ebeam Technologies and Uteco Group partner on EB curing innovation
ebeam Technologies, the developer and manufacturer of electron beam (ebeam or EB) solutions, and Uteco Converting S.p.A., a leading producer of diverse flexible packaging applications for the printing and converting industry, have announced a new addition to its growing list of partners that will boost the development of ebeam solutions for print and packaging production.
The new partnership is far reaching: in addition to the joint technology development of solutions for integrating ebeam curing into flexographic, laminating and coating processes and exploring new applications for challenging substrates, the two companies will also combine their sales and marketing and business development efforts for the EB solutions. Uteco has a global network of 87 agents and resellers in addition to its primary locations in Italy and North America. With its headquarters in Switzerland and presence in North America, China and Japan, ebeam Technologies also offers global technology support and development.
“ebeam technology offers all kinds of added value solutions for print, packaging and converting, including the ability to produce food packaging, labels or other materials with no potential for photoinitiator migration; inline adhesive lamination ready to die cut, slit or ship; and full cure of thick and/or high density ink layers and speciality coatings,” said Elsa Callini, business development manager, ebeam Technologies. “This partnership with Uteco is exciting and important because it will enable us to explore what is achievable, develop new applications and bring ground-breaking solutions to customers all over the world.”
“We are delighted to be partnering with ebeam Technologies to develop new concepts and solutions for the analogue and digital printing world,” added Aldo Peretti, CEO Uteco Converting S.p.A. “Brand owners looking for ways to differentiate their product and eliminate challenges such as the need for UV photoinitiators in their packaging or VOCs in the drying process should definitely consider what EB solutions can offer. We look forward to welcoming these prospective customers to our Uteco Technology Center Converdrome, which typically hosts around 200 companies each year.”
The two companies have already shown that they work well together. At drupa 2016, Uteco and ebeam Technologies jointly demonstrated a new process that combines printing, laminating and curing steps in a single, highly efficient process. Using an ONYX Eco One-station central impression (CI) flexo press, inline ebeam flexo curing and lamination slashed throughput times and eliminated the need for lengthy drying and storage before conversion.