Understanding the Flexographic Flat Printer
Flexographic printing, often referred to as flexo, is a versatile and widely used technique for creating high-quality printed materials. Particularly popular in the packaging and label sector due to its efficiency and ability to produce vibrant, detailed prints, flexographic printing delivers consistent and reliable results.Get more news about
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The basis for effective flexo printing is the printing plates, which are usually manufactured from soft and resilient rubber or flexible photopolymer. During the process of flexo printing, images are separated into a minimum of four process colours - cyan, magenta, yellow, and black - with the option to include spot colours and over varnishes if needed.
Once the plates are prepared, they are mounted onto the printing press cylinders, with each colour in the design requiring a separate plate. The mounting process must be meticulously completed to ensure that the colours are precisely aligned, as this will produce accurate and vibrant prints.
The ink is supplied to the printing press through ink chambers or rubber rollers. To control the ink application, anilox rollers are used which have a pattern of tiny cells that carry and deliver a precise amount of ink to the plate surface. By carefully controlling the application of ink, consistent and sharp prints can be achieved.
Next, the substrate, which is usually in the form of rolls of paper or plastic film, is fed into the printing press, passing through various rollers and tension controls to ensure smooth and consistent movement through the press. Controlled feeding is vital to prevent misalignment and ensure the exceptional quality of the final print.
As the substrate moves through the press, the inked plates transfer the desired image or text onto it. The pressure applied between the plate and the substrate enables the ink to transfer effectively, creating the final print. This is a highly precise process which makes flexo printing ideal for detailed and high-quality work on a variety of different substrates.
Finally, after the ink is transferred to the substrate, it must undergo a drying or curing process to become permanent. Depending on the specific application, drying can be achieved through air drying or by utilising drying systems such as hot air, infrared, ultraviolet (UV), or LED UV technologies. The choice of drying method depends on the type of ink used and the requirements of the final product.
In conclusion, flexographic printing is a versatile and efficient method for producing high-quality prints on a variety of substrates. Its ability to deliver consistent and vibrant prints makes it a popular choice in many industries, particularly in the packaging and label sector.
