Flint Group Narrow Web Wins Award for Innovation at Labelexpo 2013

Flint Group Narrow Web received the Award for Innovation at The Label Industry Global Awards for its EkoCure UV LED ink technologies. Flint Group was named joint winner alongside co-supplier and development partner, Mark Andy.

Flint Group was among more than 20 entrants for the Award for Innovation – eight companies of which were short-listed as possible winners.

The judges’ comments were, “UV LED, mercury- and ozone-free ink technology, from Flint Group, now offers a commercially viable option with its new EkoCure inks providing improved cure response, cost and productivity savings, waste reduction, energy savings and enhanced safety that will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the future of the label industry.”

Flint Group’s EkoCure UV flexo and screen inks are the first-ever narrow web printing inks developed for use in combination printing. These inks perform to the highest standards and bring economical and ecological benefits to the market. First launched in the U.S. in 2012, these inks are now globally available through Flint Group’s extensive distribution network.

“To be awarded this innovation award is very encouraging and an excellent example of what can be achieved when working in partnership with industry suppliers. It is the teamwork and common drive that have made this revolutionary technology a reality,” said Guillaume Clement, global business director narrow web.

“To win this prestigious award is a great sign for Flint Group that our commitment to innovation is recognized,”Clement added. “We have just decided to further expand on our capabilities to innovate by announcing our investment in a new printing press. This press investment brings enhanced capabilities to continuously push the development boundaries for decades to come. We will not rest with the win of this one award – it stimulates us to pay close attention to innovations and welcome partners and co-operations across the product decoration value chain to bring new products to the world.”

“We knew we probably had the best chance ever to win this award,” Jennifer Joyce, global product director narrow web, said “But, with the competition as strong as it was, we really had no idea if we would succeed. When our name was announced, we looked at each other in pure excitement and shock. We are really proud to receive this recognition.”

“Winning this award proves that more than two years of development work invested on UV LED has now been recognized for what it is – true game-changing innovation that will lead our industry into the future,” Jones added.

“Innovation is imbedded in our DNA,” Niklas Olsson, global brand manager narrow web, concluded. “Flint Group has a strong history with over 50 years of ink innovations for the narrow web industry. We sincerely believe that continuous innovation is the only way for our industry to prevail. To be acknowledged as a winner for UV LED inks is a fantastic milestone for us. After multiple years of being nominated for the Award for Innovation, we finally won and that is a fantastic feeling.”

EkoCure products are available in a complete range of UV flexo inks, from all base colors in the Pantone base range, as well as UV rotary screen inks designed for combination printing. The EkoCure ink range also offers a complete portfolio of metallic inks, varnishes and adhesives.