Suppliers Combine to Present "UV Flexo for Food Packaging" Project at Drupa 2008

Published: June 23, 2008

TURATE, Italy | GIDUE, IST Metz, Air Liquide, Softal, and Sun Chemical will team up to present what they say is the first turnkey UV flexo printing solution specifically designed to provide cost-efficient, solvent-free and food-approved flexible film packaging at Drupa 2008.

"UV flexo for Food Packaging" is said to provide the optimal solution for safe food packaging, meeting the critical requirements typical for this sector, GIDUE reports. The digitally-controlled, mid-web press GIDUE ATHENA now incorporates ALDYNE in-line plasma treatment from Air Liquide and Softal, and UV TIME inert atmosphere curing that integrates the latest generation IST Metz air-cooled MBS lamp modules with gas sealing technology from Air Liquide and GIDUE.

Using the latest generation SOLARFLEX LM INERT low migration inks from Sun Chemical, the press can cost effectively print UV-cured flexible packaging at high speeds and on standard grade packaging films, while meeting the most rigorous standards for ink component migration and odor in food packaging.

This solution offers new opportunities for narrow web printers to enter new markets and gives flexible packaging converters an alternative to solvent-based printing, while eliminating previous constraints in UV printing, such as poor ink adhesion on packaging films, low print productivity, and high nitrogen consumption in inert atmosphere curing units, the companies report.

The ATHENA press concept will be presented by GIDUE at Drupa 2008 (Hall 10/Booth C40), while the new ALDYNE Flex module will be shown in Hall 11/Booth A27.