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Marabu at InPrint made-to-measure printing inks for industrial applications

  • Publicado el 23 de Octubre de 2015

In Munich, the InPrint 2015 is going into a second round focusing on printing technology for industrial applications. Thanks to years of experience in manufacturing printing inks, Marabu (hall A6, stand D21) has gathered extensive expertise in developing made-to-measure solutions in this space. From functional and decorative liquid coatings to UV-curable, solvent- and water-based inks, Marabu will display the versatility of industrial applications and respective benefits of screen, pad, and digital printing – beyond conventional graphic applications.

In contrast to graphic applications, industrial printing is performed during manufacturing – that is, it forms a stage within the process. This type of printing presents unique challenges in terms of the huge variety and complexity of the forms, substrates and surface finishes involved. Thanks to a broad portfolio and in-depth expertise, Marabu can create tailored solutions. Whether printing on metal, plastics, textiles, glass, ceramics, wood or other materials, Marabu’s inks for industrial scenarios are developed in line with a clearly defined, customer-specific requirements profile.

This takes into account the properties of the substrate, the type of application, and the qualities of the finished printed product. It is possible to control the ink’s characteristics right from the start, for example resistance to chemicals and mechanical strain, light fastness, opacity, gloss, colour brilliance and odour – in addition to its compatibility with downstream processes such as bending, machining, welding, or moulding. The result is a solution designed to work perfectly with the printing system, giving customers an edge over the competition. As a development partner, Marabu can identify new printing options and highlight innovative solutions for manufacturing. Plus, it can reengineer existing printing processes to maximise production efficiency.

IMD (in-mould decoration) or FIM (film insert moulding) processes require a high degree of temperature resistance and flexibility. In addition, the final product must be extremely durable and resistant to chemicals. Mara® Cure HY is a mouldable, and abrasion- and chemical-resistant dual-cure screen printing varnish. It can also be used as a protective hard-coat for films made from PC, PMMA or ABS, which are more susceptible to abrasion. Using the varnish, different degrees of gloss are possible. The glossy varnish can be used for glossy effects on matt surfaces, or vice versa, create matt effects on glossy surfaces with the satin transparent varnish. The hybrid coating is particularly suitable for indoor and outdoor industrial applications such as interior and exterior applications in the automotive segment or furniture.

 

Membrane switches and keyboards – an integral part of many electronic control units – also place specific requirements on the printing process. Marabu offers solvent-based or UV-curable ink systems for all common makes of film. Ultra Switch UVSW, for example, cures rapidly and does not clog the mesh screen. What’s more, the ink film manages to combine incredible elasticity with excellent adhesion between the individual layers. Moreover, Marabu will present a new package for membrane switches that combines the advantages of screen and digital printing technology. The design can be printed with the Ultra Jet DUV-A in CMYK colour mode directly onto the foil without a time-consuming pre-press process. Only the white barrier layer is screen printed. This combination makes the production faster, easily customizable and cost-effective.

Technical markings on audio, electrical, and household products must be resilient in the face of heat, exposure to chemicals and general wear and tear. Marabu’s exceptionally durable screen and pad printing inks deliver on all counts – and integrating them into production processes couldn’t be easier. For applications where tactile quality and high coverage are of the essence, Marabu’s solvent-based or UV-curable screen printing inks stand out from the crowd. With pad printing, intricate details and complex colour effects can be achieved on substrates as diverse as ABS, polyamide, POM, varnished surfaces or metals. Moreover, when printing on medical devices, inks must comply with standards, plus, they must be durable enough to withstand sterilisation products and processes. In addition, it must be ensured that no ink ingredients make their way into the human body. Marabu’s pad printing solutions meet these requirements and are perfect not only for medical products such as syringes but also for marking or decorating glasses or hearing aids.

Marabu’s screen and pad printing inks can be used to create unique designs on packaging of all shapes and sizes. The new Ultra Pack LEDC is a LED-curable screen printing ink which delivers excellent results in terms of adhesion, opacity, degree of gloss, and reactivity. It is suitable for container printing and flatbed label applications. The good opacity works especially for full area prints or text.

For printing on PET bottle closures, pad printing ink Tampa® RotaSpeed TPRS or the halogen-free TPHF deliver efficient, cost-effective results for rotary systems. High adhesion and rapid drying mean seamless production processes and finished products that are scratch-resistant, even when packaged in bulk. mInkjet printing directly onto PET or glass bottles opens the door to completely new possibilities in packaging designs. Depending on system configuration, it is possible to complete smaller custom jobs or large-volume production runs at very high speeds.

Functional inks are used for a host of applications – ranging from flouric acid etch-resistant coatings for solar technology, to glow-in-the-dark inks with extra-long glow time, to primers for substrates with very poor surface properties. For screen, pad and digital printing, Marabu offers a range of these inks in multiple shades, which perform specific functions or enhance the performance of certain materials. They can be injected, sprayed, or applied using roller coating technology.

Digital printing for industrial applications is absolutely on the rise. Digital printing ensures fully reproducible results and makes it possible to frequently switch designs from project to project, without the need for costly and time-consuming machine changeover. Whether printing on metal, glass, textile, wood, plastic, or melamine, Marabu offers and develops customized and perfectly matched inkjet solutions. Mara® Shield liquid coatings can be used as primers, for finishing, as a protective coating for high-quality digital prints, or, in the UV-CGL shades, for colouring large glass surfaces. Kitchen and furniture manufacturers can choose from a wide variety of shades, and are able to offer their customers specific colours from the Pantone, RAL, HKS, etc. systems. The glossy, water-based Mara® Shield WA-FXG liquid coatings are especially suited for coating inkjet prints on flexible substrates like fleet graphics and self-adhesive foils, but they can also be used as a protective coating of truck tarpaulins. Further possibilities for inkjet inks include photo-realistic prints on windows or glass countertops. Plus, digital printing with the UV-curable Ultra Jet ink series can be used to produce a high-end wood-look effect for furniture, doors, floors, or panels.

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