Labelexpo Europe 2023 – Materials | 119“PLATFORMS LIKE LABELEXPO EUROPE 2023, OPEN A PLETHORA OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESSES ACROSS THE GLOBE TO FOSTER NEW COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS, EXCHANGE INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE, AND GAIN A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF OUR CUSTOMER’S REQUIREMENTS”HB Fuller introduced Swifttak PS 8405 water-based quality and safety in the packaging of consumables.pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) with non-water whitening Exhibitors such as Siegwerk stayed the top of the game by properties. It is designed for premium PET label with a no-label bringing UV, LED-UV, solvent-based and water-based inks including look. The company also promoted ultra-removable and highly special whites suitable for shrink sleeves for non-food and food repositionable Gel-Tac products based on water-based acrylic, packaging applications. These inks are available as standard and pressure-sensitive microsphere technology. low-migration systems. Siegwerk also showcased an ink series for Henkel showcased PSA technologies including water-based, the direct-to-object printing market and for sensitive applications, solvent-based acrylic, rubber hotmelt and UV hotmelt PSA. as well as innovations for improving packaging recyclability. Henkel’s UV hotmelt PSA is designed particularly for solvent-free It also showed newly developed TMPTA-free LED-UV curing adhesives applications with minimal VOC emission to help meet systems Sicura Flex Dual Cure for non-food applications as well regulatory requirements and sustainability goals. Henkel also as Sicura Nutrifex LEDTec for food, pharma and hygiene presented its Eco and RE PSA portfolio for labels, with targets of packaging applications.reducing carbon emission in label production, reducing waste, and Zeller+Gmelin launched two new offset ink series: Uvalux enabling usage of high-quality recyclate. U540 LED UV and Uvalux LED FCM U581 for food packaging Herma introduced label adhesive 72Gpw for PET packaging printing. The company also introduced Uvafex UV-LED FCM recycling. This adhesive offers double the initial adhesion of Y581 and NON-FCM Y580, two ink series for fexo and the latest standard wash-off adhesives and supports residue-free PET generation UV and UV-LED inkjet inks for packaging and industrial separation during recycling. applications. Michelman showed water-based primers and overprint varnishes Afford Inks showcased its LED UV narrow web fexo inks. for digital printing on a range of recyclable and renewably sourced Flint Group’s narrow web and digital team, Xeikon, unveiled substrates. Cheetah 3.0 technology for label printing, featuring Eco Toner Eukalin Special-Adhesives showcased a pressure-sensitive tech made of 60 percent recycled content, PFAS, TPO, BPA, and adhesive range and water-based adhesive for shrink sleeves. fourine-free and is 100 percent vegan. It also showcased UV LED INX featured EcoStage GB-XA coatings that address food safety, inks and Panther digital press with PantherCure LED inks. Xeikon sustainability and recycling, allowing mono-material packaging for introduced the Lion toner press using Eco Toner technology. Flint select food applications, extending shelf life, and reducing waste. introduced and Evolution varnish for PET packaging, ensuring hubergroup presented the Hydro-X Green Line Premium series recyclability. Evolution coatings comply with FCM grade standards that includes cradle-to-cradle certifed components. Water-based for wash-off labels. The company also discussed de-inking primer coatings in the Hydro-LAC series were also shown, that provide for shrink sleeves. Flint also presented EkoCure UV LED inks heat, scuff resistance, and anti-slip properties. Hydro-LAC GA and and coatings, EkoCure Ancora F2 inks for food packaging, and Hydro-X GA coatings enhance mono-material packaging’s oxygen, sustainable Evolution primers and varnishes. Lastly, Flint launched water, and grease resistance. The company showed Gecko, a FlintLink, a B2B platform for customer support and information.solvent-based portfolio of varnishes, additives, and primers. INX showcased INXFlex Contour and Genesis washable inks. Elkem introduced the Silcolease UV LED Series release coatings. INXFlex Contour fexographic inks cure under both UV and LED, Evonik launched its next generation of Tego RC products made eliminating post-shrink adhesion loss and ink faking. INX Dual using recycled silicone feedstocks and can be cured using either Cure (DC) version enable unit-by-unit switching between UV LED or traditional mercury lamps. Evonik also launched a single- and LED allowing converters to gradually make the shift from component, ready-to-use release coating. conventional UV to UV LED. It also showed Genesis washable inks that are de-inkable from cPET flms and compatible with roll-fed OPP labels, aiding recycling. They minimize bleed in caustic wash UV LED, SUSTAINABLE AND FOOD-SAFE INKSAmong the standout offerings in inks at the show were UV LED solutions and reduce recycled PET discoloration for clear bottle inks illustrating both energy effciency and cost-effectiveness. production. In addition, water-based inks emerged as a prominent trend on hubergroup Print Solutions presented Hydro-X modular the show foor. These inks are designed to avoid discoloration ink mixing system for fexo and gravure printing. It includes in recycled PET, ensuring that the resulting PET fakes remain concentrates, blends, and additives that can be freely combined clean and suitable for reuse - championing a circular economy. for applications such as fexible packaging, plastic flm, corrugated Furthermore, exhibitors showcased low-migration inks, an essential board and folding cartons. The Gecko Green Line Premium series element for label printing in the food industry, delivering both also features Cradle to Cradle Certifed Bronze printing inks. Oct - Dec 2023