Sun Chemical's Platinum White receives PIA/GATF 2008 InterTech Technology Award.

Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) announced that Sun Chemical was awarded a 2008 InterTech Technology Award for its Platinum White technology, a UV flexo white ink that improves the productivity of converters when printing narrow web labels by delivering increased line speeds, faster changeovers, improved color separations and reduced costs.

UV rotary screen white inks have long provided high opacity and brightness for package printing. However, rotary screen printers are restricted to low press speeds and sometimes borderline adhesion to many substrates. In addition, flexo or letterpress inks printed over them usually require modification for optimal wetting and adhesion.

Platinum White technology improves on rotary screen technology by enabling increased press speeds, adhesion to many challenging substrates, overprint ability with standard UV letterpress, UV and water-based flexo inks and coatings, better color separations, faster makeready times and reduced consumable costs.

"We're proud to be the only ink manufacturer to receive an InterTech Award," said Brian Leen, president, North American Inks. "We tell our customers that 'working for you' means providing quality, service and innovation. Receiving this award is further evidence that our commitment to innovation is working and making a real difference for our customers."

Printers will not need to modify press equipment or invest in costly new equipment to use Platinum White. Additionally, converters can cut further expenses by purchasing flexo plates at a considerably lower cost than easily damaged rotary screens.

"For those printers who must lay down an opaque white on clear substrates or overprint the opaque white for shrink sleeve printing, using Platinum White daily can bring a significant cost savings per year," Mr. Leen said. "InterTech award judges noted that Platinum White technology will have a positive economic impact on flexo printers and praised the improvements in opacity and speed offered by this ink. We are pleased to have it recognized by PIA/GATF, but we are especially proud of the way Sun Chemical's innovations are benefiting the needs of our customers."