A glimpse of the hottest in mold labeling technolo

A glimpse of in mold labeling technology

the application scope of in mold labeling (IML) can be extended from technical products to food packaging. In the field of food packaging, the main driving force of using IML is more attractive product styles, bar codes and product information related to laws on packaging. Even the use of IML combined with multi-component technology has appeared in the market. The traditional process of decorating products and giving prices and other information is printing or applying stickers. However, in the past few years, great progress has been made in the efforts to integrate decoration or other production steps in the injection molding process. There is no need for thermal printing or laser printing. Now in the actual molding process, the products can be decorated and distinguished through IMD (in mold decoration) or IML, that is, in a process step. In the IMD process, a preformed film/sheet is inserted into the mold from the back before the injection starts. On the other hand, for IML, the inserted film is amorphous

advantages of IML process

compared with traditional decoration methods, IML provides a lot of advantages:

◆ installed at the lower part of the moving beam, IML is certainly convincing with outstanding decoration effect

◆ the information at the bottom of the container is becoming more and more important. By IML process, it is possible to decorate all five outer surfaces of the container in one operation

◆ if multi-layer labels are applied to the entire outer surface of the container, the IML method helps to improve the barrier performance and prolong the storage life of the items contained

◆ because of static electricity, the product will not be polluted

◆ the film inserted in IML process improves the hardness of plastic parts

◆ IML can produce decorated and packaged containers in one operation. Internal transportation and intermediate storage are no longer required

◆ IML can replace container decoration (labels) without interrupting production

iml technical details

the supplier range of system components (molds and processing devices) and the entire IML production system is becoming wider and wider. IML production is the most advanced technology at present, and has fully reached maturity. Many users of IML need to use prefabricated decorative labels. As for adding labels from the silo to the mold cavity, it is very mature to control the inlay by the processing equipment and take out the last product at the same time. Some IML users have developed processes that rely on printing rollers. Here, the label is punctured immediately before it is inserted or at the same time as the injection process

in order to facilitate processing in the printing and production process, the film must have a certain hardness. The required thickness is 50 to 80 microns. The use of proper film, correct printing and perforation of labels are essential for the successful application of IML. In order to have better adhesion and prevent any peeling, the label material must be consistent with the material of the container. In this way, the demand for single component packaging products can also be met. Because of the memory of plastic materials, we must remember the direction of film extrusion or stretching when printing and punching

iml is suitable for containers with different shapes

generally speaking, IML can be used for items to be decorated. But the complexity (shape) of the film limits the detection of high carbon steel. The above is the relevant knowledge about the oil trapping phenomenon of the tensile testing machine shared by the technicians of Jinan new era Gold Testing Instrument Co., Ltd. and the better the performance. For example, a square container can be decorated with all five faces or just three faces. The latter style is a low-cost choice because the consumption of film is reduced. The full surface decoration of round or oval products by IML requires special production methods. The following is the specific situation:

◆ the whole set of labels (side wall and bottom) are placed in the mold cavity by the operating equipment

◆ the label is rolled onto the false core outside the mold. The action of the processing device or integrated into the mold affects the transmission inside the mold

◆ with the help of electrostatic charge, the label is rolled directly onto the mold core

through vacuum or electrostatic charge, the label can be installed in the mold. If there is a vacuum, the gap in the mold will generally leave an imprint on the label. On the other hand, not all film labels can be processed by electrostatic charges. Label fixing methods must be studied separately for each use

the cycle time that can be obtained varies according to the method used. Today's IML system generally operates with 0 5 seconds of insertion/extraction time. According to the expected production scale and label replacement frequency, the most effective method and system arrangement can be determined

different IML production costs

it is practically impossible to compare the price of IML and traditional printing with conventional methods. Every situation must be checked, and many quantitative factors must be considered. It must be remembered that some products can only be made by IML process, mainly because of the excellent printing quality initially mentioned. In addition to the actual appearance of the product, using smaller fonts can reveal much more information on the package

for subsequent printing, the transportation cost that is difficult to estimate plays a particularly important role. Repetitive packaging and unloading, intermediate storage and internal transportation become obvious. For smaller square containers, complete coverage of all five outer surfaces by IML is often more expensive than subsequent printing. However, if IML is limited to three decorative surfaces, IML is obviously more advantageous

by properly designing the mold, the wrapping plastic can also be completed at the gate position. In this case, the gate is not located in the mold cavity as usual, but on the side of the mold core. Because polypropylene (PP) is a relatively mature molding material used for packaging so far, it is more and more carried out to complete the gate through hot runner or needle shut-off valve. Stacking technology, together with two-color and IML technology, is technically under the control of people

iml production system

in order to use IML technology to produce plastic parts efficiently, it is necessary to optimize and match each component of the system, that is, injection molding machine, mold and processing equipment. This is an essential condition for obtaining high practicality and production capacity. In the injection molding process, the integration of decoration and high value-added needs to ensure the corresponding production capacity. Through the high reproducibility of the injection molding machine, the precise closed-loop control of the mold opening position and the shortest cycle time can be achieved. Netzsch machine layout and control combine high precision and high performance. Parallel action, high injection capacity and long service life are just a few of the important features

related production systems

as in the production mode of CD, PET bottle or IC card, IML is connected with the production system. From a cost perspective, it is attractive to connect several functions in series one by one, because various functions, transportation and intermediate storage are combined, ignored or eliminated. Thanks to their reliability, flexibility and rapid action, Netzsch injection molding machines are particularly suitable for systems assembled in production lines, making the aluminum exhibition more and more influential

iml continues to develop

iml process is very mature and will continue to occupy greater application space. Compared with traditional decoration methods, the cost savings and enhanced processing technology achieved by IML have greatly improved the economic attractiveness of IML. IML process will continue to be further improved. This also includes improved thin film technology and specific applications in corresponding applications. Coated or multilayer transparent films with barrier properties are increasingly used. Combined with transparent film, some printing enterprises can print on both sides. However, due to the adhesion with plastic components, the printed surface must not be too thick

various uses have become more and more important for packaging products. Packaging should be suitable for microwave ovens, dishwashers and refrigerators. Injection molding enables us to meet the needs for greater design freedom and corresponding better product layout. Plastic parts with labels have a flat surface without protrusions, which makes them also very suitable for meeting the hygienic specifications in the field of food and medicine. (end)