INX International to Showcase Sustainable Solutions at interpack 2023

Following a six-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, interpack returns May 4-10 in Dusseldorf, Germany. INX International Ink Co. and parent company, Sakata INX, are ready to help packaging brand owners with a full complement of reliable, efficient, and cost-effective sustainable inks and coatings solutions on display in Hall 18 at Stand F12.

Environmentally friendly inks that improve recycling, low energy inks for increased efficiencies, and functional inks and coatings for consumer safety, food preservation, and brand protection purposes are the types of solutions INX believes packaging stakeholders can benefit from today.

“The packaging world is much different than the last time interpack was held. Since then, we have worked together with Sakata INX on our longtime mission to deliver new and innovative solutions that drive sustainability through the value chain for our suppliers and customers,” said Renee Schouten, VP of marketing for INX.

“The demand for the sale of pre-packaged food has increased substantially since 2020 and is projected to continue through 2026,” added Schouten. “Our commitment to sustainability performance filters into the process of how we develop all new products for the benefit of brand owners, customers and consumers. Besides seeing the products in our stand, attendees should visit us in the Sustainable Packaging Showroom on May 8 for a better understanding of how this will help them.”

In partnership with Comexi, a leading manufacturer of flexographic printing presses for the flexible packaging industry, INX will participate in the day-long event in Hall 10, Room 10.1A. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., samples of INX GelFlex-EB – a gel-based lightweighting surface print ink system for CI flexo printing – will show superior print quality similar to gravure. The crosslinked, durable ink film eliminates the need for a lamination layer that reduces costs and package weight and improves recyclability.

“From 2 to 5 p.m., there will be seminars on sustainable packaging to educate everyone on how printing offset and flexo together with electron beam curable inks can help reduce solvents for more sustainable and recyclable packaging. Jonathan Graunke, our vice president of UV/EB technology and assistant director of R&D, is presenting and will be available to talk to at the networking session from 5 to 6 p.m.,” said Schouten.

INX has long been a proponent of natural-based inks in favor of replacing traditional, petro-chemically derived ingredients. When INXhrc reached the market in 2017, it was a water-only flexo product that has since expanded to include solvent, oil, and energy cured formulations.

Subsequent improvements by the INX R&D team have resulted in some INXhrc product applications now exceeding 90% bio-renewable content. It is available for applications ranging from food service packaging and corrugated and folding cartons, to flexible paper and envelope and narrow web tag and label printing.

INX will also feature high performance inks formulated to improve recycling, and functional inks and coatings for food preservation, mono-material packaging, and brand protection. The list begins with Genesis washable inks that are de-inkable from cPET films and floatable with roll-fed OPP labels where ink is typically required to stay attached in the recycling process.

INXShield is formulated with BioCote antimicrobial technology that protects the coating by inhibiting the growth of odor and staining microbes on its surface. Validated and quality control tested on a regular basis by an independent testing facility using the ISO 22196:2011 test method, INXShield UV Flexo is suitable for application over dry water-based and cured UV inks. INXShield GS Slip is a solvent-based gravure coating for use on shrinkable film labels.

Ecostage GB-XA is a recent addition to the INX product line-up that addresses food safety and preservation issues and improves sustainability and recycling efforts. The oxygen barrier coating allows for mono-material packaging to replace multi-layer packaging for specific food applications, making it easier to recycle the package.

INX’s level of protection for brand owners extends to proprietary security inks using the latest technology. VerifyInk security inks are specially formulated inks and integrated into VerifyMe’s variable overt and covert authentication, serialization, and track and trace technology to help reduce counterfeit products in the marketplace.

The INXCure line of low energy inks are formulated to cure using LED bulbs and the new iron-doped additive lamps being offered by the top press manufacturers. They are 100% reactive and provide an excellent cure response to print at maximum press speeds. The inks cure with as little as one LED UV or low energy lamp, consuming less electricity while nearly eliminating the heat and odor associated with traditional UV curing. The inks are suitable for a variety of coated and uncoated paper stocks, coated board stocks, foil stocks and metallized paper.