UK-based Ravenwood Packaging Ltd. specializes in linerless labeling technology and works closely with the Eislingen, German-based printing ink manufacturer Zeller+Gmelin.

Zeller+Gmelin has developed special varnishes for linerless labels, three of which have been specially certified by Ravenwood for its linerless systems. These are the varnishes from the RSP-7G106 FCM Uvaflex LM Gloss and RSP-7M105 FCM Uvaflex LM Matt and RSP-7M108FCM Uvaflex LM Satin Matt series. The three products offer comprehensive conformity with the current legal regulations in Europe. They are characterized by having low odor and being BPA-free. They meet the high requirements of demanding end customers with their properties, so that they can be used in numerous markets.

When Ravenwood was founded in 2004, the company, which has headquarters in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, and offices in the USA and Australia, recognized the importance of the quality of the materials used for the performance of the linerless systems. In recent years, interest from brand owners and retailers in this sustainable alternative to conventional self-adhesive labels has increased.

Linerless labels are advantageous from both an ecological and economic point of view. They do not require a backing paper, which reduces waste, and at the same time enables savings in storage and transport costs.

Triggered by the supply bottlenecks of 2021-2022, Ravenwood saw the need for innovative linerless solutions. Zeller+Gmelin was able to support the implementation with its extensive experience in the field of paints and varnishes. The collaboration began with a six-month test phase. The varnishes, which were specially designed for use on Ravenwood’s coating machines, achieved consistently positive results, Ravenwood reports. The varnishes RSP-7G106 FCM Uvaflex LM Gloss, RSP-7M105 FCM Uvaflex LM Matt and RSP-7M108FCM Uvaflex LM Semigloss, newly developed by Zeller+Gmelin, were then certified by Ravenwood specifically for this application.

“Thanks to the collaborative partnership, the two companies have succeeded in establishing a holistic and sustainable labeling solution – from the materials used to the final application,” states Karl Ebner, product manager, Lacquers and Adhesives, at Zeller+Gmelin.