Callif believes that inkjet technology is particularly effective for models or short-run promotional printing. He said, "Digital technology will become an auxiliary part of the corrugated box factory's printing process. Packagers can provide printing models and quickly get customers' approval to increase sales."
Flexo Ink vs. Packed Intaglio Ink For a long time, flexo inks had the advantage of being cheaper than gravure or offset inks. With the improvement of flexographic ink quality over the past few years, it has been involved in many packaging areas. According to NAPIM's estimates, flexographic ink sales were approximately $950 million in 2002, which accounted for 67% of the packaging ink market, while the growth in flexible packaging further stimulated the growth of flexographic ink solvents. Waterborne flexographic inks account for the largest market share, approximately $570 million. Solvent-based flexographic inks accounted for 26% of the packaging ink market, with sales of approximately $365 million. In general, flexographic inks are likely to grow further in the near future.
Shah pointed out, "With the growth of flexible film, flexographic printing is also growing. At the same time, in the favored field of flexographic printing process, the label market has also shown great growth."
Dedman pointed out that flexographic inks "have continued slow and steady growth in the 'high-end' label sector - combination printing, increased printing complexity and decorative features - and a steady decline in the 'traditional' general label area."
Flexo Ink vs. Packed Intaglio Ink For a long time, flexo inks had the advantage of being cheaper than gravure or offset inks. With the improvement of flexographic ink quality over the past few years, it has been involved in many packaging areas. According to NAPIM's estimates, flexographic ink sales were approximately $950 million in 2002, which accounted for 67% of the packaging ink market, while the growth in flexible packaging further stimulated the growth of flexographic ink solvents. Waterborne flexographic inks account for the largest market share, approximately $570 million. Solvent-based flexographic inks accounted for 26% of the packaging ink market, with sales of approximately $365 million. In general, flexographic inks are likely to grow further in the near future.
Shah pointed out, "With the growth of flexible film, flexographic printing is also growing. At the same time, in the favored field of flexographic printing process, the label market has also shown great growth."
Dedman pointed out that flexographic inks "have continued slow and steady growth in the 'high-end' label sector - combination printing, increased printing complexity and decorative features - and a steady decline in the 'traditional' general label area."
Printers are seeking higher quality from flexo inks, which has prompted ink producers to develop better ink products.
Impastato noted that “the trend over the past few years has been to use other printing methods to make flexo inks more competitive. Non-thin-film plates, finer textures, higher-strength inks, and finer filaments have appeared on the market. All of these provide us with higher quality products that are comparable to lithographic and gravure inks."
Mullen added that one of the trends in flexo packaging is the use of finer textures to achieve the finer quality of printed products. This trend thus drives ink manufacturers to develop higher pigment strength ink products to maintain ink density.
In the field of book printing, gravure is regarded as a high-quality, costly process that is most suitable for high print count applications. According to NAPIM, solvent-based gravure ink accounts for 13% of the packaging ink market, which is approximately US$180 million; while water-based gravure inks account for 6% of the market, which is approximately US$80 million.
Once the quality of flexographic inks has increased, many packers have turned from gravure inks, but this shift has eased in recent years as the cost of gravure inks has begun to decline. Impastato pointed out that “People’s focus on gravure inks has focused on cost. Over the years it has been regarded as a high-quality, but costly technology for short and medium prints. In the past few years, Printing inks have made a lot of effort in reducing the cost of printing in medium prints. Gravure inks are now quite competitive in these areas."
Shah believes that the packaging gravure printing market has been fairly stable over the past few years. He believes that in the past few years there have been products using flexo inks instead of gravure inks.
Manufacturers are still looking for smaller prints to meet the needs of special regions or customers to compete with gravure printing.
Kelly pointed out that “when flexo inks continue to provide the flexibility needed for printing to better meet customer packaging needs, gravure inks have shifted more than ever to large prints. This is nothing new, but merely a trend. Continuation, but some customers claim that the true cost of printing plates, corrugated board, linings and spare parts for wide format printing is considering the direction of positive gravure inks." (To be continued)
Impastato noted that “the trend over the past few years has been to use other printing methods to make flexo inks more competitive. Non-thin-film plates, finer textures, higher-strength inks, and finer filaments have appeared on the market. All of these provide us with higher quality products that are comparable to lithographic and gravure inks."
Mullen added that one of the trends in flexo packaging is the use of finer textures to achieve the finer quality of printed products. This trend thus drives ink manufacturers to develop higher pigment strength ink products to maintain ink density.
In the field of book printing, gravure is regarded as a high-quality, costly process that is most suitable for high print count applications. According to NAPIM, solvent-based gravure ink accounts for 13% of the packaging ink market, which is approximately US$180 million; while water-based gravure inks account for 6% of the market, which is approximately US$80 million.
Once the quality of flexographic inks has increased, many packers have turned from gravure inks, but this shift has eased in recent years as the cost of gravure inks has begun to decline. Impastato pointed out that “People’s focus on gravure inks has focused on cost. Over the years it has been regarded as a high-quality, but costly technology for short and medium prints. In the past few years, Printing inks have made a lot of effort in reducing the cost of printing in medium prints. Gravure inks are now quite competitive in these areas."
Shah believes that the packaging gravure printing market has been fairly stable over the past few years. He believes that in the past few years there have been products using flexo inks instead of gravure inks.
Manufacturers are still looking for smaller prints to meet the needs of special regions or customers to compete with gravure printing.
Kelly pointed out that “when flexo inks continue to provide the flexibility needed for printing to better meet customer packaging needs, gravure inks have shifted more than ever to large prints. This is nothing new, but merely a trend. Continuation, but some customers claim that the true cost of printing plates, corrugated board, linings and spare parts for wide format printing is considering the direction of positive gravure inks." (To be continued)
Stretch Film,LLDPE Stretch Film,PE Stretch Film
Stretch Film Packing Tape Co., Ltd. , http://www.chstretchfilm.com