Linx has announced the launch of Linx 1015 and Linx 3415, two black inks specifically designed for marking plastic packaging films for a variety of uses, including dry food, sauce pouches, confectionery and household products.
This is in response to market trends as the sector is increasingly moving towards more resistant laminated plastic films and more recyclable packaging, which is not without its challenges. “We are seeing the widespread use of thin, flexible plastic bags and packaging films (OPP, BOPP, HDPE and LDPE). However, these materials pose difficulties in terms of ink adhesion. Many general purpose inks do not adhere effectively to these low surface energy plastics. This means that codes can easily smudge, fade or be scratched off, which can lead to rework, rejection and even fines,” says Simon Millett, Inks Product Manager at Linx Printing Technologies.
Thus the launch of Linx 1015 and Linx 3415 is a response to this very challenge; “The two new inks have been designed to offer excellent adhesion while maintaining the legibility and reliability of the printer. They are free from PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl) as well as CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic) substances, and comply with standards such as the EuPIA (European Printing Inks Association) exclusion policy,” the company explained while adding that extensive testing on packaging formats around the world has been carried out in Australia, China, France, the UK, India, the Philippines and Poland.
Around 100 formulations were tested during the development process, at the end of which Linx asserts that ‘ the new Linx 1015 and Linx 3415 tough black plastic film inks will help customers ensure full product traceability with high quality, highly legible codes on today’s flexible plastic packaging.’
