The flexographic printing process is inherently tough on small type. Press settings, anilox selection, artwork, and mounting tape all play a role in how small type is reproduced on the substrate. Accurate and legible printing of small type is especially critical for applications such as pharmaceuticals and food packaging. In this blog post, we'll take a look … Read More...
Category Archives: Platemaking
Rubber platemaking has been around since the early 1900s. For many decades, rubber plates were the standard for flexographic printing. Even today, some printers are using rubber for special applications where extreme durability is mandatory. This form of platemaking is becoming more rare, but it still has a place in modern flexography. The process of … Read More...
Plates are an essential part of the flexographic printing process. The plate delivers a precise amount of ink to the substrate exactly where it is needed. Such a critical piece of the printing process must be measured and controlled to deliver consistent results. Selecting the correct plate measurement tool and implementing plate QC is essential to success in the pressroom. … Read More...
Sometimes things get so old they are actually new again. I love when my kids hear me say something or hear music they thought was new and cool (or as they say, "Kewl") only to find out it is really old! The same can be said for some technologies. Take Graphic Arts film from example. … Read More...
It's that time of year again - packaging folks from around the country gathered to geek out over the latest and greatest innovations from Esko! This year's EskoWorld event took place at the Omni ChampionsGate Resort in Orlando, Florida and it did not disappoint. Hardware is just a small portion of what Esko has to offer- … Read More...
The answer lies here... At the recent FTA Fall Conference in Minneapolis, the audience was treated to three full sessions dedicated to “Innovation and the Image Carrier.” It was an enlightening approach, given that each of the six leading flexo plate manufacturer representatives were also joined on stage by a printer or trade shop customer … Read More...
With a wide array of options available, it can be difficult to decide what new plate technology best fits your platemaking needs. New plate materials or platemaking processes are usually the first places you'll explore when considering an upgrade, but new processing equipment and solvent options can provide a substantial boost in both quality and … Read More...
With new demands on flexo plates such as Full HD Flexo, 175+ LPI, and high speed presses, optimized platemaking conditions are more important than ever. At the heart of the platemaking process is a light source - UVA light to be specific - which is the foundation for producing high quality plates time after time. … Read More...
Recently I had the opportunity to run a 1-color fingerprint at Clemson University in conjunction with another project I was working on there. The main purpose of the 1-color fingerprint was to determine the minimum type size the Aquaflex Optima flexo plate could hold and print cleanly, but I thought, why not take this chance … Read More...
How important is proper registration in your manufacturing process? I'm guessing it's one of those factors right at the top of the list along with controlling color and accurate converting. In this post, we will take a brief look into dimensional stability as it relates to flexo plates, and how this factor can effect productivity … Read More...