FLEXO INSIGHT - by Lesley Hide, MD, EFTA

Flexo has come a long way from its origins as a simplistic process for printing lines and solid blocks of colour.

I would argue that 99.99% of consumers would be unable to tell whether a pack had been flexo printed or gravure printed. In fact many packaging professionals would also be hard pushed to tell the difference without getting a glass out. Indeed, such is the quality of work that can be produced that even the judges at the European Flexographic Technical Association (EFTA) Print Awards have questioned some work that has been submitted, such is the quality of the work now being produced.

In 2001 Danisco Flexibles Venus won Best in Show with a petit pois design which in 2010 would not have been considered as worthy of being in the final 10 in its class let alone win Best in Show; such is the improvement in the quality and consistency of flexo print that has been achieved in the past 10 years. This year’s Best in Show, won by Amcor Flexibles Cumbria clearly demonstrates the best that Flexo can offer brandners. The intensity of colour, cleanliness of the print and the reverses shows what can be done - and just with a process set of inks.

This has been achieved by the whole flexo supply chain working together to maximise what the process can offer. Improvements in anilox screening, ink technology and plates, coupled with a more thorough understanding and developments in repro screening technology, have all contributed to this result. This means that flexo can hold its own with any other print process and offer brand owners significant advantage in terms of time to market and cost compared to other print processes.

No other mainstream packaging print technology has made the investment in development in the way that Flexo has and the process now accounts for virtually all corrugated print and over 80% of all flexible packaging produced world wide. It is the technology of choice of major brand owners and retailers and will continue to develop the innovative solutions that many companies have benefited from.