INX announced the launch of new colors for metal packaging coloring, something it will do at Cannex & Fillex Asia Pacific 2024, the international trade show to be held July 17-19 at the Pazhou Complex in Guangzhou, China. The company currently has 650 different colors.
Renee Schouten, vice president of marketing at INX, says visitors to the booth will be able to learn about INX Color Perfection color management software and meet with an INX print application specialist to provide the solutions each customer needs.
The new pair of two-piece black and white metal decorative inks featured are enhancements for can makers and beverage brands looking to stand out on store shelves.
AP Retort Jet Black inks received an upgrade to facilitate printing at high densities. Alex Folloso, who was recently promoted to vice president of R&D for Metal Decorating Technology, said customers report sharper, denser black printing with improved color intensity, transfer and coverage, and better performance.
“Most canned beverages that contain a percentage of milk or dairy products require a retortable ink such as AP Retort Jet Black,” said Folloso, a 26-year INX veteran. “Major coffee and beverage brands in North America have told us about their performance and appearance improvements, and we are now introducing this product outside the United States.”
Folloso indicated that some customers are also noticing reduced hold for inspection (HFI) rates for quality issues involving an odd color or some type of defect in the can.
“One decorator can print up to 10,000 cans in five minutes, so depending on the number of cans produced, the cost of HFI printing is huge,”
he added.
“The goal is zero, so reducing the amount of HFI printing is important to the manufacturer. These are some of the improvements that our technical and metals R&D team will continue to address.”
AP LoVOC Line white inks offer customers the ability to print a brighter, sharper white with improved press performance and better drying. Customers using them have noted improved opacity, better transfer from the blanket to the can and better substrate coverage.
“Based on feedback from our customers, AP LoVOC Line White meets their requirements. A major brewing company is currently using it on several of their branded labels that require a high percentage of white coverage.”
Folloso replied.
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