German printing ink manufacturer Siegwerk is launching a range of UV offset inks and UV flexo coatings with excellent deinking properties.
These series dedicated to commercial and packaging printing have obtained the highest score in Ingede 11, the recognised deinking test used in particular by the Citéo organisation.
Forming a solid layer on the cellulose, today's standard UV inks are often difficult to remove during the recycling process, creating colour stains in the recycled paper. The UV offset ink series Siscura Plast SP solves this problem. It is designed for offset printing and packaging printing of non-food solutions and is suitable for closed and open substrates.
In addition, Siegwerk is modifying its UV flexo coatings. Water-based coatings break down into too small particles, while UV coatings break down into too large particles. This prevents them from being separated from the cellulose fibres during recycling.
"Our new UV flexo coatings are recyclable using the standard flotation deinking process, which is also used to recycle films printed on paper and cardboard made of virgin fibres without any adaptation" explains Thomas Glaser, Head of Sheetfed Technology at Siegwerk.
The new UV flexo deinkable coatings have the same performance properties as standard UV flexo coatings and can be applied both inline and offline using standard flexo equipment.
"The prices are similar to those of standard UV products, says Thomas Glaser. And the biggest advantage for French customers is that by using these inks and varnishes, they don't have to pay the 5% mallus for non-deinking at Citéo."
Siegwerk had already launched in 2019 the first UV and LED UV inks with very good deinking properties for coated and uncoated papers ( sicura Low NRGY series ).
