This involves reverse printing on the surface material and then using dry lamination to produce the packaging structure. This uses a specially developed water-based adhesive from Michelman to maximize bond strength between the dry toner inks and the packaging material.
Filip Weymans, vice president, marketing at Xeikon, noted that flexible packaging has been able to be produced using Xeikon’s presses for a while, when you consider products such as sleeves, wraparound labels and some paper-based products, but doing pouches opens up new potential revenue streams for its customers.
Weymans said: ‘This is a prime example of what we call “customer driven innovation”. By focusing on this application, we are supporting our customers’ requirements and also responding to the current trends in consumer preference. This development takes our digital production portfolio to the next level. With our technological expertise, Xeikon is ideally positioned to provide innovative digital processes.’
Xeikon has worked with UK printer CS Labels, a digital-only company, to develop dry toner pouch production. CS Labels has further developed its own in-house 6m-long converting line to allow it to produce converted flexible packaging.
