Print samples were shown at Labelexpo
Following the launch of a new ink set for its N610i UV inkjet press, Domino reports positive results printing on a number of industry standard shrink sleeve materials. The company showed samples at Labelexpo in Brussels last week.
The new seven-colour ink set has been in testing for the past nine months at customers’ sites. Developed in house at Domino’s Liverpool facility, the ink offers improved coverage and print quality on many media types, particularly in areas of low-density tints. When used in High Quality Mode at 50m/min over 92% of the Pantone range can be produced (High Speed Mode at 70m/min over 90%). It has better adhesion and fade resistance, scoring in the top ‘excellent light-fastness’ category on the Blue Wool scale, while the white achieves an opacity of over 72% opacity at 50m/min.
For shrink sleeve applications the company is proposing that the N610i is supplied in a hybrid configuration using a flexo station after the inkjet module to print a white back layer to the shrink label. One such configuration, designed to print both self-adhesive labels and shrink sleeves, has just been sold.
‘We are in the process of understanding the cost of ownership model for shrink sleeve printing,’ said Philip Easton, director of Digital Printing Solutions. ‘We think the high speed inkjet solution, running 70m/min combined with a lower cost flexo printed white for the backing, will offer a different proposition and will be a disruptive technology.’
He concluded, ‘We are really delighted with the performance of our UV90 inkset. The development team in Domino has surpassed all our expectations with this ink, it is so positive to offer something very new for the market. Many of our customers have been asking for broader print capability. UV90 has improved adhesion and light-fastness and now with shrink-sleeve printing, we feel confident the already rapid adoption of inkjet technology will accelerate further.’
