Flexographic printing is very popular as it enables producers to have various packaging designs and small print runs. Mondi Coatings & Consumer Packaging has implemented high-definition flexo printing technology, which results in exceptionally high print quality whilst offering the desired flexibility.

During the past 30 years, flexography has developed with an impressive growth in terms of quality and productivity. It evolved from low- to high-quality printing and today is widely used for applications such as flexible packaging, labels and tags. At present, Mondi has implemented high-definition flexo printing at Mondi Lindlar, Germany, and Mondi Wheatley, UK, and is processing the first customer orders.

Exceptional print quality

The novel technology brings extraordinary printing results with sharp definition of contours and consistent print on the surface of the material to be printed. Thanks to the special surface of the plate used, a higher ink transfer can be measured. This allows the printer to run solid areas with a high density with less print pressure — both on a laminate and paper. Conventional prints showed slight structures on the printed surface, which in some cases might lead to optical disturbance. In addition to the higher ink transfer, the new technology especially stands out thanks to an approximately doubling of resolution. Whereas the conventional coverage averaged out to 42 lines per cm² the HD flexo technology increases this up to 70 lines. Even difficult screen widths of the print colour white could be doubled from 20 to 42 lines per cm².

“Brand owners like to take advantage of the high flexibility of flexo printing as it enables them to implement their design ideas quickly and cost-efficiently. The compromise in quality was accepted. Now, we are able to offer our customers both — high-quality print results and the advantages of flexo print technology,” Stefan Gutheil, managing director, Consumer Bags, explains.

Exceptional performance

Besides the possibility to print in a higher resolution, the greater density also leads to a very attractive opportunity for the printer. It enables the printer to open the existing colour space into an easily visible spectrum. Therefore the new technology achieves better colour results compared to the existing colour space.