Packaging machinery company V-Shapes has partnered with TrojanLabel, an AstroNova company, to integrate the TrojanLabel T2 high-volume digital inkjet press into its V-Shapes PRIME packaging machine.

The company said this integration aims to deliver high-quality 1600 dpi printing in-line on sachets using designed-for-recycling materials developed by V-Shapes and partners that can be printed using digital inkjet technology.

The TrojanLabel T2 digital inkjet printer prints at a speed of up to 12 inches per second with Memjet printheads.

“Beginning with a roll of substrate comprised of a V-Shapes proprietary semi-rigid bottom layer and an upper layer of flexible packaging material, the V-Shapes vertically integrated solution produces unit dose packaging with high-quality branded content on the upper or front layer,” V-Shapes CEO Christian Burattini said.

“PRIME applies a V-Shapes patented pre-cut on the V-Shapes developed 100 per cent recyclable polypropylene semi-rigid lower layer, followed by exact dosing of product, sealing and cutting to form customized filled sachets at up to 2,100 units per hour.

“The compact footprint of this printing/converting/filling equipment means it can be conveniently operated in relatively small spaces using a single operator and delivers a robust return on investment for packaging converters/fillers and their brand owner clients.”

V-Shapes sachets are a new way to safely, affordably and sustainably pack products in single dose packaging that can be opened in a single gesture using one hand. These recyclable single portion sachets can be printed in multiple languages with customised brand messaging and use instructions.

The company said up to 98 per cent of packaged product can easily be dispensed in one gesture using just one hand, resulting in little product waste, no mess or spillage, and a hygienic way to distribute and dispense a wide range of products.

By putting the TrojanLabel T2 digital inkjet printer in-line with the V-Shapes PRIME packaging line, it added that manufacturing of V-Shapes sachets is even more productive, setting to zero the need for a pre-print phase and delivering the fast turn times that today’s brands are looking for.

V-Shapes sachets have been verified by TOMRA Recycling, a designer of customised sorting and recycling solutions, as accurately detectable as 100 per cent polypropylene in processing of industrial recycling waste streams.

V-Shapes said the best option for the flexible top layer is SIHL ARTYSIO flexible packaging material, leveraging SIHL core competencies in creating innovative solutions with its premium coatings.

This includes alignment between the speed of the Memjet printheads, the amount of water contained in the ink, and the ability of SIHL substrates with special coatings to absorb water and fix pigments for high quality printing that dries immediately during the in-line printing process.

“Not only are our coatings optimised for use with aqueous inkjet inks but they are also fully compliant with direct food contact, scratch and crack resistant, and deliver the widest possible color gamut, especially important when printing brand colours,” SIHL Group packaging director of global sales and business development Ronny Kunze said.

“We have worked closely with V-Shapes on sealing and required barrier properties as well, supplying them with the best possible resin recipes to deliver excellent results as well as industrial recyclability. We look forward to our continued work with V-Shapes as both companies want to invest in packaging with a sustainable future.”