5/10/2011 --- Flexo and gravure converters attending BrasilPlast 2011 will be introduced to a range of ink and coating solutions from Sun Chemical that can be used on a variety of plastic substrates to provide sustainability, brand differentiation, low migration solutions, lightweighting, and variable data printing on packaging.
 
“Our flexo and gravure customers in South America are looking for solutions that meet their sustainability goals, provide special effects on their packaging, and ensure low migration of inks on food packaging,” said Gregory Lawson, President, Sun Chemical Latin America. “Thanks to Sun Chemical’s global presence and resources, we are excited to showcase cutting edge technology at BrasilPlast that will meet the needs of our customers in this region.”
 
Water-Based Flexo Inks Offer a Sustainable Option for Printing on Polyethylene
At booth #F80, Sun Chemical will introduce ECHO water-based flexo inks for use primarily on high- and low-density polyethylene or plastic grocery bags. The new ink system offers high quality printing and adhesion on treated polyethylene, allowing customers to replace their current solvent-based inks with a more sustainable solution. ECHO inks can be printed at speeds of up to 100 meters per minute, offer good water resistance, low foaming, and an adequate level of brightness.
 
Sun Chemical to Highlight Special Effects Inks for Brand and Package Differentiation
Brand owners and package printers alike visiting Sun Chemical’s booth can learn about SunInspire, a broad portfolio of high-impact special effects for every packaging substrate and print technology on the market today. Backed by Sun Chemical’s global supply chain which ensures product consistency around the world, the SunInspire portfolio offers metallic, fluorescent, pearlescent, and thermochromic effects for packaging.
 
Barrier Coatings Offer Low Migration and Lightweighting Options for Packaging
Sun will be showcasing SunBar Oxygen Barrier Coatings, two part blendable coatings designed to replace or enhance current oxygen barrier technologies used with a variety of flexible packaging films.  Intended for use in non-retort laminate structures, SunBar coatings can be applied by flexo, gravure or roller coat processes. Printable barrier coatings meet the packaging market’s need for products that deliver enhanced shelf life, as well as sustainable, recyclable, metal-free and waste reducing solutions.
 
Additionally, SunBar coatings provide robust lamination performance, have excellent flexing properties, can contribute to removing metal from laminate structures, and provide the opportunity to lightweight packaging.
 
New Color-Change Ink Allows Variable Data on Packaging
Flexo and gravure converters utilizing the latest laser technology in their print jobs, can now use SunLase, an advanced color-change ink designed for inline patch printing and then subsequent marking with laser technology. The new ink range enables application through various print processes and opens up other opportunities to add value to customer printing requirements for displaying variable data on packaging.
 
The printed patch of SunLase provides flexibility to deliver a high definition variable output on a number of substrates. Packaging products can be nominally patch printed, then marked and coded as required with characters and graphics without resetting any consumables, giving excellent quality at very high speeds.
 
SunLase inks and coatings contain a patented Datalase pigment, which is formulated to be sensitive to specific low energy laser emissions allowing different substrates to be marked in line with laser technology. The new range offers end users greater efficiencies and productivity as well as higher quality through the use of carbon dioxide laser markers.  Additionally, materials that weren't usually fit for marking now become suitable through the use of SunLase and even allow corrugated boxes to become fully recyclable.