INX to Debut GAIA at Labelexpo Europe

SAKATA INX and INX International Ink Co. officials have high expectations for Labelexpo Europe when it is held Sept. 25-28, 2017 in Brussels. With an emphasis on indirect food packaging solutions, INX will highlight narrow web label, sleeve and flexible packaging ink products, in addition to UV, EB and low migration inks and coatings and digital printing technologies. 
 
INX Digital’s expertise will be demonstrated with the introduction of GAIA, the first industrial end-to-end inkjet production line with inline ebeam curing for indirect food packaging and labels, the company noted.
 
“We have a variety of products that will be showcased, and we are especially excited about GAIA,” said Peter Lockley, president of INX Europe. “It was created by combining INX Digital’s custom integration of digital technologies and print engines, with Uteco’s expertise in web handling and an inline curing unit from ebeam Technologies. GAIA opens the door for packaging converters and label printers with custom print opportunities.”
 
GAIA is driven by the JetINX Printhead Drive and Ink Recirculation system. The 4-color printer offers resolution up to 720 x 360 dpi, throughput speed up to 25 meters per minute, and uses photoinitiator-free inkjet, EB-curable inks from INX Digital.
 
JetINX also powers INX’s NW210 UV digital label press and will be demonstrated at the show. The NW210 delivers impressive, single pass output up to 24 meters per minute.
 
“We are excited about the evolution of our narrow web product line. The print width has grown, but just as important is the product options have drastically increased,” said Jim Lambert, VP and GM – Digital Division, at INX International. 
 
“The latest press we just installed has corona treatment for difficult to print on rolled goods, self-wound laminate application, laminate application with a carrier or liner, rotary output and a stacking device,” Lambert added. “When you add all of these options with the printing and laser die cutting capability that has been our mainstay, this device completely integrates the printing and converting process.”
 
In addition, the company will show INXFlex UV LM inks, UV curable flexographic products that have been formulated to have low migration characteristics for indirect food packaging applications. Designed to have exceptional adhesion to a variety of synthetic stocks, they are compliant with Swiss Ordinance 817.023.21, the EuPIA inventory list, commission regulations (EC) 1935/2004 and 2003/2006, and the Resolution of Council of Europe on packaging inks AP(2005)2.
 
“UV inks are rising in popularity for several reasons. To begin with, water-based inks are cumbersome to dry and solvent-based inks require removing part of the solvent – after transfer – which is challenging to dispose of with environmental regulations,” explained Renee Schouten, director of marketing for INX International.
 
“Both water and solvent-based inks also require a drying process that takes time. You must reduce the efficacy of the ink, as ink costs in volume and about 40% of the ink base is lost in drying and curing,” continued Schouten. “That said, UV inks usage is still rising and will likely continue. They are more cost efficient than water and solvent-based inks.”
 
The INX Group also has plans for the increasing growth of LED and EB technology. On display will be food compliant UV LED offset and flexo inks for packaging applications, in-mold labels, and EB curing inks for shrink sleeve applications. The UV LED inks are Swiss Ordinance compliant and cure with as little as one LED UV lamp. For sheetfed applications, the INX Group will feature long wavelength (LW) OSF process inks.

“LED UV is an enabling technology,” noted Lockley. “In flexo printing, it allows for more specialty printing and superb product resistance properties, while having an ink that remains stable on press as there is no water and little to no VOCs to cause inks to drift. The electron beam (EB) technology is a further advancement of UV curing. Our EB curable ink system offers good print quality, product resistance and high gloss, as well as eliminating the need for interstation curing.”

 

INX, Uteco and ebeam Technologies will introduce GAIA in Stand 4A25. (Source: INX)