07.12.2021
The Gallus Labelfire Low Migration is equipped with an additional UV booster that supports the curing of Labelfire UVLM inks at higher printing speeds (source: Gallus Ferd. Rüesch AG).
In an intensive development process, engineers at Gallus and Heidelberg have further refined UV inkjet printing to enable the production of certified, food-grade labels with the Gallus Labelfire. The low-migration version of the Gallus Labelfire is designed for the production of food-grade packaging in accordance with EU regulations and the Swiss Ordinance on Commodities (Swiss Ordinance). For this purpose, the joint Gallus/Heidelberg development team has developed the Labelfire UVLM ink series, which is suitable for packaging that comes into contact with food. The UV curing technology of the Labelfire has also been further optimized to improve the migration properties of the ink film.
"The Gallus Labelfire Low Migration represents a genuine innovation. Compared to the previous machine, it makes no compromises when it comes to print quality, color gamut, and lightfastness of the inks," says Uwe Alexander, Product Manager Digital at Gallus, describing the new digital printing press. Thomas Schweizer, Head of Business and Product Management at Gallus, adds: "We refer to this as an innovation because, together with Heidelberg, we have reached a whole new level of UV inkjet technology. This includes the formulation of the ink and a matching dryer technology. We are thus enabling our customers to comply with the relevant EU regulations and the guidelines of the Swiss Ordinance and Nestlé Guidance Note in order to produce food-grade labels and packaging."
Saphira Digital Labelfire UVLM inks
Compliance with the relevant legislation and, in addition, with the client's specifications is a prerequisite for the food-grade production of labels and packaging. Labelfire UVLM inks therefore comply with the requirements of EU Regulations No. 10/2011, No. 1935/2004, No. 2023/2006 (GMP), the Swiss Commodities Ordinance, the Nestlé Guidance Note, and the EuPIA guidelines.
However, the use of such inks alone does not guarantee that the migration limits required for certification of such labels will automatically be met.
The new drying system from Labelfire Low Migration
An important production step takes place after inkjet printing, when the printing inks are cured. That is why the innovative machine system includes not only the new ink series but also a highly effective UV drying system to ensure optimum curing.
Immediately after printing, the substrate web is fed into a dryer with an inert chamber flooded with nitrogen. The almost complete exclusion of oxygen ensures optimized curing of the inks. An optional UV booster then reinforces the curing of the Labelfire UVLM inks, even at maximum production speed.
In addition to this new UV drying system, the Gallus Labelfire Low Migration is equipped with UV and oxygen sensors that measure production parameters. This supports quality assurance processes in label and packaging printing.
"We are proud to be able to offer our customers a machine system that not only prints flexibly and efficiently, but also offers the possibility of a very broad range of applications. The Labelfire Low Migration is perfect for a successful start in digital packaging printing for food and pharmaceuticals," summarizes Thomas Schweizer.
Successful field tests of Labelfire Low Migration
Two Gallus Labelfire presses have been producing food-grade labels and packaging in accordance with legal requirements for the European market for several months now as part of a field trial. The Gallus Labelfire Low Migration has been available to Gallus customers as a production machine since October this year.
For further information, please contact:
Gallus Ferd. Rüesch AG, Corporate Communications
T +41 71 242 86 86
matthias.marx@heidelberg.com
rosina.obermayer@heidelberg.com
07.12.2021
In an intensive development process, engineers at Gallus and Heidelberg have further refined UV inkjet printing to enable the production of certified, food-grade labels with the Gallus Labelfire. The low-migration version of the Gallus Labelfire is designed for the production of food-grade packaging in accordance with EU regulations and the Swiss Ordinance on Commodities (Swiss Ordinance). For this purpose, the joint Gallus/Heidelberg development team has developed the Labelfire UVLM ink series, which is suitable for packaging that comes into contact with food. The UV curing technology of the Labelfire has also been further optimized to improve the migration properties of the ink film.
"The Gallus Labelfire Low Migration represents a genuine innovation. Compared to the previous machine, it makes no compromises when it comes to print quality, color gamut, and lightfastness of the inks," says Uwe Alexander, Product Manager Digital at Gallus, describing the new digital printing press. Thomas Schweizer, Head of Business and Product Management at Gallus, adds: "We refer to this as an innovation because, together with Heidelberg, we have reached a whole new level of UV inkjet technology. This includes the formulation of the ink and a matching dryer technology. We are thus enabling our customers to comply with the relevant EU regulations and the guidelines of the Swiss Ordinance and Nestlé Guidance Note in order to produce food-grade labels and packaging."
Saphira Digital Labelfire UVLM inks
Compliance with the relevant legislation and, in addition, with the client's specifications is a prerequisite for the food-grade production of labels and packaging. Labelfire UVLM inks therefore comply with the requirements of EU Regulations No. 10/2011, No. 1935/2004, No. 2023/2006 (GMP), the Swiss Commodities Ordinance, the Nestlé Guidance Note, and the EuPIA guidelines.
However, the use of such inks alone does not guarantee that the migration limits required for certification of such labels will automatically be met.
The new drying system from Labelfire Low Migration
An important production step takes place after inkjet printing, when the printing inks are cured. That is why the innovative machine system includes not only the new ink series but also a highly effective UV drying system to ensure optimum curing.
Immediately after printing, the substrate web is fed into a dryer with an inert chamber flooded with nitrogen. The almost complete exclusion of oxygen ensures optimized curing of the inks. An optional UV booster then reinforces the curing of the Labelfire UVLM inks, even at maximum production speed.
In addition to this new UV drying system, the Gallus Labelfire Low Migration is equipped with UV and oxygen sensors that measure production parameters. This supports quality assurance processes in label and packaging printing.
"We are proud to be able to offer our customers a machine system that not only prints flexibly and efficiently, but also offers the possibility of a very broad range of applications. The Labelfire Low Migration is perfect for a successful start in digital packaging printing for food and pharmaceuticals," summarizes Thomas Schweizer.
Successful field tests of Labelfire Low Migration
Two Gallus Labelfire presses have been producing food-grade labels and packaging in accordance with legal requirements for the European market for several months now as part of a field trial. The Gallus Labelfire Low Migration has been available to Gallus customers as a production machine since October this year.
For further information, please contact:
Gallus Ferd. Rüesch AG, Corporate Communications
T +41 71 242 86 86
matthias.marx@heidelberg.com
rosina.obermayer@heidelberg.com