With the growing popularity of folding cartons, offset printing and packaging are progressing faster than ever. According to Rich Fifield, account executive at Meredith-Webb, the prevailing technology in package printing is decreased makeready times, increased run speeds and the introduction of CIP4 (critical ink placement) ink and simultaneous plate hangers for ink key positions. Other advancements include in-line color control, simultaneous plate hangers, side lay free infeed, auto blanket washers and more.
Offset Printing
Offset printing is an excellent choice for printing paperboard and corrugated boxes. In most cases, it produces clearer and more vivid output. This is vital for conveying important information to consumers. While digital printing is cheaper and faster to turn around, offset printing is a more reliable method for higher volume printing. While it is more expensive, offset printing provides superior results in terms of color depth and brightness. This type of printing is more expensive than digital printing, but the benefits far outweigh its drawbacks.
Offset technology is not new to flexible packaging printing. It has been gaining ground in Europe and could spread to India in the future. Packaging in India was growing at an impressive rate before Covid-19 hit the market. With the growth of smaller families, the market has become fragmented and specialized, creating a variety of options. As a result, companies are seeking different types of packaging to differentiate their products. Whether you need high-volume printing or a low-volume run, offset technology is the right choice.
Flexography
Flexography is a process that involves bending and stretching a plate onto the substrate. The process involves a variety of inks and substrates and allows for up to seven passes per color. It has more process colors than offset printing and more options for spot colors and effects. The term “flexography” is not the original name for the process, which was first known as Gummidruck. In Germany, flexography is commonly known by its predecessor name, Gummidruck.
The main difference between flexo and offset printing is that flexography uses a high-relief polymer sheet containing the image. This sheet is then rotary-printed directly onto the substrate, with the help of inkwell stamps or plates. While there are many applications for flexo, it is not well-known to the general public.
While offset printing and flexography are similar, flexography has several advantages. Offset printing is much more expensive than flexography. Flexo packaging also includes plastic bags and labels, newspapers, and envelopes.
Electrostatic Rollers
Eltex Electrostatic GmbH develops highly efficient, reliable electrostatic systems to optimize process performance and improve profitability. For more than 50 years, their innovations have met the most demanding requirements and provided valuable process optimization in a variety of industrial areas. For more information, contact Bottcher. Located in Germany, the company’s headquarters and facilities provide customers with a full range of printing supplies. To learn more about the advantages of electrostatic rollers for offset printing and packaging, read on.
Offset printing uses a metal plate, usually aluminum, to apply the image onto paper. Offset printing is much slower than digital printing, and requires one metal plate per color. During the setup phase, it’s best to test the quality of the metal plate ink by running a small trial run on scrap paper to ensure it is not too streaky.
Electrostatic Curing
Offset printing is an excellent method to produce lithographic-quality images with minimal print plate cost. Water-based inks need higher relative humidity and some manufacturers recommend a value of 60 to 65%RH. At lower relative humidity, a charge is generated which attracts dust to the plates and makes handling difficult. This electrostatic charge can also cause sparks. Generally, a relative humidity level of 50 to 55%RH is recommended for offset printing and packaging. Electrostatic problems with machinery can also be a problem, but a high relative humidity level will minimize these risks.
In the past, electron beam curing was only used for printing comapny on rigid substrates, but the technology has been applied to flexible packaging. For instance, EB-curable inks often do not adhere well to corona-treated PET film. This paper proposes a method for overcoming the problem by applying an electron beam-curable primer to flexible packaging substrates. This process is suitable for food packaging.
Cost
In the case of printed goods, the cost of offset printing and packaging depends on the number of designs and artwork that need to be reproduced on each unit. A thousand boxes with two different designs would require changing the plates or creating new ones. This would incur additional costs. In comparison, if you wanted to produce 2000 boxes with only one design, the cost would be lower. Here are some tips to determine the cost of offset printing.
This can vary from a single sheet to a large multi-sheet product. A few materials, like paper, are more expensive than others. A single sheet of paper, for example, will cost more than a hundred dollars, so you should consider using a non-flexible paper material. If you use a paper substrate, you may be better off using a corrugated one.
It also allows for true color reproduction. This is especially important if you need to reproduce a company’s unique colors for branding and logos. Because it requires a number of steps to set up and produce the finished product, offset printing is an excellent option for larger quantities. However, you should be aware that the setup time is higher for this method.
Quality
Offset printing is an economical way to print. Unlike digital printing, offset printing produces a wider range of color than digital printing can. For example, if you’d like to have your logo printed in blue, the offset printer will use a different color ink than the digital printer. But, you can choose between both printing methods if you want the print quality to be excellent.
Offset technology is advancing at an accelerated pace, and the reason is the greater demands of both consumers and brand owners. Other innovations in offset packaging printing include auto blanket washers, a feature that allows the press operator to clean plates without interrupting production.
Offset litho is a high-quality process for small and large format printing. It offers high quality printing and fast turnaround times. It also has many different finishing options. One of its benefits is that it can accommodate PMS or CMYK color systems. It is suitable for large quantities, but is less common than offset printing. Regardless of the method used to print your products, the process of printing is a rewarding one.
