WetFlex works by wet-trapping inks through a common impression cylinder press and then curing them instantly by an in-line electron beam at the end of the press eliminating the need for inter-station drying.
The WetFlex process results in higher quality products at a lower cost, according to Sun Chemical, with dot structures demonstrating minimal dot gain for high quality print graphics. The WetFlex flexographic printing process uses Sun Chemical’s UniQure inks.
The combination of the WetFlex process and UniQure inks does not require heat for drying, making the inks ideal for shrink-sleeve applications, in which heat is needed to shrink the sleeve around a product. The inks also do not contain volatile organic compounds. They can be used by converters on retrofitted presses, easily and economically adding capacity to existing press lines.
For food applications, the low odour of the UniQure ink system virtual eliminates any concern for food taint and odour. High colour strength offers significantly better mileage than conventional flexo inks and the cured print has inherent resistance properties that allow it to be used in the home and garden products market, Sun Chemical claims.
The new process was demonstrated by Sun Chemical’s print partner Comexi to 500 worldwide customers, in Europe recently.
Sun Chemical joined forces with US-based Energy Sciences, a global leader in Electron Beam systems, in the technological breakthrough which prints wet on wet.
