Sun's World First With Vegetable Oil Metallic Inks

Sun Chemical has introduced what is claimed to be the world's first vegetable oil-based sheetfed offset metallic inks that are completely mineral oil-free.

Sun Chemical has introduced what are claimed to be the world's first vegetable oil-based sheetfed offset metallic inks that are completely mineral oil-free.

The range of products, known as Metal-Eco, will give new focus to metallic printing, meet the most stringent environmental requirements and provide improved run-ability and metallic brilliance, claimed Sun Chemical.

Sun Chemical added that it has a long-term strategy to embrace environmentally friendly systems and aims to move 80 per cent of its conventional inks range to vegetable oil-based products.

Metal-Eco is the first metallic ink to overcome the challenge of providing press performance, improved metallic brilliance and opacity and retain environmental credentials.

In addition, it is said to offer a range of other beneficial properties, such as rapid setting and drying, rub resistance and good printability, and it is available in all the necessary metallic shades.

Developed in a joint project with Wolstenholme International, Metal-Eco inks are said to be suitable for use on a range of substrates, such as those used in the publication, edition, sheetfed label and packaging markets.

They can be used on all sheetfed offset presses and, in particular, will be of special interest in perfecting applications, added the company.

Kevin Purdy, technical service director for commercial sheetfed at Sun Chemical, said: "Innovation is critical to success in sheetfed offset printing.

The market demands excellent lithographic stability at high press speeds, and Metal-Eco is the next step forward in metallic ink formulations that achieves this.

It overcomes many of the challenges of metallic ink printing and will appeal to customers looking for materials to assist in a full environmental compliance policy, including use on presses operating alcohol-free." All Metal-Eco inks are claimed to be also duct fresh, whilst they can be used on high stacks and are opaque.

No build-up occurs on blanket or plate and dampers remain clean, resulting in extended productivity for customers.

The metallic sheetfed offset ink is provided in the full Pantone metallic range, as well as the classic metallic shades.

The new metallic inks can be blended with Sun Chemical's Pantone Inks (NPS) to produce Pantone polymetallic colours and other standard metallic colours.

Sun Chemical Pantone Inks (NPS) are also vegetable oil-based inks and are said to be suitable blending partners for the new range of Metal-Eco inks.

Metal-Eco metallic inks are available, via the local Sun Chemical sales team for immediate delivery in the UK.

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