Since the beginning of the year, INX International has introduced several new ink solutions that impact the label and packaging markets. Those products and new equipment are on display at Labelexpo Americas.

Renee Schouten, vice president of marketing, says, “I’m glad that since this show was last held here four years ago, people will have returned like they did in the past,” while pointing out more than16,000 people attended in 2018. “Printers looking for new products or equipment to increase their business or expand in the digital world have found what they need in our booth.”

The newest product development is INXFlex Contour, a distinctive UV and LED dual cure flexographic ink system that produces shrink sleeve labels for brand owners. It addresses label and packaging industry issues of post-shrink adhesion loss and ink cracking, with excellent flexibility.

INXFlex Contour piggybacks off the success of Genesis washable label inks. A recycle-friendly ink system, it recently added a new flexo version and UV curable primer that makes INXFlex Contour washable too. Schouten says these bright and colorful inks deliver high performance and can help brand owners meet their efficiency and sustainability goals.

“Our shrink sleeve inks are formulated so the labels stand out on store shelves and catch the attention of consumers,” she states. “INXFlex Contour offers customers faster lead times and lower applied costs with a dual cure version. It also provides flexibility to choose from common substrates and find the most cost-effective solution for their application. That’s especially important for tamper-evident sleeve applications, a consideration most brand owners expect.”

In June, INX and VerifyMe, Inc. announced the development of VerifyInk, a covert ink technology to help provide brand protection of products in the marketplace. The newest addition to the security inks product line runs on direct-to-product continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers. When used in tandem with VerifyMe’s proprietary and patented reading devices, it can identify counterfeit products across all markets including consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverage.

“The CIJ VerifyInk is a natural fit for our product line,” comments Schouten. “With VerifyMe, we are excited to provide a solution to the packaging market that combines high security and customer engagement, two drivers that are very important to brand owners.”

Meanwhile, INXShield UV Flexo and GS Slip coatings represent the first in a new line of functional coatings for packaging applications. Formulated with BioCote antimicrobial technology to protect the coating by inhibiting odor and staining microbes on the surface, INXShield is validated and quality control tested regularly by an independent testing facility using the ISO 22196:2011 test method.

“The BioCote brand is universally recognized as the true standard for quality, experience and credibility,” remarks Schouten. “Our UV Flexo coating is suitable for application over dry water-based and cured UV inks, with a uniform layer that provides excellent gloss, slip and general resistance properties. GS Slip is a solvent-based gravure coating for shrinkable film labels. The overprint varnish makes it a great choice for shrinkable printing such as OPS, PETG and PVC.”

The Triangle brand of XJL UV Curable Inkjet inks follow in the tradition of enhanced alternative ink solutions. These advanced inks check off the boxes as a premium high-performance formulation that produces consistency, quality, and are cost efficient when used with Xeikon Jetrion 4830, 4900 and 4950LX series digital label printers.

“Triangle inks are designed to match with nearly every OEM printer and printhead type,” says Schouten. She indicates XJL’s test results of remarkable consistency and quality would be of interest to printers wanting to achieve GRACoL standards and G7 targets. “XJL works in conjunction with the three Xeikon printers and provides high productivity when jetted with Xaar 1001, 1002 and 1003 single-pass printheads. This series is also color and chemically compatible, and available at a 35% per liter cost savings compared to OEM inks.”

Attendees also have the opportunity to learn about INX’s hardware solutions. The NW350 is the newest addition to the narrow web series of UV Digital Label printers. Designed to combine printing and conversion to produce brilliant color printed labels at a maximum printing width of 350mm or 13.78”, the NW350 delivers single pass output up to 160 fpm on any labelstock. This complete solution includes enhanced quality inks, making it ideal for printers looking to meet the demand for productive, short-run digital printing.

INX has live, in-booth demonstrations of the HMJ A200 small batch ink dispenser, too. It provides fully automated dispensing for up to 14 valve stations, providing a combination of speed and precision to deliver accurate ink flow. With a compact footprint and industrial grade controls, it makes single point dispensing easy for pals, jugs and any specialty containers with openings as small as one inch.