CHICAGO, USA – November 5, 2008 − Package printers and converters attending PACK EXPO International 2008 will receive a carbon footprint report and be introduced to a variety of sustainable solutions from Sun Chemical that will both lessen their impact on the environment and maintain the same high quality printing they expect.
 
"Packaging printers face a maddening paradox," said Michelle Hearn, Director of Marketing, North American Inks, Sun Chemical. "Demand for environmentally friendly printing seems to conflict with the equally prevalent needs for superior print quality. At PACK EXPO, Sun Chemical will have representatives on hand to help printers understand their carbon footprint and offer solutions that will result in high quality printing with minimal impact on the environment."
 
Booth Visitors to Receive Carbon Footprint Report and Could Win a Free Energy and Carbon Footprint Assessment
At booth #9107, visitors who provide Sun Chemical with an estimate of their average monthly energy usage will have an opportunity to obtain an initial carbon footprint for their facility operations.
 
The carbon footprint will serve as a stepping stone for visitors to understand their impact on the environment and to learn how Sun Chemical's environmental consulting program is aimed at helping printers and customers make smart environmental decisions that work to improve overall quality and efficiency.
 
SunCare Environmental Services combines Sun Chemical's 160 years of experience in the graphic arts industry with ENVIRON International Corporation's environmental and regulatory expertise to offer unparalleled environmental, health and safety, and risk management assistance to the graphic arts industry.
 
SunCare Environmental Services is a comprehensive array of services and includes carbon management and energy efficiency evaluations, regulatory compliance audits, environmental, health and safety due diligence assessment, and more.
 
Visitors to Sun Chemical's booth can enter to win a free comprehensive energy and carbon footprint assessment of a facility in the United States or Canada by SunCare Environmental Services professionals. The assessment will identify opportunities for potential energy efficiency improvements and determine the facility's carbon footprint emitted from energy usage. In addition, a report containing a detailed action plan that outlines the next steps toward improving the facility's energy efficiency, reducing energy costs and carbon footprint impact will be generated.
 
Sun Chemical Showcases WetFlex Flexographic Printing Process as a "Green" Solution
At PACK EXPO, Sun Chemical will showcase samples that were printed using its patented WetFlex wet-on-wet flexographic printing process on a Comexi press at drupa 2008.
 
Printed when WetFlex reached its landmark target of 500 meters per minute (1640 feet per minute), the samples provide an example of how the WetFlex printing process can help packaging converters reduce their environmental footprint and advance the print fidelity of the flexo process to a level some have equated to gravure.
 
The WetFlex printing process uses UniQure, a low odor, high performing ink system that uses both water-based and energy curable chemistry. The UniQure inks are manufactured without VOCs, and capitalize on the advantages of electron-beam curing.
 
Sun Chemical's WetFlex printing process with UniQure inks allows flexo printers to improve their print quality, reduce costs and meet the growing customer preference for suppliers with green operations.
 
Water-based Inks Provide another Sustainable Solution from Sun Chemical
 
Sun Chemical's complete line of water-based inks will also be on display at PACK EXPO, offering one way to meet the sustainability demands of the market while still producing vibrant and eye-catching packaging.  
 
Engineered to deliver high-impact color, Sun Chemical's low VOC flexographic and gravure water-based inks can be used on a variety of packaging substrates, including folding cartons, corrugated containers and other flexible applications such as cereal boxes, milk and juice cartons and stand-up pouches.
 
Sun Chemical's water-based inks have been engineered to allow converters to print a variety of packaging applications and each system has its own unique set of performance advantages. Some water-based inks are formulated specifically for excellent adhesion to paper and paperboard substrates, while other ink systems monitor and correct pH and viscosity instability associated with corrugated containers. Still other water-based inks can be printed on flexible substrates and stand up in lamination and other packaging structures.