Drying, Curing & UV


A SPIRITED SPECTRAL SOLUTION By Tom Kerchiss, RK Print Coat Instruments


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rands are volatile, they’re not invincible; they can just as easily slip back as they can go forward. They depend not only on


what is being offered but also on the brand owner, marketer and the packaging converter’s ability to promote the product. UV flexo continues to impact on labelling


and presentation packaging of products such as bottled spirits, fine wines and other items that command a premium price. The high solids content of the inks means that UV inks provide for high gloss, high scuff, heat resistance and excellent resistance against chemicals. These properties make UV flexo ideal for products that might be subject to bumping, scuffing during processing on an accumulator line, during shipment or when displayed and handled on the retailers’ shelf. It has taken many years for radiation curable printed and coated products to become relatively well accepted in the print and converting industries. Benchmark testing, peer group reviews and a better understanding of light/energy manipulative technology together with better pre-press support has made implementing ultraviolet curing of inks in the label and package production environment less troublesome than it once was. Process developments, innovations such as improved power sources and reflector technology as well as LED or Light Emitting Diodes make UV curing in print and converting more relevant when brand owners, marketers, designers and packaging technologists consider the next job. Prior to the widespread acceptance of radiation curing in the graphic arts and converting sectors, it is worth remembering that the process was and indeed is used for quite different reasons in beverage, distilling, brewing, etc. In the beverage sectors UV has been used


for many decades to assist in the production of high-purity liquids as well as for rinse water applications and the sterilisation of surfaces. The use of UV technology for water treatment (bottled water, soft drinks, fruit juices) has inherent advantages in that it does not ‘add’ anything to the water or other liquid stream such as undesirable colour, odour, chemicals, taste or flavour. Printers, formulators and others have found


ways around problems that made many users cautious about using UV. Today, UV delivers high quality image enhanced reproduction that quality committed and value-conscious printers need to maintain their competitive edge and grow the business. The marketing, distribution and selling of


premium branded spirits such as whiskey, tequila, brandy and cognac is big business and highly competitive. More robust competition and a greater willingness on the part of younger consumers to experiment and try different brands does mean that brand owners cannot afford to be complacent.


20 May 2020 The sale of spirits and cocktails in clubs and


bars is to a much younger age group than in the past, and while this is good news on the marketing front, most tend to agree that consumers can be fickle. At present, the sale of all alcohol including spirits is at a record high as many consumers endeavour to make the lock down due to Covid-19 easier to cope with at home. The packaging converter and label printer


needs to produce innovative labels that incorporate intricate illustrative elements, which encourage closer inspection and product handling by the consumer. Colours may include feel good elements such as a vibrant red indicative of a setting sun, suggestive of evening relaxation; turquois blue and subtle yellows to create an almost holiday feel or to create a party ambiance. Whatever the spirit being marketed, the one thing that all spirits, fine wines and other alcoholic beverages have in common is that they all come in glass bottles. Glass makes for class! Glass is non-porous and impermeable, so there are no interactions between glass and the liquid contained within. Glass is effective in keeping gases out and in itself can play a prominent role in a marketing campaign. Bottles can incorporate a frosted finish; they may incorporate a clear ‘no label look,’ a favourite for vodka. Bottles and cap seals may also be coloured and shaped to add to differentiation possibilities. It is worth bearing in mind what print is all


about. It is about being able to translate the client’s vision into a product that meets or exceeds expectations. In order to achieve this day in day out and from job to job those engaged in using or producing energy cured materials need to have in place reliable colour communicative equipment that can undertake reliable test procedures. Pre-press and other operatives need systems and devices that can monitor, highlight and help resolve issues surrounding the use of UV inks; colour matching, determining how inks and substrates interact over time and for the trialling of materials, consumables and other product quality related issues. RK Print Coat Instruments FlexiProof UV and


FlexiProof LED UV can be used for colour matching and determining how the ink and substrates perform and to assess gloss, durability, chemical resistance and durability, etc. Moreover, because the FlexiProof incorporates a miniaturised UV it cures inline in a seamless operation so that print inconsistencies or blemishes including pinholes can be detected. Because in essence the FlexiProof is a scaled down but exact version of a flexographic press, the device can be used in place of the production press for trialling unfamiliar inks and substrates.


rkprint.com


IST (UK) offers Steribase UV clean air solutions for a safer workplace


P rinting


companie s and


printing suppliers seeking to make their workplace safer during the current COVID- 19 crisis should consider installing a Steribase air cleaning system now being provided by IST METZ in co- operation with Virobuster. By reducing micro- organisms in the air, infection risk is greatly reduced. The Steribase


systems feature patented UVPE (Ultraviolet Pathogenic Elimination) for air disinfection. They deactivate micro- organisms harmful to humans, the environment and food.


The Steribase 300 Plus (£5,020) is a mobile unit that is ideal for medical applications but the wall mounted Steribase Wall 150 Basic B114 (£3,575) is well suited to industrial environments. The units are simple to install and quick to commission and offer a high clean air delivery rate. Having clean air protects staff and visitors


and works well as part of an overall hygiene policy in the current COVID-19 crisis. Companies should also encourage good disciplines with hand washing, clean surfaces, clean tools, clean clothing and clean water. Steribase systems have already been installed in medical, transport and industrial environments. They were developed following studies early in the 21st century that proved the significant effect air quality had on infection rates.


ist-uv.com convertermag.com


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