DuPont Cyrel wins IFCA award for flexo

DuPont Cyrel Flexographic Solutions has been recognized with a Star Award from IFCA (Indian Flexible Packaging & Folding Carton Manufacturers Association) for its contribution to innovation in flexographic printing. 

The joint entry with Shree Plast Industries won the category ‘Innovations in Converting Machinery, Packaging Machinery, Cylinders, FFS Machines and Printing Machines’. The award recognizes an integrated flexographic printing combining DuPont Cyrel Easy ESXR plates with the Esko Quartz ecosystem to enable high-quality, repeatable flexographic production for short-run flexible packaging applications. 

The solution was developed to support converters looking to transition suitable jobs from gravure to flexo, bringing together repro and plates by Numex using DuPont Cyrel ESXR imaged on Esko Quartz at 150 lpi, separated for fixed palette CMYK+white and printed on SOMA CI flexo press using solvent based inks.   

‘Winning this IFCA Award is a tremendous recognition of the innovation taking place across the flexographic industry, and of the value that can be achieved when technologies and expertise come together,’ said Gururaj Kirsur, DuPont Cyrel sales manager for South Asia. ‘This year’s award is particularly significant because it demonstrates what is possible when DuPont Cyrel ESXR plates are combined with the Esko Quartz ecosystem in a real production environment. Together with Shree Plast Industries and Numex Blocks , we are helping converters confidently explore gravure-to-flexo conversion while achieving the quality, consistency and efficiency that today’s flexible packaging market demands.’ 

‘A key enhancement with this technology is the improvement in white ink laydown,’ added Kirsur. ‘Quartz screening supports smoother, more controlled white coverage, helping to reduce pinholes while maintaining opacity and visual appeal. This can create opportunities for ink savings while supporting the fast changeovers, consistency and repeatability required for short-run and fixed-palette production.’  

He said the collaboration with Shree Plast Industries demonstrates how advanced plate and screening technologies can be applied to practical production challenges. ‘By combining optimized plate performance with advanced screening and a fixed-palette workflow, the solution provides a scalable approach for converters seeking greater production flexibility without adding unnecessary complexity to the printing process.’   

Santosh Vaidya, director, Shree Plast Industries, said the company was delighted to receive recognition from IFCA for a technology that addresses a real challenge for today’s flexible packaging converters. ‘The combination of DuPont Cyrel Easy ESXR plates and Esko Quartz technology has helped us achieve excellent print quality and more consistent white coverage, while supporting the efficiency required for short-run production,’ he said. 

‘The ability to deliver high-quality flexographic results for applications traditionally produced by gravure gives modern converters another practical option as market requirements continue to evolve.’   

The award builds on DuPont Cyrel Flexographic Solutions’ success at the IFCA Awards 2025, when Cyrel Easy ESXR plates won in the Structural Innovation & Graphic Design category. The back-to-back recognition highlights the continued development of the ESXR platform and its application alongside complementary technologies to advance the capabilities of flexographic printing. The latest award also reinforces the importance of collaboration across the flexographic value chain, with DuPont, Shree Plast Industries, Numex Blocks  and Esko technologies working together to develop an integrated solution for demanding flexible packaging applications. 

‘This award demonstrates that the combination of advanced plate technology, screening and an optimized printing workflow can help make flexo a compelling proposition for an even broader range of packaging applications,’ added Kirsur. ‘We are proud to share this recognition with Shree Plast Industries and all the partners involved in making the solution a production reality.’