Flexible Packaging Printing: What You Need to Know | InkJet, Inc.

Flexible Package Printing: What You Need to Know

Challenge

Solution

Surface Variability

Flexible packaging materials have varying surfaces, textures, and coatings, making it challenging to achieve consistent print quality.

✔ Conduct material testing and select printing technologies that adapt to different surface characteristics. 

✔ Consider surface treatment options to improve ink adhesion.

High-speed Printing

Industrial printing often requires high-speed processes; maintaining print quality at high speeds can be difficult.

✔ Invest in advanced printing equipment designed for high-speed applications. 

✔ Optimize printing parameters, such as ink viscosity and drying systems, to ensure quality is maintained at high speeds.

Color Consistency

Maintaining consistent color across a large production is challenging due to substrate variations and ink behavior.

✔ Implement color management systems to monitor and adjust color throughout the printing process. 

✔ Calibrate and profile printing equipment to ensure color consistency.

Variable Data Printing

Printing variable data, such as barcodes, QR codes, or expiration dates, on flexible packaging requires precise registration and data accuracy.

✔ Implement advanced printing technologies that offer precise registration control. 

✔ Integrate systems for real-time data verification to ensure accuracy in variable data printing.

Drying and Curing

Rapid drying or curing is essential in industrial printing to meet production demands; inadequate drying can lead to defects.

✔ Use quick-drying inks and implement efficient drying or curing systems 

✔ Monitor and control environmental conditions to optimize drying times.

Integration with Packaging Machinery

Integrating the printing process seamlessly with other packaging machinery can be challenging, especially in high-speed production lines.

✔ Select printing equipment that can be easily integrated into existing packaging lines. 

✔ Work with equipment suppliers to ensure compatibility and optimize the production workflow.

Durability and Resistance

Printed information on flexible packaging must withstand various environmental factors, including abrasion, moisture, and temperature fluctuations.

✔ Select inks and printing processes that offer the required durability. 

✔ Consider additional protective coatings or laminates to enhance resistance.

Waste Reduction

Industrial printing can generate significant waste, including misprints and setup waste.

✔ Implement lean manufacturing practices to minimize setup waste. 

✔ Monitor and adjust printing processes to reduce misprints. 

✔ Consider digital printing technologies for short runs to minimize setup waste.