Is flexographic printing expensive?

For short print runs, flexographic printing tends to be more expensive than digital, because it requires the production of printing plates. In addition, the dot patterns it produces aren’t as tight as those a digital press can create.

How much do printing presses cost?

Digital presses can range from $5,000 to almost $200,000. Advanced copiers and production printers range from $20,000 to $200,000.

What is the difference between rotogravure and flexographic printing?

Rotogravure tends to be more efficient in shorter runs as the cost or cylinder making is lower. The flexographic process tends to be more efficient in longer runs as the speed of production is faster, cost less in inks, solvent, and energy consumption.

What is a flexographic printing press?

A flexo press uses flexible photopolymer printing plates to imprint images across a wide range of surfaces, making it one of the most efficient methods for large volume requirements. Used widely for labels and packaging – flexo printing is reliable and provides consistently high quality print results at the same time.

What are the disadvantages of gravure printing?

Disadvantages of gravure printing

• Origination costs – The initial cylinder set up costs can be very high.
• Production Costs – Gravure printing is not always as competitive on price as other printing methods, especially for shorter print runs but is very competitive when compared to Far East suppliers.

What is the difference between flexographic and lithographic printing?

Flexographic printing, or Flexo, is a technique for bulk printing using flexible relief plates. Lithographic printing or Litho is a method of printing, initially based on the unmixable materials of oil and water. Lithography is used for anything that needs vibrant colours and is printed in large quantities.

Is gravure printing expensive?

Cost and Lead Time: Gravure image carriers are typically much more expensive than flexo image carriers, making the number of prints required to break even much higher. Gravure lead time is usually 3-4 times that of flexo in the time it takes to manufacture the image carrier.

Why is the flexographic ink so liquid?

The Reason Behind Water-Based Flexographic Ink Water-based acrylic polymers are used in inks every day, worldwide. The most common diluent used is water. • Resin: Typically made of acrylic, this is the vehicle that is used to carry the pigment or dye to bond it to the substrate (packaging material).

Who invented flexographic printing?

History. In 1890, the first such patented press was built in Liverpool, England by Bibby, Baron and Sons. The water-based ink smeared easily, leading the device to be known as “Bibby’s Folly”. In the early 1900s, other European presses using rubber printing plates and aniline oil-based ink were developed.

What causes the ink to be raised in thermographic?

Thermography is a specialized process that combines offset printing ink with a powdered resin which is baked so that the resin rises to give the ink a raised, textured effect. Heat is then applied which melts the resin to form a raised, glassy and slightly enlarged image.

What is flexography printing and what is it used for?

Flexography is a form of printing process which utilizes a flexible relief plate. It is essentially a modern version of letterpress, evolved with high speed rotary functionality, which can be used for printing on almost any type of substrate, including plastic, metallic films, cellophane, and paper. It is widely used for printing on the non-porous substrates required for various types of food packaging.

What is the flexographic printing process?

Flexography (often abbreviated to flexo) is a form of printing process which utilizes a flexible relief plate. It is essentially a modern version of letterpress which can be used for printing on almost any type of substrate, including plastic, metallic films, cellophane, and paper.

How does flexographic printing work?

Flexographic printing uses flexible photopolymer printing plates wrapped around rotating cylinders on a web press. The inked plates have a slightly raised image and rotate at high speeds to transfer the image to the substrate.