Comparing Flexographic Preprinting with Gravure Preprinting (I)

Flexo printing, gravure printing, offset printing and screen printing are the four most common printing methods in the world. They have their own characteristics. Relatively speaking, domestic flexographic printing technology started late, but flexographic printing has its unique technology and features, which have already emerged in the printing industry. The rapid development of flexographic printing, in addition to technical breakthroughs in ceramic roll, plate, and ink, its own low production costs, low investment, good environmental protection, high efficiency, easy operation and other features are to attract the majority of printing The important reason for the company.

There are many modern printing process routes, and each has its own printing style and technological characteristics. When selecting, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the economy, quality requirements, the amount of printing, packaging materials, and subsequent packaging processes, etc. in order to receive more effective results.

Current trend of similar technologies at home and abroad

Flexographic printing technology has developed rapidly in foreign countries. Especially in the printing of packaging materials, flexographic printing accounts for 75% of the packaging market in the United States, 35% of the total volume of prints in Europe, and continues to develop. . Flexo printing has already exceeded the trend of printing and gravure in the market share of the printing industry in the packaging industry. Therefore, this printing process technology is called packaging printing in the United States. The development of the camera technology has resulted in a revolution in printing technology, which has enabled the development of offset printing. The printing machinery and related technologies for offset printing (also known as plain printing) have also become increasingly sophisticated, becoming a very mature printing technology to date. With the advent of computerized text systems and laser photoprinting, offset printing eliminated the traditional embossing and developed itself. However, offset printing inks are oily. The principle of printing is the principle of separation of oil and water, and it excludes the possibility of using water and ink. It is difficult to stand. To the pollution-free team, the price of the high-speed printing press in Heidelberg, Germany, which represents the highest level, is very expensive. For example, for lamination and bronzing, bump cutting, technically difficult to achieve, so that for large-volume, requiring pollution-free packaging printing, offset printing is significantly less than flexo and gravure, and gravure printing ink in printing When the odor is harmful to human health. In addition, the price of gravure printing machinery is higher than that of flexographic printing presses, and the models are large and difficult to operate. The prices of all-process wiring configuration are higher. The gravure plate price is high and the cycle is long. Moreover, flexographic printing has a number of other advantages: (1) Print prices are cheaper than gravure printing; (2) The entire work cycle can be completed quickly; (3) It can respond quickly to market changes and is suitable for diversification in small batches. Substrate; (4) No corrosion phenomenon, no solvent material, which is conducive to meeting environmental requirements; (5) Accurate overprint can be maintained on a wide variety of substrates.

Among the above three kinds of printing processes, the accuracy of offset printing is high, and the transparent film is used for plate making and the plate making cost is low. The printed product has a full level, rich tone, and soft colors. However, because the ink layer is thinnest (<15um), the color density is often insufficient, and four-color overlays and additional spot colors are required to satisfy colorful and dazzling demands. This is very suitable for small-scale, high-grade small home appliances, restaurants, foods, etc. Medical and other small and medium-sized fine folding cartons.

Gravure printing with multi-color printing with four-color and spot-color printing makes the printed product colorful and colorful, with overprint accuracy centered. The opaque polyester photosensitive negative image is used as the original (electric engraving or laser plate making), and the plate making cost is relatively high ( In some areas each version of the drum 10000 yuan). However, due to the thickest ink layer (10-30um), the color density is adequate, supplemented by spot colors, and it is widely used in large and medium-sized high-grade tobacco and beverages and folding carton printing for fine food packaging.

Flexo printing with multi-color printing with four-color and spot-color printing. The printed product has strong ink color, thick and full on the ground, rich midtones, short pitch adjustment, and high precision in the downstream. Transparent transparent film (preferably a matte film) ) As the original version, the cost of plate making is relatively high (in some areas, the photosensitive resin flexo version is 4000-5000 yuan/square meter). However, due to the small print pressure, moderate ink layer (15-20um), high resistance to printing force, suitable for printing neutral, dull food, tea, beer, dairy products, pharmaceutical folding cartons and cartons.

In the traditional packaging carton industry and the past two years, the combination of storage, transportation and sales packaging, with electric color separation and hierarchical effects of the carton industry, flexographic printing will have an absolute advantage.

Flexographic printing features

Internationally, flexo printing is considered to be an era when the economy is in a low period and environmental protection and resource conservation are valued. It will be widely used in the printing of cartons of various types, small batches, short-cycle, low-cost carton boxes. Kind of printing method.

(a) The flexographic printing press has the following features:

1. Green printing; 2. High speed and low plate speed; 3. High printing speed, low mechanical price; 4. Excellent continuous processing function; 5. The print covers a wide area. These five characteristics make flexographic printing and other high-tech printing forms, such as digital printing, currently evolving.

(B) The characteristics of flexographic printing:

1. Excellent printing quality Flexo printing features the three printing processes of plain, concave, and convex printing in the aspects of pre-press film production, supply methods, and printing methods. Printing can be up to 150 lines, 6-8 colors, or more. Multi-color high-precision color prints are easy. The ink layer thickness of printed matter makes the product rich in layers and vivid colors, which is especially suitable for packaging and printing requirements.

2. Adaptable to a wide range of printing materials Flexo printing can print smooth, flat, absorbent paper. Can be printed with rough surface, obvious concave and convex corrugated paper, textiles; can be printed on the surface of non-elastic ceramics, glass and wood, etc.; can also be printed without absorption of plastic, glass paper, aluminum foil products. For this reason, flexographic printing products have a wide range of adaptation.