Avery Dennison linerless labels | 41Avery Dennison launches decorative linerless systemWith its AD LinrSave technology, Avery Dennison is looking to transform the market for linerless prime labels. Andy Thomas-Emans reportsvery Dennison launched at Labelexpo Europe 2023 a new “We needed to understand how decorative linerless technology, as the frst step in a bid to transform the pressure-sensitive prime label market.Ato convert materials to a linerless In March last year, Avery Dennison acquired the IP of a linerless label technology developed by Catchpoint, a UK company based format and how the labels are in Yorkshire, England, and its pioneering champion Mike Cooper. applied to containers”At the same time, Wayne Middleton joined Avery Dennison from Catchpoint, having previously spent many years at Innovia Films, with the express task of commercializing the Catchpoint Today those converters are making their frst rolls of self-wound technology. decorative linerless labels.’‘Mike Cooper supported us greatly as a consultant, helping us For label converters, one of the key advantages of the Catchpoint gain the right knowledge and sharing his experience with Avery system is that it does not require a major investment in specialist Dennison’s team,’ Middleton says. converting equipment. While direct thermal linerless has been around for a long time, ‘We are trying to use converters’ existing equipment base, showing huge growth in simple applications like e-commerce, quick which really helps to get them on board, and we put the rest of service restaurants and price-weigh labels, linerless labels have the ecosystem in place around them,’ explains Middleton. ‘So, the not made a signifcant impact in the decorative labeling sector release coating can be applied on a standard fexo printing unit and – although Ravenwood has shown some good advancement of converters can use their existing die stations. We trained the die linerless technology in the food tray market sector. manufacturers how to get the correct micro-perforation into their ‘The question for Avery Dennison became, with sustainability mag plates.’being at the core of everything we do, how can we help create a The micro-perforations are in many ways the key to the success linerless future?,’ recalls Middleton. ‘We’re committed to delivering of the whole system. ‘This is really what the whole Catchpoint innovations that advance the circular economy: from lowering technology revolves around,’ explains Middleton. ‘We are not trying carbon footprint to making a positive social impact. Therefore, to separate the whole height of the label at once on the applicator. through the acquisition of Catchpoint’s IP, Avery Dennison could The slits break the perforations into smaller zones. The profle on move forward with our own internal developments at higher speed. the applicator tool engages with the slits and helps to “unzip” the We could really hit the ground running and take the technology perforations, which means you can be more consistent and faster forward. After I joined in March 2022, we spent 14 months in applying the labels to the container.’operating off the radar.’Continues Middleton: ‘We needed to understand how to convert Working with Bobstmaterials to a linerless format and how the labels are applied to Selection of the UV release coating presented a challenge, says containers. We explored different materials, different sizes and Middleton. ‘Most UV release coatings require a nitrogen inertion shapes of labels and different adhesive and release systems.’ unit and only a few converters have that. So we needed to select a release system that did not require nitrogen inerting. Another Converter partners issue was the release coating tended to sink into the open surface The next step was to select converter partners and get them up to of paper labels. So now we apply a primer frst on paper, then a speed. ‘We were looking for converters who were sustainability- release coating, so this takes two fexo stations on the press. Film minded and had the capability and the innovation mindset,’ has a closed surface that does not need a primer.’ says Middleton. ‘We started putting pilot projects together Avery Dennison worked closely with Bobst to trial the around Europe to understand how to convert and handle open application of the UV release coating. ‘We proved that on a Bobst adhesives and the micro-perforations Mike’s technology required. M5 press, it is feasible to convert linerless label materials in-line in Liner recoveryThe Catchpoint technology which forms the basis of AD perforation and then wind up the labels and simultaneously LinrSave is not entirely linerless. The roll is supplied to the strip away the liner so there are no edge trims or matrix. converter as a standard PSL laminate with a release liner. ‘Then we offer our AD Circular liner collection service back ‘We do have true linerless labels on our AD XeroLinr DT to the converter. This consolidates all the liner collection direct thermal product line, but our goal of starting on the at the converter - the end user has no liner waste to deal decorative side was to make it as simple as possible for with, and this should ensure a greater percentage of liner is converters,’ explains Middleton. recycled. Currently, only around 10 percent of spent liner is ‘So, with AD LinrSave we print as normal and apply release being recycled. With this system in place, we can guarantee varnish over the print and then die-cut to introduce the 100 percent liner collection and recycling.’ Oct - Dec 2023