Product category:
Materials and components
News Release from: DataLase | Subject: DataLase Clear
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 06 October 2004
Additive is clear solution for laser
marking
Following the successful launch of DataLase earlier this year, colour-change specialist, Sherwood Technology has released its innovative new product, DataLase Clear.
Following the successful launch of DataLase earlier this year, colour-change specialist, Sherwood Technology has released its innovative new product, DataLase Clear As an additive that can be dissolved into solvent based coatings, this significant new development provides industries with an innovative technology that allows images to be marked directly into transparent materials
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 17 Nov 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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By combining chemistry, substrate conversion and laser energy, DataLase Clear provides an original and high speed solution for coding, marking and printing.
Consequently, it offers infinite possibilities for a wide range of packaging, printing and manufacturing applications.
DataLase Clear enables images to be transferred into transparent media via a laser without interfering with the translucency of the substrate.
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As well as printing high contrast images rapidly whilst using a low power supply, DataLase Clear offers higher fidelity imaging compared to traditional coding and marking processes such as thermal transfer and inkjet.
More importantly, because this process does not require the use of inkjet fluid or transfer ribbons, there is very little maintenance involved.
This additive will be especially useful for the laser coding of transparent films and plastics on packaging, as well as appealing to cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food and beverage companies.
The ability to form images directly between the layers of a clear laminate film, or self adhesive label while retaining the integrity of the uppermost layer is a critically important aspect of the technology; Absolute image permanence and resistance to abrasion are guaranteed - a significant advantage over more traditional surface printing methods.
Furthermore, the embedding of the laser responsive DataLase Clear coating within a laminate construction can bestow a number of overt and covert security features as valuable brand protection devices.
The process is carried out either by doping the additive directly into an existing coating or by a separate coating operation.
This creates a laser imagable transparent layer within the product.
When the coated material comes into contact with the output from a low power CO2 laser, it changes from clear to black, producing a high contrast indelible image.
The additive is nonhazardous, and the low power laser output prevents burning of the substrate.
Furthermore, DataLase Clear is compatible with a wide range of binder systems and ketone, aromatic and ester solvents.
Steve Kelly, Managing Director of Sherwood Technology, says: "We are extremely excited by the huge potential offered by this new additive".
"In the past, manufacturers of transparent products have had few viable options when it comes to the marking and coding of their materials".
"DataLase Clear has revolutionised this process".
The DataLase Clear technology will be available through a series of application licensing agreements and strategic partnerships.
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