PaperCon 2017 – Minneapolis, MN

PaperCon 2017

PaperCon 2017
April 23-26, 2017
Minneapolis Convention Center
Room: M100D
Minneapolis, MN

Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of the most important gathering of Paper and
Board Professionals in the industry.

PaperCon brings together industry professionals from around the world eager to share knowledge, innovation and new ideas about the paper and board industry.  These professionals know that PaperCon is the premier industry event offering them the opportunity to learn and discuss the latest technologies, best practices, issues and solutions to help them stay competitive in today’s marketplace.

Learn from a panel of experts from TAPPI’s Coating and Graphic Arts Division

This exceptional training in the basics is held as part of the Coating Program at PaperCon 2017, and it’s a great way to kick off all the events taking place in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The topics covered:

  • Current commercial print methods and the equipment used, including traditional offset and emerging digital technologies
  • Paper and packaging grades that are typically printed and the methods used
  • Examples of print and press problems, how to identify and potential solutions
  • Predicting and testing print quality
  • Color perception and color gamut

Introduction to Printing 101

This two-day introductory course is designed for those who need to understand print quality, attend print trials, trouble shoot print problems or are generally new to printing operations.You’ll learn from a panel of experts from TAPPI’s Coating and Graphic Arts Division.This exceptional training in the basics is held as part of the Coating Program at PaperCon 2017, and it’s a great way to kick off all the events taking place in Minneapolis, Minnesota.The topics covered: Current commercial print methods and the equipment used, including traditional offset and emerging digital technologies.

  • Paper and packaging grades that are typically printed and the methods used
  • Examples of print and press problems, how to identify and potential solutions
  • Predicting and testing print quality
  • Color perception and color gamut

For a complete agenda, registration information and other useful information please visit http://www.papercon.org/attendevents/

 

What Sets UV, Aqueous and Laminates Apart?

Screen Shot 2016-01-24 at 1.50.00 PMGraphic finishers and commercial printers alike have constantly dealt with the challenges of matching the right coating or laminate with the printed sheet. Many factors are involved in this decision that can affect the outcome of the project. And while no set rules exist on choosing one over the other, there are specific advantages and disadvantages of each process that can help determine the best overall choice.

Ultra-Violet Coatings
UV is a very popular coating choice due mostly to the high gloss finish one can achieve, adding a brilliance to the finished sheet unlike any other coating method. UV coatings also provide good resistance to solvents and abrasion – much better than most water-based coatings. Because of its high sheen, UV coatings are popular on a wide variety of consumer products, including paperback books, trading cards, and cosmetic packaging.

However, UV coatings are not the best choice for all applications. Special precautions are necessary, especially when hot stamping foil, scoring, folding, or gluing is involved. Certain types of UV coatings can also cause cracking problems if the sheet or carton is to be scored and folded. UV coatings are a challenge when foil stamping is involved as well. If the coating has a high level of silicone, hot stamping foils will simply not adhere. Even special UV coatings without a heavy silicone addition are difficult in many situations. It is suggested to foil stamp first and then apply the UV coating to avoid potential problems. Even in this scenario, the foil stamper should check with its foil supplier to choose a foil that is overcoatable.

In addition, UV coatings have been known to yellow over long periods of time and are highly susceptible to fingerprinting. Environmental concerns also surround the use of UV coatings. Although very little waste is left to dispose of when applying UV, what is left is very toxic. Special arrangements are necessary to dispose of this waste.

Aqueous Coatings
Probably the number one advantage of aqueous coating is the cost savings you can achieve – especially in sheet-fed applications. Aqueous coatings are very user-friendly when additional finishing is necessary as well. They work efficiently over most printing process inks, wet over wet or in some cases, wet over dry. They also accept many glues and are very receptive to hot stamping foil.

Aqueous coating is promoted as environmentally friendly. There is a small percentage of solid waste (about 10%) left from an aqueous run and should still be handled with some precautions. It is certainly the environmental choice when compared to UV or film lamination.

Thermal Film Lamination
When protecting the printed sheet or carton from abrasion, chemicals, or even when fingerprinting is of utmost importance, film lamination is the best choice without exception.  Film lamination is available in several matte and gloss finishes and can even be applied with a special embossed roller that leaves a textured pattern over the laminated sheet.

As the number one advantage of aqueous coatings is the cost savings, a major deterrent to the use of film lamination is the price. High volume production of many packaging applications prohibits the use of thermal lamination because of the expense of the film itself and the slower off-line application used to apply the film compared to UV or water-based coatings. In addition, certain types of film laminates have a very low dyne count, meaning the surface tension of the sheet restricts the adhesion of other finishing processes, including hot stamping foils and glues. In the past, the film was corona treated, providing an acceptable surface. The challenge was that the corona treatment would wear off over a period of time. Special films have now been developed with a permanent chemical additive that will readily accept hot stamping foils and glues. If you have questions on the overstampability of the film, it may be wise to consider foil stamping before laminating the sheet.

As you can see, a great deal of analysis must go into the decision when choosing between UV coating, aqueous coating, and film lamination. From a graphic finisher’s point of view, you might think steering your customer towards UV or lamination (because you offer the service and know aqueous will be applied in-line) is the best choice. This certainly is not the right approach for long-term growth with the customer. Helping printers or other customers you work with analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the different coatings and laminates available and helping them match the right choice with the right application will solidify your position with the customer. Suggesting aqueous over UV when the application warrants it, will translate to a happier customer and a longer lasting relationship for the future.

Editorial by FSEA.com

Understanding Aqueous Coatings

Aqueous Coatings: Defined.

waterbased coatings, custom coatings

A lot of people are confused about what aqueous coatings are and their advantages for users. For a long time, it was industry standard to use varnish as coating and it was thought of as good enough. Aqueous coatings were introduced to the market at the end of the 70s, but they were prohibitively expensive back then.

Also called water based coatings, they were invented and adopted because they are vastly superior to varnish. The finish and quality one gets from aqueous coatings far exceeds anything that is possible with varnish or any other type of coating. It is also better than varnish in many other ways. There is no yellowing problem with time which is a common complaint when it comes to varnish. Ghosting issues are also solved with aqueous coatings and they also do not pose a risk to the environment the way varnish does.

There are many different types of aqueous coatings such as:

High Gloss
If you want a high gloss finish then aqueous coatings will be a great choice for you. They provide a high amount of gloss and also offer press stability, tailored coefficient of friction, and good hot stamp receptivity.

Matte Finish
Aqueous coatings are also available in matte finish with gloss ranges in 5-20° at 60° angles. The clarity and adhesion of these is excellent plus they also have great water and chemical resistance.

Soft Feel
Soft Feel aqueous coatings have a luxurious leather type feel along with excellent rub and mar protection. They are receptive to ink as well as ballpoint pens.

Chemical Resistant
Aqueous coatings can also be made resistant to alkalis, acids, ketenes, alcohols, dry cleaning solvents, acetates, household cleaners as well as automotive fluids.

Controlled C.O.F.
Controlled COF (coefficient of friction) allows a stable COF and are available in both gloss and matte finish.

Heat Resistant
Heat resistant aqueous coatings can survive temperatures up to 450°F (232°C) which makes them ideal for processes involving hot temperatures.

Heat Seal
Heat Seal aqueous coatings can be used to keep the heat locked in and have a dwell time as low as 0.01 to 0.1 seconds and can handle pressure up to 40-0 psi.

Security Coatings
Aqueous coatings can also be used for invisible security purposes and are only visible in certain conditions.

UV Cure
UV (ultraviolet) curable aqueous coatings are specially formulated to act as topcoats and primers.

Print Receptive
These are receptive to many different types of inks such as digital, solvent borne, offset, water based, inkjet and UV.

To learn more about custom aqueous coatings please contact Roymal, Inc. at (602) 2863-2410 or email roymal@roymalinc.com.

Aqueous Ultraviolet (UV) Cure Coatings

Pushing the Limit of Aqueous Coatings

flexible packaging

Packaging engineers, print designers and graphics art professionals are constantly creating new applications that push the limits of aqueous coating technology.

These higher performance applications require aqueous coatings that will perform under the most severe conditions.  Roymal offers a wide variety

of aqueous UV curable coatings that are formulated to perform as primers and topcoats, our coatings offer excellent adhesion to films, are heat and chemical resistant and can be applied to paper, paperboard, foil and film products.

Application of Aqueous Ultraviolet (UV) Coatings

Commercial printers frequently send their jobs through using an inline UV curing equipment or an offline, “stand alone” UV curing unit. Aqueous (waterbased) UV cure coatings require the use of a thermal oven to remove the volatiles before the UV curing step.  The UV curing step can also be accomplished in an offline UV cure unit as the aqueous UV coatings have non-blocking properties and can be rolled in reel form prior to UV cure.  Aqueous UV primers and topcoats can be applied via rotogravure and meyer rod.

Roymal Inc. has formulated a select number of aqueous UV coatings that allow printers to take advantage of this unique technology for their variety of end applications, including ink receptive primers (can covalently cure with UV inks) and topcoats.

 

Roymal Inc. Offers Aqueous UV Curable Coatings like:  

  • UV Curable Print Receptive Primer
  • UV Curable Topcoat
  • UV Curable Soft Feel Topcoat
  • UV Cure Inline or Offline

 

Aqueous UV Curable Coatings offer:

  • Gloss or Matte Availability
  • Excellent Water Resistance
  • Excellent Rub Resistance
  • Excellent Chemical Resistance
  • Excellent Heat Resistance
  • Excellent Filmic Adhesion Properties
  • Good Print Receptivity

For more information about water based coatings and aqueous UV curable products, contact Roymal Inc. at roymal@roymalinc.com or by calling (603) 863-2410.