Electron Beam Benefits, Use Cases Highlighted at EB Road Show Event

EB Road Show 1NEWARK, NJ—Speakers from all corners of the package printing industry—and some from outside it—came together for The EB Road Show: Electron Beam Benefits in Packaging.

The third stop on the tour, which was sponsored by PCT Engineered Systems, came to the Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott on Jan. 13. A day packed with speakers, the Road Show brought together representatives from companies involved with different areas of the packaging industry to discuss EB applications, benefits, advancements and other highlights of the technology. They included:

  • An Overview of Packaging Industry Food Safety Regulations and Principles, from Len Steed at AIB International
  • Electron Beam Benefits in Packaging, from John Salkeld and Steve Lapin at PCT Engineered Systems
  • Sustainability Benefits of EB Curing in Food Packaging, from Ronald Golden at FocalPoint Consulting
  • Application of EB Chemistry in Global Food Packaging Safety from Albert Lin at ACTEGA Kelstar, Inc.
  • Protecting Your Company’s Intellectual Property, from Susan Anthony at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • The Evolution of Printing Press Technology to Accommodate EB, from Mario Mucciacciaro at Uteco
  • EB Innovations in Ink and Coatings Technology, from Don Duncan at Wikoff Color
  • EB Packaging in Practice, from Lane Gravley at Precision Press

PCT President Terry Thompson opened the event by asking the more than 30 in attendance a question that would set the stage for the following speakers: “Why not use this technology?”

image2One of the use cases touched on by several speakers was food safety. As Steed noted, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) brings numerous regulations and changes throughout 2015 that packaging suppliers need to be mindful of. According to analysis, while 80 percent of companies believe they’re FSMA compliant, in reality only 50 percent are. EB’s low risk of migration, lack of photo initiators and avoidance of odors and strange tastes make it “The preferred technology for food safety,” Salkeld stated.

Putting EB into practical scenarios, Lapin provided specific benefits of the technology in folding carton, flexible packaging, shrink sleeve and large bag applications. Other benefits of EB, Salkeld noted, are its stability, precision, deep penetration, cool temperature and uniformity. He also touched on the decorative capabilities, like gloss and matte finishes, foil applications tactility and holographic effects.

Sustainability, an ever popular concern among consumers and brand owners, is another highlight of EB. Golden laid out the reasons EB benefits the environment, shown in case studies to include reductions in:

  • Resource consumption (materials, equipment and space)
  • Energy use
  • Greenhouse gas emissions
  • Use of toxic solvents
  • Emissions of VOC and HAP
  • Waste

Uteco has been exploring and investigating EB for years, revealed Mucciacciaro, and the company’s Onyx 810 EB is the result. He offered findings that illustrated ink consumption reductions, cost savings across the board and higher quality print. Duncan tackled EB’s selling points from an ink standpoint, highlighting the high degree of cure, low migration properties and rub/chemical resistance.

Putting it all together, Gravley provided real world experience using EB. A former UV curing company, Precision Press saw a 30 percent increase in speed on its press, improved food safety and the ability to reel in energy costs.