When you are managing a flexible packaging printing business, it is necessary to well educate about the processes you should engage in.
Putting some money for this knowledge will expand you to new technologies and methods of upgrading your printing processes.
This will go a long path to ensuring that your processes are more productive and that you get the best outcome each time.
When it comes to flexible packaging, you have less printing choices to choose from. Some of these printing types are:
Digital Printing
Digital printing utilizes an inkjet printer that is quite easy to operate even as a newcomer in the industry.
These digital printing process grant graphic feature to apply on a plastic substrate without having to invest too much time.
This procedure comes in handy when employing with flexible packages.
They are easy to work with and can easily print on with a few clicks of a button.
This method comes with great benefits that as a manufacturer you should think about.
Some of these advantages are:
-
Minimal setup costs:
Mainly since the only thing you required to invest in is an inkjet printer.
-
Low wasted materials:
This is mostly because errors are not easily seen when using this method.
This allows you to neglect wasting any flexible packaging materials.
-
Fine printing quality:
contrast to other methods, this printing alternative provide very high-quality outcomes.
It is more complicated when it comes to the designs and graphics being printed on the flexible packages.
-
Quick reversal time:
When it comes to using this alternative, you can be confident that your processes will be quicker.
This will permit you to convey to your clients faster.
On the other hand, you can also figure out that the digital method also features a few drawbacks which are:
-
Large scale printing is costlier:
Given the complicate process that is followed when printing digitally, you find that doing it in large scale becomes tougher.
This printer is signified to work individually.
With this, the price of manufacturing printed flexible packages in large scale becomes very expensive.
-
Less choices in ink:
Digital printing does not permit you to utilize as many colors as you’d like.
This is extremely true when dealing with metallic colors.
Flexography
This printing process is the most used printing solution by manufacturers in the industry.
It features a flexible plate that permit it to easily print on products.
The flexography method is used as most flexible packaging because it offers great benefits.
Some of these benefits include:
-
Proffers versatility:
This method permits the manufacturer to either use water or oil-based inks.
Having this option provide more versatility when it comes to the looks that are obtained on the flexible packaging.
-
Faster turnaround time:
With this printing option, you also get to deliver to clients a bit faster.
It gives a lower cost when tooling which allows you to begin without investing a lot of money.
However, this option also has a few drawbacks that you should examine.
These include:
-
Lower print standard:
The flexography process gives a lower print quality contrast to using the digital option.
-
Trouble with multicolor printing:
This process may manifest to be an issue when it comes to printing using more than four colors.
This means if the design you’re working with features a lot of colors, you’ll have to look for a distinct alternative.
-
Photo quality problem:
If you’ll be consisting of photos on a flexible package, using this process will not give you the best result.
The photos produced during printing are not as clear and conclusive as they should be.
Rotogravure
This method consists engraving graphics on a plate that is then utilized to convey the results onto the flexible packages.
The Rotogravure process has to be perform using an image carrier to make sure that it turns out as it should.
This process is generally used on Boxes and flexible packaging like stand up pouches.
Using this printing method offers the following benefits:
-
Quality photo images:
Given that rotogravure elements engraving graphics, photo images are also print in finest quality.
This permit the user to easily show the photos without any struggles.
This process permits the use of more than 4 colors contrast to flexography.
Printing cylinders utilized in the printing process are built to durable.
This permits the customers to produce more flexible packaging alternative without spending money on another printing cylinder.
-
High print quality:
When it comes to the print engraved on the flexible packages, it emerges with a higher resolution contrast to other methods.
Some of the limitation related with this printing method include:
-
Minimal Coating Options
-
High early investment.
With this process, you’ll require to invest a considerable amount of money when it comes to tooling.
-
Not appropriate for small scale manufacturing unit.
Given the investment needed when come into begin with this process, printing a few packages is not desirable.
You require to make sure that you are printing in high quantity.
Lithography
The lithography process consists of the use of a lithography plate and graphics made of oil.
These graphics are transmitting on to the plate to make it easier to print on packages.
Before the printing, the plate is first serve using acid.
This make sure that the printing process goes effortlessly.
The Lithography process is however complicate compare to the other printing process.
Some of the benefits that come with Lithography consist:
- High printing quality
- Application of more than 4 colors with the addition of 2 PMS colors.
- Potentiality to use special coating for glossy or matte flexible packages.
- Provide a smooth color transition in the graphics and prints used.
Like any other printing process, lithography also comes with a few downsides. They include:
- Longer lead times.
- Minimal flexibility in the process.
- Top minimum order quantity.
- Results in an expensive tooling investment.
How Flexible Packages Print?
In the flexible printing, the first important aspect is to get the design specifications in check.
These specifications are proffer by your client to make sure that you stay on track and convey what they want.
Taking heed to this confirm that you do not have any dispute or wasted material.
The cylinder printing process starts when you have set the designs.
This cylinder is very significant given that it gives you the dye or ink you’ll use in printing.
Each cylinder is meant to fulfil a particular color that you can work with.
This means that you require to make sure that you have all the colors in mind.
This will also guide you decide on which printing process you’ll work with.
To begin the printing process cylinders are then load into the printing machine.
Once the printing cylinders are in position, the apparent material you’ll be using is loaded.
After everything is in set, the printing process then begin.
If you’ll be using distinct plates for this, you can be sure that they’ll give different results.
Once you are over with the printing process, you can then load the material onto the flexible packaging machines.
This will result in different packaging alternative based on what your client was searching for.
Conclusion
You need to make sure that you stay up to date when you running a business like printing.
This is mostly because technologies change punctually which is a great thing.
Paying attention to this will permit you to invest in the correct machines for your requirement.
All the distinct types of flexible packaging printing have their benefits and also disadvantages.
Also, they feature a variety of alternative when it comes to the tooling and methods that you can use.
Printing process is quite easy to understand but you need to follow the steps related with the type of printing you choose.
