We live in a changing world of package printing, where traditional methods of production are being challenged by new and exciting technology that offers a variety of benefits to the printer and converter.
Nowhere is this more obvious than in the market for labels and flexible packaging - up to now, two distinct markets with their own production methods, but now coming together thanks to the opportunities offered by emerging technology.
The move is towards mid web technology. For label printers, the move from narrow web is simple, and immediately opens market opportunities with new products. But those same opportunities exist for wide web flexo, CI flexo, gravure, and sheetfed offset press users too.
The mid web inline technology is exciting and appealing to convertors as it allows to achieve the following challenges with much ease!
- Process short and medium length work more cost effectively
- Handle PS labels, unsupported films upto 12 microns, and carton board upto 700 microns with equal ease
- Lower pre press cost as compared to wide web flexo and gravure
- Ability to combine flexo, offset, gravure, digital and screen all in one pass
- Complex inline finishing processes, such as lamination, cold foil, holograms insertion
- Extremely fast turnaround capability that improves margins and beats the competition in time-to-market
Omet Varyflex in comparison to CI Flexo and Gravure Press
On the Omet VaryFlex, both set up and changeover times are faster, which means lower costs and less downtime. Plate costs are lower because they are smaller, and with its combination of print processes, the Omet VaryFlex offers a far higher degree of flexibility on shorter runs.
By comparison, on a typical CI flexo press, set up and changeover times are slower and more costly because of the physical size of the press. This result is higher plate costs because they are wider, and the lack of comparative flexibility means CI flexo is best suited for long run work. A clear win for Omet!
This scenario repeats itself when we compare an Omet VaryFlex press with a typical rotogravure machine. All of the advantages of the Omet VaryFlex mentioned above remain the same. In contrast, the gravure press is slower to set up and changeover, which affects costs, it requires expensive cylinders instead of cheaper plates, it offers less flexibility in terms of colour sequence and configuration, and is highly dependent on service providers, especially engravers. Another win for Omet!
Developments in UV inks! Advantage to the Package Printer
If we look at the ink situation, a similar pattern emerges between UV and Solvent use.
The case for UV inks is strong. There are no harmful VOC emission problems, making them environmentally 'green' and easy to store. They do not require an incineration system. They are easy to clean on-press, which reduces time and cost, and prolongs the life of plates and anilox rolls. They do not dry during machine stoppages and consistently print a much finer dot for better print quality. In combination with lamination, they offer new opportunities in the market for food packaging. Although initially appearing more expensive to buy than SB inks, UV inks are more cost effective overall.
The Choice is in Your Hands!
Finally, let's look at the converting and finishing technology. This is where the advantage of the Omet VaryFlex can really be seen, as the now the convertor can decide which techniques he wants on the press and Omet makes sure all of them are done... ALL IN ONE PASS!
Printing Converting & Finishing
- UV flexo Hot foiling
- Solvent flexo Cold foiling
- Rotogravure Hologram inserting
- Rotary Screen M-PET lamination
- Offset Solvent film-to-film lamination
- Digital Cold seal
- Hot melt coating
- Inline die cutting, embossing, and sheeting
Exceptional Features, Exception Advantage of the Omet Varyflex
The Omet inline solvent based laminating unit allows converters to bond two different films into one. In the case of PET and BOPP, which are less heat sensitive and more stable, the adhesive can be applied with a flexo unit, whereas with LDPE, which is heat sensitive, a gravure unit is needed for the adhesive application.
The Omet inline UV laminating unit for M-PET and holograms allows converters to laminate PET film or metallised foils onto virgin board before printing, enhancing the colours and giving the overall appearance more sparkle with the metal reflections or holograms.
Cold seal, for so long a process of the wide web industry, has gained a new lease of life with Omet. The ability to specify a press configuration that combines flexo with gravure opens opportunities in the food packaging market, where in the case of ice cream or chocolate products, which are heat sensitive, a layer of adhesive can be applied to the reverse side of the film and reactivated downstream during the packaging process. This technique is only possible in one pass if produced on an inline combination press, like the Omet VaryFlex.
Similarly, this combination concept allows other special finishing in one pass. Hot melt is a good example, where the reverse side of the aluminium or paper substrate is coated with a controlled layer of hot melt glue by a rotogravure cylinder. This process is especially useful for the packaging of single portions, and has always been attractive to the catering business. Now, with the changing population demographics and modern eating habits, the demand for single portion food products is growing rapidly from the consumer market, according to the major food retailers, and offers significant opportunity for growth.
Today's world of communication is electronic, and demand for printed products in many sectors is coming under severe pressure from the Internet. But, in package printing there is real and sustainable growth, as emerging markets acquire consumer habits, and in the developed markets brand owners use increasingly more sophisticated packaging techniques to gain and maintain market share.
These are exciting times in the package printing industry - and you can maximise your business opportunities with Omet's proven technologies.
Source: Omet.it