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PRODUCT PORTFOLIO

Star product
Actega Metal Print EcoLeaf

A low-waste way of achieving high-end metallic effects on print

pigment and water is removed from the
roller (apparently by a doctor blade) and
returned to the EcoLeaf tank.
This is one of Actega’s key selling points:
pigment is only applied where it is needed
with no waste, unlike hot or cold foil,
where any unused metal on the rolls is dis-
carded, together with the carrier film. The
pigment containers hold a concentrate
that’s diluted with water by the user. “I
don’t want to ship any more water than I
have to,” says Allerkamp.
It’s possible to print thicker layers of trig-
ger fluid (with inkjet or screen units) to
give a raised or textured effect similar to
embossing.
Overprinting can be used to give other
metallic colours. Actega has also experi-
mented with adding coloured dyes to the
trigger fluid.
The EcoLeaf roller unit runs inline with
a modular multi-unit label press, such as
those made by Edale, Gallus or Mark Andy,
What does it do? Specifications AMP managing director Jan Franz and can fit onto a rail system where used.
EcoLeaf is a unique metallic embellish- Process Printed trig- Allerkamp says that there are four publicly EcoLeaf effects are non-conductive and
ment system that’s designed to run inline ger fluid image plus announced betas (including one for a suitable for metalized microwaveable
or nearline with narrow-web label presses, roller-applied ultra- Digicon 3), plus two more that are staying packaging. The metal layer is said to be as
so far using either UV flexo inks or UV fine metal pigment anonymous – one of which is in the UK. scratch-, abrasion- or fade resistant as nor-
inkjet digital inks. It produces mirror- Effect Bright reflec- He says the company aims to develop mal foil. Actega is testing the process on a
tive silver image, can
bright reflective silver images with the pos- be coloured by over- larger EcoLeaf units for sheetfed and mid- wide range of substrates, including stand-
sibility of colouring to give gold and other printing width web presses to work with folding ard coated label stocks and absorbent,
metallic finishes. There are no metal dies, Print processes cartons, flexible packaging, publishing and rough paper (used for wine labels). It will
no foil rolls and no waste in production. Flexo, screen, inkjet. commercial print. publish lists of compatible substrates and
This is the first product from Actega The applicator can be Allerkamp says that it will test customers’
Metal Print (AMP), set up by German firm fitted inline with How does it work? own substrates on request.
narrow-web modu-
Actega Coatings & Sealants after it lar label presses or It is a two-part process. The first part is a
acquired Landa’s Nano-Metallography finishing lines ‘trigger’ image printed by the press using a What’s the USP?
technology in February 2017. Actega is Speed Same as host special UV-cured clear fluid, developed The EcoLeaf process is unique. Actega
itself part of the Altana German-based press or finisher and supplied by Actega. So far flexo and stresses its sustainability, saying that it
chemicals group. EcoLeaf unit price inkjet trigger fluids have been developed, “dramatically reduces the waste associated
About £90,000 with screen on the way. with conventional cold foil and hot foil
When was it introduced and what are the Label widths 180- The inkjet fluid can only be used with a stamping technologies, while providing a
target markets? 340mm print bar that Actega has developed and solution that is cheaper, faster and easy to
Although Nano-Metallography was shown Label lengths 297- will supply for integration with third-party use”.
as a prototype with samples on the Landa 520mm presses, or possibly as standalones. The
stand at Drupa 2016, it was far from a fin- Media thickness inkjet version allows variable data metallic How productive is it?
0.14-0.35mm
ished product. AMP commercialised the effects to be created. It can run at the speed of the label press.
technology and introduced it to the label Auto sheet capacity Following that the printed substrate is
85mm stacker height
sector this year. (equivalent to 900 passed through the EcoLeaf application How easy is it to use?
In May 2020, a deal was agreed with UK sheets of 80gsm) or unit, where a fine metal pigment sus- Pre-press and printing of the trigger fluid
label finishing machinery specialist AB 15kg pended in water is applied by a ‘donor image is the same procedure as for a spot
Graphic International, for global direct Tools Cutting blades roller’. The pigment reacts with the trigger colour or varnish effect. The EcoLeaf unit
sales and marketing of EcoLeaf when fitted in choice of angles; image to bond with it, forming a very is simple to use, according to Allerkamp.
dual-ended creasing
to its Digicon 3 modular label finishing tool for up to 0.35mm smooth surface layer. The water evapo- He says that operation is mainly an on-off
unit. This will include retrofitting to exist- card; plotting pen for rates. The reflectance effect is comparable switch, plus refilling of the pigment tank
ing machines. calibration to conventional hot or cold foils. Unused and occasional cleaning of the roller.

“There is no direct alternative to EcoLeaf as its nano-scale pigment transfer is unique.”
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