When we are talking about operational efficiency, the high-speed in flexo press is very important. Speed matters in flexo printing. As fast you can print, you will complete the order before the deadline and your customers will get fast deliveries of products.
Faster the production, more orders can be fulfilled. So the question is how to increase the speed of flexo printing without compromising the quality? Here is the guide to increase the feet per minute and it also adds to your profit.
How to increase the Flexo Packaging Printing Speed?
When we are talking about higher printing speeds, the efficiency of a machine is most important. The machine should be well maintained by regular cleaning and oiling the parts which help to rollers to spin fast. There are also various factors that should be considered for fast flexo printing.
They are
- Anilox Roller Alignment
- Substrate surface tension
- Image carriers: sleeves, cylinders, or plates
- Drying times and ink types
- Pressroom Conditions
Let’s understand one by one.
1. Anilox Roller Adjustments
For high-speed operations, a high-quality anilox roller is required. The printing speed is highly dependent on the current roller in your press. It is important to choose the right type of roller for the right type of printing. For instance, if you are printing with a lot of ink, the low-line roll is the best option. For high-definition printing, a high-line roll is best it.
It is advice to use the right roller for the right type of application.
2. Substrate Surface Tension
The small adjustment in the machine, have a large impact on flexo printing. Like substrate surface tension. With the increase in surface tension, the drying time is more. You’ll have to make sure that the increase in surface tension doesn’t affect the printing quality. It is very difficult but if you get it right, you’ll find a great gain in flexo printing.
3. Printing Sleeves
The elastomer sleeves, leveraging direct laser engraving can help to improve flexo printing speed as these components can quickly be made and printing will be starting faster.
In the conventional sleeve-making method, there are up to seven different stages before the sleeve touches the press. On the other hand laser-engraved sleeve only consist of two steps. The laser engraved plate consists of three steps.
The elastomer sleeves are the fastest image carrier to make and also last for longer than conventional techniques.
4. Drying Times and Ink Types
With the higher flexo speed, slower drying times are require for best quality printing. This can get by ink which prints at faster speeds and maintain form and stability.
Just remember that what type of ink you are using and the time require for drying.
5. Pressroom Conditions
For faster flexo printing, the pressroom conditions play an important role with the machine. It is also important to optimize the pressroom conditions to minimize drying times with efficiency.
If you are using water-based flexo ink, you have to keep track of humanity in the pressroom. Also, the temperature in the pressroom needs to be sufficient for drying. Install proper ventilation in the pressroom and equipment to capture VOCs or volatile organic compounds.
With all these tips the flexo packaging printing speed will increase. You also have to take care of Pesky Printing defects.
