DSM has announced the release of Skins Sandy, a new coating that adds sand-like textures to a range of materials.
Tactile elements in print and packaging are increasingly used to differentiate brands, by providing a sensory experience that reflects their products. DSM’s Skins coating resins range aims to meet this need by enabling different textures in a range of print and packaging materials. Skins Sandy will offer sandyfeel textures ranging from fine to coarse and is particularly suitable for overprint varnishes, paper & board, and flexible packaging. In particular, DSM says that its broad food contact compliance will open new possibilities for textured food packaging. It will reportedly be compatible with a wide range of printing processes, including flexographic and gravure.
The company says that unlike many sandy-feel coating resins on the market, Skins Sandy delivers the desired sandpaper texture in a single coating without fillers or additives, making application easier and reducing formulators’ contact with harmful chemicals. The new resin also apparently offers high shelf stability and production yield, delivering competitive cost-in-use. In this way, DSM argues that the new resin offers a level of functional performance beyond other commercially available sandy-feel resins.
DSM also claims that its new resin will offer high levels of sustainability. Its compatibility with one-component waterborne systems avoids the need for potentially harmful solvents, and its ability to add texture in a single coating will also reportedly facilitate mono-material packaging that can be easily recycled. DSM says that the resin is lightweight compared to other laminates, apparently allowing manufacturers to reduce energy and material usage.
Adri van der Waals, Product Launch Director, DSM Coating Resins: “With Skins Sandy, we’re continuing to meet the print and packaging industry’s need for more brand differentiation options. In particular, Skins Sandy addresses the growing demand for sandy-feel coatings that are sustainable and easier to apply at industrial scale. We’ll continue to expand the Skins family to offer more options for haptic differentiation. And above all, we’ll show that these options can be delivered sustainably, creating a brighter, more textured world for all.”
