As a contribution to sustainable print using energy-saving LED curing, Uflex Chemicals has introduced its new range of FlexGreen LED cured UV inks for sheetfed offset printing. Although there has been considerable interest in low energy consumption of LED curing systems that are now offered by all the major global multicolor sheetfed offset press manufacturers, many Indian printers have stuck to conventional UV while waiting for wider and more economical availability of LED cured inks.
The Chemicals Business of Uflex is a leading supplier of inks, adhesives and speciality coatings, and is now amongst the first few ink producers globally to offer complete solutions to UV LED sheetfed offset printers with its inks, coatings and texture systems. While increasing access to LED curing for Indian printers, ‘FlexGreen’ will substantially help reduce import dependence.
‘FlexGreen’ is a series of UV-LED process colors for sheetfed offset printing on coated paper, paperboard and MetPet (metallized polyester laminated) board. Uflex claims that it has high color strength and gloss apart from its quick curing properties. The company also claims that it offers excellent ink-water balance and press stability in addition to its excellent print quality with low odor. Due to its high strength, the desired ink densities are achieved with less ink release – providing superior mileage. FlexGreen is expected to bring substantial savings to printers by way of lower energy costs and reduce carbon footprint.
At its launch, Rajesh Bhasin, joint president — Chemicals Business at Uflex Limited said, “UV LED curing is a next generation technology, compared to conventional curing technologies. With the introduction of these inks we are part of select club of ink producers, offering the latest and finest in technology to Indian printers. It is indeed a matter of pride for us to be amongst the first few globally to produce these inks and coatings. This new addition will help widen our portfolio and effectively address developed global markets.”
With a focus on servicing the offset printing industry globally, FlexGreen is to be available to customers from its launch date of 3 October 2018.
2023 promises an interesting ride for print in India
Indian Printer and Publisher founded in 1979 is the oldest B2B trade publication in the multi-platform and
multi-channel IPPGroup. While the print and packaging industries have been resilient in the past 33 months since the pandemic lockdown of 25 March 2020, the commercial printing and newspaper industries have yet to recover their pre-Covid trajectory.
The fragmented commercial printing industry faces substantial challenges as does the newspaper industry.
While digital short-run printing and the signage industry seem to be recovering a bit faster, ultimately
their growth will also be moderated by the progress of the overall economy. On the other hand book
printing exports are doing well but they too face several supply-chain and logistics challenges.
The price of publication papers including newsprint has been high in the past year while availability is diminished by several mills shutting down their publication paper and newsprint machines in the past four years. Indian paper mills are also exporting many types of paper and have raised prices for Indian printers. To some extent, this has helped in the recovery of the digital printing industry with its on-demand short-run and low-wastage paradigm.
Ultimately digital print and other digital channels will help print grow in a country where we are still far behind in our paper and print consumption and where digital is a leapfrog technology that will only increase the demand for print in the foreseeable future. For instance, there is no alternative to a rise in textbook consumption but this segment will only reach normality in the next financial year beginning on 1 April 2023.
Thus while the new normal is a moving target and many commercial printers look to diversification, we believe that our target audiences may shift and change. Like them, we will also have to adapt with agility to keep up with their business and technical information needs.
Our 2023 media kit is ready, and it is the right time to take stock and reconnect with your potential markets and customers. Print is the glue for the growth of liberal education, new industry, and an emerging economy. We seek your participation in what promises to be an interesting ride.
– Naresh Khanna
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