EB Technology For Fast, Safe Curing of Inks

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1 EB Technology For Fast, Safe Curing of Inks PackAge 2009 Packaging For Changing Markets New Delhi India July 9-10, 2009 Imtiaz Rangwalla Energy Sciences Inc. USA

2 ESI Is the World Leader In making Low voltage EB Systems Founded in 1971with a mission to produce reliable and affordable electron beam systems for industry Manufactures electron beam systems and drives application development for their expanded use Subsidiary of Iwasaki Electric Co. since th largest lighting company in the world Headquartered in Wilmington MA, U.S.A. Sales and service offices in Tokyo Japan and Amersfoort, NL Global sales and service capabilities ISO 9001 registered

3 What is EB Curing?

4 INNOVATIVE METHOD FOR IMMEDIATE DRYING INKS COATINGS ADHESIVES WITHOUT HEAT OR LIGHT

5 EB Curing Has Been Around For Over 30 Years Used Mostly For Packaging MOST PARTICULARLY Food Packaging Applications

6 How does EB Cure? Short molecule chains form long chains Oligimers Short Chains Monomers Single Dot Long molecule chains form net Cross Linked Polymers Linked Chains Form A Net Polymers Long Chains

7 Advantages of EB Curing Environmentally Compliant NO VOC Energy Efficient / No Greenhouse Gas Flexible Food Packaging Friendly Low Extractable Low to NO Odor/NO Photo-initiator Consistent and Measurable Process Economical High Product Speeds Highest Product Quality Least Waste Low Heat Process Important for thermally sensitive polyolefin types of films Highest Gloss Highest Scuff / Abrasion and Chemical Resistance Safe Technology

8 EB Applications Coating Ink Adhesive Crosslink Packaging Converting Films Silicone Tapes Tires Furniture Flooring

9 Limitations of the EB Equipment of the PAST Too Big Size Too Expensive Higher Voltage often Damaged Films

10 How Does An EB Work? FILAMENTS EMIT ELECTRONS. ELECTRONS ARE ACCELERATED USING HIGH VOLTAGE. ELECTRONS PASS THROUGH THE WINDOW FOIL AND STRIKE THE PRODUCT. ELECTRONS CAUSE MOLECULAR CHANGES IN THE PRODUCT.

11 EZCure tm LOW VOLTAGE EB SYSTEM MAX SPEED kgy WEB WIDTHS 60cms to 165cms DIMENSIONS 1.5m H x 1.5 m L x WEB WIDTH

12 MAX SPEED kgy WEB WIDTHS 60cms to 165cms DIMENSIONS 0.6 m H x 1.8 m L x WEB WIDTH

13 Applications of Low Voltage EB Equipment In Flexible Packaging Curing Lacquers Replacing Laminate With a Mono-Film With EB Curable Lacquers Curing Laminating Adhesives Replacing Time Cured Solvent or Solvent less Laminating Adhesives With Instant Cure EB Adhesives Curing Inks Offset Inks With In-line Coating Or Laminating Capability Flexo Inks With In-line Coating Or laminating Capability

14 Laminate Replacement with EB Lacquers Concept CONVENTIONAL LAMINATION MONO-FILM WITH EB LACQUER 18M Clear OPP EB LACQUER Printing Ink Printing Ink Adhesive 50 M White OPP 40 M White OPP

15 Advantages Cost Reduction Process Savings, In-line Process versus off-line printing Material Cost Savings Direct Labor Savings Source Reduction

16 Commercial Status of EB Lacquers Multiple Lines Globally For Food and Non-Food Applications Inks Solvent Based Rotogravure Solvent & Water Based Flexo UV/EB Offset or Flexo inks Substrates Polyethylene White Cavitated OPP Film Paper Polyester

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19 Advantages of EB laminating Adhesives Instant Cure: Immediate shipping available No Toxicity Concerns of Isocyanates or residual Aromatic Amines In-Line Printing and Lamination Compatible with commercial inks Excellent laminate appearance

20 Commercial Status of EB Laminating Adhesive Technology Mass Production with many different Converters. For food and non-food packaging. Additional installations including with the World largest Paper Pack manufacturer are in progress. Largest application is film to paper board inline with roto-gravure printing. Line speeds over 350mpm achieved

21 If You Print Using Gravure Strengths High Print Quality Brilliant Colors High Productivity For Long Runs Long time proven technology Several Established Ink Suppliers Disadvantages Solvent Inks Long Lead Time for New Cylinders Long Time To Market High Cost of Cylinders Too Expensive For Short Print Jobs Cannot run all types of Flexible Substrates

22 Demands from End Users Environmental Sustainable Packaging NO VOC Quality Very High Print Quality Like Gravure Food Packaging Friendly Adhesion & Ability to Run Broad Range of Substrates Competitiveness Absorption of Price Pressure Fool Proof Process Speed Quick Turn around Faster Response From Printers/Converters Shorter Runs

23 Variable Sleeve Offset Printing (VSOP) With EB Curing Using sleeves like in flexo

24 Advantages of EB Curable VSOP Technology Excellent Print Quality. Like Gravure Sleeve Technology allows Fast Response from Printer to Customer Less Print Cost Competitive For Short Runs High Speed 400 meters/min Possible Print on Broad Range of Substrates Established Print Technology NO VOC and Food Packaging Friendly In-Line Printing Coating or Laminating

25 Flexo Offset

26 DG VSOP PRESS EZCure-I DF EZ110/90/1000

27 Status of EB Curable Offset Print Technology Multiple lines operating in Europe and America for Food and Non-Food packaging. Broad Range of Substrates. Mostly Paper & Paperboard. Some Plastic Films. Many Global Offset-Ink Suppliers. Commercial Production at 350 meters/min Web Widths mm Print Repeat Lengths mm & mm

28 Flexible Packaging Converters Printing By Category CI-Drum Flexo Print method Dominates the Wide Web Flexible Packaging Market Source: US FPA Survey SOI 2005 Offset&Other, 1% Gravure, 18% Flexo, 57% Unprinted, 24%

29 Demands from End-Users Environmental Sustainable Packaging NO VOC Quality Very High Print Quality Like Gravure Food Packaging Friendly Adhesion & Ability to Run Broad Range of Substrates Competitiveness Absorption of Price Pressure Fool Proof Process Speed to Market Quick turn around Smaller volume

30 WETFlex Process

31 Advantages of EB Curing CI-Flexo Technology WETFlex Process NO VOC NO Incineration or Recovery System Very Low Energy Consumption Compared to Heat or UV Curing Curing/Drying Systems No Ovens No Inter-station Drying No Remaining Solvents Stability/Handling No Dry-In No Press Side Adjustments Water Washable

32 Advantages of EB Curing CI-Flexo Technology WETFlex Process In-Line Printing and Laminating Performance Advantages High Gloss High Definition Graphics Dot Structure and Dot Gain Higher Line Screen Up to 70 L/cm High Color Efficiency Finer Anilox Less Ink Consumption Crosslinked Systems Instant Cure Scratch & Solvent Resistance Heat Resistance Food Packaging Compliant No Photo Initiator No Odor/Taint

33 Status of the WETFlex Process Installations in America and Europe For Food & Non-Food Packaging Retrofit For Existing CI-Flexo Press. EB Press with NO Dryers Broad Range of Substrates. Paper, PE, OPP, PVC, Aluminum Foil Speeds of meters/min. On-Site Demonstration available at Major Flexo Press Manufacturers.

34 EB CI-Flexo Press For WETFlex No Dryers

35 Electron Beam With F&K CI-Flexo Press

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37 THANK YOU For Your Attention