Some of Xeikon’s label press customers developed ways to print on plastic film for stand up pouches, but the packaging world is moving away from plastic to paper based materials. The result is Titon, a cross linked cured toner that is nonetheless food compliant, resistant to heat, chemicals and scuffing without the need for further varnishes or lamination. In other worlds, the ideal print technology for packaging.
It was announced a year ago and made a first appearance at Labelexpo. ADM, an Italian company has been acting as the beta site working both with Xeikon and with Sappi on matching the press, the toner and the substrates.
Sappi has qualified Seal Silk and AvantGuard S as suitable for Titon. Others are on their way. Both were developed for flexible packaging applications. The results have delighted all concerned for print quality and compliance with the strictest regulations on food safety, opening the way for brands to switch from plastic films to fibre for a wide range of applications.
The secret is in the toner. After fusing the toner is subject to a further dose of energy, provided by LEDs, which trigger a cross linking action to render it impervious to heat and scuffing. It is completely odourless and impervious to migration.
The process requires the TX500, a version of the Cheetah model, designed to run the Titon toner. As there is no call for lamination or post print varnishing (additions that can affect recyclability), moving from one job to another is fast and can make up for the steady rate of printing.
“There is no other solution that can offer what Titon is doing for food compliance,” says senior product manager Frank Jacobs. “Over and above ensuring a good print result, the inks need to be extremely resistant throughout the packaging process and insensitive to temperature, for heat sealing. And especially for applications in the food sector they also need to be odourless, taintless, food safe and migration proof.”
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