The Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner
ICR Ioannou S.A., based in just outside Athens, Greece has installed a Miraclon Flexcel NX System. Demand is rising in the region for flexographic plates, specifically Flexcel NX, according to Yiannis Ioannou ICR’s managing director. The company is also implementing PureFlexo, described by the Flexographic Technical Association as a transformational tool for printing flexible packaging.
PureFlexo is a multifunctional plate surface patterning system. This technology has evolved over a number of years to help improve flexo printing performance. Poor solid ink laydowns and problems with image densities, plus the associated problems of consistent ink transfer, have acted as a bit of a brake on the adoption of flexo for a number of years. But in 2010 with the introduction of Digicap NX patterning some of the problems started to be resolved. The technology works by disrupting the patterning of anilox cell structures so that the patterns don’t end up on the substrate. In 2016 Miraclon introduced an advanced version of this technology that covered all types of process inks including spot colour, speciality applications and whites. Improving ink laydown and so densities produces a higher quality print without increasing ink usage and the risk of waste.
Today’s PureFlexo technology improves the dot surface patterning even further to reduce ink spread. With PureFlexo the Flexcel plate’s surface structures are stable and precise, so they produce consistent prints. This is not just about patterns, but the exploitation of the pattern to mechanically control ink movement onto and off of the dot surface. This is perhaps the greatest benefit of PureFlexo because it reduces unwanted ink spread to reduce dot gain and ink build up. This helps prevent dot bridging, where dots in the midtones join up and make the final print look muddy. This sort of filling can be especially obvious in fine text or fussy high resolution graphics. PureFlexo helps solve such problems.
Yiannis Ioannou has “included PureFlexo Printing in the [Flexcel NX] investment after seeing first-hand how Miraclon’s multi-form patterning technology enables even cleaner printing as well as greater productivity on press. This ensures that we’re not only maximising the capabilities of our investment, but also offering customers the additional on-press advantages that it delivers”. This installation is the first for Greece where the packaging market is growing rapidly and printers are moving into flexo. ICR Ioannou serves the Greek market, but also exports plates to other countries in its region. Throughout the history of our industry, technology has improved process efficiency and cut waste, whether it is in production or in using consumables effectively. The PureFlexo technology helps printers to minimise ink usage and waste, and improve product quality. And that is what sustainability is all about.
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This article was produced by the Verdigris Project, an industry initiative intended to raise awareness of print’s positive environmental impact. This weekly commentary helps printing companies keep up to date with environmental standards, and how environmentally friendly business management can help improve their bottom lines. Verdigris is supported by the following companies: Agfa Graphics, EFI, Fespa, Fujifilm, HP, Kodak, Miraclon, RicohSplash PR, Unity Publishing and Xeikon.
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