Flexo printing: history and analysis of current trends from Rivne Flex

Flexography is a special method of image application, a type of letterpress printing. The technology, created at the beginning of the twentieth century, has truly shown its capabilities only recently. Flexo printing is an indispensable method that Rivne Flex has been working with since 2007. And what is important, flexo printing is about eco-friendly packaging for food and not only!

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History and technology of flexography

Engineers described a somewhat similar printing method in English treatises 130 years ago. But officially, the laurels of the championship, as well as the patent, belong to the German industrialist Carl Holweg. The technology was named flexo printing only in 1952. Today it is one of the best methods of applying images or text to various surfaces.

For flexo printing, photopolymer (rarely rubber) printing plates are used. They are fixed on the rotating shafts of the press. The inked plates with a convex image rotate very quickly, transferring the print to the selected material. This way you can print both single items such as labels and large rolls (wallpaper, wrapping paper).

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Advantages of flexographic printing

Both offset and classic letterpress printing have their advantages, but they are not without their drawbacks. But flexography has beaten them both in every sense! What does flexographic printing offer? Let us tell you from the experience of Rivne Flex.

• Versatility. You can apply images with flexo printing on literally anything: cardboard, paper, foil, film, fabric, cellophane, vinyl, plastic, etc. As a result, we get bright and effective packaging. It is also easy to produce promotional materials, branded, image and interior products, and stationery with flexo printing.
• Cost-effectiveness. The use of very liquid inks and high-capacity flexible forms allows Rivne Flex to optimize material consumption and offer customers favorable prices.
• Safety. Printing inks are soluble with alcohol, water, or other compounds. This allows you to choose materials for food storage or other critical tasks.
• Favorable price. Flexography is an excellent choice for medium and large print runs. Since liquid inks dry very quickly, the entire process takes a minimum of time. The technology also allows for continuous printing roll after roll.
• Complementarity. You do not have to limit your creative solutions, as the flexo line can be easily supplemented with laminating, foiling, and die-cutting equipment.

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Current industry trends

This method of applying images has become popular in Ukraine over the past 20 years, and Rivne Flex has been actively using it and improving the technological process for 16 of them. Let's look at the main trends of 2022-2023, which were highlighted by printing specialist Neil Shackleton in the article "Six trends driving innovation in the flexographic printing market".

1. Automation. Previously, the flexo printing method required the operator to be highly qualified and have a deep understanding of all related processes. However, the lack of experts prompted engineers to gradually automate as many tasks as possible. This simplified machine maintenance and helped reduce the list of requirements for employees.

2. Qualitative development. Modern flexo printing has not only become faster, but has also expanded the number of fixed colors to almost the full equivalent of the famous Pantone palette.

3. Hybridization of production. Flexography cannot yet match the speed of digital methods. Therefore, some companies combine these solutions using hybrid flexo-inkjet systems.

4. Flexibility. Some large areas of flexography use have declined dramatically: demand for envelopes, newspapers, printed bags, and some other products has decreased. However, at the same time, the use of this technology to create high-quality and beautiful soft packaging has expanded significantly.

5. Regional growth. Currently, the flexographic market is growing especially rapidly in Asia. And we would like to add that this trend is also relevant for Eastern Europe, which is facilitated by global economic changes.

6. Sustainable development. More and more attention is paid to sustainable solutions in both product selection and packaging. In particular, the Rivne Flex team is implementing environmental initiatives and working to create a waste-free production.

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Flexo printing is a modern technology for applying any image and text. It continues to evolve and improve. This technology is chosen for its cost-effectiveness, suitability for large print runs, environmental safety, favorable cost, and compatibility with other printing processes. Rivne Flex takes an active part in the development of flexography in Ukraine and is confidently moving towards the international market. Our specialists are working to improve production processes and are happy to introduce the advantages and capabilities of this technology to Ukrainian consumers. 

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