The automated marking of strands, cables, sheathed cables or larger pipes, hoses and profiles made of soft PVC in a wear-resistant way presents a challenge to the cable and extrusion industry. Industrial printer specialist LEIBINGER has developed an ink that is resistant to plasticisers and prevents the transfer of printing ink to neighbouring cables.
To mark materials reliably, two components need to mesh like the gears of a well-oiled machine: printer technology and printer ink. That is why LEIBINGER develops and produces its own inks. These include a special black ink for the printing of extruded products.
Extruded products such as cables, sheathed cables, hoses, pipes or profiles are primarily produced using polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Depending on the application, this may be mixed with plasticisers, or ’softeners’. After production, the printed cables are usually coiled onto reels. Due to ‘plasticiser migration’, an imprint or ‘transfer print’ may appear on the neighbouring cable when it is unwound at a later date. To prevent this, LEIBINGER has developed a specialist ink for use on PVC.
The ink adheres to PVC materials reliably and can be used for cable marking and meter marking of extruded goods. It is resistant to plasticisers, which means it can prevent unintended transfer prints – the effect described above. With a Blue Wool Scale (BWS) ranking of 8 (for excellent light fastness), it also has high UV stability. This is particularly important when used on window spacers, for just one of many examples. In addition, the ink dries very fast, which makes it suitable for use in high-speed applications.
Award winning technology
LEIBINGER recently won a German Innovation Award for its IQJET industrial printer and was recognised as Innovator of the Year 2024.
Winners of the German Innovation Awards are selected by a panel of interdisciplinary experts of the German Design Council and based on criteria such as sustainability, quality, and economic efficiency for outstanding products, projects, and pioneering achievements.
LEIBINGER knows that wherever production and packaging take place, marking plays an important role. Printed information ensures reliable compliance with legal requirements, enables traceability along the value chain, and creates transparency as well as user interaction opportunities for consumers. LEIBINGER developed IQJET to revolutionise continuous inkjet printing (CIJ) and offer users in various industries an optimal solution for marking their products. It can print texts, logos, and codes on surfaces ranging from metal, plastic and glass to paper.
Christina Leibinger, CEO of LEIBINGER, who received the award together with COO Jan van het Reve, commented: "We have set a goal to optimise industrial CIJ printing and take a leading role as a provider of innovative coding and marking technology. We are proud that our innovative strength has also impressed the jury.”
For more information visit: www.leibinger-group.com