Laser printing solutions company DataLase has introduced a clear-to-white coating for plastic bottles, aiming to provide an alternative to traditional labels, eliminating filmic and paper materials while delivering full label-equivalent functionality.
The company says the coating enables brands to significantly reduce packaging without compromising performance or visual impact. Designed for integration into high-speed bottling lines with spray-coating units, the new coating is suitable for PET, PP and PC bottles and optimized for beverage, personal care and pharmaceutical applications.
Once applied, the bottle surface can be laser-imaged using CO2, fibre or UV lasers, producing a high-opacity white image on a clear background with exceptional clarity. DataLase states this process eliminates the need for inks, labels, or other consumables during imaging and guarantees consistent print quality at production speed.
The technology also features enabling connectivity through QR codes, nutritional information, regulatory content, brand logos and date or lot codes. According to DataLase, each bottle can be customized or personalized instantly without production delays, allowing brands to tailor messaging, serialization, or promotional content on a unit-by-unit basis.
The company adds that the coating allows manufacturers to ‘significantly reduce’ SKUs and improve equipment uptime and lower warehousing costs. Properties of the new coating include heat, water, scuff and rub-resistance, designed to ensure durability throughout distribution. Formulated to comply with regulations for non-direct food contact packaging, it is also said to align with modern packaging and product safety standards.
In related news, we spoke to Ecohelix ahead of last year’s Sustainability Awards about its Woodmer Seal for coatings in industries such as e-commerce and personal care. A finalist in the Awards, the plastic-free coating is said to be fully recyclable and have ‘excellent’ barrier properties.
Later in the year, Michelman revealed its Michem Coat 9250, a water-based coating designed to enable recyclability for paper cups. The coating reportedly delivers higher solids, cleaner organoleptics and enhanced resistance to aggressive coffees and creamers.
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