Flexographic printing is not a new technology as the basic process behind this modern technique dates back to the end of the 19th century when it was known as letterpress or rubber stamp. But it has evolved considerably with numerous innovations. These developments make it still one of the most reliable ways to produce large orders of high-quality custom labels at rapid speeds.
Flexographic printing is a technique that uses a flexible printing plate. In the past, these printing plates were made of rubber, and nowadays businesses use flexible photopolymer nylon plates (also known as stereo or Cliche). The plates are wrapped around cylinders (also known as Drum Cylinder). The inked plates have a raised image and rotate at high speeds to transfer the ink through small holes from the anilox roll to the substrate; each color requires a different printing plate. Due to developments of anilox rolls, printing plates, inks, and the printing press amongst others, you can print images with a high line count in flexo.
Flexo printing is unique because it adapts well to different materials (like on PP or HDPE Woven Sack, thin film, paper, carton board, shrink sleeves, in-mold, lamitube and flexible packaging) and can use a wider range of inks, including water-based inks and solvent-based inks. Because this type of printing holds up and is adaptable, it can be printed on almost any kind of substrate, like plastic, metal, and paper.
The advantages of flexo printing:
Runs at extremely high speeds and is ideally suited for long printing runs
Prints on a wide variety of substrate materials
Short set-up times with a minimum of waste; guarantee high-quality output
It produces minimal waste in terms of materials, time, and resources
A relatively straightforward and controlled printing process that requires less-trained operators to achieve the desired output
Low cost of equipment and maintenance
It requires minimal costs and can deliver high returns on investment
It allows you to obtain consistent and high-quality results
“The flexographic printing machine market is expected to register a CAGR of 11.3% during the forecast period (2021 – 2026)
It is for good reason that flexographic printing is the most common technique. I hope this blog has helped you to get a clear picture of what flexo printing is and how it could help you to become more viable.
Get to know the difference between Flexographic Printing and Offset Printing here.
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