Siegwerk unveils Cirkit Clearprime UV E02 primer in Europe

EUROPE – Siegwerk has launched Cirkit Clearprime UV E02, its first full UV flexo deinking system, for the European market.

This new primer technology for non-food packaging applications provides a validated solution for safely and economically deinking UV-printed self-adhesive labels (PSL).

The Cirkit Clearprime UV E02 primer improves the recyclability of labeled plastic packaging, enabling the recovery of high-quality recyclates suitable for reuse in non-food packaging.

Although UV inks offer advantageous properties for label printing, they pose challenges for subsequent recycling.

“Depending on the substrate, UV inks are often very difficult to remove and can lead to contamination of recyclates, significantly limiting their reuse,” explained Marc Larvor, head of technology narrow EMEA at Siegwerk.

“As a result, UV-printed packaging has been considered problematic in terms of a circular economy.”

Cirkit Clearprime UV E02 addresses this challenge by enabling easy and safe drinking of UV-printed self-adhesive labels.

If the plastics used are compatible, prior label removal is eliminated. This combined mechanical recycling of labels and plastic packaging can help increase recycling rates, saving both time and costs.

“Our new UV flexo deinking primer actively contributes to realizing high-quality recyclates for circular waste streams,” added Larvor.

In a field test with Masterpress, a leading supplier of high-quality labels and printed decorative packaging in Europe, Siegwerk’s new deinking primer proved effective.

Masterpress’ R&D experts used uncoated transparent or white pressure-sensitive labels (PSL) made of PE85, applied Siegwerk’s Cirkit Clearprime UV E02, followed by bleeding-resistant UV flexo inks and a UV flexo OPV.

The primer created a quality adhesion between the substrate and inks. It enabled full ink and varnish removal from the printed polyethylene (PE) film under standard deinking conditions based on the QT 507 washing protocol of the European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP).

The primer layer dissolved residue-free in the hot washing process, generating high-quality transparent or white recyclates.

The non-bleeding ink formulations ensured a clean and reusable washing solution. In-house laboratory tests at Masterpress and Siegwerk confirmed the high quality of the recyclates.

Katarzyna Wasilewska, R&D manager at Masterpress, commented, “Consistently investing in its R&D laboratory, Masterpress brings state-of-the-art capabilities to test and trial new inks or materials before they enter the market.

“Our tests confirmed impressive recyclability of the UV-printed PE labels. Compared to other labels without deinking technology, contaminations of plastic recyclates due to discoloration were massively reduced by using Siegwerk’s UV Deinking Primer.”

Cirkit Clearprime UV E02 is compatible with Siegwerk’s Sicura flexo series, such as the non-low migration Sicura Flex 39-8 or the dual-curing series Sicura Flex Dual Cure.

The new primer is compliant with various film materials and allows inline printing of deinkable materials in a 100 percent UV-flexo press setup, keeping user complexity low.

“With a deinking speed as fast as a water-based primer, the new UV flexo primer offers a great alternative for converters using a pure UV flexo press,” added Wasilewska.

Siegwerk’s portfolio of circular coatings already includes several water-based and solvent-based technologies for different applications, substrates, coating processes, and performances.

This includes barrier coatings against liquids, oil, grease, water vapor, oxygen, and UV light, as well as heat seal and protection coatings, delamination, and deinking primers.

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