Flint Group was at the recent Labelexpo Southeast Asia tradeshow at Bangkok, Thailand, showcasing its EkoCure F ink for narrow web flexo technology.  

EkoCure F is a UV LED curable flexo ink based on bio-renewable resin technology, with high press performance supporting industry sustainability initiatives.  

It can be used in all UV flexographic print units – provided the ink is cured with UV LED lamps. EkoCure F can also be used with doctor blade as well as in a chambered doctor blade system. 

UV LED curing is an alternate way to cure UV inks as compared to the traditional mercury-based lamps on UV presses.  

Some of its properties include: high colour strength and excellent mileage, good press stability, fine printability and high printing speed, as well as excellent adhesion to a variety of substrates.  

It is suitable for a variety of applications including self-adhesive labels (coated & uncoated papers, BOPP, PE, PLA and other synthetic films), carton boards, tags, and shrink labels. 

EkoCure is developed using specially selected raw materials that match the narrow and targeted wavelength area that is typical for UV LED lamp output. The main advantages include: 

• Economical benefits – energy consumption will be significantly reduced; quality assuredness brings increased productivity and press uptime; manufacturing space is increased; UV LED lamps are nearly maintenance free; no mercury bulb replacement and disposal costs; expanded capability to run heat sensitive materials with less heat management costs. 

• Ecological benefits – energy will be saved; UV LED lamps are ozone and mercury free (improved worker and environmental safety). 

Flint Group narrow web assistant technical sales manager Thammakorn Klaypong said some of its benefits consist of lower energy costs, improved print results, higher quality labels, improved productivity, and faster press changeovers.  

“It saves energy and operating costs of up to 40 per cent, lowers heat emissions, increases press uptime as no bulb replacement or reflector cleaning is needed, and saves printers time and money,” she said.