Flint Groups Packaging and Narrow Web Division is pleased to record a series of successes at customers after having launched VarioLam AB, its new solvent-based ink series for the packaging market. The product range is based on a nitrocellulose and chlorine free polyurethane/acrylic binder system and is especially designed to meet the requirements of a broad range of high performance lamination applications.

"VarioLam AB is suitable for both flexo and gravure applications and thus allows our customers to manage lamination printing with only one basic ink range", says Tom Donaldson, Technical Support Manager for Flint Group UK & Ireland.

The new product range has been introduced at a number of customers for a variety of end-use applications including wet wipes solutions as well as boil in the bag applications.

"We were looking for an ink that maintained good bond strengths after vigorous boiling in hot water for 20 minutes", explains Dave Wilson, Production Manager at Rockwell, Dundee Scotland, one of Flint Groups first European customers with the new VarioLam AB. "After having trialled Flint Groups VarioLam Inks, we were particularly impressed by the excellent bond strengths they provided while showing good colour strength and printability at the same time. In the past we were using PVB-based inks which whilst indeed giving good bond strengths, they also gave the normal associated flexo printing problems of poor colour strength, poor printability and difficult wash-ups after use. The VarioLam inks seem to have overcome these issues."

"The product range is available as finished inks and stands out due to its excellent lamination results with both modern solvent-based and solvent-free adhesives," explains Matthias Henker, Product Director Film and Foil EMEA. He continues "Variolam AB inks are also suitable for retort applications when used with the corresponding pigments, lamination structures and adhesives. We furthermore have run successful trials where VarioLam AB replaced vinyl-based inks in triplex lamination work".