that inks, substrates, processes and other components perform to high expectations and that with regard to the fl exographic UV process that inks are properly cured. It would be wrong to assume that low odour low migration inks are ready to go. Every aspect of processing labels and production needs to be considered and that includes pre-press.
The FlexiProof 100, FlexiProof UV and FlexiProof LED UV can be used for colour matching and for determining how the inks and other coating interact with the substrate. Printability issues such as gloss, durability, chemical resistance, rub resistance and fl exibility can be determined.
20
Dec 2025/Jan 2026
www.convertermag.com
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