Sun Chemical to launch new inkjet inks range at Fespa

Sun Chemical is set to launch new inkjet inks developed specifically for the digital wide- and superwide-format markets at Fespa Digital 2016.

Highlights on the manufacturer’s stand at the show, which will be held in Amsterdam from 8 to 11 March, will include the global launch of SunTex, the company’s newly launched series of inkjet inks developed specifically for digital textile applications.

Two SunTex ink ranges will be demonstrated at the show. The first is a dye-sublimation ink for transfer print applications, which combines bright strong colours, dense black and a tough highly resistant ink film.

The second range shown will be a direct print dispersed dye ink for flag and banner applications, which the manufacturer said provides “excellent show-through” for double sided output including flag printing, where the image is viewed from either side, and vibrant, strong colour and dense black reproduction.

The business said both inks should be printed onto polyester and polyester-rich textiles and materials.

Sun Chemical business manager Tony Cox said: “We have seen significant growth in the inkjet printed textile market in recent years and it is forecast to grow at 20% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next few years.

“While Sun Chemical doesn’t have a presence in the traditional textile market, it has extensive knowledge and experience in inkjet technology and is in a position to develop market leading technology to meet the textile market needs.”

Also new at Fespa, Sun Chemical’s specialist global inkjet division SunJet will present the new AquacureT functional aqueous inkjet ink, which is said to offer optimum high quality output, strong adhesion to a wide range of media, an extensive colour gamut and low odour properties.

SunJet global sales and product manager Rick Hulme said: “Aquacure is the next generation functional aqueous inkjet ink, suitable for a wide range of graphic and packaging applications.

“This is a totally new concept in ink development based on unique aqueous chemistry which we have developed ourselves at SunJet. It combines the best of water-based and UV curing technology to deliver optimal high quality output with a host of environmental benefits.”

He added: “Aquacure is already being used in the wide-format graphics sector, but we expect it to serve multiple sectors within the narrow web and packaging market, in particular flexible packaging, shrink sleeves, carton board and corrugated, as well as many other industrial applications which have become viable as a result of developments in the ink chemistry, printhead development and printer architecture.”

Finally, Sun Chemical’s Streamline range of solvent-based alternative inkjet inks, designed for wide and superwide-format printers including Epson, Vutek, Roland, Mutoh and Mimaki, will also be on show at Fespa. This will include the Streamline ESL2 low odour eco-solvent ink, which was launched earlier this year.