News

Laser-marking company DataLase has signed up Sun Chemical to sell its colour-change inks to the packaging and printing sectors around the world.

DataLase chief executive Steve Kelly (pictured) said Sun Chemical would target the packaging industry for applications such as imaging onto folding cartons, flexible packaging, corrugated board, multiwall bags, and tags and labels.

The DataLase Packmark product is applied to packaging materials at either the printing or converting stages. Exposing the inks to a low-power CO2 laser causes a chemical reaction, turning them from white to black.

The laser can be used to write variable information such as date, lot and bar codes onto primary packaging.

Peter Brownrigg, technical marketing manager, research, at Sun Chemical, said this alternative imaging method would provide packaging suppliers and printers with a number of benefits, including added value and product differentiation.

DataLase’s decision to take a more aggressive route to market by signing up license partners began earlier this year and coincided with the changing of the company name from Sherwood Technology to DataLase.

Domino, Markem, Sicpa and Videojet already offer the Packmark technology through their existing supply chains.

DataLase is based in Widnes but also has a US operation in Atlanta, Georgia.