Flexible Packaging
Universal bases: the building blocks of future flexible packaging ink technology
On many different fronts, the pressure that today’s flexible packaging converters are under is monumental.
A
s brand owners demand ever-shorter lead times, the print quality and appearance of the final packaging product cannot be compromised. At the same time, converters and brand owners must be driving progress on sustainability, circularity and regulatory compliance, all while pack designs are becoming more complex and intricate, and rising costs are compressing printers’ margins. What’s more, global supply chain insecurity means that consistent supply of raw materials and substrates isn’t always guaranteed, which makes inventory management and planning more complex.
In response to the challenges our customers face in today’s competitive market, we have embarked on a mission to redefine the standards in ink development through ONECode. ONECode is our portfolio of flexible packaging inks and coatings that centres around robust, high-performance building blocks. From these foundations, we can develop the core technology of universal bases into new targeted areas that add value to different printing methods and applications while maintaining the required performance standards. This approach propels ink development to reach unprecedented levels of versatility in a way that a more traditional building block system could not accomplish. It also signifies our commitment to assisting flexible packaging printers in addressing the pressing demands of agility, speed, and reliability effortlessly.
At Flint Group, we believe that universal bases are the future of ink formulation, and it’s not hard to see why this approach is gaining traction. Universal bases streamline ink formulation processes by cutting the number of variables and reducing complexity while ensuring consistency. With this consistency, converters can simplify ink inventory management and quality control, leading to increased efficiency and print repeatability, and cost savings. Ultimately, this delivers greater confidence in the result, with fewer disruptive on-press adjustments. Additionally, this approach also guarantees a safer and more solid supply chain which ensures that inks arrive when and where needed. For our R&D team, universal bases provide a solid foundation for ink formulation, which enables us to
respond swiftly to specific customer demands. This means we can bring new value-adding technologies to the market whilst effectively meeting our customers’ demands. Rather than starting from scratch for each formulation, we can build on universal bases with specific additives or pigments, with a particular application in mind. Whether it’s flexography or gravure printing, these bases can be tailored to meet the diverse application requirements of our customers. MatrixCode is a range of solvent-based inks dedicated to the rotogravure printing process for Flexible Packaging & Aluminium Foil. Our MatrixCode series includes a bespoke mono-solvent universal bases ink system for gravure printing. The inks are designed to produce superb results on a wide range of flexible packaging materials within the gravure print environment. HelixCode is a range of solvent-based inks that offers versatility by bridging high performance inks for both flexographic and rotogravure printing. In addition, HexaCode offers a pluri-solvent universal base gravure system that provides excellent performance on press. Furthermore, our dedication to sustainability-focused product development is evident in our recycled PU ink lamination structures, supporting a stronger circular
economy in printing. This commitment aligns with our vision for the future, where innovation, efficiency, and sustainability converge to drive progress in the flexible packaging industry.
Our universal bases, compatible across a wide range of main and co-binder resins, ensure seamless ink formulation and deliver cleaner shades and maximum colour gamut. This not only unlocks consistent batch to batch quality but also supports supply contingency at a time when flexible packaging converters need this more than ever. Ink and coating technology plays an important role within the packaging industry; therefore, it is key to make every effort to future-proof these products. By offering unlimited flexibility and versatility with universal bases, packaging converters are empowered to achieve exceptional and consistent results across a wide range of applications. Universal bases represent the future of ink technology in flexible packaging, offering an efficient and versatile solution to meet the evolving needs of printers and converters.
To learn more about Flint Group and its ink and coating technologies for the flexible packaging sector, please visit
flintgrp.com.
38
March 2024
www.convertermag.com
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
