Energy curing technologies, once thought of as niche and unique, are steadily growing in popularity. As the global need for ‘greener’ processes and products has risen, so too has the demand for ultraviolet (UV) and electron beam (EB) technology.
 
Here, two leading suppliers share with Ink World Magazine what consumers can expect to see in this market.
 
Flint Group
According to Deanna Whelan, Flint Group’s global marketing manager for Packaging and Narrow Web, Flint Group Narrow Web is continually developing products for the UV arena.
 
“Most current developments include a full range of EkoCure UV LED inks,” she said. “This includes shrink whites, metallics, adhesives, coatings, rotary screen whites and colors, and of course, UV flexo inks.”
 
Flint Group Narrow Web’s EkoCure Ancora, which was launched at Labelexpo Americas in September, is a line of low-migration UV LED inks and coatings designed specifically for the food label and packing markets.
 
“Ancora 50 has been recently launched. It is a fit-for-purpose low migration ink that is aligned more cost effectively to the new PIM stimulant/food categories in EuPIA,” Whelan said. “Also, in North America, we will be launching a UV LED offset ink for narrow web printing in early 2015.”
 
The sheetfed segment of packaging and narrow web has also launched several inks using UV and EB technologies under the Ultraking brand name. These inks include Ultraking 4600 LM PLAS Premium for food packaging applications and Ultraking Shrink U, high performance energy curable inks for shrink label and packaging applications.
 
In early 2014, Flint Group launched two new inks in the Ultraking line, which include: Ultraking XCURA are UV LE/HUV curable inks for sheetfed and web offset printing, which cure with low-energy lamps and are suitable for commercial and non-food packaging applications; and Ultraking XCURA LED, which cure using UV LED lamp technology (also for sheetfed and web offset printing on paper and paperboard).
 
“Flint Group understands the future of printing is with UV curable technologies,” Whelan said. “We put dedicated and expert focus into these developments.  We firmly believe that UV is the way of the future, and it is standard for Flint Group to develop inks to support the future of our market. “
 
Toyo Ink
Toyo Ink has several products for this market. According to Yu Adachi, corporate communication department, Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co., Ltd., the company’s Flash Dry Karton FP series of UV-curable offset inks for food packaging is formulated with low-migration materials and is Swiss Ordinance compliant. It also contains highly reactive materials for superior curing.
 
Toyo Ink’s FD LioTone Series of UV-curable screen printing inks produce “a unique, uneven raised effect using original fluid control technology,” Adachi said. “These inks produce metallic etched effects on metallic paper and matte effects on transparent base materials.”
 
The Flash Dry Clear Coat Series of UV-curable coating varnishes are high-gloss with anti-fingerprint capabilities. According to Adachi, this series is ideal for protecting the aesthetic appeal of packaging while on store shelves.
 
Finally, the Flash Dry HS series is Toyo Ink’s environmentally conscious line of UV inks, which are highly sensitive to UV light.
 
“This makes it possible to reduce energy consumption for UV irradiation during the curing process,” Adachi said. “This innovative series enables users to reduce irradiated UV (i.e. drying energy) by one-fourth to one-half compared to normal levels.
 
“The Flash Dry K-HS line of UV-curable sheetfed inks is specially formulated for use on the HUV press. Initially developed with Ryobi, the Flash Dry LED line is a high-sensitivity UV ink compatible with virtually any sheetfed press.”