Flexographic printing (Flexo) is a form of printing similar to letterpress only that it utilizes a flexible relief plate. It can be used for printing on nearly any surface, including corrugated board, paperboard, paper, plastic, metallic surfaces, shopping bags, food and hygiene bags, beverage cartons and cellophane.
History of Flexography
Before the process gained the name flexography, it used to be known as aniline printing. Aniline is the oil that was used as inks for the printing process. This oil was later on thought to be harmful to food, which was a false allegation but the masses had already gotten the wrong image of it. The package representatives then settled for flexography which uses a wide variety of inks.
How does Flexographic printing works?
The process of flexographic printing is not an easy one. It requires time and dedication. Here is a basic description of the process:
• A flexible printing plate that is made of rubber (can be synthetic or natural) is wrapped around a rotating cylinder.
• A plate is then made for every color that is to be printed and mounted on the cylinder. Sometimes errors may occur and bring about a distorted final product. This is why there has to be marks made on the paper to ensure accuracy. In order to maintain registration, special machinery is required to maintain the plates on the printing cylinder.
• Finally, a flexographic print is made on accurately mirrored image of the required image.
Benefits of Flexographic Printing
One of the top benefits of flexographic printing is that the ink it uses is highly viscous, and therefore, dries off very fast. This aspect also reduces the chances of smudging, leading to faster production which in return translates to more money made.
Additionally, flexography can accommodate a wide range of inks, and it can be used on a wide range of materials. Most of the consumer products you see around are printed by flexographic printing. The supermarkets are filled with products whose packages were printed by Flexo. Flexography can, therefore, be found almost anywhere—in department stores, in clothing, paneling, just to mention but a few.
Bottom-line
When you are considering the available options as far as large scale printing in Kalgoorlie is concerned, it is vital to make your decisions by looking into quality, versatility, and cost-effectiveness of the printing method. As highlighted, there are a number of benefits of flexographic printing that make it suited for a wide range of commercial and consumer applications. Its capabilities outshine conventional printing options in Kalgoorlie that don’t feature similar flexibility and technological advancement.
