By Terry Clayton, Ph.D., chemist, Summit Analytical There are many companies kicking off inkjet integration projects to shift to or combine digital printing and decoration with analog printing methods. Inkjet already has been successfully integrated into display graphics, ceramic tile, product decorating and marking, and steadily is moving into textiles and … [Read more...] about Digital Inkjet Integration: The Importance of Ink Selection
Inks
Maximizing Pad Printing Ink Transfer Efficiency
By John Kaverman, president, Pad Print Pros Most technical information from pad printing ink manufacturers will say something like, “Thinner is added to the ink to adjust the printing viscosity,” with text following that usually is accompanied by a range of, for example, “10% - 20% by weight.” In my opinion, the use of the word “viscosity” is misleading, because it is the … [Read more...] about Maximizing Pad Printing Ink Transfer Efficiency
Colors in Decorated Plastics – Pigments and Dyes
By Paul Uglum, Uglum Consulting, LLC What would plastic decorating be without color? At its core, plastic decorating relies on the ability to produce a wide range of colors and to place them wherever wanted. This is in a world where plastics themselves are relatively bland and where the resins and other components of paints and inks also are relatively without color. Since … [Read more...] about Colors in Decorated Plastics – Pigments and Dyes
Metallic Finishes in Plastic Decoration
By Paul Uglum, Uglum Consulting LLC Metallic finishes in decorated plastic remain popular with both designers and consumers. The reasons for this are many and include the increased perceived value of the finished part, improved performance in the intended application, replacement of actual metal to reduce cost and weight, and taking advantage of the intrinsic properties of … [Read more...] about Metallic Finishes in Plastic Decoration
A Real-World Roundtable Discussion on UV Inks and UV Curing
Interview by Jim Raymont, EIT Editor’s Note: An excerpt from this in-depth interview with Nazdar’s team was published in Issue 3 2021 of UV+EB Technology. The full interview is found here. Nazdar team members participated in a real-world roundtable discussion on UV inks and UV curing. This team has 163 years of ink, formulation, print and troubleshooting experience, and … [Read more...] about A Real-World Roundtable Discussion on UV Inks and UV Curing