Flint Group collaborated with key industry partners to deliver a comprehensive webinar on the latest technology to deliver successfully extended gamut printing (EGP). With live footage of the latest Soma Optima² CI intelligent flexo press in action at the Soma Technology Centre in Lanskroun, Czech Republic, the team printed an eco-friendly, full high definition, EGP design reverse printed on polypropylene film.
The design focused on 80 lpcm (203 dpi) HiQ expanded gamut printing, demonstrating gang-run printing of ten brand extensions printed in different brand colors. The job utilized low volume aniloxes and high-intensity inks in CMYK, as well as green, violet, and a high opacity white, delivering outstanding results with high vibrancy and detail.
Thomas Strohe, senior director of Segmentation & Product Strategy at Flint Group, gave insight to Flint Group’s contributions to the project. “In line with our sustainability vision, which focuses on supporting packaging markets with responsibly built products and sustainable solutions designed for circular economies, the webinar was a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate the performance and environmental benefits of our EGP solutions.
“The live demo showcased our unique portfolio of sleeves, plates, and solvent-based inks to the audience and, being the only global supplier fully EGP certified via a full solution in covering both plates and inks, we were able to evidence our ability to lift print quality to the next level.
“We are listening to our customers’ needs for simplification, innovation, reliability, and sustainability. EGP is the perfect representation of this strategy. It offers printers the opportunity to deliver fantastic print results while, at the same time, simplifying their ink ranges, reducing costs, and importantly, delivering numerous benefits for the environment.”
Flint’s inks demonstrate seamless EGP printing
Flint Group’s FlexiPrint MV inks are modified nitrocellulose-based inks that have been optimized for high-quality flexographic surface or lamination printing on a wide variety of films. The inks provide excellent rub, water and heat resistance, superior print quality at high speeds, and low odor. FlexiPrint MV inks are tested according to OK Compost certification standards, making them suitable for a wide variety of compostable packaging films and applications. Designed for circularity, Flint Group Packaging Inks’ FlexiPrint MV is approved by Cadel Deinking for water-based deinking to support the recycling process of plastic-based packaging material.
With maximized color strength and specific shades to support HiQ and Expanded Gamut multi-colour process work, these inks are modified explicitly for high-speed printing and enhanced press stability, enhancing overall equipment efficiency.
Flint’s flexo plates and sleeves
The challenging design in the demo was printed with Flint’s nyloflex FTS, a flexographic plate with inherent flat-top dots that helps to combine different types of jobs for different segments on to one plate. In addition, the rotec Blue Light Sleeve, the benchmark in plate mounting, contributed with superior service life and excellent durability.
The same design will be as well printed with a nyloflex XVH, a versatile flat-top dot thermal printing plate for the flexible packaging and label markets. It will be processed with the nyloflex Xpress Thermal Processor, an easy-to-use system of several components, to reliably deliver a complete solution for lightning-fast plate making and high-end flexographic printing.
Benefits include 30% less waste, up to 88% electricity-use reduction, and a plate processing time of just 45 minutes, resulting in reduced operating costs, improved productivity, and excellent print quality.
Strohe concluded, “Despite the Covid-19 era’s challenges, sustainability remains at the forefront of considerations for brands and their supply partners. Utilizing Flint Group solutions to deliver EGP means printers can reduce ink and solvent consumption, increase productivity, and boost their sustainability credentials. A winning combination for today’s packaging business environment!”
To request printed demo samples from this collaborative press run and a specification flyer, email info.packaginginks@flintgrp.com or info.flexo@flintgrp.com.
