PolyOne Corporation, a premier global provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions, unveiled new Wilflex Epic Top Score inks, available in a series of premixed colors that serve the changing demands of the athletic screen printing market. This new, non-phthalate technology delivers a “big brand” look on performance athletic fabric substrates while addressing environmental and regulatory concerns.
“Printing on today’s sports and fitness textiles can be challenging – on several levels,” said Scott Craig, general manager of Specialty Inks and Polymers Systems. “We developed Epic Top Score inks to meet numerous technical and regulatory challenges while improving our customers’ competitive edge and profitability.”
Key benefits of Epic Top Score inks include:
•CSPIA compliance: Compliant with the requirements of CPSIA 2008 (Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act), including section 101, Lead Content in Substrates, and section 108, Phthalates
• Matte finish: This trendy “soft look” athletic print, featured by major athletic brands, enables smaller screen printers to increase their competitive advantage
• High stretch and bleed resistance: Ability to print on compression and stretchable polyester substrates in one product with a bleed-resistant product enables customers to streamline their inventory and improve supply chain efficiency
•Accurate color reproduction: Intensity and strength of color formulations give maximum opacity on dark fabric, allowing flash-prints without an underlay to reduce total cost of printing
•Repeatable accuracy: With both flash print and under base techniques, printers save time with consistent color across all substrates to increase production quality and efficiency
•Low tack surface: Allows garments to be stacked to reduce labor requirements and lower rejects
•Flexibility: Epic Top Score ink can be used for both manual and automatic printing to reduce inventory requirements
• Low cure properties: Curing at temperatures below 300F reduces the release of polyester dyes into the ink surface to decrease dye migration and bleeding and improve efficiency
•Supply speed: Premixed offering of the 21 most popular athletic colors will satisfy quick turn-around needs, so customers are able to get their products to market faster, and respond to demand more readily
•Efficient packaging: Quart and gallon containers enable printers to offer a wide range of colors without overstocking for smaller runs, thereby reducing ink inventories and waste
About PolyOne
PolyOne Corporation, with 2012 revenues of $3.0 billion, is a premier provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions. The company is dedicated to serving customers in diverse industries around the globe, by creating value through collaboration, innovation and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Guided by its Core Values, Sustainability Promise and No Surprises PledgeSM, PolyOne is committed to its customers, employees, communities and shareholders through ethical, sustainable and fiscally responsible principles.
