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About ThermoPrint
We offer inks (chemithermals), which can either be coated down onto label stock, or to produce a patch on printed label (see Thermosil below). Other applications for ThermoPrint exist, for example it can be used as an indicator for tampering, or as an indicator of thermal sterilisation, or as a cooking indicator, or as a security / brand protection feature.
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Application
The normal colour change would be white to black, e.g. TFBK90 (Thermoprint, Flexo, Black, 90C), although other colours and temperatures can be offered.
Thermoprint inks are also used in the manufacture of Security packaging. As tamper-evidence (TE) inks, they offer improved colouration characteristics, better printability, better colour stability, and savings on ink consumption of up to 50% compared with other TE inks.
Let us offer you a FREE sample of Thermoprint; and let us offer a FREE demonstration of how you can get a better TE effect and save on cost.
Technical Specification
For use as a process indicator (Class 1), for the sterilisation of packs by gamma irradiation. There is a noticeable colour change at 5kGy with increased colour density up to 100kGy.
Shelf Life and Storage
Sterisure-Gamma Indicator Labels have a shelf life of 24 months from the date of manufacture prior to sterilisation,
provided they are stored in ambient conditions below 20°C and 50% R.H. and in the dark.
Introduction
Application
Technical
About ThermoSil
Going green and saving packaging costs
Removing those waste producing, cost increasing print technologies might seem like an unacheivable goal for many packaging manufacturers and printers, however technologies are often dictated “to” end users - “this is how we do it” conversations abound in the industry.
In order to get a precise clear print quality using a thermal ribbon the substrate needs to be uniform and flat – often the use of coated papers is the only way to achieve this resulting in high levels of waste from trim and from ribbon usage.
An alternative would be to use thermally coated paper and use a direct thermal print head, however this is wasteful when only 5-10% of the paper surface is for variable information. Thermal paper is also difficult to get good colour marking on – a larger coat weight is required, increasing costs.
An ideal solution then would be to use plain paper/card stock that can be printed using traditional flexo techniques and print a thermally sensitive patch for the variable information – The majority of the packaging benefits from low cost, high colour print and the patch is highly sensitive to a laser beam for printing variable information.
Thermosil is a single layer patch that allows direct thermal printing of variable information – no more waste, no more ribbon jams, and significantly reduced cost.
Laying down the Thermosil patch as part of the normal carton print process means that there is no need for thermal ribbons or for ink on the packaging line – this means increased savings on every carton, no smudging, excellent machine readability and reduced environmental waste – one customer has made a 32% saving on labelling alone by switching from thermal labels to Thermosil on a plain label, with the added benefit of better colour uplift and readability.
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Application
The ink can be applied by Flexo, Gravure, or Screen printing, or by a range of common coating methods.
The ink patch will react to form a black image when exposed to heat (eg. from a thermal print head) or IR radiation from a low power Nd/YAG Laser. Use the ink as thick (viscous) as possible.
A coarse anilox or cylinder is recommended: the greater the coat weight, the denser the colour formed. For machine-readable codes, a coat weight of over 3gsm (dry) is recommended.
Technical Specification
Thermosil ink can be supplied for flexo, gravure or screen printing across a range of viscosities. Please contact the manufacturer to discuss your particular requirements
An example is given below to demonstrate typical values:
Appearance: Off white
Solvent /Thinner: Water
Unexposed Colour: Off White
Exposed Colour: Black, Red, Blue
Colour with: Heat
Solids: 40 - 44 %
(2 hours @ 125°c)
Viscosity: 55 - 65 Sec
(on zahn cup 2 @ 25˚C)
pH: 7.5 – 8.5 (at 25˚)
Introduction
Application
Technical
About ThermoCheck
Whether it is an indicator to show that a tray of loaves/cakes has been in the oven, or to show that a thermal-cure or annealing process has been successfully applied, an indicator label (dot) can be made for the process. A typical colour-change would be red to black, although other colour changes are possible.
• Consistent colour change on a uniform label from red to black
• Each batch is validated in-house
• The chemistry and product ranges have been completely developed in house
The ThermoCheck Indicator Labels are process indicators to differentiate processed and non-processed products.
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Application
The Thermocheck Indicator Labels are process indicators to identify processed and non-processed products. The indicators are sensitive to dry heat and will change from red to black after being subjected to dry heat for approximately 3 minutes at 180˚C, or longer periods of time at lower temperatures.
Format
Self adhesive label 12mm diameter, 5000 per reel, 1 dot per width, 10 reels per box, also available in other formats or as an ink.
Order Size
Flexible order quantities are available, in multiples of 5000 dots.
Lead Time
Less than 4 weeks to despatch from receipt of order.
Technical Specification
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Introduction
Application
Technical
About ThermoSwell
We offer inks (for flexography, screen or gravure), either water-based or solvent-based, which, after coating and drying, will expand when heated. The temperature of the expansion is 100-130C, and this produces a tactile effect or a “soft-touch” feel. Volume increases of a few percent up to several hundred percent are possible. The swelling could be accompanied by a colour change such that “intaglio” text (and codes) could be written by a laser beam. A special form of Thermoswell ink is under development, as a means of printing Braille.
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Application
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Technical Specification
Thermoswell FTV120 is water based printing ink that increases in volume when heated through its activation temperature. The ink may be activated by heat, steam or by a low power CO2 laser. The level of expansion is dependent upon the dry coat weight of the ink: the higher the coat weight, the greater the expansion. Thermoswell FTV120 can be applied by Flexography, Gravure, Screen or by flood Coating to paper and filmic substrates.
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Introduction
Application
Technical
About ThermoChromic
In a world where brand communication is paramount, using smart labelling to indicate product readiness is a tool to help you gain a competitive edge – using a one way colour change to indicate product history or reversible colour change to indicate that a bottle of wine is correctly chilled are some of the ways that smart inks can help differentiate your brand.
According to a report from NanoMarkets, LC, titled, “Smart Packaging Markets; 2006-2013,” the global smart packaging market will grow to $4.8 billion in 2011 and reach $14.1 billion in 2013 and colour change inks are playing a massive part in that growth.
Available in a number of colours and activation temperatures, creating vibrant, customer engaging labelling is simple – change the message, reveal hidden competition codes, stop brand counterfeiting in it’s tracks – thermally sensitive inks can be laid down by traditional flexo or gravure printing methods making it easy to incorporate design features within existing labelling.
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Application
The ink can be applied by Flexo, Gravure, or Screen or by a range of common coating techniques. The
coloured ink will fade through its temperature range: the “cold” colour becomes colourless above this range.
Pigments may be used to modify the “cold” colour. The ink should be used as viscous as possible, and as
heavy a coat weight as possible should be applied (normally at least 2gsm). A course cylinder or Anilox is
recommended or more than one printing/application. The inks should be stirred thoroughly before use.
Shelf Life & Storage Conditions
The mixed inks, depending upon which formulation is chosen, may have a shelf life of only a few days. The inks can
be supplied in two packs for mixing immediately prior to use. The separate packs should be stored in a cool, dark place
(below 20C), and will have a lifetime of 6 months.
Packaging
Thermochromic inks are made to order only. We cannot supply samples unless there is potential of quantity sales.
Pack sizes will then be by negotiation
Technical Specification
Thermochromic inks are available for gravure, flexographic and screen printing or flow coating in a
variety of colours and for several temperatures of change.
Some examples:
TCFBK29: Thermochromic, Flexo, Black to Clear, 29C
TCSRD41: Thermochromic, Screen, Red to Clear, 41C
TCSGNY35: Thermochromic, Screen, Green to Yellow, 35C
Introduction
* Water-based dispersions. Solvent-based and UV-cure inks are available by negotiation.
* Change colour over a range of 5-7C around the “nominal” temperature. Return to the original colour on cooling.
There is some hysteresis.
*A variety of “cold” colours are offered. The “hot” colour isderived from conventional pigments.
*Switch temperatures between -10 and +65C.
* Heavy coat weights required for maximum effect.
Physical Properties
Colour(s) - By negotiation
Temperature of Change - By negotiation
Solids - 33-42%
Viscosity - By negotiation
Diluent - Water
Wash-Down - Water (ethanol, or propyl acetate for solvent based)
Introduction
Application
Technical
About ThermAlert
Labels are offered which are coated with Thermoprint lacquer to indicate when a threshold temperature has been exceeded. Various colour changes are possible, as are several sensitivities. As an example, our ThermAlert YRD95 label will change from yellow to red if its temperature goes over 95C for several seconds (or over 90C for several minutes). The label can be made to customer specification, although our standard is a 12.5mm diameter self adhesive “dot”. ThermAlert labels are available with activation temperatures between 60C and 130C
Thermalert labels have applications for circuit boards, electronic components, electrical appliances, gearboxes etc..
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Application
Format
Self adhesive label 12mm diameter, 5000 per reel, also available in other formats or as an ink.
Order Size
Flexible order quantities are available, in multiples of 5000 dots.
Lead Time
Less than 5 weeks to despatch from receipt of order.
Introduction
Application
Technical
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