Sun Chemical Receives PIA/GATF 2008 InterTech Technology Award

Published: September 02, 2008

PARSIPPANY, NJ | Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation announced that Sun Chemical was awarded a 2008 InterTech Technology Award for its Platinum White technology, a UV flexo white ink that improves productivity when converters print narrow web labels. The ink reportedly delivers increased line speeds, faster changeovers, improved color separations, and reduced costs.

UV rotary screen white inks have long provided high opacity and brightness for package printing. However, rotary screen printers are restricted to low press speeds and sometimes borderline adhesion to many substrates, according to Sun Chemical. In addition, flexo or letterpress inks printed over them usually require modification for optimal wetting and adhesion.

Platinum White reportedly improves rotary screen technology by enabling increased press speeds, adhesion to many challenging substrates, overprint ability with standard UV letterpress, UV and water-based flexo inks and coatings, better color separations, faster makeready times, and reduced consumable costs.

Printers will not need to modify press equipment, says Sun Chemical, or invest in costly new equipment to use Platinum White. Additionally, converters can further cut expenses by purchasing flexo plates at a considerably lower cost than easily damaged rotary screens.

Inaugurated in 1978 to foster awareness and understanding of advanced graphic arts technology, the PIA/GATF InterTech Technology Awards honor excellence in innovative technology for the graphic communications industry. The nomination criteria stipulate that the technology be recently developed but out of beta testing and be proven in industrial application, but not yet in widespread use. The technology must also be expected to have a major impact on the graphic communications industry over the next five years. Over 80% of past recipients have experienced commercial success in the marketplace.