Promoting & Developing UV & EB Technology in European Industry · a broad overview of the applied chemistries inherent in printing and packaging materials, highlighting trends for

November/December 2016

Announcing

RTE Conference 2017 Call for Papers

Advanced Development Award Competition

Reporting

RTE Food Packaging Seminar

News from the Industry

Update

Update on REACH

Patents

RADTECHRADTECHRADTECH

EUROPE

2Promoting & Developing UV & EB Technology in European Industry

2 RADTECH NEWS www.radtech-europe.com

Calendar of Events 2017

RTE Advertisement: Low priced deals for high exposure in industryAdvertising in RTE RadFlash (e-newsletter)Place a static banner (630 x 150 pixels) in the monthly online e-newsletter of RadTech Europe. Only € 100,- for placement in one issue and € 1.000,- for one whole year (12 editions)!

Online advertising on RTE website The RadTech Europe website (www.radtech-europe.com) is the go-to source for the European UV and EB industry. On average, the site attracts 15,000 – 18,000 page views divided over 10,000 - 12,000 visitor sessions per month. In the months surrounding the RadTech Europe Conference & Exhibition or other leading projects, the RTE site attracted nearly 50,000 visitors per month. A lot of this traffic is generated by registered visitors, potential RTE members that remain updated on RTE’s activities through regular newsflashes. Your company’s digital advertising reaches all those directly involved in, associated with, and even just interested in, the UV/EB Technology.

Business Case With the new and improved RTE website launched in October 2011, RTE offers a whole new way of advertising. If you are a RTE member and you are interested in more exposure for your company's latest developments/products, make use of the Business Case on our website! You get a full page on the RTE website, together with short summary which will be featured prominently on the home page and related industry pages, giving you maximum exposure on the relevant parts of the website. Ask the Secretariat for more information.

Advertising in RTE NewsRadTech Europe offers members and non members the possibility to place an advertisement in the RadTech News. Prices per issue: € 1.500,- for 1 full colour page and € 750,- for a ½ full colour page. All advertisers taking up an advertisement in one or more issues of RadTech News will get the opportunity to add one page editorial space in the magazine. The article should be of general interest to our readership.

If you are interested please contact the Secretariat at [email protected] or find more detailed information in the Advertisement & Media Rates 2017 brochure on http://www.radtech-europe.com

Media Rates

RTE e-zine Members Non-Member1 page per issue (full colour) € 1.500,- € 3.000,-½ page per issue(full colour) € 750,- € 1.500,-

Business case online € 2.000,- - members only -

Banner in RadFlashOne newsletter € 250,- - members only -Per Quarter € 500,- - members only -One year € 1.000,- - members only -

For agencies 15% discount on rates will apply. All prices excl. VAT

February 201715 – 17 FESPA Asia 2017 Bangkok, Thailand27 – 1 March uv.eb West 2017 Materials + Manufacturing Summit San Francisco, USA.

March 20171 – 2 Packaging Innovations/Empack Birmingham, United Kingdom20 – 22 TAGA 2017 Annual Technical Conference Houston, USA21 – 23 ICE Europe Munich, Germany

April 20173 – 4 European Coatings Show and Conference 2017 Nuremberg, Germany

May 20178 – 12 FESPA 2017 Hamburg, Germany

September 201725 – 28 Labelexpo Europe Brussels, Belgium

October 201717 – 19 RTE Conference & Exhibition 2017 Prague, Czech Republic

Go to www.radtech2017.com for more information

3RADTECH NEWS

www.radtech-europe.comwww.radtech-europe.com

Word of the PresidentContentsCalendar of events 2

Advertisement Prices 2

Word of the President 3

Report RTE Food Packaging Seminar 4

Call for Papers 8

Outlook RTE Conference 2017 7

RTE Advanced Development Competition 10

RTE highlights 2016 11

HSE Update 12

Patents 13

RTNA News update 14

Industry News 15

Colophon 18

How to become a member of RadTech Europe?Visit us at www.radtech-europe.com for more information and to download the registration form 2016 or contact the RadTech Europe Secretariat at [email protected]

New company membersProchema Handels GmbH Denise Goebel Category 1

New individual members Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG Heike Guhl

New affiliated members UWAVE

RadTech Europe welcomes all new members!

New members of RadTech Europe in 2015

2016 has been interesting to say the least. Inside the radiation curing industry, as well as in the world around us, change has been the only constant. In these exciting, yet turbulent times, it is more important than ever to ensure we stay close to you, our member, and to what you need. Because that is what we are here for: for you.

In this respect, I am very excited about the market survey we are currently undertaking, as it might be a key benefit for you in the near future. Dependable, neutral information on the state of play in our market is not easy to come by and is exactly what we are looking to provide with this new service.

Similarly, our HSE-committee has become more active over the last year in order to face the increasing outside demands and changes, to defend the position of our industry. The work that is being undertaken here is of vital importance, and I highly recommend you to join the knowledge exchange platform to ensure we have the greatest reach possible.

While many things are hard to predict, there is one thing I am sure of for the coming year. Our next Conference and Exhibition, taking place from 17-19 October 2017 in Prague, will be “Best in Class!”. Not just because that is the actual theme of the conference, but also because we will be building on the highly successful format launched two years ago, with a concentrated, cutting-edge program and an expanded poster session to welcome students to the industry. Be sure to mark your calendar!

Looking back on 2016, I would again like to thank all committee members for the excellent work they’ve done and our Graphic Arts committee in particular for the successful Food Packaging seminar. With the raft of new initiatives from our Marketing Committee, 2017 promises great things. As always, I urge you to get the most out of your membership by participating in our committees, engaging in discussions at our events and contributing your ideas. It is time well spent!

For now, enjoy this issue and I’m looking forward to seeing you at our upcoming events

FOOD-SAFE PACKAGING PRINT RadTech Europe evaluates UV/EB ink curing today and tomorrow

Food-safe packaging print remains a prime concern for product manufacturers and retailers, as well as form packaging suppliers and converters. It is a complex topic, involving, as it does, a broad regulatory base; a diverse array of packaging substrates; the many available choices of printing/imaging technologies, and the inks and varnishes that they employ in delivering on-pack branding and labelling. Their integrity must be retained at every level of the production and packaging chain – to ensure that the consumer can safely enjoy the product.

RadTech Europe, the association promoting the advancement of radiation curing by UV, EB and laser beam, has for several years been active in the food-safe packaging print arena. The association recently brought together a major tranche of the relevant value chain for an in-depth seminar – the ninth that RadTech Europe has organised – on the current and future use of UV and EB ink curing in this key packaging print market. Over 70 participants – brand owners and representatives of the entire packaging supply chain – came together in Frankfurt in October for this very focussed event.


RadTech Europe’s Secretary-General Mark Macaré welcomed participants for a day of presentations and networking, asking ‘What’s the trigger for today?’ in terms of food packaging print. He introduced a programme that combined chemistry, market analysis, legislation, case histories, and panel/participant Q&A and discussion.

First to take the stand was Charles Bourrouse of Sartomer, part of Arkema Group, and global suppliers of specialty acrylates and methacrylates. He presented a broad overview of the applied chemistries inherent in printing and packaging materials, highlighting trends for new developments in low-migration inks. Today’s state-of-the-art radiation curing systems, he said, still represent a very small percentage of the total market, though lamp price reductions are encouraging uptake in both analogue flexo and offset print. However, Mr Bourrouse showed, a number of practical challenges still remain at every level of ink chemistry to ensure total elimination of set-off and migration, and he mapped out ‘next steps’ and development opportunities.

Food packaging market dataDominic Cakebread, Packaging Consultant for market researchers Smithers Pira, expanded on the topic of food packaging market usage of radiation curing. Food and beverage packaging together make up two-thirds of the consumer packaging market, and continue to show robust growth globally. He identified the current megatrends that are driving today’s packaging world. Top of the list was lightweighting, which affects nearly all packaging materials. Next came format substitution – particularly in relation to flexible pouches – and, of course, sustainability concerns. A 2016 Smithers Pira research survey indicates, he said, that 96% of brand owners consider sustainability to be important for their business. He delved in detail into the profile of radiation curing for packaging by print process, and said its overall market share is forecast to grow at a healthy CAGR of 4.1% to 2019. Cartons and labels are the largest markets. He highlighted the relevant key advantages of radiation curing: instant ink cure with minimal dot gain; a high-gloss, vibrant finish for the printed image; the ability to tailor cured

5RADTECH NEWS

www.radtech-europe.com

contents, and via ink or varnish set-off from the printed packaging surface to the unprinted (food contact) side during pre-fill storage.

Nestlé is known for its dedication to consumer wellbeing, and in relation to printing inks, maintains the standards of the Swiss Ordinance – currently the most comprehensive legislation – and the company’s own highly-regarded Guidance Note on Packaging Print, of which a new update has recently been published. His overarching message to seminar participants was that ‘it is in the interests of all partners in the packaging value chain to have a full knowledge of the products they deliver’; and he urged suppliers to ‘think like a food company’.

Discussing the issuesFollowing this formidable briefing on central aspects of the seminar topic, a panel discussion brought together Dirk Exner of Phoseon Technology; Michael Fischer of Fischer Solutions; Imran Rangwalla of Energy Sciences (Europe); and Dawn Skinner of Heraeus Noblelight to discuss the key developments in energy curing equipment for food packaging printing. Moderator Paul Kelly of Perstorp summarised the speakers’ vision of the central factors influencing the creation of a closed-loop solution: raw materials, people, co-operation, and cost.

Legal and compliance requirementsAfter lunch, Rachida Semail, a Partner in Keller & Heckman, legal practitioners with a specialism in food law, summarised the scope and practical data requirements in the German and Swiss Ordinances, highlighted the differences between them in relation to printing inks, and explained the implications and ongoing complexities of implementation and compliance. She also examined other potentially-relevant legal initiatives such as the draft EU BPA Regulation, providing

ink to special requirements such as chemical or abrasion resistance; and the environmental benefits – no VOCs or solvents, for example -- along with the possibility of low-migration inks.

Mr Cakebread went on to identify the barriers to radiation curing for packaging – particularly food contamination issues, and listed the future drivers for the technology, which must include improvements in the efficiency and efficacy of the supply chain, to deliver product safely for the consumer at the lowest-possible cost. However, the final influence on the growth of the technology in packaging applications is the future outlook for the packaging market itself. He profiled likely scenarios in regional markets around the world, concluding that ‘the balance of power will continue to move to the developing regions’, and reiterated that, in today’s competitive retail arena, packaging producers will face ‘unrelenting pressure to innovate and improve performance – at lower cost.’

Nestlé: a leading brand owner’s perspectiveWith an overall brief to manage a multidisciplinary approach to food packaging safety within Nestlé’s extensive product portfolio, Dr Amaury Patin from the company’s Swiss research centre enlightened seminar participants on Nestlé’s perspective. With a €7 billion annual spend on packaging, and 64,000 individual packaging specifications, the need for in-depth analysis and control of quality – both quantitative (eg in migration) and qualitative (in respect of compliance with established standards and regulations) – is, he said, paramount. Dr Patin and his team are currently researching a completely new approach to these testing procedures. He explained the complex ‘recipe’ ingredients that constitute packaging per se, and went on to show how migration can occur, both directly through the substrate to the

a remarkable overview of an evolving legislative base which is complicated by supply-chain sectors which are unsurprisingly active in lobbying for their own special interests.

This was a topic with implications for all seminar participants, and moderator Paul Kelly brought together Perrine Cahen of Allnex, Nick Ivory of Sun Chemical and EUPIA, Rachida Semail of Keller & Heckman, and Amaury Patin of Nestlé to debate the issues along with the audience. It was evident that the packaging print supply chain members are, indeed, very aware of the need to be proactive in meeting their respective responsibilities. Printing inks legislation, all agreed, can be useful, particularly in protecting the consumer – but today’s legislative base is a maze, and there is still currently little likelihood of establishing one complete, overarching international standard.

Inks and varnishesEuPIA, the European Printing Inks Association, is a long-time promoter of good manufacturing practice with inks, and is an active participant in guidance on their use on food contact materials. Nick Ivory, EuPIA Chairman and Technical Director of Sun Chemicals, provided a helpful update on the association’s positive contribution to the debate – and to managing its outcome. EuPIA’s latest, highly-detailed GMP guidance document, published in March, specifically by and for the ink industry, aims to assist in controlling food-safety hazards in the design and manufacture of inks, varnishes, and coatings to be used on food contact materials, both on the food-contact surfaces and non-food contact surfaces of such materials. The stand-alone document is, said Mr Ivory, ‘a road map for the process of continuous improvement’, and makes provision for regular audits by brand owners and packaging converters, delivering a high

laminates, paper/aluminium/PET for soup pouches, and plain paper banderoles. A summary of food law requirements and the necessary declarations of compliance along the supply chain completed the basic requirements, and Mr Veit then went on to detail the optimisation of the UV flexo process to achieve the desired results. His very detailed exploration included a ‘worst case’ investigation as well as a pressroom testing and maintenance routine to ensure process reliability and compliance in food packaging conversion. As he concluded, ‘Taking care of the right ink selection together with knowledge of the process, the correct settings, and control of the parameters guarantees the fulfilment of food law requirements and safe usage of UV-cured inks and varnishes on food packaging.’

Supply chain commitmentOn this note, RadTech Europe General Secretary Mark Macaré invited seminar participants to join him and the day’s speakers for networking over drinks and canapés before setting off on their travels.

‘This was a very positive and encouraging update on this important market for radiation curing, and proof of the entire supply chain’s commitment to protecting the health and safety of the consumer’, Mr Macaré comments. The authoritative three-day RadTech Europe Conference and Exhibition 2017, in Prague, 17-19 October 2017, will address the full agenda of radiation curing and its diverse markets. www.radtech-europe.com

level of transparency at all levels. All EuPIA members are expected to adopt it, and may additionally wish to comply with the more generic International Food Standard-accredited standards such as BRC IOP or ISO22002-4.

Low-migration inkjet inksDr Marc Graindourze, Agfa Graphics’ business development manager for industrial inkjet inks, expanded on the role of low-migration inkjet ink technology in indirect print applications on food packaging. Here, a safe imaging process involves, he said, the ‘combination and control of all parts of the print solution’ – substrate, low-migration UV-curable inkjet ink, the printing and processing environments, and the food storage and processing conditions. ‘Each application has its own very specific risks’, he underlined – for example, print on aluminium blister packs, self-adhesive labels, sleeve labels, and direct-to-container print. Dr Graindourze explored the chemistry of creating low-migration UV-cured inks at low viscosity. Particularly with inkjet and flexo print, he said, this is a key element for success, and Agfa Graphics are currently working on a conceptual low-migration, low-viscosity inkjet ink design solution.

ECMA’s agendaIt was the turn of the packaging industry to address the seminar, and Pieter Geers from the Technical Committee of the European Carton Makers Association ECMA addressed a thought-provoking


agenda. ECMA’s Good Manufacturing Practice Guide underlines the plurality of the central carton packaging concept, and, as Mr Geers reminded the audience: ‘If you are a printer, you are not making a generic product. Every print job is different.’ Outlining the wide array of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ legislation that pertains, he went on to examine the many different practical elements in an item of packaging, including afterlife uses, and the combination of boards, adhesives, inks, and coatings that make up a finished carton. He also showed how, in industry tests to the EN1186-13 standard, the ink migration factor differs by carton substrate type – even between virgin and recycled pulp content. In the production environment, it is essential, he said, to control all the physical hazards such as the ingress of drawing pins, glass shards, insects, etc, as well as the chemical hazards of inks and such factors as machine operators’ perfumes – a plethora of possible contaminants, as he showed.

Optimising the print processOptimising the safe usage of UV-cured inks on food packaging, with particular reference to UV flexo, was the topic addressed by the final paper of the day, from Werner Veit, from the Research and Development Department of Constantia Teich. He examined the benefits and limitations of UV flexo as a print process, and identified the variety of packaging substrates that employ the process, from lacquered aluminium for dairy, pharmaceutical, and petfood applications to PET and PET/paper/PET lidding

7RADTECH NEWS


Call for Entries RadTech Europe Advanced Development Award

RadTech Europe (RTE) is proud to announce the participation details of its bi-annual Advanced Development Award. This call for entries is being addressed to all companies with innovative and outstandingapplications that have been manufactured using UV or EB curable inks, coatings or adhesives and/or produced in any printing, manufacturing or construction application that uses radiation curing technology.

The awards competition targets all sectors of the industry and will culminate in an awards ceremony during RadTech Europe's Conference and Exhibition in Prague, Czech Republic. The conference and exhibition theme “UV/EB – Best in Class!” is built around the future of radiation curing, will examine new and emerging trends and innovations, and take a close look at new applications of UV and EB curing. As such, it is the platform for honoring the Advanced Development award winners of 2017, acknowledging the efforts and investments companies make in bringing the benefits of UV and EB curing on to an even broader raft of application areas.The winner of the previous edition was the company Polymer Competence Center with their innovative use of UV/EB technology through their entry Smart Photoswitchable Composite Materials for Self Healing and recycling strategies. "RadTech Europe provides winners with a prestigious sales and marketing tool," says David Helsby, President of RadTech Europe. "A hallmark that signals to customers the winning company's contribution to manufacturing excellence achieved through the use of UV/EB radiation curing technology."Closing date for entries is 1 September 2017. Further entry details can be found on www.radtech2017.com

Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday 17 October 2017 The Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday, 17 October 2017 from 08.45 – 09.30 hrs. All members are invited to participate, vote and contribute their thoughts to shape the future of the association for the promotion of UV/EB radiation curing technology. Pre-registration is required, but not mandatory. More information may be found on www.radtech-europe.com.

Business Information Market New Product IntroductionsThe RadTech Europe Conference & Exhibition 2017 will again offer a special area named the Business Information Market where poster sessions and commercial sessions featuring New Product Introductions will be held.

The new product introductions are an exclusive opportunity for RadTech Europe members to give a commercial presentation on the latest trends and developments in their products and equipment. The commercial presentations should be max. 15 minutes in length, the cost is € 500,– per presentation. Abstracts may be submitted until September 1, 2017. Please note that places are limited and submissions are handled on a first-come, first-served basis. Type 1 exhibitors are given priority.

NEW: Poster Presentations The expanded poster presentations will share the stage with the commercial presentations, providing a new platform for students to showcase their talents and attracting a new generation to the exhibition to learn about the radiation curing industry. RadTech Europe will issue a separate announcement and call for posters. Interested parties are welcome to contact the RTE Secretariat for more details ([email protected]).

Call for PapersRadTech Europe invites papers for the 2017 RadTech conference and exhibition. Please mail your full paper title, abstract (120 words) and a Speaker’s Biography online to [email protected]. Your company name and full contact details are required.

The conference will be organized in several parallel sessions. Papers are invited to contribute to the following topics:• Water Based UV/EB Technologies - Products - Applications• Advances in Photochemistry and

- Polymerization - Fundamental research and development• Graphic Arts - General new developments - Inkjet – digital - Packaging• Application Developments - Wood furniture and flooring - Paper - Metal and Automotive - Plastics - 3D printing • Adhesives - Pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA) - Laminating

- Structural• Innovations - New and emerging application areas,

such as field applied, textile, aerospace, photovoltaics and specialty applications

- New tools - Innovation in curing technology - New chemistries, synthesis routes,

renewable materials - Nanotechnologies• Developments in Formulations and - Coatings - Additives - Matting agents - Photo initiator developments • Equipment - UV (LED) lamps EB equipment - Application and coating equipment - Measuring and monitoring• Health, Safety and Environment and -

safe use of UV/EB technology• EB Applications

Important DeadlinesSubmission of title and abstract: February 24, 2017Notification of acceptance: April 21, 2017Submission of full paper: August 18, 2017Latest date for submission: 24 February 2017

Paul Dufour AwardThe best paper of the conference will be honoured with the prestigious “Paul Dufour Award”. Only papers submitted by the submission deadline will be considered.

SponsorshipRadTech Europe would already like to thank the following companies for their support. Allnex Arkema France BYK-Chemie EIT Instruments Markets Nedap UV Rahn AGSponsor possibilities are available (first come first serve). You might be interested in becoming the exclusive sponsor for the wifi on the conference & exhibition floor? Or your brochure can be distributed amongst all attendees. Also, think of pens, bags, notepads or other materials for all attendees to use, with your company name on them! Be quick, because these opportunities are mostly exclusive.

Call for Papers and Posters

UV/EB – Best in Class!

The official event of

Europe’s Event forUV/EB Curing RadTech Europe invites papers for the 2017 RadTech conference and exhibition, to be held in Prague, Czech Republic from October 17-19, 2017. The three day conference and exhibition will address the future of radiation curing, examine new and emerging trends and innovations, and take a close look at new applications of UV/EB curing.

Innovative companies and academic /governmental research institutes are kindly invited to submit technical abstracts outlining the latest research, current developments and innovations in the field ofUV/EB curing.

Important DeadlinesSubmission of title andabstract: February 24, 2017Notification of acceptance:April 21, 2017Submission of full paper:August 18, 2017

Submission of PapersLatest date for submission:24 February 2017Please mail your full paper title, abstract (120 words) and a Speaker’s Biography online [email protected] company name and full contact details are required.

October 17 – 19, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic

The conference will be organized in several parallel sessions.Papers are invited to contribute to the following topics:

Water Based UV/EB Technologies• Products• Applications

Advances in Photochemistry and Polymerization• Fundamental research and development

Graphic Arts• General new developments• Inkjet – digital• Packaging

Application Developments• Wood furniture and flooring• Paper• Metal and Automotive• Plastics• 3D printing

Adhesives• Pressure sensitive adhesives

(PSA)• Laminating• Structural

Innovations• New and emerging application

areas, such as field applied, textile, aerospace, photovoltaics and specialty applications

• New tools• Innovation in curing technology• New chemistries, synthesis

routes, renewable materials• Nanotechnologies

Developments in Formulations and Coatings• Additives• Matting agents• Photo initiator developments

Equipment• UV (LED) lamps EB equipment• Application and coating

equipment

• Measuring and monitoring Health, Safety and Environment and safe use of UV/EB technology

EB Applications

Paul Dufour AwardThe best paper of the conference will be honoured with the prestigious “Paul Dufour Award”. Only papers submitted by the 18th of August will be considered.

Paper Submissions• Papers should be of a high

technical level and of scientific significance and cannot have been presented elsewhere Only contributions with non-promotional content will be considered. The use of trade names have to be avoided wherever possible.

• The oral presentations will be 20 minutes, followed by a 5-minute discussion.

• Submissions will be treated confidentially until the conference program will be published in late Spring of 2017.

• Speakers may benefit from a reduced conference fee. Please note that co-authors have to pay the full conference fees.

• Abstracts and papers must be written in English

• All paper submissions will be reviewed by the Conference Programme Commitee.

Notification of the decision will be sent by e-mail no later than April 21, 2017. Full papers are expected by August 18, 2017.



New Product Introductions The RadTech Europe Conference & Exhibition 2017 will again offer a commercial session featuring New Product Introductions in the exhibition area. This is an exclusive opportunity for RadTech Europe members only to present their latest products and equipment. The commercial presentations should be max. 15 minutes in length, the cost is € 550,– per presentation (included in the type 1 exhibitor package).

Abstracts for commercial presentations may be submitted until September 16, 2017. Please note that places are limited and submissions are handled on a first-come, first served basis.

To become a member of RadTech Europe, please contactElke Verbaarschot:

Tel. +31 70 31 23 920Fax +31 70 36 36 [email protected]

Conference programme Committee Chairman Dawn Skinner,Heraeus Noblelight Fusion UV

Organisers RadTech Europec/o Lejeune Association ManagementLaan van Nieuw Oost-Indie 131G2593 BM The HagueThe NetherlandsTel. +31 70 31 23 920Fax +31 70 36 36 [email protected] www.radtech-europe.com

Exhibition The exhibition is the European event for major users of radiation curing materials and equipment in the graphics, wood, electronic and optical industries and the plastics, converting and packaging industries. About 50 international exhibitors will demonstrate the latest advances in UV/EB materials and curing technology on the show floor.

Information available at www.radtech2017.com Tel. +31 70 31 23 920Mail: [email protected]

Event Dates October 17 – 19, 2017Clarion Hotel, Prague

Venue

Clarion Congress Hotel Prague - one of the largest and most state-of-the-art congress hotels in the Czech Republic.The famed historical centre of Prague, one of the world’s most beautiful cities, is easily accessible by public transport.



The official event of

Europe’s Event forUV/EB Curing RadTech Europe invites papers for the 2017 RadTech conference and exhibition, to be held in Prague, Czech Republic from October 17-19, 2017. The three day conference and exhibition will address the future of radiation curing, examine new and emerging trends and innovations, and take a close look at new applications of UV/EB curing.

Innovative companies and academic /governmental research institutes are kindly invited to submit technical abstracts outlining the latest research, current developments and innovations in the field ofUV/EB curing.

Important DeadlinesSubmission of title andabstract: February 24, 2017Notification of acceptance:April 21, 2017Submission of full paper:August 18, 2017

Submission of PapersLatest date for submission:24 February 2017Please mail your full paper title, abstract (120 words) and a Speaker’s Biography online [email protected] company name and full contact details are required.

October 17 – 19, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic

The conference will be organized in several parallel sessions.Papers are invited to contribute to the following topics:

Water Based UV/EB Technologies• Products• Applications

Advances in Photochemistry and Polymerization• Fundamental research and development

Graphic Arts• General new developments• Inkjet – digital• Packaging

Application Developments• Wood furniture and flooring• Paper• Metal and Automotive• Plastics• 3D printing

Adhesives• Pressure sensitive adhesives

(PSA)• Laminating• Structural

Innovations• New and emerging application

areas, such as field applied, textile, aerospace, photovoltaics and specialty applications

• New tools• Innovation in curing technology• New chemistries, synthesis

routes, renewable materials• Nanotechnologies

Developments in Formulations and Coatings• Additives• Matting agents• Photo initiator developments

Equipment• UV (LED) lamps EB equipment• Application and coating

equipment

• Measuring and monitoring Health, Safety and Environment and safe use of UV/EB technology

EB Applications

Paul Dufour AwardThe best paper of the conference will be honoured with the prestigious “Paul Dufour Award”. Only papers submitted by the 18th of August will be considered.

Paper Submissions• Papers should be of a high

technical level and of scientific significance and cannot have been presented elsewhere Only contributions with non-promotional content will be considered. The use of trade names have to be avoided wherever possible.

• The oral presentations will be 20 minutes, followed by a 5-minute discussion.

• Submissions will be treated confidentially until the conference program will be published in late Spring of 2017.

• Speakers may benefit from a reduced conference fee. Please note that co-authors have to pay the full conference fees.

• Abstracts and papers must be written in English

• All paper submissions will be reviewed by the Conference Programme Commitee.

Notification of the decision will be sent by e-mail no later than April 21, 2017. Full papers are expected by August 18, 2017.

RTE Advanced Development Awards

October 17 – 19 2017 Prague I Czech RepublicCompetition 2017

With the creation of its RadTech Europe Awards for advanced developments competition, RadTech Europe provides winners with a

prestigious sales and marketing tool: a hallmark that signals to customers the winning company’s contribution to manufacturing

excellence achieved through the use of UV and EB radiation curing technology.

Entries eligible for Awards must have been manufactured using UV or EB curable inks, coatings or adhesives and/or produced in any

printing, manufacturing or construction application that uses radiation curing technology.

The Awards Competition targets all sectors of industry and will culminate in an awards ceremony during the RadTech Conference atthe Clarion hotel in Prague, Czech Republic. Here entrants will have

the opportunity to see and hear about new developments in UV/EB curing technology.

EntriesWork submitted will be judged on technical achievements which can

be classified as the most innovative use of UV/EB Technology. In the case that submitting an entry by post is not possible due to size or

other reasons, RadTech Europe will accept a photograph along with a detailed description of the entry.

Entries should be submitted upon receipt of this form. Closing date for entries: 1 September 2017

Please complete the entry form (www.radtech-europe.com)and send it with your entry, preferably including

additional information on your entry to:RadTech Europe, PO Box 85612,

2508 CH The Hague, NL

RadTech Europe gratefully acknowledges the support of the sponsors of the awards in furthering the advancement of UV/EB curing

technology and promoting the activities of our organisation.

Entry examplesThe markets and applications for UV/EB technology are many and diverse. Listed below are typical examples. The number of entries per company is unlimited as long as each entered product has been manufactured using UV/EB Technology.LabelsGlass & GlasswareFolding CartonsWire & CableFlooringElectronics & Optical CD/DVDFibresFlexible PackagingPipes & Metal SheetsAutomotive ComponentsMedical & CosmeticsLaminatingComposites

11RADTECH NEWS


Successes from the 2016 RadTech Europe Calendar

In 2016, the key priority for RadTech Europe has been to connect with you, our membership, to better understand your needs and how we can add value together. A first step in this process has been the Member Survey launched in Spring. With over 40 respondents, the questionnaire has provided the Marketing Committee with valuable insights, which have been taken on board by the Marketing Committee. According to the results, the ,ost valued activities for the members are:

1. The organization of technical seminars, conferences, etc.

2. Information and knowledge exchange on HSE matters

3. Focused committees and working groups

As for new activities to be undertaken by RadTech Europe, the top picks were:

1. An industry market survey on market size, growth and trends

2. A report on end-user trends and applications based on an end-user survey

3. Closer interaction with end-users, for example through presentations at end-user events

Based on the feedback, the Marketing Committee has created an annual market survey, which was launched in November. Goal of the survey is to gather and provide the most robust market data of the European radiation curing industry exclusively to our membership by leveraging the know-how of the members. If you have not participated in the survey yet, be sure to do so in order to obtain the full results, expected in Q1 2017. Work has also already started on the first end-user survey, where RadTech Europe will reach out to the graphic arts industry to

News from RadTechNorth AmericaIn this section relevant news from RTNA is posted.

RadTech North America is heading to San Francisco for their biennial uv.eb WEST Materials + Manufacturing Summit, February 27 through March 1, 2017. Conference sessions include: UV Materials for Displays: Touch and Beyond, Next Generation UV Inkjet; 3D Printing Market + Materials; and a full slate of UV LED presentations from new materials to equipment breakthroughs.

uv.eb WEST 2017 will also feature a special session on the Future of Food: Packaging + Disinfection with presentations including Connie Williams, with Mars Inc; and Tatiana Koutchma, PhD, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada. Over 40 exhibitors will demonstrate the latest UV+EB technologies. For more information and to register, please visit http://www.uvebwest.com.

HSE Food SafetyBelgian Decree on food-contact varnishes and coatingsOn September 25, 2016 the Belgian Federal Public Service Public Health and Safety of the Food Chain and Environment released the Royal Decree on varnishes and coatings intended to come into contact with foodstuffs, which will enter into force on January 1, 2017. The decree which substances can be used intentionally to make coatings intended for food contact, as well as global and

specific migration limits. The rules for the control of compliance with migration limits, including food simulants and migration testing conditions, are specified in the Annex. The decree can be found here.

Draft German Printing Ink Ordinance standstill period extendedAs a number of Member States have submitted comments and detailed opinions to the notified draft German Printing Ink Ordinance, the standstill

period has been extended to the 6th of January. During this period, Germany has to explain the actions that it intends to take in response to the detailed opinions. At the end of the procedure, Germany is bound to inform the European Commission of a modified draft text to allow the Commission and other Member States to check whether the reactions received during the procedure have been taken into account. If “substantial changes” had been made, Germany would be obliged to re-notify the draft text with a new standstill period, if applicable.

work together on getting more insight into this important market. A last take-away that the Marketing Committee has actioned is the demand for information on HSE matters. This has now been turned into a recurring topic in the monthly RadFlash, to ensure members stay updated on the latest developments in this ever-changing area. It is in this area that quite a few of the activities of the association have taken place this year. For ROHS, the efforts of RadTech Europe and in particular Dawn Skinner of Heraeus Noblelight Fusion UV as representative of the association, appear to have paid off. Based on the information submitted by a number of industries, including ours, the organization tasked with the review of the exemption for mercury in lamps relevant for our industry has recommended that the exemption be renewed for a period of 5 years. While final approval is still awaited, the expectation is that the European Commission will follow the recommendation.

After years of anticipation, the draft German Ordinance for Printing Inks was finally notified to the European Commission. While our members have been in close touch with the BfR, the experience has been that the process of petitioning substances for inclusion on the positive list was very long. To smoothen and speed up the process, as well as discuss the draft positive list and some of the substances not yet included, a delegation of RadTech Europe and EuPIA members met with the BfR in September. While the meeting has increased the mutual understanding, it is clear that further action is needed in the coming year to ensure the process is optimized. These anticipated changes in legislation clearly demonstrate the on-going need for education of both the industry and the end-users. Our latest edition of the Food Packaging, covered in detail elsewhere in this magazine, once again featured a strong program, covering the entire value chain. Another edition will be planned shortly, given the great interest this topic continues to raise.


Amendment to EU plastic food contact material regulationEnd of August, the European Commission published Regulation (EU) 2016/1416 amending the regulation on plastic materials and articles intended for food contact ((EU) No 10/2011). Ten new food contact substances have been added to the Union List of substances authorized for use in the manufacture of plastic food contact materials (FCMs), while specifications were made for food contact substances already included on the Union List.

ROHSRecommendation on renewal of exemption for mercury in UV lampsA recommendation by the Oeko Institute has been issued to the EU commission to renew the exemption for mercury in UV lamps for 5 years. A final decision by the European Commission is expected early 2017.

REACHNew web page on the joint submission obligationThis web page clarifies what registrants have to do to be in line with the joint submission obligation introduced by the Implementing Regulation on joint submission of data and data sharing.ECHA is currently looking at existing registrations and contacting those registrants who breach the joint submission obligation. These companies will be given sufficient time to comply with the regulation. If they do not act, their registrations may be revoked.Keep in mind that dossiers can no longer be submitted through REACH-IT individually if a registration for the same substance and same registration type already exists.Web page

Legal entity changes in authorisation - Q&As publishedChanges related to the legal entity applying for an authorisation or related to the holder of an authorisation need to be notified to ECHA. We have published a new section of Q&As providing guidance for such changes.Q&As on applications for authorisation

Guidance on data-sharing updatedThis update (version 3.0) of the Guidance on data-sharing revises and further

develops of a number of key aspects necessary to reflect the clarifications brought about by the Implementing Regulation on joint submission of data and data sharing. In particular the update concerns cost sharing mechanisms, joint submission obligations, cooperation agreements and disputes. At the same time, the update aims to reflect the experience gained in the field of data and cost sharing and SIEF management since version 2.0 was published.Guidance on REACH

Save the dates: Stakeholders’ Day conferences in 2017ECHA’s next Stakeholders’ Day conference will take place from 4 to 5 April 2017 here in Helsinki and the Biocides Stakeholders’ Day from 26 to 27 September 2017.

New REACH-IT availableA new version of REACH-IT, the dossier submission and communication tool, was published on 21 June 2016. It is adapted to the IUCLID 6 format and is much simpler to use.The support material can be accessed within the tool itself allowing you to get targeted help while using the tool.

Non-animal methods now a default for skin sensitisation – submit correct informationThe new REACH requirements for skin sensitisation entered into force on 11 October 2016 making non-animal testing the default requirement. Remember to take this change into account when submitting information to ECHA, otherwise your dossier will not pass the completeness check.News alert

Confirm the publication of your lead registrant name by the end of 2016The list of substances for which there is a joint submission in REACH-IT is now available. This list, which is regularly updated, includes more than 2 000 lead registrants who have accepted the publication of their company names. If you want your company name to be included in the list, make sure that you agree on the publication acceptance in the REACH-IT joint submission page by the end of December 2016.Publishing your company name can increase your visibility among potential registrants and reassure downstream users that the substances they are using are being registered further up the supply chain.List of lead registrants | Registration statistics

Last call to pre-register your low volume chemicals To benefit from the extended deadline for registering existing, low volume chemicals by the last REACH registration deadline, you need to have pre-registered your substance with ECHA. If you manufacture or import a substance for the first time at or above 1 to 100 tonnes per year, and your substance is not a known carcinogen, mutagen or toxic to reproduction, you can still pre-register within six months of starting the activity, and at the latest by 31 May 2017 – one year before the deadline.News alert | Pre-registration

Update to the list of substances potentially subject for compliance checksECHA has updated the list of substances that might be chosen for compliance checks. The list includes 93 new substances. Registrants are advised to check this list and if needed, update their related registration dossiers by 13 January 2017. List of substances | Compliance checks

Guidance on labelling and packaging in accordance with CLP updatedThis update of the Guidance on labelling and packaging in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 by the European Chemicals Agency consists of a full revision of the guidance. Amongst others, the update addresses the full entry into force of the CLP Regulation and the end of the transition period for labelling mixtures according to the Dangerous Preparation Directive (DSD) and classifying their components according to the Dangerous Substances Directive (DSD). The updated guidance can be found here.

PatentsRadiation curing coating composition Inventor(s): MAURIN VANESSA [FR]; KELLY PAUL [GB] + (MAURIN, VANESSA, ; KELLY, PAUL) Applicant(s): PERSTORP AB [SE] + (PERSTORP AB)Application number: TW20150140509 20151203

AbstractDisclosed is a UV-curing coating composition comprising (a) 4070% by weight of at least one urethane (meth)acrylate being a product of a reaction between at least one polycaprolactone

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polyol (a1) and at least one adduct (a2), said adduct (a2) being a product of a reaction between at least one polyisocyanate (a3) and at least one hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate (a4), said polycaprolactone polyol (a1) being a product of a reaction between at least one polyalkoxylated polyol (a5) and at least one caprolactone monomer (a6), (b) 2050% by weight of at least one reactive diluent having at least one olefinic carboncarbon double bond, and (c) 0.510% by weight of at least one photoinitiator, and optionally (d) 115% by weight of at least one matting agent.

Improved cure masking area for UV curable adhesives in display applications Inventor(s): CAMPBELL CHRISTOPHER JAMES [US]; TSAI HANCHI [TW]; PENNINGTON BRIAN DONALD [US]; CHIANG TZONGYIING [TWApplicant(s): 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES CO [US] + (3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY)

Abstract The present invention is a method of curing an adhesive composition positioned at least partially under a lightabsorbing layer. The method includes providing an adhesive composition, positioning the lightabsorbing layer over a surface of the adhesive composition such that there is an exposed area of the adhesive composition and a covered area of the adhesive composition and irradiating the exposed area of the adhesive composition and the covered area of the adhesive composition at the surface at a dosage of between about 100 mJ/cm2 and about 10,000 mJ/cm2. The adhesive composition includes a solute (meth)acryolyl oligomer having a molecular weight of 4 to 30k and a Tg of less than about 20 DEG C, a diluents monomer component and a photoinitiator

UV CURABLE HYDROPHILIC COATINGS Inventor(s): LAW KOCKYEE [US] + (LAW KockYee) Applicant(s): EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEV LLC [US] + (EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLCApplication number: US201414523458 20141024

Abstract UV curing hydrophilic coating compositions and methods to make and use the compositions are disclosed. The compositions include about 40 wt. percent to about 95 wt. percent of a vinyl ether compound, an epoxide compound, a compound with vinyl ether and epoxy functional groups, or any combination thereof; about 0.1 wt. percent to about 40

high in hardness and good in abrasion resistance

FASTCURING UV INKJET INKS BASED ON HYPERBRANCHED POLYESTER ACRYLATES Inventor(s): THOMAS PAUL; JONAS PHILIPP PRESSER; SIMA PAYANDEH; MANUELA HANNELORE WOLF; SILVIA WORGT; JESSICA GIOLA + (THOMAS PAUL, ; JONAS PHILIPP PRESSER, ; SIMA PAYANDEH, ; MANUELA HANNELORE WOLF, ; SILVIA WORGT, ; JESSICA GIOLA) Applicant(s): HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCH AG + (HEIDERBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG) Application number: JP20150248384 20151221

Abstract PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fastcuring UV inkjet inks based on hyperbranched polyester acrylates.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a fast curing UV inkjet inks based on hyperbranched polyester acrylates. The ink according to the invention is characterized in that it contains the following components: 1 mass% to 20 mass% of at least one hyperbranched polyester acrylate having functional groups in the range of 6 to 30; 1 mass% to 30 mass% at least one reactive diluent; 1 mass% to 20 mass% of at least one freeradical photoinitiator of the Norrish type I; 30 mass% to 70 mass% of at least one multifunctional (meth)acrylate monomer; and 0 mass% to 30 mass% of at least one monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer. The invention further relates to a method for inkjet printing, using the ink of the invention.CURABLE COMPOSITIONS Inventor(s): LAKROUT HAMED [US]; CLEMENT KATHERINE [US]; MARKS MAURICE J [US] Applicant(s): BLUE CUBE IP LLC [US] Application number: WO2016US22759 20160317

Abstract A heat stable radiation curable epoxy resin composition for preparing an ink composition including: (a) at least one divinylarene dioxide compound; (b) at least one photoinitiator compound; (c) at least one pigment; and (d) at least one optional additive wherein the at least one photoinitiator compound is a triarylsulfonium salt; wherein the at least one pigment is (i) a cyan pigment, or (ii) a magenta pigment; a process for preparing the above heat stable radiation curable epoxy resin composition; and a cured inkjet ink product prepared by curing the above heat stable radiation curable epoxy resin composition.

wt. percent of at least one polar diluent; about 40 wt. percent or less of at least one nonpolar diluent; and about 0.5 wt. percent to about 12 wt. percent of at least one photoinitiator.

Ultralowwaterabsorptivity UVcuring laminated adhesiveInventor(s): HU JIANQI; HE LIJUN; LI SHOUPING Applicant(s): BEIJING TONSAN NEW MAT TECH CO LTD Application number: CN2016106148 20160105 Abstract of CN105647399 (A) The invention discloses an ultralowwaterabsorptivity UV-curing laminated adhesive, belonging to the technical field of high-polymer materials. The ultralowwaterabsorptivity UV-curing laminated adhesive comprises the following components in parts by weight: 20-50 parts of polybutadiene modified acrylate resin, 115 parts of epoxidated polybutadiene modified acrylate resin, 3060 parts of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid reactive diluent, 28 parts of photoinitiator, 115 parts of adhesion promoter and 03 parts of additive. The UVcuring laminated adhesive has ultralow water absorptivity, and can be used in the harsh occasions when the circuit board needs to be in the hightemperature highhumidity environment for a long time and even needs to be immersed in water from time to time or a short distance and very high voltage exist between circuit board stubs.

UV curing resin paint for LCD screen Inventor(s): JIANG YIXIN; CHANG HONGYAN Applicant(s): JIANGSU HIMONIA TECH CO LTD Application number: CN2016150620 20160126

Abstract The invention discloses UV curing resin paint for an LCD screen. The paint is prepared from, by weight, 5075 parts of ultraviolet curing resin, 3065 parts of a solvent, 0.52 parts of photoinitiator and 13 parts of auxiliaries. The ultraviolet curing resin comprises high-functionality acrylic resin polyurethane, intermediatefunctionality acrylic resin polyurethane and organic silicon modified acrylate resin. The weight ratio of highfunctionality acrylic resin polyurethane to intermediatefunctionality acrylic resin polyurethane to organic silicon modified acrylate resin is (23):(34):1. The surface of a transparent substrate of the LED screen is coated by the paint, a coating formed after UC curing is high in scratching resistance,


Waterborne radiation curing coating decorating plate and preparation method thereof Inventor(s): CHEN WEI Applicant(s): ZHUHAI JIAWEILI ENV PROT SCIENCE & TECH CO LTD Application number: CN20161173325 20160323

Abstract The invention provides a waterborne radiation curing coating decorating plate and a preparation method thereof. The waterborne radiation curing coating decorating plate comprises a bamboo grass wood baseplate and a closed layer and/or a white closed layer and a finish layer which are sequentially coated on the surface of the bamboo grass wood baseplate, each of the closed layer and/or the white closed layer and the finish layer comprises a waterborne radiation curing coating, and the waterborne radiation curing coating is composed of, by weight, 140 wt% of acrylate monomer, 30 50 wt% of one ore multiple of watersoluble acrylate prepolymer, organosilicon modified waterborne acrylate polymer and oilinwater acrylate prepolymer emulsion, 310 wt% of photoinitiator and 241 wt% of one or multiple of water or alcohol solvent. The waterborne radiation curing coating decorating plate is environmentfriendly, has better mechanical performance, good antibacterial performance, fouling resistance and heat resistance and is high in color and pattern expressiveness.

MULTILAYER RADIATIONCURABLE COATING FOR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR APPLICATION Inventor(s): VAN WIJHE MARIE LOUISE [NL]; BROOKHUIS RAINIER [NL]; KLOCK WIM [NL]; VAN DER WAAL PIETER HENDRIK [NL]; WALGIEN ROLF [NL]; FEIMA NICO [NL]; FIETEN BRAM [NL]Applicant(s): WIJHE BEHEER B V VAN [NL] Application number: WO2015EP69840 20150831

Abstract The invention relates to a process for coating of a substrate, comprising: (a) applying a first layer of a liquid solventfree UVcurable primer coating composition to a surface of the substrate; (b) curing the first layer by irradiation with UV light; (c) optionally applying and curing one or more further layers of a liquid solventfree UVcurable coating composition on the cured first layer; (d) providing a granular material, having an average particle size in the range of 60

600 μm, to the coating; (e) applying a final layer of a liquid solventfree UVcurable finisher coating composition on top of the cured first or further layer; and (f) curing the final layer by irradiation with UV light, Herein, the coating compositions comprise 20 90 wt% UVcurable resin, 5 70 wt% filler, 0.1 10 wt% photoinitiator and less than 5 wt% solvent, based on total weight of the coating compositions, and the UVcurable resin comprised in the finisher coating composition is a UV-curable acrylate resin. The invention further relates to coating compositions to be used in said process, a kit of parts comprising such coating compositions and the substrates coated according to the process according to the invention.

Curable Toner Compositions And Processes Inventor(s): ZWARTZ EDWARD G [CA]; SACRIPANTE GUERINO G [CA] Applicant(s): XEROX CORP [US] Application number: US201615219816 20160726

Abstract An emulsion aggregation toner composition includes toner particles including: an unsaturated polymeric resin, such as amorphous resins, crystalline resins, and combinations thereof; an optional colorant; an optional wax; an optional coagulant; and a photoinitiator. By optimizing the particle size of the emulsion, the aggregant concentration utilized in the emulsion aggregation process, and the solids content of the emulsion, toners may be produced capable of generating images with noncontact fusing that have high gloss.

DUAL CURE ACRYLIC FORMULATIONS AND METHODS TO CURE THEREOF Inventor(s): MORIN MICHAEL A [US]; VAUGHN PATRICK [US]; RAHIM MARUFUR [US] Applicant(s): DYMAX CORP [US] Application number: US201514712158 20150514

Abstract In some embodiments, the present invention is a method, comprising: a) mixing at least one polymerizable acrylic compound, a thermal initiator, a photoinitiator, and a peroxide to form a mixture, wherein the peroxide has a decomposition temperature; b) exposing the mixture to light for a sufficient first time to generate a first curing agent; and c) after exposing the mixture to light, exposing the mixture to a temperature below the decomposition temperature of

the peroxide for a sufficient second time to generate a second curing agent.

RADIATION CURABLE PRIMARY COATINGS ON OPTICAL FIBER Inventor(s): STEEMAN PAULUS ANTONIUS MARIA [NL]; WU XIAOSONG [US]; SCHMID STEVEN R [US]; MURPHY EDWARD J [US]; ZIMMERMAN JOHN M [US]; TORTORELLO ANTHONY JOSEPH [US] Applicant(s): DSM IP ASSETS BV [NL] Application number: US201514703979 20150505

Abstract Radiation curable coatings for use as a Primary Coating for optical fibers, optical fibers coated with said coatings and methods for the preparation of coated optical fibers. The radiation curable coating comprises at least one (meth)acrylate functional oligomer and a photoinitiator, wherein the urethane(meth)acrylate oligomer CA/CR comprises (meth)acrylate groups, at least one polyol backbone and urethane groups, wherein about 15% or more of the urethane groups are derived from one or both of 2,4 and 2,6-toluene diisocyanate, wherein at least 15% of the urethane groups are derived from a cyclic or branched aliphatic isocyanate, and wherein said (meth)acrylate functional oligomer has a number average molecular weight of from at least about 4000 g/mol to less than or equal to about 15,000 g/mol; and wherein a cured film of the radiation curable Primary Coating composition has a modulus

15RADTECH NEWS


News from the Industry

ALTANA Innovation Award 2016 Given

• ALTANA honors an innovation within the Group with the ALTANA Innovation Award for the sixth time

• This year’s prize goes to the ELANTAS and ECKART divisions

• New generation of flexible electrical insulation

For the sixth time the specialty chemicals company ALTANA has honored an outstanding product, application, or process innovation within the ALTANA Group with the ALTANA Innovation Award. This year, the prize goes to an innovation team of ALTANA’s ELANTAS and ECKART divisions in the USA, which in recent years has done research on a new generation of flexible electrical insulation materials. The result of the cross-divisional and cross-functional research work is the ELAN-Film® HT-180 insulation, which has a unique and patented compositional structure. It is used for example in motors and generators of industrial pumps and washing machines. As flexible insulation, the ELAN-Film® HT-180 protects electrical components, for instance copper wires, in motors from mechanical and thermal overload. In addition to absorbing very little moisture, the ELAN-Film® HT-180 flexible insulation has an especially high load-bearing capacity and is especially tear resistant. The material can withstand even the most demanding manufacturing and operating conditions.

“In our eyes, the ELAN-Film® HT-180 insulation is a groundbreaking innovation. Due among other things to its outstanding insulating properties and the fact that it is easy to process, it offers our customers an economically attractive alternative to the products that have been offered so far,” says Dr. Christoph Schlünken, member of ALTANA’s Management Board and responsible for the innovation management within ALTANA. The sustainable approach of the project as well as the cross-divisional and cross-

functional work also played a role in the decision, he adds.

More applications than ever before This year’s ALTANA Innovation Award was presented within the framework of the ALTANA Innovation Conference in Wesel on November 9. Every other year, ALTANA researchers and developers from all over the world attend the specialty chemicals company’s innovation conference at the Group’s headquarters. In 2016, 12 submissions, which met the jury’s ambitious requirements, were made for the ALTANA Innovation Award – more applications than ever before. Many of the product and process innovations were groundbreaking developments. The projects submitted were evaluated based on seven different criteria. The innovative idea behind the project played a role as did the economic advantage the company can gain by implementing it. Furthermore, the projects were assessed based on their originality and creativity, on the aspects of collaboration and cooperation, as well as project management and sustainability.

A Commitment to Sustainability Inspires Innovative Strength

• Companies committed to sustainability have above-average innovative strength

• Action needs to be taken above all in the development of environment-friendly products

• Sustainable companies appeal more to entry-level professionals

The current study “Industry Innovation Index” carried out by the Forsa institute on behalf of the specialty chemicals Group ALTANA proves that there is a correlation between sustainability and innovative strength in German industry. According to the study, companies with a sustainable commitment to economic, social, and environmental aspects have above-average innovative strength. Fifty-seven percent of the managers surveyed considered sustainability to be very important for a company’s innovative power. Among entry-level professionals, it was even 62 percent.

“Combining new solutions for resource and climate protection with economic benefits” But many companies do not yet fully exploit the potential of sustainability measures. Special action needs to be taken when it comes to developing products that make a contribution to environmental and climate protection across the entire value chain. “Not only is a sustainable, foresighted perspective

needed, but also innovative strength that combines new solutions for resource and climate protection with economic benefits,” says ALTANA’s CEO Martin Babilas.

Another important factor enabling a company to push ahead sustainability is the sensitization of employees to the issue. However, of all the essential measures that contribute to the sustainability of a company, for example health and safety protection or the use of renewable energies, a sustainability culture is the least pronounced in the companies surveyed. Yet according to the study, resource protection and social commitment are so important to about three quarters of entry-level professionals that their choice of employer is also based on these criteria.

“Companies could tap this potential to strengthen their own innovativeness. The key is the consistent promotion of talented employees,” says Martin Babilas.

Background to the “Industry Innovation Index” Study In the spring of 2016, the market research institute Forsa, on behalf of the specialty chemicals Group ALTANA, conducted 500 telephone interviews with representatives of companies that have at least 250 employees. 250 management board members, general managers, and division heads were interviewed. In parallel, Forsa surveyed 250 entry-level employees in companies aged 18 to 35 who had one to five years of professional experience.

New generation of addi-tive for glass-fiber rein-forced plastics is award-ed the “BYK Advance” prize 2016

The new generation of additive was developed for the first time as a result of collaboration between sites; market specialists in Wesel took on its management. This served to bundle the various technical expertise of specialists in Germany and in the Netherlands, one of the reasons why the new product series was awarded the internal “BYK Advance” innovation prize. The prize went to Dr. Inno Rapthel, Anne Drewer, Erik Steenbergen and Ralf Koch.

Thanks to the innovative alliance of different expertise, BYK succeeded in

A roll of the new product, ELAN-Film® HT-180 insulation.


developing a new generation of film formers. The combination of polymer chemistry expertise of BYK›s Schkopau (Germany) site and the development of the underlying additives from Deventer (Netherlands) resulted in a new generation of film formers based on maleic acid anhydride (MSA)-grafted polypropylene. The functionalities of the new polymer emulsions improve the properties of glass-fiber reinforced thermoplastics. They are added to the glass-fiber sizing. During the manufacturing process of the glass fibers, the MSA groups of the polymers react with the glass surface, which is how the properties of the glass fiber are specifically modified. Key features are, for example, temperature stability, silane resistance as well as FDA conformity and process adaptation of the products to improve the glass fiber properties along with the finished composite. They thus improve the properties of the finished composite such as mechanical or detergent resistance, and reduce its aging.

These glass fibers are primarily used in the automotive industry as a replacement for metal in order to reduce the weight, and for white goods such as washing machines, refrigerators and dishwashers. BYK is providing the first product of this series to its customers under the brand name AQUACER 1868. Furthermore, the properties of these polymer emulsions can be selectively adapted to customer requirements.

For more information: www.altana.com

Allnex invests in a capaci-ty expansion for its UV/EB acrylated products

Allnex, the global leading supplier of resins for architectural, industrial, OEM and special purpose coatings, announced today an important investment for its Radcure Business Unit at its Drogenbos (Belgium) manufacturing site.

The investment will increase by 12.000 tons the production capacity for UV/EB curable acrylates.The project, aiming at full completion by June 2017, consists of the construction of a new and fully automated reactor,

modifications to existing reactor lines and increased bulk truck loading capacity. The service to the customers and the product supply will not be impacted during this implementation phase.

Audrey De Wulf, Regional Business Director Radcure EMEA, stated that “our customers in the Industrial Coatings, Graphics and special application segments forecast continued growth for the Radcure technology in Europe and globally. Our new capacity in Drogenbos will allow Allnex to keep meeting the market demand and to serve our customers with existing and new UV/EB curable products”

Filip De Tandt, Global Business Manager for Monomers and Epoxy-Acrylates at Allnex added: “With this new investment, Allnex shows its strategy and commitment to further strengthen its global market leadership in the Radcure technology”. Davy De Clercq, Allnex Drogenbos Site Director, explained: “The Drogenbos site has a long-lasting experience with the production of UV/EB acrylates product range. Drogenbos has been awarded this important investment thanks to its broad experience on the acrylate chemistry, its demonstrated production efficiency and reliable project management.”

For more information: www.allnex.com

Modern, informative, responsive: IST METZ has a new website

The new website for IST METZ has been live at the usual address www.ist-uv.com since September 21st. At first glance, the new website is characterized by new, large pictures, more colour overall and a clearer structure.

Closer inspection also reveals a modern, fresh and clear site: the primary objectives in redesigning the IST METZ website, available in five languages as before, were user-friendliness and customer focus. The layout was adapted to suit the new corporate design, integrating the new company slogan “energy in light”. The structure of the content has been revised. All the information about the company and about the products and services of the

UV systems manufacturer are now accessible with just a few clicks. The relationship of text to image has likewise been optimized in line with current design standards. In accordance with the company›s long-standing tradition, the people depicted are also actual employees of IST METZ.The clear menu is accessible at the top of the page at all times, making navigation very simple. Every sub-page names a direct contact in a prominent position, making it as easy as possible for customers and other interested parties to make contact. What is more: regardless of whether the site is called up via computer, smartphone or tablet, it appears in a form optimized for each device with an easily legible font size.In the newly-created Newsroom, visitors to the website can conveniently access all the latest information about the company, about the customer magazine SPECIALIST, about the products developed and printed by IST METZ, and about events - all on one page. An extensive archive of images and information material for download completes the offering.The new website was created by Offenburg Internet agency avenit AG. The design is by Wendlingen advertising agency KREAVIS.For more information: www.ist-uv.com

Perstorp’s Akestra™ com-pliant for food-contact use in EU

The key monomer in Perstorp’s Akestra™ thermoplastic copolyester has been added to (EU) 10/2011 by the European Commission. This means that all components in Akestra™ are now on the list of authorized substances for food contact use which proves that Akestra™ is fully safe for use in food packaging.• The key monomer in Akestra™ is now

added to the European Commission regulation regarding “plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food” (EU) No 10/2011.

• Akestra™ can now be used for all type of food contact applications, hot as well as cold.

• Akestra™ is a unique material that offers a sparkling, glass-like appearance but with much better heat resistance and transparency than PET.

Perstorp is now introducing Akestra™ to the European market. Akestra™ is a unique material that offers a sparkling, glass-like appearance but with much

17RADTECH NEWS


better heat resistance and transparency than PET. It is an amorphous alternative for hot-fill packaging where transparency is important and can be used in many applications where high heat resistance is vital. Akestra™ can be combined with up to 80% of recycled PET to increase the performance of PET. Clarity, heat resistance & high melt strength “Akestra™ is a unique family of plastics that will open up a whole new range of applications for polyesters,” says product manager David Engberg. “It is an excellent choice for demanding applications like hot-fill and hot food serving. We expect it to be used primarily in disposable packaging.” The material has a high glass transition temperature up to 110°C and a deflection temperature under load which is up to 30°C higher compared to PET. This makes Akestra™ a high-performing alternative to PET and some other transparent plastics for thin-wall containers, and to polycarbonate for durable transparent products. In some hot-fill food containers, it may also replace glass itself. “Akestra™ enables efficient production since the existing PET production line can be used meaning that no major investments are needed. This allows our customers to quite quickly convert to use Akestra™ and to commercially make use of all its beneficial properties”, says Marie Grönborg, EVP Business Area Specialties & Solutions. The key monomer in Akestra™ received the positive opinion of EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) in October 2014 and is now also added to the latest update of the European Commission regulation regarding “plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food” (EU) No 10/2011. This means Akestra™ can now be used for all type of food contact applications, hot as well as cold. It was already compliant for food-contact use in the United States (FDA) and

Industry NewsThese page(s) feature abstracts of press information received from RTE members or articles concerning RTE members collected from the trade press in recent months. RTE members interested in extra media coverage can send their press releases to the RTE secretariat, e-mail: [email protected] in either word or pdf format (pictures already included in the text). We will then make sure to post them on our website and in the RTE News e-zine (published twice per year).

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Japan (JHOSPA). Akestra™ is launched in cooperation with Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC) and brought to Europe by Perstorp. For more information: www.perstorp.com

Dymax Introduces BlueWave® MX-150™ LED Spot-Curing System

Uniquely Designed to Offer Curing Flexibility

Dymax introduced the BlueWave® MX-150™ - a new smaller LED spot-curing system with unique curing flexibility. The system can be used as a bench-top unit or integrated into an automated system, and its LED emitters are available in 365, 385, or 405 nm wavelengths.In addition to providing great curing

flexibility, the BlueWave® MX-150™ is also uniquely designed to offer higher, more consistent curing intensities than traditional spot-curing systems. Located at the point of cure, this system’s curing energy is created using an LED chip in the emitter to provide more consistent curing by eliminating the potential loss of intensity caused by long or bent light guides. Furthermore, with this new design, the emitter can be easily mounted to robotic arms or mounted further from the controller without fear of intensity variations. The BlueWave® MX-150™ is comprised of two main parts, a controller with an easy-to-use touchscreen interface and a high-intensity LED emitter. For specialized applications, users also have the option to connect a light guide to the system without experiencing any intensity loss. The unit can be activated by a foot pedal, its LCD touch screen, or through a PLC interface.

For more information: www.dymax.com

RadTech Europe: Promoting & Developing UV & EB Technology in European Industry www.radtech-europe.com

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EUROPE

RadTech News Issue 2, November 2016RadTech News (e-zine) is published 2 times a year exclusively for members of RadTech Europe. In 2017, the hard copy yearbook will be published after the conference as an overview/report of the 2017 activities for all involved in the UV/EB radiation curing industry.RadTech Europe is the European Association for the promotion of UV/EB curing

technology for inks, coatings and adhesives.

Edited and published by RadTech EuropeLejeune Association ManagementMark MacaréElke VerbaarschotP.O. Box 85612 NL-2508 CH The Hague, The NetherlandsTel.: +31 (0)70 3123920 Fax: +31 (0)70 3636348Email: [email protected] Website: www.radtech-europe.com

Management CommitteePresident: David HelsbyVice-President Audrey de Wulff, Allnex Treasurer: Carolien Bastien, Sartomer Europe Barbara Fenzi, Lamberti SpA Carl Nunney, BASF Nick Ivory, Sun Chemical Arnd Riekenbrauck, IST METZ GmbH Dawn Skinner, Heraeus Noblelight Fusion UV Inc.

Chair Marketing Committee Gregory Gerin, AllnexChair HSE Committee: Didier Vanhoye, Arkema division SartomerChair Metal Coatings Group: VacancyChair EB Project Group: Michael Fischer, Fischer Solutions GmbHChair Graphic Arts Working Group: Maximilian Hofmann, BASF

RTE Conference Dawn Skinner, Heraeus Noblelight Fusion UV Inc

Association management for RadTech EuropeMark Macaré, Secretary GeneralElke Verbaarschot, Relations ManagerStephanie Feith, Management Assistant

Cora Van der Lek, Financial Support

Printing & Designde Swart, The Hague

RadTech Europe News issue has been compiled with utmost care, RadTech Europe declines any responsibility for possible incompleteness of any information published in this issue.

Documents

Promoting & Developing UV & EB Technology in European Industry · a broad overview of the applied chemistries inherent in printing and packaging materials, highlighting trends for