Advancing Sustainability for the Plastics Industry: X-Rite Showcases Innovative Digital Color Workflow Solutions at NPE

As the urgency of climate change grows, the global plastic market faces increasing pressure to minimize its environmental impact. At NPE2024, May 6-10, in Orlando, Florida, X-Rite Incorporated, a global leader in color science and technology, will showcase how digital color workflows are shaping a greener, more eco-friendly plastics industry.

“We will have live demonstrations of our connected and user-friendly solutions designed to help companies embrace an end-to-end digital workflow,” said Matthew Adby, Product Management Director, X-Rite. “This helps minimize physical prototyping, optimize the use of recycled or biomaterials, achieve precise formulation from the outset, and monitor color accuracy throughout production to preemptively address color discrepancies. It's a win-win for efficiency and the planet.”

Visit X-Rite at booth S31171 to see the latest in color measurement technology designed for every step of the plastics workflow.

Product Design & Innovation – Streamline design workflows using X-Rite PANTORA™ appearance software to quickly and accurately create a digital twin of a physical material for 3D rendering and communicate the material data without shipping physical prototypes. Brands and suppliers can economically and sustainably present a range of color and appearance options on a virtual replica and evaluate the surface, curves, edges, and levels of transparency to identify color issues before production begins.

Specification & Matching – Create digital color standards for reproduction or match physical samples using the latest benchtop and imaging spectrophotometers. Whether working with plastic pellets, extruded plastic, uniquely-shaped bottles, transparent, or translucent preforms or plaques, learn which measurement device is best for your workflow. Discover how to set realistic color expectations and establish a spectral data audit trail for quality control.

Formulation – Streamline color development for recycled or bio-sourced plastics using the most advanced formulation software. Color iMatch intelligently processes color data to provide optimal initial color matches, formulate color using leftover or recycled materials, and optimize pigment costs.

Production Monitoring – Maintain stable color in production for textured, patterned, or glossy samples using inline color measurement systems to monitor color on the production line and automatically make corrections without operator intervention.

Quality Control – Compare and analyze production color to the standard ensuring it stays within tolerance from formulation through shipment. Learn how to identify color drift before it becomes an issue.

Final Inspection – Conduct a final color evaluation on finished products under controlled lighting to ensure they meet the established color standards and tolerance limits.

“For 60 years, X-Rite has been at the forefront of color measurement technology helping customers achieve the highest level of color integrity. We continue this tradition of innovation and are proud to offer the plastics and packaging industries new features that help customers get color right faster and with less waste to better meet their sustainability goals,” continues Adby.

For more information about X-Rite solutions for plastics, visit https://www.xrite.com/industry-solutions/plastics

About X-Rite

Founded in 1958, X-Rite Incorporated is a global leader in the science and technology of color and appearance. With Pantone, X-Rite employs more than 800 people in 11 countries. The company’s corporate headquarters are located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, with regional headquarters in Europe and Asia and service centers across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas. X-Rite offers a full range of solutions used by manufacturers, retailers, printers, and graphic design houses to achieve precise management and communication of color and appearance throughout their processes. X-Rite products and services are recognized standards in the printing, packaging, photography, graphic design, video, automotive, paints, plastics, textiles and medical industries. For further information, please visit www.xrite.com. For the latest news, information, connect with X-Rite on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

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