The applications of Siegwerk’s Sicura Flex Dual Cure series include narrow web UV flexo applications. The dual cure inks have been designed for flexo presses for label applications. 

To use the inks, one must change the lamp from UV, or mercury to LED or vice versa. Siegwerk provides machine manufacturers with a cassette system to enable the process to be simple and fluid. The curing process remains the same as for standard UV products. 

It is free radical photo-polymerisation of acrylate-based systems mechanism in which ultra-violet wavelength light is required. In the case of LED the UV emitted rays in monowavelength.

“One does not even have to reduce print speeds to use these inks,” says Mahesh Verma, Siegwerk. “Since the lifetime of LED lamps is much higher than standard mercury lamps, comparatively less maintenance is required. No changes are required in standard conditions for UV or LED, although it has been observed that the LED saves more power.”

The product was only launched this year and works on all types of absorbent and non-absorbent plastic substrates, although, on certain occasions, necessary corona or chemical treatments are required. According to Verma, the product has successfully been validated in India and is being used by all of its customers.

The Sicura Flex Dual Cure series offer printability, high colour strength, and are highly reactive. The single ink systems can be used on presses with either a UV or LED lamp, in any printing unit of the machine and no separate inventory is required for UV or LED applications.

The product is a low-migration ink series formulated in compliance with the EuPIA Exclusion Policy for printing inks and related materials. The offered product portfolio is augmented by additional products such as opaque whites, metallic inks, varnishes for multiple applications, adhesives as well as primers.