Germany-based printing inks manufacturer Siegwerk has invested in a new Labo Combi 400 laminator to strengthen its development opportunities for packaging inks.
The new laminator, which was purchased from Nordmeccanica group, has been installed at Siegwerk’s Technical Center for the business unit Flexible Packaging.
Expected to add laminating capabilities to the existing testing skills at the European “Center of Competence”, the new machine is designed to support the targeted development of packaging inks under industrial or customer-realistic conditions.
Siegwerk said it is one of the first printing ink manufacturers to operate its own laminator for product development and testing purposes, allowing it to offer better solutions for packaging print providers to meet their specific requirements.
Siegwerk EMEA Technology Flexible Packaging head Dr Hanns Martin Kaiser said: “Internal resources for testing lamination processes and the influence of printing inks on the performance of laminates is highly important for us.
“It helps to enhance our ink solutions specifically for packaging print providers and to further reinforce our technology leadership.”
The equipment is designed to operate at a maximum speed of 250m per minute at a web width of 400mm. It can also handle solvent-free, solvent-based as well as water-based adhesive systems on all standard substrates.
Kaiser added: “The new equipment enables us to conduct considerably more extensive ink development tests internally prior to start the qualification process at customers’ facilities.
“This leads to better ink performance and saves both our customers’ time and machine capacities.”
The machine, which meets all other European market requirements, also features two corona treatment units.
