Resino Trykfarver and KPG Europe have combined their expertise to launch a digital system for printing artificial food casings in both full colour and white.
For many years printers of artificial food casings have identified the potential benefits of being able to access ‘short run’ production capability, including instant image change with virtually no material waste or down-time.
Resino has finalised a development programme, adapting its existing flexographic UV curing ink technology for printing artificial casings, into an inkjet applicable variant, RESUCAT ® 220 series.
According to the company, casings printed with this inkjet variant can be treated in the conventional way in terms of shirring, filling and autoclave processing. It says the RESUCAT®220 ink series is also low migration and low odour and has no need for primer or overprint varnish.
The new digital system was designed by KPG Europe. With pdf handling, instant data changes, choice of print resolution and production speeds (600 X 600dpi and up to 100m/min depending on design), the technology could mean ‘short runs’ are now a reality for casing printers. Optional features include fully automatic production and a CID (chilled central impression drum) version will also be available.
Development and trials by the two companies over the past two years have culminated in this new technology being launched in the spring. At the forthcoming IFFA 2019 exhibition, using the specially formulated inks, the complete system printing polyamide casings will be demonstrated throughout the show on Stand 12.1 D18.
