Actega is to further the development of the Innocan digital can decoration technology, following the creation of a single-entity mega site for its activities in Brazil.
This has seen three sites in Brazil brought together into a single 22,500sqm facility in Araçariguama, São Paulo. The new premises will house an expert team focused on innovations like Innocan, a printing process that uses digital to deliver offset-quality for the decoration of metal sheets for three-piece products, such as aerosol, food and general line cans.
Innocan is a collaboration between Actega, Brasilata Labs and HP Indigo and combines the companies’ respective expertise in coating technologies, coating processes, and digital printing and inks. The Innocan process includes preparing the metal sheet for lamination, printing on the thermoactive side of a thermal lamination film, and laminating it onto the metal sheet. Preparation of the metallic substrate is done with coatings specifically developed by Actega do Brasil. The sheet can be activated with heat, promoting the adhesion of the pre-printed polymeric film. The polymeric film printed by the HP Indigo digital press is then applied onto the metallic substrate. The material – metallic substrate and applied polymeric film – is then exposed to heat to promote adhesion.
For up to 50,000 one-litre cans (2400 sheets) this decoration technique enables a reduction in printing costs, according to Brasilata Labs. For more than 50,000 cans, the cost difference is noted as negligible although image quality is claimed to be ‘sharper’ and HP Indigo’s LEP technology creates ‘ornate’ printing with a variety of available finishing options. The printing ink from HP Indigo is food compliant, and compatible with various cans and applications, whether welded or folded cans, expanded cans and/or aerosol cans.
Wilfried Lassek, senior vice president, Metal Packaging Solutions at Actega described Innocan as making, ‘high-speed offset digital printing a reality for the can making industry.’
‘Each can is unique and impressive, thanks to its offset-quality digital print on laminated film, he commented. ‘This new development is another example of Actega’s customer-centred innovation.’
Another focus for the development teams at the Actega site in Araçariguama is UV direct to metal. Claimed as a market first, this development allows a UV coating to be applied directly to a surface pre-treated substrate with atmospheric plasma. By requiring only a UV lamp to cure the coating, this new process eliminates the need for excessive, energy-consuming gas ovens required for drying solvent-based coatings and replaces them with more efficient and sustainable UV systems. The result is ‘significant energy savings, faster production reduced costs, lower VOCs and 40% less carbon dioxide emissions’.
Antonio Galhardo, R&D manager for metal packaging coatings at Actega, ‘Our expansion in Araçariguama gives us a unique opportunity to progress innovations like these across different market sectors. It also allows us to meet our customers’ needs faster than ever before, while keeping quality and safety standards at the highest level. Our specialist teams combined with this cutting-edge facility are sure to make significant contributions to the continued growth and development of the print and packaging industry in South America.’
