en.Wedoany.com Reported - Siegwerk, a global supplier of printing inks and coatings for packaging and labels, has launched Cirkit Oxybar White, an ink that combines oxygen barrier properties and white ink functionality in a single coating. The company states that this product transforms barrier performance from a dedicated material layer into a functional attribute of the ink itself, achieving barrier and design in one step, representing a shift in packaging design thinking.
In traditional packaging structures, oxygen barrier layers and white opaque layers must be applied separately, increasing complexity, material usage, and processing steps. Cirkit Oxybar White merges both functions into a single inline-applied ink, offering high oxygen barrier performance (oxygen transmission rate less than 5 cc/m²/day at 50% relative humidity), a bright white opaque surface, and the ability to be applied in one pass using standard printing processes. Siegwerk states that converters can replace two layers with one, simplifying the structure without sacrificing performance.
With Cirkit Oxybar White, Siegwerk introduces a new technology concept called "Barrier Inks," where the barrier function is built into the ink itself rather than added as a separate layer. The company previously launched the first product in this category, Cirkit Greasebar White, which combines grease barrier and white ink functionality in a single layer. Cirkit Oxybar White builds on this platform by adding oxygen barrier performance. The company says this approach enables converters to transform a standard white base layer into a functional layer and apply the barrier inline during printing without additional process steps.
This product launch comes at a time when the packaging industry faces increasing pressure to simplify packaging structures and enhance recyclability. Siegwerk states that barrier inks, particularly Cirkit Oxybar White, can replace traditional oxygen barrier materials (such as EVOH, PVdC, aluminum foil, and metallized films) in applications where additional water vapor transmission rate barrier is not required, supporting simplified mono-material structures designed for recyclability and reducing material usage to improve resource efficiency. The ink also allows converters to maintain print quality and operational continuity using existing gravure and flexographic printing equipment.
In addition to functional integration, Cirkit Oxybar White is said to offer other operational advantages. Its white pigment enables visual verification of coating coverage; the formulation is designed to support higher printing speeds compared to standard water-based coatings; and fewer layers, passes, and materials are expected to reduce total application costs. Siegwerk states that this combination lowers technical risk and total system cost, making barrier performance more accessible and scalable.
"With Cirkit Oxybar White, we are redefining what inks can do," said Gilles Le Moigne, Head of Circular Economy Coatings at Siegwerk. "By combining oxygen barrier and white ink properties in a single layer, we eliminate complexity and open up new possibilities for circular packaging design."
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