INX Has New and Complete Solutions for Labelexpo 2012

At Labelexpo Americas 2012, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, INX International Ink Co. formally introduced the NW140 UV digital narrow web press with inline laser cutting from Spartanics, the new AquaTech ION Label ink systems, and the latest in the INXFlex line of UV flexographic products, including advances in LED, Low Migration and High Shrink inks.

Combined with its high performance driven flexographic inks and coatings and plans to run live digital print demonstrations throughout all three days of the event, INX has everything any tag and label operation needs to succeed.

“Labelexpo has been a good show for us throughout the years. I’ve had this week circled on my calendar for months and I’m glad it’s finally here,” said Rick Clendenning, president and CEO of INX International.

“It was two years ago at Labelexpo when we introduced a prototype label machine that impressed many people. Today, that device is the NW140 UV digital narrow web press and it is very unique to the marketplace. Simply put, no one else has anything like it. We’re also introducing for the first time our new AquaTech ION™ Label ink systems. I’m expecting a very good response to these inks because they represent a dramatic advancement for paper, film and thermal label printing.”

The NW140 UV digital narrow web press with inline laser cutting from Spartanics is incredibly fast. It can achieve single pass printing at speeds up to 80 feet per minute on any label stock. It also can print 140 mm wide while providing for easy separation of printed labels.

“We have made a few changes to the NW140 press since we showed our demonstration model at Labelexpo two years ago,” said Jim Lambert, vice president and general manager – Digital Division of INX International Ink Co. “This is a very robust and dynamic piece of equipment and our partners have done a terrific job.”

The NW140 UV digital narrow web press, in addition to the inline laser cutter from Spartanics, counts on 14 innovative Xaar 1001 printheads, which have seven ink channels. In addition, it employs an air-cooled UV-LED pinning system from Integration Technology Ltd., and Phoseon Technology’s FireLine 225 high efficiency, water-cooled UV-LED curing system.

The new AquaTech ION premium quality water based flexographic printing ink formulations are the result of a new formulary breakthrough for label printers. INX created the original AquaTech in the late 1990s, and ION is not only a terrific upgrade with improved benefits but the perfect choice for narrow to mid-Web flexographic operations that provide work for tag and label customers.

Each aqueous system for paper, film and thermal label has unique characteristics. Offering strong performance with superior press stability for better printability at a wide range of press speeds, ION has brilliant color strength and outstanding transparency and resolution. An optional ION-Plus version for printers handling jobs requiring anilox rolls up to 1500 lines is also available.

INX has other inks and coatings it will prominently feature at Labelexpo. Coating products on display include soy-based and UV coatings for digital inks that are low cost and low curl. Also featured will be combination white inks for screen printing.

Leading the contingent of UV flexographic products are the INXFlex UV-LED process inks. UV curable inks that are formulated to cure under Light Emitting Diode (LED) UV lamps with wavelengths between 380-400nm, they provide minimal plate swell for flexographic printing on most tag and label and pressure sensitive substrates. These inks also have been formulated without VOC solvents and are environmentally friendly.

INXFlex UV ITX-free Low Migration process inks are a premium, best-in-class UV curable flexographic product with low odor. Formulated to be ITX-free, they make a difference in the marketplace by having low migration characteristics for indirect food contact and are in compliance with the Swiss Ordinance and other regulatory measures INXFlex Low Migration also prints with less plate swell on most tags and labels, pressure sensitive, and shrink and in-mold label applications.

INXFlex UV ITX-free High Shrink inks also provide minimal swell for flexographic printing. A premium ink, it is specifically engineered for extreme Shrink Sleeve applications. Suitable for most tag and label, pressure sensitive and in-mold label applications, they have excellent adhesion to a wide variety of substrates and are V-Pyrol free. These inks also can be printed with aniloxes up to 1800 line screen with 1.0-1.2 BCM.