Flexographic printers support digital prepress technology

FTA members view digital imaging, thermal plate processing, Internet-based workflow management systems and on-line digital printing stations as the new industry standard for the global print packaging industry. FTA research shows that the demand for various digital technologies is increasing. Industry companies generally agree to adopt this kind of operating technology that will increase both productivity and production efficiency. Most companies surveyed advocate the use of digital technology.

Mr. Ken Lowden, sales and communications manager at DuPont Imaging Technology, believes that the future of packaging is flexographic, and the future of flexo is digital technology. The use of digital technology throughout the entire packaging workflow allows users to gain a lot of benefits in terms of job speed, color management, quality stability, and image quality improvement. Mr. Ken Lyman, another senior manager of DuPont, said that digital technology is the new standard of operation for the flexo printing industry. Smaller-scale computer-to-plate equipment is still valued by the printing industry.

Glen Hoffman, president of Econo Products, and David Calif, president of BCM Inks, share the same view. They believe that in the next five years digital technology will have a great impact on flexographic production, digital prints will make a great change in the supply of plates and inks, printers and paper product manufacturers and processors should continue to stand in the development of digital technology At the forefront, flexographic technology continues to drive the advancement of printing and platemaking technology. Technological advances in the past decade will be greatly challenged in the next five years, and will even be far exceeded. The continuous development of digital technology will continue to make flexo printing the first choice for packaging and printing.

Larry Keeley, Matthews International's printing equipment division manager, believes that with the increase of printing speed, cost reduction and improvement of copy quality, the all-digital workflow will make flexo printing technology more advantageous than other printing technologies. Mr. Grey Wilson, head of prepress technology at Inland Cardboard Packaging, agreed with Mr. Keeley. The all-digital workflow including digital proofing and plate making has also changed the flexo printing production in the cardboard packaging industry. This has greatly increased the speed of production delivery and the overall level of operations, benefiting the cardboard packaging industry. Mr. Creg Wilson said: "If someone asks why we use digital technology, my answer is to survive and meet the needs of our customers."

quality improvement

Roxanne Baker, Director of Technical Services at Cryovac, pointed out that advances in digital technology, such as direct plate making, are continuing to increase the quality of flexo printing, and the color gamut has continued to expand, rivaling other printing technologies. Mr. Dave Bankson, Product Manager of Tag Technology, also noticed the difference between flexo, offset and gravure. He believes that once the cost of computer-to-plate systems, especially digital technology, has dropped and the quality of operations has become more stable, the differences between the above three printing methods will no longer exist. The current technological advances and development stamina will continue to allow flexographic technology to continue to enter the printing field, which has historically been dominated by offset printing and gravure printing.

Paige Crouch, the former director of the Clemson University, also holds the same view. He believes that digital plate imaging technology will continue to be recognized in the industry, and its first-class imaging quality will continue to make flexo printing technology occupy a larger market share in the field that has traditionally been dominated by other printing technologies. In predicting other technologies, Andy Kangas, production manager and head of printing technology for folding cartons at Belmark, said that direct plate-making technology and solvent-free punching technology help improve plate quality stability and printing efficiency. The new color management technology will improve the stability of the copying effect of the flexographic technology. Various technological advances will ultimately reduce the scrap rate as a whole and increase productivity.

Mr. Gary Hilliard, Hood Packaging's technical manager, believes that if flexographic technology is to be further developed, it must continue to develop convex image plate technology to improve the stability of flexographic operations, so that flexographic technology continues to be offset and concave in various printing fields. Indian technology competes with the world. Bruce Ridell, vice president of technology development at Spectrum Label, said that digital plate imaging technology has caused tremendous changes in the industry as much as laser-engraved anilox or Cyrel plate technologies. Digital printing is based on short-run printing jobs. Applying digital printing technology to printing machines with multiple printing systems will open up new printing markets.

Tools needed to increase speed

Digital imaging plates, sleeves, and anilox rollers are important aspects of flexographic technology to improve print quality, reduce setup time, and increase print speed. Not only that, but it also speeds up prepress work. The number of lines and outlets that could not be reached in previous years has also been promoted in print jobs due to the use of digital imaging plates, sleeves and anilox rollers.

Ray Bodwell, Sales Manager of Cyrel Plates, DuPont, said that the mature thermal process technology can greatly reduce the process variables, thereby improving the efficiency and reliability of the flexo prepress workflow, when the above technical progress with the latest presses and inks When technologies are combined, flexographic technology can compete with any other packaging and printing technology in terms of quality, stability, and job cycle. Wim Helsen, packaging product manager for Agfa Gevaet's packaging market, said that an automated PDF-based and JDF-based digital workflow solution will allow packaging prepress technology to enter the next generation of workflow management. These workflow management systems will further increase production efficiency through higher operational efficiency, more control and job tracking capabilities. The new prepress workflow system will be fully integrated into all existing production processes.

Mr. Ron Schroder, Technical Services Manager of Williamson Printing Equipment Company, fully agrees with Mr. Helsen's point of view. The fully centralized digital workflow includes sales order entry, financial management, prepress and production, which can further increase the cost-effectiveness of flexo printing. The digital imaging plate sleeve will become a short version with high resolution, cost-effectiveness, and must-use technology for repeated jobs, resulting in a greater market share for flexo printing. Synnoflex president Richard Synnott summarized the respondents' opinions. Digital printing plates and continuous photosensitive resin sleeves will be the main supporting technology for most flexo printers in the future to significantly improve the print quality and press speed. With the application of high-speed Internet lines, PDF file formats, and remote proofing machines, the globalization and digitalization of prepress services will be further enhanced. The digitized development trend is becoming increasingly apparent, and it will change the production and operation pattern of the printing industry.


Reprinted from: Shantou Printing Network