While China is the world's second largest producer of corrugated packaging, printing on most of the boxes is still quite simple - just to fulfil a transportation function.
However, Bobst, Esko and Flint Group now claim to have achieved "a real break¬through in corrugated postprinting" by jointly launching the initiative "Flexo Goes Green", which stands for sustainability, productivity and quality. The project partners aim to "keep driving for more advanced corrugated postprinting, in order to serve and support the vast needs of boxes in China".
During the Sino-Corrugated 2013 fair in Shanghai, they presented a Flexo Goes Green corrugated box which was printed with Flint Group's Flexoipak C non-toxic water-based ink, and Nyloflex ART 284 Digital photopolymer plate, on a Bobst Vision-160 press. The prepress work was delivered by Esko.
According to the companies, the outcome was "so distinctive and impressive, that visitors were really surprised: high resolution with a wide tonal range, excellent solid ink transfer and coverage as well as clean printing with high speed".
Thanks to the state-of-the-art technology provided by the three partners, the result demonstrates that postprinting with an extremely high quality can become reality in the Chinese flexo market. They state: "this technology enhances the sales function of the corrugated box with high eye-catching moments. Now, corrugated postprinting is not only an alternative to preprinting by offset but also an excellent solution in means of sustainability, productivity and quality".
