Xeikon launches Eco toners for Cheetah technology

Xeikon will present the third generation of its market-leading Cheetah printing technology (Cheetah 3.0) at Labelexpo Europe 2023 in September. While Xeikon dry toner technology is already food-safe, new legislation and brand owner expectations are further advancing demands for more sustainable products.

The development of new Eco toners is a key component of Xeikon’s sustainability goals, which aim to reduce the company’s carbon footprint by 40 percent in the coming years.

The breakthrough advancements achieved with the introduction of new Xeikon Eco toners align themselves along two main axes: sustainability and food safety.

The new Eco toners are made with up to 60 percent sustainable components chemically derived from high-grade transparent recycled PET bottles and other reclaimed carbon materials. Eco toners are de-inkable from both paper (Ingede reference) and foil (CADEL reference). No volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted into the environment during the production of toner or during the actual printing process.

When it comes to food safety, Eco toners are completely free from fluorine (both inorganic and PFAS) and 100 percent vegan, and are free from BPA, mineral oil, and photo initiators. Eco toners are suitable for application with indirect food contact with only a paper barrier, and for FDA direct food contact with dry food. Additionally, Eco toners comply with the European Toy Safety Directive, the Nestlé Guidance Note on Packaging Inks, and the Swiss and German Printing Ink Ordinances.

All these characteristics are crucial for complying with existing and future regulations and for protecting the environment.

‘Xeikon toners, which already enable exceptional print quality and high reliability, have now been extended with a broader food-safety application range. With their eco-friendly composition, ECO toners make a meaningful contribution to Xeikon’s unwavering commitment to deliver relevant solutions to the label market addressing today’s and tomorrow’s challenges,’ said Filip Weymans, Xeikon vice president of marketing. ‘When making an investment in printing equipment converters seek assurance that their investment is not only suited to their current needs but also fit to address upcoming demands; an aspect that Xeikon will further enable by also making Eco toner available for existing customers operating Xeikon CX300 and CX500 presses in the coming year.’

Weymans continued: ‘We are also proud to say that Xeikon Eco toners will not compel converters to increase their prices, unlike comparable sustainable solutions. In fact, converters will have the opportunity to upgrade their production to a much higher level of sustainability without increasing their TCOP (total cost of print). This effectively translates to a cost reduction in real terms and supports them in facing the current severe price pressures.’