Page 53 - Glass Machinery Plants & Accessories no. 4/2018

NTRODUCTION limitations in directly decorat- printing onto glass, coated met-
Brand owners know that ing the glass itself, which makes als, and ceramics, as well as mir-
Ithe retail shelf is where the it difficult to represent product roring applications. These inks
majority of purchase decisions branding and imagery that utilize offer excellent adhesion to glass
are made. This ‘moment of truth’ brand colours. Glass FRIT bond- substrates, high gloss, excellent
emphasizes the importance of ing screen printing limits the col- abrasion and chemical resistance,
packaging that stands out from ours that can be used for direct 100 per cent solids with no heavy
the competition. Packaging helps decorating, and may also contain metals or VOCs, and additives to
consumers identify favourite heavy metals which prohibit its provide numerous special effects.
brands, however catching con- use. As a result, labels are often Formulated to cure with both
sumers’ attention with engaging the solution, sacrificing unique- mercury vapour and LED UV
packaging also helps to drive ness in branding. sources, the SunVetro VTGL
product sales. Organic inks from Sun series has a colour matching sys-
Another challenge brand own- Chemical allow brand owners to tem available with smart scale
ers face is determining the ideal decorate their glass and ceramic and ink dispensing systems.
packaging substrate. Stores are packaging with bright, vibrant Sunspray UVSPG is a 100
full of a wide variety of pack- effects that can liven up the shelf per cent solids UV spray coating
aging substrates, from pouches, presence. Organic inks, coatings specifically designed for plastic
aluminium cans, glass containers and sprays significantly expand and glass. By utilizing a clear and
and shrink sleeves to pressure- the colour gamut versus the frost base with SunSpray colour
sensitive labels, paperboard, plas- FRIT printing process, allowing concentrates, a wide gamut of
tic, and heat-transfer labels. brand owners to not only pro- colouring is achievable.
duce standout designs directly
GLASS – THE IMPORTANCE decorated on the glass, but to do Preparing the Substrate
OF BEING 100 PERCENT so using real brand colours that for a UV System
RECYCLABLE meet the current industry regula- Pre-treatment of the glass is
Glass is a unique substrate tions regarding heavy metals and critical to achieve optimum adhe-
that brand owners often prefer VOCs. sion. The reason is that glass
because of its rigid barrier. Glass UV ink systems can signifi- containers commonly have anti-
automatically protects food or cantly increase mileage, reduce scuff coatings applied during
beverages from the migration of energy costs by using UV lamps manufacture.
substances across the packag- versus firing ovens, use less floor To achieve adhesion, the sur-
ing substrate. It is an ideal bar- space, and increase production face of the glass must be altered.
rier to resist chemicals, alcohol, speeds. The end result is a lower There are two ways to alter the
and water. It is also a recyclable cost per print. glass surface tension. The first is
material that can be reused over by applying SunVetro Glasprep
and over again. The importance THE SUNVETRO™ SOLUTION spray pre-treatment. This aque-
of glass can be seen through Sun Chemical’s SunVetro™ ous coating is applied to the
concerns about the migration of family of organic screen inks glass as a fine mist and must be
chemicals into baby milk and are specifically formulated for thoroughly flame dried prior to
food in Europe, which have led glass. Using Sun Chemical’s decorating.
to a mandated switch to glass SunMatch™ base colours to A second option is utiliz-
containers for those products. simulate Pantone® shades, ing Pyrosil™ technology from
During an independent SunVetro organic inks can print Applied Surface Technologies,
research study organized by very bright, strong brand col- LLC, which applies a flame and
Friends of Glass, of the 8,000 ours. Practically limitless colour a proprietary liquid mix to the
consumers interviewed, two options are available from sim- surface, leaving silicon dioxide
thirds admitted to worries about ple mixing systems. Typically the on the glass and making it hydro-
food contamination, and 61 per entire Pantone colour range can philic.
cent of those who opted for glass be made from a base ink range No matter the process utilized
as their preferred packaging sub- of 12 mono-pigmented colours, in preparing the glass, pre-treat-
strate said they chose it because and the cured colour is fully ment is highly recommended.
it is the safest packaging for their repeatable time after time. SunVetro VTR screen ink is a
health. The SunVetro VTGL series thermally cured component sys-
However, the greatest chal- of UV screen inks are a two- tem for printing on glass and
lenge with glass has been the component system designed for ceramic with excellent adhesion

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