CIRKIT OXYBAR WHITE: oxygen barrier and white ink in one printable layer – Siegwerk
Siegwerk, one of the leading global providers of printing inks and coatings for packaging applications and labels, declares the launch of CIRKIT OXYBAR WHITE, which combines oxygen barrier performance and white ink functionality in a single layer.
This integration shifts barrier performance from a dedicated material layer to a functional property of the ink itself.
A new standard: barrier and design in one step
CIRKIT OXYBAR WHITE eliminates the trade-off between oxygen protection and white opacity, reducing the complexity, materials, and processing steps required by conventional packaging structures.
By merging both functions into a single, inline-applied ink, the solution delivers:
- High oxygen barrier performance (OTR < 5 cc/m²/day at 50% RH)
- Bright white, opaque finish for premium print quality
- One-pass application via standard printing processes
This enables converters to replace two layers with a single layer, simplifying structures without compromising performance.
OXYBAR WHITE as part of the new Barrier Inks category
With CIRKIT OXYBAR WHITE, Siegwerk introduces Barrier Inks, where barrier functionality is integrated into the ink itself.
Of this new category, Siegwerk first launched CIRKIT GREASEBAR WHITE, where grease barrier and white ink functionality were both delivered in one layer.
Now, CIRKIT OXYBAR WHITE expands on that platform, providing oxygen barrier performance and a white opaque finish.
This shifts the paradigm by printing barrier performance, enabling converters to turn standard backing white into a functional layer, apply barrier inline during printing, and avoid additional process steps.
Designed for the next generation of packaging
At a time when the industry is under increasing pressure to simplify packaging and improve recyclability, this innovation comes with clear advantages.
Barrier Inks and, specifically, CIRKIT OXYBAR WHITE enable:
- Barrier Inks and CIRKIT OXYBAR WHITE enable the replacement of conventional oxygen barrier materials such as EVOH, PVdC, Alu foil, and metalized films in segments not requiring additional WVTR barriers.
- Simplified mono-material structures sustaining design-for-recycling
- Reduced material usage and improved resource efficiency
At the same time, it allows converters to maintain print quality and operational continuity using existing gravure and flexo equipment.
Beyond its functional integration, CIRKIT OXYBAR WHITE offers operational advantages:
- Visual quality control: white pigmentation enables immediate verification of coating coverage
- Higher productivity potential: optimized formulation enables higher press speeds than standard water-based coatings.
- Lower total applied cost: fewer layers, passes, and materials
This combination makes barrier performance more accessible and scalable, while reducing both technical risk and total system cost.
“With CIRKIT OXYBAR WHITE, we are redefining what an ink can do,” said Gilles Le Moigne, Head of Circular Economy Coatings at Siegwerk. “By combining oxygen barrier and white ink performance in a single layer, we eliminate complexity and open new possibilities for circular packaging design.”This innovation lays the foundation for a broader shift toward functional inks, with printing becoming a central step in delivering packaging performance.
