Cosmo Synthetic Paper Making an Impact on the Hospitality Sector

From training manuals & IDs for staff to menu cards, coasters & even table mats, a paper has a variety of applications in the hospitality industry. But one of the major challenges in using regular paper here is the intense environment. Water or coffee spills, oily/dirty hands are so common in restaurants, hotels, or takeaways that it becomes impossible for it away from paper materials. This eventually leads to an enormous amount of paper consumption. But what if we can change that? Ever thought of using a paper that is resistant to tear, oil & moisture? Introducing Cosmo Synthetic Paper that is here to shift the trends in a sustainable & efficient way.

In this article, we are going to explore the major challenges faced by the hospitality industry in the use of paper and how Cosmo Synthetic Paper helps in overcoming those.

HOW ARE RESTAURANTS USING PAPER?

Hotels & restaurants rely on single-use, wood-pulp-based paper for menu cards, coasters & multiple other applications to get rid of damaged ones, replacing them with new copies. But is it wise to do so, especially when deforestation has now become a global concern? They often end up consuming tons of wood-based paper in a day due to its inefficiency against moisture or oil.

Many of them resort to lamination, comprising clarity and aesthetics. Menu cards are usually the first form of presentation to the customers before the main dish is served. Imagine presenting your customers a scratched or peeled menu card that gives them a hard time understanding. It is common for lamination to peel apart the paper due to rough handling, which is inevitable in restaurants.

COSMO SYNTHETIC PAPER – THE PERFECT SOLUTION

Cosmo Synthetic Paper (CSP) has been adapted by various restaurants & hotels as the perfect replacement for regular paper. Below are the key characteristics of CSP:

• It is resistant to tear, oil & moisture.
• You can wipe off the coffee/food stains without causing any damage to the paper.
• It is highly durable and has a long shelf life.
• It promotes reuse and is recyclable.
• It is 100% tree-free, made using synthetic substrates.
• It is compatible with multiple print technologies.
• It can be die-cut, hot foil stamped, perforated & folded.
• It does not require any additional lamination for protection against the external environment.
• It can withstand tough conditions.

OTHER APPLICATIONS OF COSMO SYNTHETIC PAPER

Other than the hospitality industry, Cosmo Synthetic Paper is widely used across print, publishing, advertising, retail & other industries for multiple purposes. Below are some of its most common applications:

• Mark sheets & Certificates in schools & universities
• Tags & labels for products in retail & manufacturing
• Books, bookmarks in publishing houses
• Government documents like birth/health certificates, ration cards
• IDs, visiting cards, folders and certificates for official use

CONCLUSION

It is time to make the switch to a sustainable & efficient solution—Cosmo Synthetic Paper. Produced by Cosmo Films, a global leader of specialty films, CSP is known for its durability & reliability amongst users. 

COSMO SYNTHETIC PAPER: PRINTING RECOMMENDATIONS

Engineered by industry experts, Cosmo Synthetic Paper has turned out to be the best replacement for pulp based paper. What makes it the first choice of businesses today is its non-tearability, moisture & chemical resistance and excellent Printability. CSP is compatible with diverse printing technologies like Conventional Offset, UV Offset, UV Flexo printing, Water based Flexo printing, Thermal Transfer, Screen, Letterpress, UV Inkjet, HP Indigo & HP Latex printing and selective Laser Print technologies. Here are some of the printing recommendations for printing on Cosmo Synthetic Paper. 

Printing Recommendations* 

• Off-set Printing 
Off-set printing for CSP requires some additional care than a wood-pulp paper. This is because on a normal paper, the ink dries by absorption and oxidation but on CSP, the ink would only be able to dry out with surface oxidation. Thus, the process would take a little longer and if not allowed to dry properly, the user might face ink set off issues. To avoid this, following precautions are necessary: 

1. Pre-print stacking – The advisable limit is not more than 3000 sheets. Air conditioning should be adequate before you could start the printing in order to ensure smooth movement of sheets. Vacuum can cause suction marks and thus, needs to be reduced. 

2. Inks – Oil-based offset printing inks are the most compatible with CSP as they undergo evaporative and oxidative polymerization drying mechanisms. On the other hand, conventional inks can also be used but would need more time to dry. While choosing an ink for CSP, following things should be kept in mind: – Ink should be able to set quick or dry fast – Ideal for two side printing – Results in even surface to reduce set off – Compatible with UV curable inks 

3. Dampening System – The dampening level should be minimal as otherwise, it can cause set off. Multicolour printing contains excessive water and thus can lead to improper ink transfer. 

4. Dampening Water Criteria – Following characteristics should be maintained for great results: – Water Level: Minimum as per machine parameters to eliminate emulsification – pH Level: 4.5 to 5.5 (Acidic) to avoid emulsification of inks used – Temperature: 8-10° C – Alcohol Content: 5-10% for faster drying of dampening water 

5. Delivery – Generally, up to 3 inches of stacking is recommendable. That said, it can vary as per the sheet size, ink deposition, amount of powder sprayed and printing pattern. 

• Flexographic Printing
CSP is compatible for flexography too. However, it may require proper ink selection for which you may consult the manufacturer. Tension should be set at the lowest level possible to avoid misregistration. You also need to maintain an ideal temperature of not more than 80° C during printing & thereafter, close to room temperature. 

• Digital Printing 
For this, the below precautions need to be taken: 

– Selecting correct media setting carefully 

– Conducting tests of the material prior to its use 

– Conditioning sheets in the printing environment for 24 hours 

– Fanning the required number of sheets for jam-free feeding 

– Maintaining temperature between 20-25° C 

– Setting adequate fusing temperature & pressure as per OEM recommendations 

– Lamination is recommended post printing for extended life 

• Thermal Transfer (TTR) 
This process of printing uses carbon ribbon which is moved to substrate upon heating. It is recommended to test suitable energy & speed combinations for printing with different ribbons. Some compatible Resin Ribbons are Armor AXR 7+, Ricoh B110CR, Mastercorp TTR Z400. Amongst Wax Resin Ribbons, Armor AXR FH 7+ and Ricoh B110A are compatible. 

• Digital Laser Printing (Dry Toner) 

Laser Printing with dry toner is tested to be suitable for one of CSP’s variants, namely, Matte White Both Side Coated. Liquid toner, on the contrary, cannot be used as CSP does not facilitate ink drying through penetration but surface oxidation. Some recommendations for printing through this technology are- 

• Proper fanning of sheets is required prior to loading in the tray 
• It is recommended to involve the service engineer for media setting 
• If required, adjust image transfer current to get good quality print results 
• Please ensure proper earthing of the machine 
• Suggested to use external static eliminator device for higher productivity 
• Maintain room temperature between 20-25 degree C & relative humidity at 55% +- 10% 

• Apart from the above, CSP has been tested to be suitable for Letterpress and Screen Printing technologies as well. 

*Disclaimer: These printing recommendations are applicable to all variants of CSP. In case of top-coated products, printing is recommended only on the coated side. A few trials should be carried out before using it in bulk to ensure smooth functioning. 

Converting Recommendations of CSP 

With properties of both plastic film & paper, CSP can be folded (scoring or 30 minutes nipping is recommended for optimal results), perforated, guillotined and punched. It can also be used for die cutting and hot foil stamping.

 

Cosmo Synthetic Paper has made everything simpler than ever with its versatility in terms of printing, features and usability. It can replace pulp based paper in applications requiring durability and longevity, thus providing an eco-friendly solution to the problem of cutting down trees to make paper.

Why CPP Films Are Becoming Increasingly Popular

Cast Polypropylene Films or CPP films have earned the reputation of being “versatile films” in the industry, and for good reason. CPP films score high on quality and performance, look aesthetically great, and are an ideal choice for flexible packaging, which is why these films are favoured in both traditional flexible packaging and non-packing applications. In this blog, we will take a closer look at what really makes CPP films special.

CPP films are made from polypropylene. Polypropylene is popular as a packaging material because it has low density and weight, is very versatile and cost-effective, and most importantly, is sustainable.

Let’s look at some of the major benefits of CPP:

Excellent Resistance To Tear – CPP films are very robust. Hence they have a high resistance to any kind of puncture and/or tear.

High Seal Strength and Hot Tack Strength - Both these values are exceptionally high making CPP films very robust and durable.

Multi-Material Structures - All the component properties of multi-material structures come together to optimize the performance, functionality, and total costs.

Offers Good Moisture Barrier - To extend the shelf life of the product, it is crucial that the film successfully protects the product from humidity, temperature and gases. CPP films provide a good moisture barrier and preserve product quality.

High Transparency - CPP films are completely transparent and attractive. Not only do they lend to the aesthetics of the product packaging, but also make it possible to see the product inside.

Good Optical Property - Great optical properties determine the shelf appeal of the product and CPP films with its versatility ensures that the look and feel of the product are not compromised.

Excellent Machinability - These films are easy to process and also offer great printability.

CPP films come in various varieties, but the general CPP and metalized CPP film are the most popular ones. General CPP films find widespread usage in the fields of food, agriculture and  architecture because of its transparency and sealing properties. In fact, the wrappers you see for confectionery and bakery products, or even fresh food are CPP films. From food packaging to  lamination and stationary, there is hardly a place where CPP films are not used. CPP films are used in the health care and pharmaceutical industries as well because these films provide a great  barrier against contamination.  

It is evident that CPP films dominate the Indian market. There are a couple of challenges posed by low-cost material but the advantages of CPP films supersede all of them.

Mr Pankaj Poddar, CEO Cosmo Films says, “We see more and more CPP being used globally as  well as in India as a choice material for packaging applications in food and agriculture owing to  its high transparency vis-a-vis polyethene and excellent sealing performance. Cosmo Films, with  years of experience in the polypropylene space, has worked hard to come up with an extensive  range of CPP films that it offers today both from functionality as well as mono-materialization standpoint.”

Uses and benefits of Synthetic Paper

Synthetic paper is manufactured employing synthetic resin derived from petroleum as the main material. Hence it has properties analogous to the plastic film. Its look is close to that of paper produced from wood pulp. Also, several synthetic papers have properties just like those of regular paper. Synthetic papers were engineered to be durable like plastic. However, they appear, feel and print like traditional paper. Resin-based synthetic papers are classified into 2 types as per their manufacturing process namely fiber synthetic paper and film synthetic paper. Today film synthetic paper is more popular.

Have properties of both conventional paper and film

The synthetic paper shares certain properties of paper as well as film. The former is resin-based. So, they have some beneficial properties of film including grease resistance, tear resistance, as well as water resistance. It also has paper’s radiant white, printable surface.

Used for printing, packaging and labeling

Synthetic papers provide different functionalities for a range of applications in industries including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics as well as food & beverages for printing, packaging and labeling. The former is both water-proof and durable. Other important properties include oil resistance, chemical resistance, as well as tear resistance. These superior performance properties as well as superior printability, resulted in synthetic properties high popularity as materials of choice in numerous end user industries.

Durable with ease of printability Synthetic papers are tough and also have the property to support high-quality printing. All uses of synthetic papers leverage these qualities in some form. Synthetic papers are employed in any application requiring long-term durability. They are tear-resistant, chemical-resistant, water-resistant and usually have higher durability when benchmarked against the paper. As bonus synthetic papers possess ease of printability.

Used in medical, horticultural and chemical applications

A major benefit that synthetic paper has over conventional paper is resistance to yellowing and a far longer shelf life. Synthetic paper is employed in a range of applications needing strength coupled with inbuilt resistance to the elements. For instance, chemical resistant drum labels. Medical applications including labels or patient’s wristbands where it is paramount to have moisture as well as tear resistance. The use of synthetic paper is widespread for outdoor tag uses for nursery, lumber tags and miscellaneous horticultural products. Synthetic paper is leveraged for printing horticultural tags for plants as well as trees. The former is also employed in tags used for labeling different grades of lumber.