Flint Group to Debut at Drupa 2008, Offer Innovations

LUXEMBOURG—04/16/08—Flint Group, a young and exciting company, dedicated to serving the printing and packaging industry, is preparing for its debut at drupa. “Having been brought together from four major well respected businesses, each leading companies in their own right, and having leveraged our strengths and capabilities, we now as Flint Group have more to offer than ever before” says Charles Knott, Chief Executive Officer Flint Group.

Around the theme “Always imPRESSive!” Flint Group is presenting their product offerings on its two stands: The Printing Inks Divisions as well as the Flint Group Flexographic Products, Flint Group Narrow Web and Flint Group Pigments Divisions will showcase their broad portfolio and innovative service solutions at stand C38 in Hall 5. Day International and Flint Group Flexographic Products are demonstrating their commitment to the printing and packaging industry with high-performance products and services at stand A21 in Hall 16.

An overview of the innovations:

Printing plates and sleeve systems

The main focus is on the new ready-to-image photopolymer sleeves nyloflex® ITR Thin and nyloflex® ITR Classic. nyloflex® ITR sleeves are seamless printing forms inclusive LAMS layer ready for digital imaging, especially developed for high-quality flexographic printing, which were launched onto the market in April 2008. Easy operation, faster make-ready, improved press speed and last but not least cost savings for customers are the advantages of this new generation of product. Furthermore, a new nyloflex® plate especially developed for UV printing will have its debut at drupa.

As another highlight the nyloflex® infinity technology for manufacturing endless printing forms is presented. This technology allows printers to improve print quality whilst saving on plate mounting time, press make-ready time as well as gaining from improved press speed. drupa visitors to Stand 5 C38 can watch live demonstrations of the three-step process for creating a seamless photopolymer sleeve twice each day.

Printing inks

The new Novavit® F 950 PLUS BIO and Novavit® F 550 PLUS ranges for sheetfed offset printing will be introduced. These inks have been developed for fast running printing presses and are ideal for shiny coated paper and cardboard. Novavit® F 550 PLUS is especially suitable for straight printing mode; the most recent binding agent technologies facilitate an even better ink/water performance. Novavit® F 950 BIO PLUS has been designed for use in very fast running multicolour printing presses for face and reverse printing modes. Both series demonstrate clearly improved misting properties at high printing speeds.

The INULINE ink/varnish system constitutes a further innovation. The name stands for two innovative ink-varnish systems: the first system consists of a special printing ink, Novavit® F770 INULINE, which penetrates particularly quickly, is highly pigmented and has a wax-free formulation, and Ultraking® INULINE, a corresponding UV varnish. The system permits the user to apply a UV varnish directly inline to a conventional sheetfed offset printing ink without using a primer. The second element of the INULINE system delivers extremely high gloss rates with a water-based coating. The same Novavit® F770 INULINE is used, this time combined with the special Novaset 7302/100 INULINE water-based coating.

Another theme is Premo®, the concept developed last year. Diverse possibilities and flexibility during the development of optimal printing ink systems for the packaging industry are available using the water-based printing ink building block technology.

Pressroom chemicals, printing blankets and sleeves

Visitors to stand 16 A21 can obtain detailed information on the new range of Varn fountain solutions for sheetfed offset printing as well as the environmentally friendly and easy to use range of Varn Spray Powders.

Also on display from Day will be dayGraphica printing blankets, metal back printing blankets and sleeves for heatset printing, all of which are known for their long durability and excellent print quality. The impressive new dayGraphica Sunday 5000 sleeve developed in collaboration with Goss for their new 96 page S5000 offset press is a real breakthrough in technology, dayGraphica metal back blankets for heatset and coldset printing as well as the Duco headline printing blankets for coldset printing will also be presented.

The Flexographic Products Division presents its full range of sleeves – the rotec® Blue Light Sleeves, the rotec® Compressible Sleeves, the rotec® Label Sleeves and the rotec® Adapter series.

Flint Group – Always ImPRESSive

“Flint Group has developed into a leading supplier for the printing and packaging industry“, says Charles Knott. “Strong companies and recognised product brands are united under our umbrella. We are looking forward to drupa 2008 where for the first time we will be able to demonstrate our comprehensive product and service competency as Flint Group. We hope our customers will then also state that we are ‘very impressive’.“

Flint Group
Flint Group is dedicated to serving the global printing and packaging industry with five specialised business units: Flint Group’s ink companies develop and market a wide range of conventional and UV printing inks on a global basis, with regional operations providing local service throughout the world. Flint Group Flexographic Products specialises in photopolymer printing plates, flexographic sleeve systems as well as washout solvents and platemaking equipment. Flint Group Narrow Web is dedicated to the narrow web ink market, including labels, product decoration and package printing. Flint Group Pigments produces a range of pigment products and additives for use in inks and other colourant applications. Day International develops and distributes offset printing blankets and sleeves, pressroom chemicals and diecutting supplies. Headquartered in Luxembourg, Flint Group operates more than 170 facilities worldwide and employs some 8300 people. Revenues for 2007 are € 2.3 billion ($US 3.1 billion), positioning the company as the number one or number two supplier in every major region it serves. For more information, please visit www.flintgrp.com .