“What is SharperDot™ UV ink?”

SharperDot™ UV Ink is formulated to cure or dry when exposed to ultraviolet light energy.

UV inks are formulated from raw materials described as reactive monomers, resins (oligomers), photo initiators, pigments and a variety of performance enhancing additives. These select materials are 100% solid and include no rapidly evaporating volatile organic solvents, so that the release of VOC’s into the environment is essentially eliminated vs. solvent based screen ink products.

Cork Industries, Inc., long known for its graphic arts market presence, offers a beneficial line-up of aqueous, UV & EB specialty coatings, varnishes and adhesives recently introduced an evolving line of new generation Corkure UV energy curing ink systems for sheetfed, letterpress, flexo and screen. These include process colors and blending colors.

UV screen inks, which are said to have revolutionized the screen printing industry, were first formulated specifically for screen use during the late 1970’s. Since this early adoption of UV ink technology, the screen printing industry has grown the use of UV inks to the point where UV inks enjoy an approximate 67% sales penetration, with growth continuing at about a 4% per year rate.

Compared to solvent based screen printing inks, UV inks offer the following benefits:

• • 100% solids composition
• • Virtually zero VOC emissions
• • Reduced shop exposure to solvents
• • Lower energy use vs. thermal dryers
• • Highly efficient curing
• • Higher productivity + reduced cost
• • Elimination of harsh cleaners
• • Reduced equipment space footprint
• • Elimination of thermal dryers

New generation UV screen printing inks provide faster curing, stronger-denser color, higher ink coverage, reduced ink deposit requirements, improved printing stability, and improved multi-application functionality. Greater density in UV screen printing inks is allowing printers to produce saturated color reproduction using a lighter ink deposit. Exceptional color strength in Cork’s SharperDot™ UV Ink Systems equal dense concentrated inks.

The ability of an ink to consistently achieve color reproduction from print to print at start-up and throughout a print run is what is termed printing stability. Solvent inks typically see color changes on press, since solvent normally evaporates, and ink viscosity increases (thickens), resulting in printed color changes. This necessitates solvent additions and a subsequent color change on press. UV inks in contrast do not suffer from solvent evaporation since they are 100% solids, and, therefore, remain much more stabile and consistent during print runs yielding a terrific advantage. Printers using UV inks are able to produce consistent color quickly upon start-up, and maintain consistency throughout a run, resulting in higher efficient productivity, reduced energy consumption, and reduced waste.

UV screen inks are specially formulated, as necessary, to adhere to a range of substrate materials. These encompass applications in automotive, banners, CDs, circuit boards, credit & ID cards, DVD’s, decals, fleet graphics, graphics, labels, metal decorating, industrial applications, nameplate, RFID UHF antennas, signage, solder masks, textiles, etc.

Cork’s UV Inks may be specified to meet performance criteria such as chemical resistance, water resistance, weather/outdoor durability, flexibility, adhesion, etc. The reality of superior ink performance is in the art of choosing select raw materials and formulating for advantages both on and off press.

Cork’s new generation of technologically advanced UV process and blending color ink formulations are based on years of expert formulating experience, as well as on selections from the latest available improved raw materials. The result is Corkure UV ink systems featuring printer sought after beneficial improvements.

Cork’s Corkure UV process colors and blending ink colors offer a superb range of desirable properties to appeal to the printer. Some of these properties are:

• • Exceptional color strength
• • Exceptional glossy & opaque whites
• • High transparency
• • Blend any and all colors from readily available formulas
• • 100% solids, VOC free
• • Superb print quality
• • Excellent gloss retention
• • Great press stability
• • Fast cure response up to 1200 fpm
• • Excellent solvent and water resistance
• • HDODA & V-Pyrol free
• • Green low emission processing
• • Adhesion to a range of materials
• • Die cut-able
• • Imprint-able, laser & ink jet
• • Hot stamp-able, UV & aqueous coat-able
• • Silicone & wax free
• • Low odor
• • Non-thixotropic

Still not using UV screen inks, or coatings?

It’s time you move ahead and take advantage of our beneficial UV technology!

LOOK TO CORK! To introduce you to industry leading Corkure UV ink and coating products –

Our business at Cork Industries is the development and formulation of aqueous, energy curing Ultraviolet (UV), and Electron Beam (EB) specialty coatings, adhesives and now UV inks.

Cork thrives on its ability to formulate novel, useful specialty products that offer the graphic arts industry printer/coater a competitive advantage.

LOOK TO CORK! Whatever your product requirements- Whatever your processes-

LOOK TO CORK! For Corkote Aqueous, and Corkure UV & EB coatings, varnishes, adhesives and UV inks.

INK UP WITH CORK! UV process colors and blending ink systems-