Two major determinants of the flexo industry - quality and productivity

For a long time, flexo The printing industry continues to focus on higher quality and productivity. Therefore, in the investigation process of global flexo users, an unexpected conclusion was obtained. Most of the survey participants believed that the ink transfer in the field was needed, and at the same time, the printing plates of the dot printing were taken into consideration; most of the respondents also indicated that Fast coloring is equally important for faster printing speeds. In the plate making shop, users are looking for plates that are reproducible and have better print quality. In addition, they are also concerned about the improvement of plate making efficiency.

Flat-top outlets have the ability to increase solid density and improve dot tone, which helps to enhance the competitiveness of flexographic printing. In recent years, there have been a variety of technologies for flat-top outlets on the market. All technologies have a certain degree of complexity and require additional equipment or materials at the front end. All of these technical improvements have been somewhat cumbersome to date. In the discussion that follows, this article will delve into a new technology that will make plate making and printing easier.

Problems with flat top outlets

Traditional laser versions offer excellent gradations and highlights. However, there are also many people who believe that the value of a flat-top dot is that it can achieve 1:1 dot reproduction, better tone reproduction, and a more realistic to high-light gradient. These features attract users to adopt flat-top dot technology, but many people find that the process of using flat-top dots is not smooth.

In the first issue of flexo journals more than a decade ago, Andy Kanulpati and Brad Taylor of DuPont Packaging Imaging Department carefully described the sharpening of the dots observed during the standard digital platemaking process, and Explain its mechanism. Most manufacturers of plate and plate equipment in the industry have tried to solve the problem of flat-top outlets by understanding the mechanism of dot formation. There are several solutions on the market, including the use of film or separator film after the main exposure; there are technologies using high-energy LEDUV lamps, and DuPont's technology for exposure in inert gas environments. . All of these technologies can achieve flat top outlets. But they all require extra steps or extra investment in the plate making equipment.