Protac Anti-Scratch Gloss is available from UK and Ireland distributor Antalis, which signalled that it would be taking on the product for distribution last week (1 December).
It is a 100µm clear PET laminating film, with a scratch-resistant hard coat and high gloss finish, and it is designed to add “depth, detail and protection” for printed graphics, according to Drytac.
According to Bristol-headquartered Drytac’s new global product manager, Shaun Holdom, the film is well-suited to applications expected to weather harsh environments – such as billboards. Its resistance to moisture, touch, dust and UV light reduce fading and image degradation.
Holdom said: “Protac Anti-Scratch Gloss is very durable thanks to its scratch-resistant hard coat. Its formulation ensures that the final printed output has zero shrinkage, high clarity and is resistant to chemicals.
“The adhesive is a solvent-based permanent acrylic, which means it has good moisture resistance, and additionally, the siliconised polyester liner ensures a smoother finish.
“We have sent a lot of the product out to our UK and Ireland customers now. Feedback is slowly coming back and it has been very positive.”
The new product has been developed for application through cold- and heat-assisted laminators, meaning “nearly anyone with a laminator can apply it," according to Holdom. Its high-performance adhesive allows for lamination from solvent, latex and UV printers.
“Customers seemed to be moving away from lamination because of UV,” added Holdom.
“But we feel that this latest product, and the rest of our portfolio, has shown that laminates are very much alive.
Holdom moved to Drytac from wide-format printing kit supplier CSL Digital and hopes to apply his knowledge of printing technology to the development of new Drytac products.
“I only started at Drytac in October but am very much enjoying it so far. Because we have factories in the UK and Canada, there are still plenty of people I am yet to meet and get to work with," he added.
140-staff Drytac has bases in the US and Canada, with UK sales around £12m. It recently added the SpotOn White M50 opaque film to its SpotOn range and the Protac Anti-Bacterial film to its Protac range, and is looking to target the décor and fabric printing markets in early 2018.
