Consumables

Protecting and finishing digital prints

Thursday 13. October 2016 - Zeller+Gmelin expand range of UV-flexographic varnishes for digital printing applications

The printing ink manufacturer Zeller+Gmelin GmbH & Co. KG has developed a product range of varnishes under the name of Uvaflex.digital, which is specifically designed for varnishing digital prints in the UV-flexographic printing process. It includes a range of gloss and matt varnishes, which are also available in low-migration versions. Depending on the individual application, a correspondingly adapted type of varnish is recommended. In an overview, the company which is based in Eislingen and specializing in the radiation curing segment, provides information on whether a type of varnish is suitable for toner-based processes and / or for UV-inkjet. Moreover, it is specified which substrates can be processed with the respective varnish and which cell volume of the anilox roller is recommended for the purpose in question.

The decisive criterion for the quality of a lacquering is how well the overprint varnish adheres to the ink or the toner of the digital print. In order to meet this requirement, the varnishes of the Uvaflex.digital range require a corona pretreatment. In addition, they are specially adapted to the ink systems and toners of the various digital printing processes. The characteristics of the typical substrates, such as paper, cardboard and films as well as the respective printing technology used, are also taken into consideration.

Varnishes serve the finishing of printed products and also fulfil an effective protective function. At the same time, they offer the possibility to increase productivity both in printing and in finishing. Against this backdrop, the increasing importance of varnishing applications in the digital printing sector is obvious, so that further growth in this market segment is to be expected in the future.