Soma to make Flexo Conference an annual event

Attendees at the 2014 Flexo Challenges Conference were comprised of senior management personnel from printing and converting companies from around the world, as well as industry co-suppliers, the trade press and two delegations from China. As a result of the success of this and its 2013 program, the Flexo Challenges Conference is set to become a regular annual fixture in the Soma calendar.

Soma Engineering used the conference as an opportunity to profile its Optima flexo press, with the company’s marketing manager Petr Blasko explaining some of the reasons behind the development of this narrow/mid web printing system.

‘Our research has shown that the flexo printing market wants consistent quality of 70 lines per cm (177lpi) with as short a set-up time as possible,’ said Blasko. ‘It is difficult for printers to produce short runs on wide web presses and remain competitive.

‘We believe the Optima, with its new design concept offers a more competitive solution, particularly as a supplement to an existing wide web printing operation. The Optima offers reduced running costs compared with running a like for like job on a 1,300mm press. In addition, the new design concept reflects the new trend in value added packaging offering press customisation according to specific customer needs.’

The three-day conference also saw presentations from PPP on effective 4C color Pantone reproduction, saving money through anilox roll consistency from Apex, interactive technology to meet 2014 EU standards for packaging from Reproflex and plate technology bench marking from Chespa.

A further session included presentations from the perspective of a flexo printer and brand owner Budvar.

The event was rounded off with a presentation by ex-flexo printer, Nick Crow, and demonstrations of the Soma Flex Optima and Premia flexographic printing presses.