CombiWhite C3 introduced to improve printer safety

Flint Group Narrow Web announces the introduction of an upgraded version of CombiWhite – the easy over-printable opaque white rotary screen ink widely used in beverage, health and beauty, and no-label-look applications.

"A classification and labelling change led by REACH resulted in Flint Group, as a responsible supplier, deciding we could no longer use N-vinyl caprolactam (NVC, CAS number 2235-00-9), in any of our products,” claims Global Product Director, Jennifer Joyce. She continues; "while EuPia have initiated a prolonged substation process until March 2015, we are pleased to announce we are ready with re-formulation work and have had fifteen clients using the new product for well over 5 months; furthermore, we have not had one single negative report from any of these tests. We are very pleased with the results.”

CombiWhite C3 is designed specifically for combination printing with all narrow web ink technologies and can be used on all types of substrates. Printers will experience perfect combination print results with virtually any print process such as UV flexo, UV offset, UV letterpress, UV screen, or water-based flexo.

Product Manager, Mr Par Olsson has this to say, "The whole aim with this reformulation is that no one should notice any difference between existing formulations and the new, upgraded, CombiWhite C3. It is one of those few cases where you are happy to hear there is no difference between the new product and the previous one.”

Through historically conducted customer interviews, Flint Group identified fifteen performance attributes important for all types of combination printing with screen white inks. The top rated 5 are: opacity, flow-out (pinhole free), adhesion, printability of overprinting ink, and cross hatch resistance.

Mr. Olsson continues, "When formulating an opaque white screen ink, one is really trying to combine some extreme, almost conflicting, print proprieties. The ink should be capable of performing at high speeds with free flow, no pinholes in solids, and with extreme sharp text; at the same time it should be easy to overprint. It is, indeed, a demanding product to master.”

Mr. Olsson concludes by saying, "We have several clients using CombiWhite C3 on no-label look for beverage labels as well as cosmetic labels. These end applications do possess slightly different challenges but, through our formulation expertise and in-house print testing capabilities, we have managed to optimise press performance with the most stringent end use demands.”

Flint Group UK Business Manager, Mr Alan Day, had this to say, "We know that several of our clients are pleased with Flint Group taking the lead and formulating products that are exceeding regulatory demands. Our clients rely on us as their ink supplier that we use products that are in accordance with EU law. They all see it as a great benefit to them that their workers, as well as their clients, know the labels and packaging supplied by them are complying with state of the art regulatory demands.”

"We were approached early in the testing process.” states Mr. Jean -François Clisson at APE Etiquettes, France, "We understand fully the aspect of printer safety, and care for our staff. But safe products should still provide superior performance attributes. We have been running the new CombiWhite C3 under an experimental code for well over 3 months and we see not a single defect; in fact, we believe flow-out has slightly improved. For us this is an easy switch and win-win for all involved.”

Initially, CombiWhite C3 will be commercialised in Europe as the regulations have been implemented in this region. It will be available in the same sets of press ready products optimised for no-label look applications that were previously available. New products are subject to a product code change:

USW90005 replaces USW90001
USW90006 replaces USW90003.

Effective immediately, CombiWhite C3 is available across all Flint Group Narrow Web distribution channels and, from this date, Flint Group will no longer supply inks containing N vinyl carpolactam in Europe.