Flint Group has launched the Ultraking Shrink U family of ultra violet and electron beam (EB) curable offset inks.
These shrinkable ink systems designed for offset printing needed by the label and food packaging industry.
Shrink sleeve labels are becoming increasingly popular among brand owners with a 7% growth rate globally.
“The HD or high definition, 360º, colorful graphics have proven highly attractive to consumers as indicated by the successful share trend of adopting brand owners,” says Tyler Newsom, product manager, Sheetfed Inks North America.
“The ability to now print shrink sleeve labels via lithographic offset with Ultraking Shrink U expands the market to converters without flexographic capabilities.”
The shrink-ability of the film can be described using the degree of shrink of the film.
Oftentimes, the film before shrinking has a total free shrink from about 70-110%.
The shrink-ability of the films used in the packages provides a tight fit around a container.
The sleeve has to shrink by up to 70% to fit the bottles and/or tubes.
The company says “U” stands for Universal in Ultraking Shrink U.
The product is suitable for a wide range of shrink films including Polyethylene Terepthalate Glycol, Polyvinyl chloride, polylactide and Biaxially Oriented Polystyrene.
The EB versions allows for printing on heat sensitive films such as microfoam.
