The TechTalk event focused on the latest technologies offered by Flint Group and ACME Rolltech
Parallel with PlastIndia 2023 exhibition, at New Delhi, the Flint group, in association with ACME Rolltech, organized a Tech Talk seminar on innovations in inks for Gravure and Flexo industries on 2nd February 2023 at The Park Hotel. Representatives from leading packaging converters like Sai Paks, Unique Photo Offset and Multitech were present at the event. Packaging converters from across the country attend the event. All the audience appreciated the eye-opening event.
Welcoming the guest and briefing about the company Upal Roy, Managing Director of Flint Group India South Africa and Middle East, said. “Flint ranks second in the world in manufacturing inks for printing applications. The company has all products for packaging and print media publication. Flint has 5600 employees globally and produces more than 210000 tonnes of inks and coating annually. We have 130 sites, out of which six sites are in India, and operate in more than 35 countries.”
Speaking on the key trends and market conditions, he added, ‘We simplify things and make
things less complicated for our customers and their customers. We deliver consistent services and global colour management with our VIVO Colour Solution. We have global colour management in Poland, which provides the foundation for Vivo Colour Management. We have a Global Discovery Centre to serve all packaging markets globally. Our Global Innovation center is in Sweden, where we have 8 color flexo press that can print in solvent and water-based inks. And under the sustainability agenda, we are doing much work under bio and bio-renewable products. We are looking at things that customers are demanding under sustainability.
In India, even before the establishment of food standards by BSI, we had set up the non-tolvent inks facility in 2016-17. We have a global raw material development lab in Vadodara (India). We have a very collaborative team that is working closely with India.
Taking over from Upal Roy, Sanjeev Bansal, Technical Director for Flint Group, said, ‘We have the latest equipments at our raw material lab for developing new products, like FTIR, GCMS, GPC, etc. We have a complete product range for the flexible packaging area. We have all types of inks. We produce both tolvent-based and non-tolvent based products in a separate factory, so there is no contamination. We make both flexo and gravure inks. All our facilities are built following European standards on process and safety under the guidance of Flint Group – Europe. We have a brand new R&D facility at Vadodara to cater to the needs of India and Global projects. Our facilities have enough capacity to cater to the growing market for the next three years.’
He presented a few innovative inks range
VarioLam INA inks
New generation high strength PU-based ink system for reverse printing and lamination.
Special Features:
-Excellent Printability at high speeds>400 mtr/min++
-Common ink for PET,BOPP, PET-G, PVC, Pearlized BOPP etc.
-High density ink for variety of jobs
-High bond strengths can be achived > more than 300 gmf/15mm++
-Suitable for solvent less, solvent-based and extrution lamination (with primer)
-Single ink system to cover variety of applications; can be used for surface and shrink film application with suitable white ink or OPV
SuperLabel Inks
The PU modified gravure ink system for surface printing with OPV. Toluene & MEK-free ink system for wraparound label applications
Special Features:
-Deep freeze property
-Excellent water resistance
-Low temperature stability
-Substrates: Pearlised BOPP & Transparent BOPP
-Good scratch, scuff and slip properties.
Shrinkfit TF Inks
NC/Acrylic base NTNK Gravure ink system for shrink sleeve application. Common Ink system for Shrink PVC and Shrink PET
Special features
-Low Solvent retention
-Excellent Stability on Press
-No Cracking in high stress area during shrinking process
-Good scratch, scuff and slip properties
Aquaflex Ink
Water-based inks for Flexible packaging, especially reverse printing and lamination applications. Flint Group has developed water-based technology for reverse printing application.
-New technology is based on special resin chemistry.
-Inks are stable at neutral pH as well as at a wider pH range (7 – 9).
-Suitable for both Gravure and Flexo printing process.
Shailesh Sharma, manager of application support and UV curable product development products at Flint, took over the mic from Sanjeev and presented Flexo FCM inks and Flexo General purpose inks
Flexocure ANCORA — Mercury UV curing
For Flexible Packaging, Labels and Shrink Sleeves applications.
Features:
-Suitable for High Speed printing on latest UV Flexo machines
-Complies with EUPIA exclusion policy for inks, EN 71-Part 3 & TPCH
-All Pantones, Metallic shades, High Resistance shades available.
EKOCURE ANCORA – DUAL Cure (LED + Mercury)
For Flexible Packaging, Shrink Sleeves, Thin Films, Unsupported substrates and Labels applications
Features:
-Huge savings on electricity from Lamps, Ozone exhausts, Air conditioning
-Big savings on downtime due to: Lesser lamp changes, Faster speeds, Lower maintenance
-Capability to print thin and temperature sensitive substrates easily
-Complies with EUPIA exclusion policy for inks, EN 71-Part 3 & TPCH
-All Pantones, Metallic shades, High Resistance shades available
-Complete product range: Primers, Matt & Gloss vamishes, cold foil adhesive
Flexocure FORCE
Ideal for PSA labels, Unsupported labels, Wraparound labels,Tickels, Tags and Cartons Mustard
Features:
-Highly versatile general purpose ink system suitable for wide range of substrates
-Free from Phthalates, CMR, [TX, Benzophenone
-Regular, Metallics, High strength, High Resistance shades available
-Excellent acceptance for Hol/Cold foi Thermal transfer ribbon
EkoCure F — Dual Cure (LED + Mercury)
For PSA labels, Unsupported labels, Thin unsupported films and Cartons printing applications
Features:
-Significant savings on power for all non FCM applications
-High productivity
-Free from Phthalates, CMR, ITX, Benzophenone
-Regular, Metallics, High strength, High Resistance shades available
After the Flint group’s presentation, Sandeep Sharma of Acme Rolltech delivered a fascinating session on the future of anilox rollers. The technical presentation was very informative. Through slides, he explained how the ceramic rollers are made at their factory and coating is done with advanced plasma spray technology. He presented different innovative products that were appreciated by the audience. Emphasizing sustainability, he said the old and damaged rollers are refurbished at the factory using advanced technology. He also encouraged people to ask questions to clear doubts about roller technology.
Established in 2019, Acme Rolltech is the only Indian company manufacturing anilox rolls in India. In just three years, they have sold over 6000 anilox rolls worldwide, which is remarkable.
