The Influence of Laser Technology on the Development of Flexography

An important application of laser technology in the field of flexography is in platemaking. Laser-engraved seamless printing plates enable continuous flexographic printing, extending flexographic printing to a wider range of packaging and printing. The application and promotion of direct plate making technology using a laser on a photosensitive resin material has created conditions for flexographic printing to finally achieve high quality.

At first, laser technology only sculpted lines and text on sleeve-type plates made of rubber materials. Due to material limitations, the engraved network lines were not very high. This plate sleeve can only print some real or simple text, such as cigarette tipping paper and exercise book lines, wrapping paper, wallpaper and so on. Later, in order to achieve continuous printing of higher network cable colors, in order to achieve higher printing cable, several major manufacturers of flexo materials in the world are developing a resin material that can be engraved by laser. After several years of hard work, companies such as DuPont and BASF have already introduced this material. With the use of these materials and laser engraving equipment, the printing plate network cable can reach 200 lines/inch and 1% dot percentage. The actual printing effect on the machine has also been recognized by the industry. The printing quality is close to offset and gravure levels. In China, due to the fact that this technology has just been promoted and is still immature in terms of technology and market, it will take some time for exploration and practice and will not be popularized in the short term. In addition, the high plate-making costs caused by the reasons of plate-making materials and plate-making equipment have also affected the development of laser direct plate-making in China to some extent.

Flexo printing is a special printing method that relies more on supporting materials and technologies. Its development will be constrained by various factors. China's flexo printing was only developed in recent years. Although it has received many attentions, the talents who are really proficient in this printing method are limited. The entire flexographic printing technology and industry standards have not yet been perfected. In addition, too much reliance on imported matching printing materials will lead to high printing costs, which is not conducive to the development of flexo printing in China in the future.

Source: HC Network