Global printing ink and coating expert Siegwerk has introduced Cirkit Oxybar White, an innovative dual-purpose technology that combines an oxygen barrier with premium white ink into one printable layer.
This advancement is particularly significant for manufacturers and converters in the flexible packaging sector, as it eliminates the need for traditional multi-layer films to achieve barrier functionality, placing it directly within the printed ink layer.
Historically, enhancing the shelf life of products sensitive to oxygen necessitated complex multi-layer laminates made from specialized materials, such as ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC), aluminum foil, or metallized films. The use of these distinct material layers raised raw material expenses, complicated the production process, and created potential bottlenecks within the supply chain.
Cirkit Oxybar White streamlines this process by removing the need for these extra steps. By merging a top-tier oxygen barrier with a functional white ink, converters can now apply both essential elements at once in a single inline operation utilizing standard printing machinery. This transformation effectively turns a conventional white backing into an active barrier layer without requiring additional equipment, impeding line speeds, or demanding extra processing time.
In addition to reducing material usage, the formulation produces a brilliant, high-opacity white base print that achieves around 60% opacity, thereby meeting the high aesthetic standards expected in premium retail packaging.
A key advantage for press operators is the ink’s highly visible application. This feature supports straightforward and immediate on-press visual quality evaluation, enabling teams to promptly identify and correct issues, reduce waste during production, and ensure reliable functional protection across the substrate.
As global regulatory demands push for more sustainable designs, producers are increasingly urged to move away from multi-material plastics, which are notoriously challenging to recycle. Siegwerk’s new functional ink facilitates this transition towards mono-material solutions.
By managing both oxygen and aroma protection entirely within the printable layer, manufacturers can replace cumbersome multi-layer laminates with recyclable mono-material polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) structures and paper substrates. This shift presents an opportunity for markets such as shelf-stable dry foods, coffee, tea and nuts, all of which require effective oxygen protection but do not consistently necessitate heavy water-vapour barriers, thereby achieving significant circularity without compromising product quality or shelf-life stability.
