UPM Specialty Papers and partners developed new opportunities for UPM’s packaging papers on standard flexo printing machines
UPM’s barrier and barrier base papers can be enhanced with heat-seal properties while reproducing high-quality images in almost any flexographic print shop under normal production conditions. This was demonstrated in joint co-creation project carried out by UPM Specialty Papers, BOBST, and Siegwerk. The test results verified that it is possible to efficiently print packaging papers and at the same time achieve heat-sealability using flexographic printing techniques. The project combined a number of UPM’s barrier and barrier base papers with Siegwerk’s water-based ink series UniNATURE, which are formulated with a high Bio Renewable Content (BRC), and two heat-sealing lacquers for paper and board applications from their CIRKIT coatings range. The papers were printed using BOBST MASTER CI, a 10-color wide-web printing press designed for water-based inks and 800 m/min speed.