Walki Group launches new ‘green’ outdoor printing & imaging solutions

Walki Group, a leading international producer of technical laminates and protective packaging materials with production production facilities in Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, the UK, Russia and China, has introduced the Walki®Print Media XXL family of products, which provides `green' printing and imaging solutions. Using ultra-light, tear resistant and recyclable raw materials, the Walki Group has developed new `green' print media by combining specific base materials and functional polymers. Walki's solutions can be used for both front-lit and back-lit applications, with a non-reflective, inkjet-receptive layer which is suitable for both UV-curable and Latex inks.

This comes at a time when the OOH sector is steadily moving away from using chemically treated, moisture-resistant blueback papers and PVC-scrim for printed banners and displays. Growing awareness of the hazards that PVC poses to the environment and in particular, the difficulties faced in its disposal, has created a need for more eco-friendly products.

"The Walki®Print Media XXL range has been tested by established printer OEMs and is available in master roll sizes. Widths range upwards of +3200 mm, making it a unique offering in Europe," explains Luk Meys, Sales Manager - Technical Products at the Walki Group. The three products within the Walki®Print Media XXL range are: (i) Walki®Backlit: A reinforced coated paper - that has been established in the graphics market for about a decade - for long-term usage in outdoors scroll boxes and exclusively sold via selected media wholesalers; (ii) Walki®Billboard: A PP or PET-based coated multi-purpose nonwoven product for mid-term outdoor advertising on panels, rollup banner stands, and for home decoration; (iii) Walki®Banner: A HDPE or PP-based coated woven material for short-term outdoor advertising on frames and fences such as at sports events, exhibitions, etc.

Walki has one co-extrusion production line available that is dedicated to the Walki®Print Media XXL product range. Two other similar lines are available to function as back-up solutions and to secure lines of supply. All three production lines have optional printing and lacquering capabilities that can be provided as needed. The company's dedicated R&D team in Finland is also concentrating on a whole range of options for the indoors printing media market, with innovative flame-retardant products being developed.