At present, flexographic printing has been widely used in various types of packaging and printing products. In the United States, due to the use of automatic labeling machines and the large number of applications for stickers, combined with the flexographic printing press printing method and the printing and post-printing process, the self-adhesive label has become the main product of flexographic printing presses. Flexographic printing can complete almost all label printing processes such as die cutting, embossing, waste disposal, glazing, laminating, unwinding and then reverse printing and re-evaluating. In addition, the printing of packaging cartons is another major source of business for flexographic printing presses, but that is another type of special equipment that differs from label printing equipment from platemaking to printing. At the same time, products suitable for narrow-format flexographic printing presses include paper packaging for various types of goods, folding cartons (for cigarettes, alcohol, medical supplies, cosmetics, health products, etc.), stationery (letters, forms, accounts) Books, paper bags, paper cups, paper cutlery, wallpaper, etc. Products suitable for wide format flexographic printing presses include all types of plastic films, vacuum aluminized films, and pure aluminum foil packaging products such as liquid packaging, baby diapers, feminine hygiene napkins, daily chemical cleaning products, and medical packaging.
In China, flexographic printing started late and developed slowly. In the mid-1980s, the introduction of simple laminated flexo presses began. In recent years, as the flexo printing technology in the world has gradually improved, especially in the rapidly developing situation in Europe and the United States, Chinese industry professionals have a new understanding of flexographic printing processes and technologies, and have begun to introduce high-quality flexographic printing. machine. The reference to any new technology will encounter more or less difficulties and problems. Flexo printing is no exception. The first is the procurement of various supporting materials. The supporting materials needed for flexo printing are more than other printing methods. Plates, tapes, plate rollers, anilox rollers, doctor blades, ink and so on are imported several years ago. In recent years, the rapid development of flexographic printing has led to the development of related material industries. Some related materials have already begun production and can replace imports. For example, ink and ink, manufacturers have spread all over the country; net string rollers and die-cutting cylinders have Produced in Shanghai. Some of them are still imported, such as plates, tapes, etc., but purchases have become as simple as buying a film.
Therefore, at present, related supporting tools and materials are not the factors restricting the development of flexo. The second problem is the live source problem. Flexographic print jobs can be flexibly varied with respect to the business volume that is suitable for gravure printing. However, due to its high printing efficiency, normal start-up also requires a large source of live jobs. Take cigarette packs as an example. A 16-inch flexographic press needs at least 100,000 boxes of business a year to feed. Once again, flexographic printing has its own unique process characteristics. From pattern design to color selection, the strengths of flexo printing should be highlighted to avoid weaknesses in flexo printing. At present, there is still a lack of packaging designers who understand the flexographic process. Many products are directly transferred from offset printing to flexo printing. They cannot avoid weaknesses and reduce the degree of satisfaction of end customers for flexo printing products, thus affecting people's understanding and understanding of flexographic printing. In addition, the concept issue is also a problem that restricts the development of flexo. In the past few years, there were two very extreme views. At a glance, the flexographic version was so good that it would replace the gravure in the future, and it would even replace offset printing. Secondly, the flexographic version was too bad to print only very few times. These arguments have been biased, and the correct positioning of the flexographic plate should be said to be a low-input, high-production-appropriate technology in the field of packaging and printing. Only by identifying the positioning of the flexographic version, can we find the market positioning.
Many brands of flexographic printing presses have been introduced domestically and most of them are successful. However, there are some factories that have gone blind because they know little about flexo and have more or less blindness, either choosing the wrong size or choosing the wrong configuration. The only way to avoid this is to learn more and fully understand the process characteristics of flexographic printing. Never use the old experience of offset printing or gravure printing to explain the flexographic issue. For example, in terms of size, in terms of offset printing, the larger the number of openings, the better, because the same number of prints can produce more products, while the flexographic version is not, the efficiency is achieved by speed, and the size is appropriate if the job allows it. Can be, the size of the small use of the cost is low, imagine, small size from the roller to die-cutting cylinder are small, plate material, tape, plate making costs are naturally saved; small size also means that the cumulative operation process The smaller the error, the easier the quality control. Of course, it can't be generalized. It's better to choose the satellite width for printing plastic film, because its tension change is easy to control. There are configuration issues, do not blindly pursue the extra features that are not used temporarily, because in fact the flexographic machine itself is a combination of multiple functions, these combinations can be completed before the factory can also be added during use, in the case of unnecessary It is unwise and uneconomic to align all the functions. It will not be late if necessary.
A factory manager once said that flexo printing has grown into a strong year abroad, and it is still a baby in China. This metaphor is very appropriate. Indeed, China's flexo printing is still in its infancy. However, she has already shown her tenacious vitality. It is believed that flexographic printing will be of great use in the field of packaging and printing.