Sun Chemical to showcase solutions designed to transform flexible packaging sustainably during INFOFLEX 2023; inks, coatings and adhesives are designed to help achieve bio-renewable, recyclable and compostable packaging

March 23, 2023 (press release) –

PARSIPPANY, N.J., U.S.A.  – March 23, 2023 – Under the theme “Experience. Transformation.,” Sun Chemical will showcase its full portfolio of inks, coatings, and adhesives designed to enhance pressroom and eco-efficiency, as well as display products that stand out on shelf during INFOFLEX 2023.

“Converters and brand owners have a strong desire for sustainable packaging and Sun Chemical is in a unique position to help them meet those goals,” said Jim Felsberg, Director of Packaging Inks, North America, Sun Chemical. “Every product we bring to market is designed to deliver sustainable benefits and during INFOFLEX we’re excited to show how our solutions can help reduce waste, improve pressroom efficiency, and/or make packaging that’s recyclable, compostable or bio-renewable.”

During the show, Jim Felsberg will present a session entitled Inks, Coatings and Adhesives Impact on Sustainable Packaging on Monday, April 17^th at 2 p.m. in the INFOFLEX Theater.

Sun Chemical’s Approach to Sustainability

Visitors of booth #201 will learn how Sun Chemical’s unique approach to sustainability—the “Five Rs” (Reuse, Reduce, Renew, Recycle, Redesign)—leads to the development of inks, coatings and adhesives that help achieve bio-renewable, recyclable and compostable packaging.

With an ambitious goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 with its parent company, DIC Corporation, Sun Chemical uses the “Five Rs” as a guide in product development. All solutions in Sun Chemical’s SunEco portfolio are designed to help achieve at least one of the “Five Rs.” Here’s some examples:

Reuse: (Recovering energy from waste streams and diverting waste from landfills)

• SunSys Vallotemp, SunSys Vallochem, SunFuse and SunLam are a family of functional coatings and adhesives that allow for the redesign of packaging for added resistance so it can be used multiple times.

Reduce: (Minimizing waste, energy use, and emissions)

• SunUno Solimax is a multi-purpose ink system that maximizes pressroom efficiency and simplifies the overall print production process by providing a single platform that can cover multiple end-use applications. 

• SunECG, a tool in the SunColorBox global digital color management solution that reduces changeover and make-ready time for multiple print jobs within expanded color gamut printing.

• SunWave™ UV-LED inks reduce energy consumption and cure under conventional UV and LED lamps, allowing for a more seamless transition from traditional UV to LED.

Renew: (Accessing new sources of renewable energy)

• SunVisto® AquaGreen™ is a water-based ink and coatings series formulated with significantly higher levels of bio-renewable sourced resin content that also delivers the performance attributes needed across a range of paper packaging applications.

Recycle: (Capturing and recovering solvents and other raw materials)

• SunSpectro^®SolvaWash^™ FL is a washable/de-inkable, flexo-printable, solvent-based ink series that enables brand owners to increase the recyclability of shrink sleeve labels by allowing higher quality and yield of recycled PET from bottle recycling streams.

• SunUno Solimax AP inks are certified as Vinçotte-TÜV for use on “OK Compost” packaging and are suitable for printing on various plastic films for external printing and lamination with adhesives, as well as pasteurization with heat treatment. 

• SunSys Vallogo is a solvent based series of release lacquer for the flow wrap cold seal confectionary market that is proven to not interfere with the recycling of the package.

Redesign: (Reimagining technologies for conventional operations to improve efficiency and performance)

• SunBar® Aerobloc oxygen barrier coatings enable lightweighting, extend shelf life, make packaging pop, and are part of a family of functional barrier and energy-curable adhesives and coatings that allow for the redesign of packaging by reducing and eliminating plastic layers and lamination. Other products in the family include: SunBar® Vaporbloc, SunSys Vallotemp, SunFuse Theramseal, SunSys Vallogo, SunCure, and SunBeam. 

• SunSys Vallochem is Sun Chemical’s unique water-based coating developed to replace PE liner on hot and cold beverage paper cups and foodservice, rendering them recyclable without changing the consumer perception of the cup’s functionality and feel. 

• SunLam is a solvent-free laminating adhesive certified as Industrial and Home-Compostable, with excellent bonds on a variety of compostable films.

Troubleshooting Pressroom Challenges

As pressroom technology continues to advance, adjustments to the ink almost always are needed. If the press shifts to faster print speeds, then a new ink may have to be considered to avoid challenges on the press. Worn out equipment, such as rollers or plates, can also play a role in printing defects. To help alleviate these challenges, Sun Chemical offers an online Ink Troubleshooting Guide to quickly identify solutions to potential challenges that may occur on press, including adhesion, blocking, smearing or mottled print.

The Ink Troubleshooting Guide can help identify the root cause of the problem and provide possible solutions, but if more is needed, booth visitors will learn about Sun Chemical’s five-step technical service approach—(1) identify performance requirements; (2) conduct a site audit; (3) product selection; (4) run press trials; and (5) finalize product qualification.

Moe Rahmeh, Technical Customer Service Functional Excellence Director at Sun Chemical, will present a session on troubleshooting on April 18^th at 3:40 p.m. at the INFOFLEX Theater.

For more information about Sun Chemical’s solutions on display at INFOFLEX 2023, visit booth #201 on April 17-18 at the Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio, or visit www.sunchemical.com/flexpackaging-transform.

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.