Flint Group and Soma cooperate in flexo project

Pet food flexible packaging print samples, produced by Flint Group in cooperation with Soma engineering and Marvaco, highlight an evolution in quality for flexo printing, claims Flint.

Flint Group and Soma drive forward flexo quality in flexibles

The print job was done with six process colors – cyan, magenta, yellow, black, green and violet – in the Flint Group supplied FlexiPrint MV NC-based ink system for surface print and lamination work.

‘The ink series offers maximized color strength and specific shades to support highest quality and fixed pallet multi-color process work (high definition flexo),’ said Flint. ’FlexiPrint MV is specifically modified for high-speed printing and enhanced press stability throughout the entire job to support maximized Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE).’

nyloflex ACE Digital was the plate chosen for its reproduction of flat top dots and surface screenings.  The plates are specialised for printing of flexible packaging with a high solvent resistance for use with solvent-based inks. The plates were mounted on Flint Group rotec Bluelight Sleeves.

The job was printed on a Soma Optima2, a wide web CI flexographic press launched at drupa.

The design and pre-press work was produced by Marvaco Oy and included the Marvaco EGP (Expanded Gamut Printing) Evolution technology, allowing the production of PMS shades without using any spot inks (fixed palette from four to seven process colors).  Product images with ultra-high line screen density (100 lpcm, 254 lpi) and high densities (+20%) were achieved thanks to flat top dot technology and Marvaco’s micro surface structure on the plate.  The print samples demonstrate photograph sharp images with very small, round dots and large gamut, where strong solids are combined in the same colour with limitless fade-outs to 0%.