Sun Chemical Launches First UV Flexo Ink Concentrate and Technology Varnish System for Standard UV Flexo Dispensers

Written August 15, 2019

Categories: Consumables, Consumables, Consumables, Digital Packaging, Industry News, News

During Labelexpo 2019, Sun Chemical will showcase its complete portfolio of solutions for the narrow web label and packaging markets and highlight its latest product and service innovations. Through the extensive range on display, Sun Chemical will also demonstrate its commitment to sustainability, which continues to be fundamental to its innovation and product development, as the world’s largest producer of printing inks and pigments.
 
UV Inks
Sun Chemical will use Labelexpo as a platform for the global launch of SolarVerse, a range of highly pigmented, low viscosity, multipurpose UV flexo base concentrates, designed to be easily dispensed through a standard UV flexo dispenser and offering customers significant benefits in terms of cost savings and flexibility.
 
By simply blending a SolarVerse base concentrate with a specific, optimized technology varnish, different, finished ink profiles can be produced, ready for use on press in whatever color specified. As SolarVerse bases are formulated with materials suitable for migration-compliant applications when mixed with the appropriate technology varnish, the single base range is also ideal for UV flexo food packaging and label applications. With the same SolarVerse base concentrates being used for each ink profile, color consistency is also maintained regardless of the end print use.
 
Sun Chemical will also be introducing a new concept for food-compliant UV flexo products within the SolarVerse system, under the brand name SolarFlex Zero. This technology has been shown to achieve exceptionally low odor and migration characteristics in food-compliant label and packaging applications. Sun Chemical will be making this available for market validation in the coming months. 
 
Demonstrating other developments for the UV market, Sun Chemical will also showcase its latest class leading range of UV LED curing SolarWave flexo and SunWave offset inks. The fully EuPIA-compliant SunWave Lumina offset inks are suitable for use on all sheetfed UV LED press types, including those equipped with low energy mercury lamps, and deliver leading lithographic performance that helps printers achieve increased productivity.
 
SolarWave FSP UV LED flexo food-compliant inks are available as finished inks or as part of the SolarVerse system through a dedicated UV LED technology varnish. The inks demonstrate all the capabilities of conventional UV flexo inks when cured under suitable UV LED curing systems.  
 
Color Management
A further highlight of the stand will be Sun Chemical’s demonstration of SunColorBox, which addresses the multiple issues associated with color management. SunColorBox (download guide) offers a unique set of tools and services – from site assessments and full color audits to matching and validating colors to hosting digital libraries of spot colors - that enables consistent, accurate digital color communication and provides color data connectivity across the entire packaging supply chain. 

A menu of added-value services, SunColorBox offers every customer — whether printing spot color, CMYK or extended color gamut — a tool to manage colors with best efficiency and ensure their consistency across substrates and geographies. It also allows each customer to select the most suitable services based on the size of their business and the investment required.

Digital Inkjet
Also present on the stand will be solutions from SunJet, Sun Chemical’s digital inkjet brand. Working globally with OEM partners, system integrators and printhead manufacturers, SunJet provides exceptional inkjet chemistry solutions, including market-leading high opacity whites, for a broad range of label and narrow web applications.
 
Under the SunJet brand, Sun Chemical will showcase its UV, e-beam and aqueous technology through its Etijet range, as well as its ‘Amplio’ digital effects range, which comprises primers, effects varnishes, gloss varnishes, foiling varnishes, lamination varnishes and adhesives for digital effects. Demonstrating its understanding and expertise of food safety regulations, SunJet will also present its line of migration-compliant inkjet solutions for printing onto the non-contact side of primary and secondary food packaging applications.
 
Sun Chemical will show its ongoing commitment to providing tailored solutions for its customers and markets by demonstrating SunEvo Primus and SunEvo Protect on the stand. These ranges of coatings, aimed to facilitate the evolution of digitally printed packaging, provide improved workflows and technically advanced solutions that comply with industry standards.
 
Special Effects
Complementing its comprehensive product lineup at Labelexpo, Sun Chemical will present its range of SunInspire specialty inks and coatings for label applications, which add an extra dimension and look and feel to label applications.
 
For more information on Sun Chemical’s product portfolio visit stand 5E45 at Labelexpo Europe 2019 in Brussels, Belgium on September 24-27, 2019.