The next leap in narrow web printing

For over 60 years, Flint Group Packaging Solutions has played a key role in advancing the narrow web industry.

With a relentless focus on innovation and a commitment to enhancing ink chemistry, we have defined and redefined what is possible in label and packaging production.

From the first-ever ink dedicated for label printing to today’s high‑performance, energy-curable solutions, our history is intrinsically linked with developments in the narrow web industry.

First drops

While our history goes back much further, the symbiotic relationship between us and narrow web printing began in the early 1960s, when label production was still a relatively young discipline and converters were searching for inks suited to their needs.

• 1963: G-Man (a predecessor of Flint Group Packaging Solutions) launched Citokett, an oil-based letterpress ink developed with Nilpeter and Avery Adhesives (now Avery Dennison). This marked the first dedicated ink for label printing and laid the foundation for future innovation.
• 1978: Werneke Ink (a predecessor of Flint Group Packaging Solutions) introduced the first water-based ink for flexographic label printing, expanding possibilities for more sustainable production.
• 1988: Flexocure® UV Hg flexo inks were introduced by Flint Group, enabling a new generation of presses that were cleaner, safer, and more productive.

Label converters are constantly pushing for higher quality, faster speeds, and more reliable production, and Flint Group Packaging Solutions has facilitated countless milestone developments to keep with, or further advance, that pace.

Looking ahead and pushing boundaries

With benefits such as instant switch‑on and switch‑off capabilities, energy efficiency, and less heat transfer to substrates, UV LED curing has gained significant attention in recent years.  Flint Group has been at the forefront of this development with its EkoCure range.

Recognising both the advantages of UV LED and the continued use of traditional UV Hg technologies, our engineers developed EkoCure as a dual-cure ink platform. Today, EkoCure works alongside our Flexocure UV Hg chemistry. Both ranges deliver high performance, strong colour strength, and proven press reliability.

UV Hg technology remains highly relevant, and Flint Group Packaging Solutions’ ongoing innovation ensures this established curing method continues to evolve and meet industry demands.

The Flexocure portfolio has a strong heritage, including developments such as Flexocure XS for shrink sleeves, Flexocure FORCE for sharp detail and clarity, and Flexocure ANCORA for high-performance, low-migration applications. These innovations have reinforced Flexocure as a leading brand in energy-curable inks.

Today, innovation within Flint Group Packaging Solutions continues with Flexocure® LEAP technology. This UV Hg ink range builds on our heritage and helps printers meet increasingly stringent food safety and regulatory requirements.

Why is Flexocure LEAP a standout product?

Compliance has grown in importance over the last six decades as label and packaging applications have moved into increasingly challenging and sensitive end uses.

Our global presence, combined with deep regulatory expertise, helps converters select and implement ink and coating systems that align with relevant guidelines and regulations while maintaining productivity.

Sustainability and regulatory compliance are now the top priorities of label converters and are business-critical for the entire value chain. Early steps, such as water‑based flexo solutions, showed how ‘low’ and ‘no’ solvent and low‑emission production was possible and the possibilities continue with Flexocure LEAP.

Flexocure LEAP is a UV Hg ink range that helps converters seamlessly adapt to changing migration compliance requirements. Using an entirely new, revolutionary resin system, Flexocure LEAP inks significantly reduce the risk of photoinitiator (PI) migration in food packaging. This ground-breaking UV Hg curing technology safeguards food packaging by stabilising PI compounds, minimising migration, and ensuring stringent regulatory compliance. This advanced containment approach protects the integrity of printed packaging and enhances brands’ confidence and reputation by putting safety first.

Because of its revolutionary chemistry, Flexocure LEAP provides a tangible advantage by simplifying migration testing requirements. This results in greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness for converters, while maintaining the highest levels of compliance and safety.

This is part of our broader portfolio strategy to enable customers to choose solutions that address both performance targets and evolving sustainability metrics.

Regardless of ink chemistry, our focus is on delivering dependable on-press performance, colour consistency, and robust support from technical experts who understand the realities of narrow web production.

The continued evolution of innovation

Evolution in narrow web printing is never finished. Labels and flexible packaging continue to grow in complexity while brands and retailers demand high‑impact visuals with a reduced environmental footprint, a top priority for consumers.

Our Narrow Web business segment is committed to supporting printers through these shifts by combining proven heritage technologies with next‑generation solutions such as Flexocure® LEAP.

The development of Flexocure LEAP and many other milestone innovations over the last 60 years is a testament to the care and commitment we place on advancing the narrow web industry and constantly aligning our portfolio of solutions with the needs of the market and the world at large.

Printers and converters working with us have access to a partner with a long and strong track record of bringing practical firsts to market, from the earliest dedicated label inks to today’s advanced UV and UV LED systems.

By viewing innovation as a continuous journey rather than a series of steps taken, we help narrow web printers meet current expectations and prepare for what comes next with reliable, efficient and future‑ready inks and coatings.