Together, the partners took an important step towards direct printing on paper-based materials and perfecting the recyclability of the resulting flexible packaging
Xeikon, a division of the Flint Group, has over 30 years of expertise in both UV and aqueous inkjet and dry toner technology. (Credit: Xeikon)
Sappi, the world’s leading manufacturer of flexible packaging papers with integrated barriers and heat-seal capability, has joined forces with digital printing pioneer Xeikon in a developmental partnership. Sappi’s long-standing expertise in innovative, paper-based packaging solutions and Xeikon’s far-reaching knowledge of cross-sector digital printing applications and innovative ink technology ideally complemented each other in this collaborative venture. Together, the partners took an important step towards direct printing on paper-based materials and perfecting the recyclability of the resulting flexible packaging.
Digital press manufacturer Xeikon, a division of the Flint Group, has over 30 years of expertise in both UV and aqueous inkjet and dry toner technology. With its latest dry toner innovation, TITON and the Xeikon TX500, the company has set its sights on the paper-based flexible packaging market, which, as Xeikon’s collaboration partner Sappi has been reporting for some time,is experiencing strong growth due to demand for resource-saving, recyclable and plastic-free alternatives from end-users as well as brand owners and converters.
TITON meets paper: No additional varnishing or lamination required
Frank Jacobs, Market Intel & Senior Product Manager at Flint Group Digital, understands that the demands made on inks for direct printing on paper-based materials for applications in the flexible packaging sector, e.g. for food packaging, such as those offered by Sappi, are very high: “Over and above ensuring a good print result, the inks need to be extremely resistant throughout the packaging process and insensitive to temperature, e.g. for heat-sealing. And, especially for applications in the food sector, they also need to be odourless, tasteless, food-safe and migration-proof.”
Grounded in the principles of quality, flexibility and sustainability, Xeikon designs, develops and delivers web-fed digital colour presses for label and packaging applications. These printing machines work with different imaging technologies, open workflow software and application-specific consumables and substrates. Each product is designed with careful planning for the best application-based substrate and toner or ink combination to maximize the output.
Best results with Seal Silk and AvantGuard S
Of course, an innovative toner such as TITON works best when the substrate used is just as innovative and perfectly matched to the respective application. With this in mind, it only made sense to test the groundbreaking technology with Sappi products. The company has the most extensive portfolio of paper-based packaging solutions on the market. Since the beginning of the collaboration at the end of 2022, extensive tests have revealed two qualities in particular that work especially well with the toner:
The technology even opens up new business areas for printers and converters: Applications that were previously only possible with conventional flexo presses can now be addressed more quickly and flexibly via digital printing. Xeikon recently introduced the TX500 – a new member of its CHEETAH series – the first digital press to use TITON technology. Furthermore, in combination with paper-based substrates, additional set-up time for coating, laminating and the usual required maintenance can be saved and waste can be prevented.
Source: Company Press Release