Starflex HP-Certified Digital Print Media

When it comes to the environment, Starflex and HP work together. As a certificated development partner of HP, the coating specialist Starflex has collaborated with the inkjet manufacturer to develop digitally printable media which are ideal for HP's latex inks and printers. Many of these of these products are about to reach in stock at Starflex official distributors in more than 100 countries worldwide.

In terms of quality and versatility, the water-based HP latex inks are similar to solvent-based inks.

On Starflex media, they have maximum impact—a deep black with intense colors. The pictures are pin-sharp and are radiant on the materials. But as far as the environment and health and safety are concerned, they are significantly less polluting. Digital prints produced with HP Latex inks on certified Starflex media have no odor and release extremely low to no levels of volatile organic compounds.

During printing, they produce no ozone and are free of any other hazardous air pollutants. Special ventilation is not necessary and there are no requirements for emissions. Neither are they flammable or combustible, and most are not classified as hazardous wastes.

Used together with the HP Designjet L25500 and L65500, or new generation HP LX 600 and HP LX 800 in format up to 3,20m wide, printing services are now able to cover a wide variety of different applications. These range from POP, street and building advertising, exhibition design and stand alone billboards as well as a huge variety of signs for events and functions.

New concepts are required as a result of stricter environmental controls and the greater consumer awareness of green issues. Starflex and its distributors recognized this trend some time ago and consistently rely on green production processes and materials, such as the new print media for HP's Latex inks. The performance is guaranteed.

Beside the Recyclable PVC Coated and Laminated banners, Starflex introduced a wide range of Recycled PVC Banners "Discovery" series. Thanks to the investments made over the last years in its own recycling process and factory, Starflex recycles the old PVC banners at end of life into fresh new banners ready to print on. This way, no potentially harmful PVC needs to be disposed in landfills or incineration anymore as the recycling process allows 100 percent reuse of the materials. Other environmental saving: the factory performs with 50 percent less usage of newly made PVC resin.

This Environmentally responsible program operates with strictly no compromise in printing and application performances of the recycled banners. Printers, specifiers, and End-users will feel no visible difference between Discovery Recycled banners and other types.

Starflex is now setting up its own "used banners" collection channel in cooperation with the distributors and participating printers and sites owners: "Starflex Print-Display-Collect-Recycle-Print again chain",

An even greater innovation is the release of the first phthalates and Toxics-free banner range, named Starflex PURE. Thanks to a long term cooperation with BASF , Starflex was able to develop and produce soft PVC without its known inconvenient to human health. Needless to say, PURE is also recyclable into Discovery banners. Sold on project basis only since 2009, the range which includes frontlit, backlit, blockout, and scrimless banners will be made available to a larger market through a progressive price gap reduction. Specifiers are welcome to enquire about Starflex PURE range.

The new range of Starflex STARtac self adhesive media and laminates will also benefit from the progresses towards harmless components. Soon to be profiled are STARtac PURE with no phthalates or other potentially toxic ingredients and some references of PVC free self adhesive polyolefines.

Last but not least, Starflex Textile range ENVI TEX is now available PVC-free, heavy metals free, fungicides-free, phthalates-free, emits Zero VOC, and is M1 , B1, and NFPA 701 Fire retardant compliant. The range covers matt, glossy and satin finishes, smooth or textured, opaque, both side printable or translucent for light boxes. Some Curl-less textiles will do a wonder in roll-ups and pop-ups markets. Profiling are currently being performed and will soon be available via Starflex distributors and HP sites.