A UK breakthrough technology will be in the spotlight at Labelexpo as Datalase heads for an official launch of Variprint at Drupa next year.
The technology is a phase change particles in an ink or coating which are activated by a low powered laser, changing colour from clear to white or to black. At Labelexpo Sun Chemical and Siegwerk will show the technology for coding applications to add variable information like a use by date or batch code to a printed label.
Datalase can already do this, adding bar codes to outer corrugated cases for example. But the future lies with Variprint which enable reproduction of small type and elements and which can run at full speed on packing and filling lines.
Chris Wyres, DataLase CEO, says: “Variprint is the first of an exciting range of digital printing solutions that we are bringing to market through strategic partners.”
The Variprint coating can be included in almost any ink type and can be used on almost any substrate. The system allows imaging at 2400dpi. In suitable conditions, it can run at 3m/second for inline label printing or on a carton packing line at 1,000 units a minute.
“Manufacturers can use the technology for product coding, case coding, labelling and cartons or directly on to the product, for example, direct bottle printing,” says the company.
The company’s network of strategic partners includes printer manufacturers, substrate providers, converters and integrators as well as ink companies. A number will be able to show the technology at Drupa.
Variprint is, however, just the start. A year after Drupa, the company plans to introduce Infinity, a similar product but which enables multicolour printing from the single pigment and coating.
“We are focusing on labels, folding cartons and secondary packaging, as this is where we identified the largest need amongst brand owners. However, we are also working with partners to leverage the technology in other areas, including direct to shape printing and point of sale printing,” says a spokesman.
Datalase is well established in the coding and marking sector and reckons that more than 4 billion products will be coded using its technology this year.
A number of Datalase partners will include Datalase Variprint in products to be shown at Labelexpo. It offers a means to add variable content to a printed label, while future developments open the possibility of removing labels altogether as an alternative to inkjet for direct to shape printing.
