Overview | Benefits | Printing and Production Tips | Ultrakote Laminating

Overview

Ultrakote, the leading UV coating for printed material in the Northwest, provides a protective finish that intensifies printed images and increases scuff and moisture resistance.

An Ultrakote finish can be used for book and manual covers, brochures, annual reports, product labels and packaging, folding cartons, and many other spot or flood coating applications.

Ultrakote is a liquid coating that is applied to press sheets and cured by an ultra-violet process. It provides a protective finish (gloss or matte) that seals the surface and protects against scuffing.

We also provide film laminating with Ultrakote whenever neccessary. To learn more about Ultrakote Laminating, click here.

Ultrakote is an ideal alternative to press varnish and film lamination, and often eliminates the need for shrink wrapping. It is also environmentally friendly because it lowers energy costs and is recyclable.

Benefits

 

Environmentally Sound
Recyclable
Safe to Use

Environmentally Sound

Ultrakote UV coatings do not contain any solvents and do not give off any solvent emissions. The elimination of solvents makes Ultrakote in complete compliance with the EPA's regulations for cleaner air through decreased emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC). Ultrakote UV coatings produce less VOCs than most aqueous-based coatings. Just as important, UV curing does not generate any by-products during the curing process. The UV curing technology is considered as a Best Available Control Technology by the California EPA.

Recyclable

Finished products with Ultrakote UV coating can be recycled with little or no extra effort. In the Northwest, Weyerhaeuser Corporation has examined sheets coated with Ultrakote and has determined that they may be recycled when included in the Mixed Waste category of stock. Fibres International, recycling specialists in the Northwest, reports that Ultrakote UV coating is recyclable, and since January, 1991, has been accepting Ultrakote waste as part of their recycling services. Printed magazines, packaging, postcards, catalogs, manual covers, and product literature with UV coating are recycled daily. The recycling ability of UV coating is equal to that of aqueous coating.

Safe to Use

The use of Ultrakote UV coating reduces waste and adds to the life-span of printed products. UV curing also offers considerable reductions of energy requirements during the curing cycle compared to heat-drying processes. The lack of any solvents in UV increases worker safety, and the manufacturing process of Ultrakote UV coating does not involve the use of any known carcinogens.

Printing and Production Tips

If you feel Ultrakote may be the solution you've been looking for and you're ready to give it a try, please observe the following tips to make your printed pieces as effective as possible.

Use UV Coatable Inks.
Consult your ink supplier and request UV coatable inks when specifying Ultrakote. When a press sheet is printed on both sides, use UV coatable inks on each side, even if only one side is to be coated with Ultrakote.

Coated Paper Stock.
Ultrakote bonds with the coating of paper. Lesser grades of paper stock will coat with good results, but those with cast coating (such as Kromekote) do not coat well.

Spot UV Coating.
Spot UV Coating can be used for projects including, but not limited to the following:
Packaging
Folding cartons and die-cut folders.
Special use areas, including uncoated areas for glue tabs.

In addition you can use Spot Coating to achieve special design effects, such as high-lighting areas of photos.

Finished Bindery.
Die-cutting, scoring, and most other finshed bindery procedures follow the application of Ultrakote UV Coating. Foil Stamping, however, is done prior to coating as the foil may not adhere to Ultrakote.

Press Powder.
Press powder greatly reduces the effectiveness of Ultrakote. Excessive powder residues will lessen the sheen and scuff protection of Ultrakote. A dusting run by the printer prior to coating can be beneficial.

Stock Weight Capabilties
Flood Coating: 70# coated book - 48 pt. coated board
Spot Coating: 70# coated book - 40 pt. coated board

Sheet Sizes.

	Maximum	Minimum
Seattle Flood Coating	34" x 45"	8 1/2" x 11"
Seattle Spot Coating	28" x 40"	14 1/2" x 22 1/2" (Gripper 1/2" min.)
Portland Flood Coating	40" x 51"	8 1/2" x 11"
Portland Spot Coating	30" x 40"	13 x 19" (Gripper 1/2" min.)

Warning!
Due to the many variables of the printing process (inks, paper stocks, drying characteristics, pigments, varnishes, and end use of printed material), Ultrakote may affect certain projects with unanticipated results. Ultrakote's financial responsibility is limited to the cost of the coating.

Ultrakote Laminating

Film laminating is simply the toughest finish you can give your printed material.

Film laminating is an ideal choice for the following printed materials:
Book Covers
Dust Jackets
Presentation Folders
Packaging Materials
Specification Sheets
Annual Report Covers
Buttons, Posters, Calendars.

Film Laminating will provide many benefits to your printed materials, including:
Increased Tear Resistance
Scratch Resistance
Added Visual Appeal
Scuff-Proof
Gloss or Matte Lamination
One-Sided Lamination
Wipe-Off Fingerprints

Finished Bindery:
Trim
Score
Fold
Die-Cut
Foil Stamp
Glue

Sheet Sizes:
Maximum 32" x 45"
Minimum 8 1/2" x 11"
(Allow 1/2" border around all 4 sides)

Stock:
Almost any paper stock can be film laminated, whether coated or uncoated.

Environmental Concerns:
Ultrakotes' film lamination is a dry film process.
Dry films are FDA approved for safe contact with foods.
No health problems are associated with our completely dry, environmentally safe process.
No odors or fumes are generated during our laminating process.

Film Choices:
Polyester 1.3 mil is our standard film if none is specified. It is a general purpose laminate with good scratch and scuff resistance, gives a beautiful finish and is extremely durable. Other choices available include polyester with a glueable/stampable finish, ploypropylene and lay flat nylon.