Soma Cropac combination prints FTA award-winning drinks wrap

The first press installed in the UK by Soma Engineering at Telford-based printer Cropac is proving to be part of a winning formula by demonstrating the ability to produce high quality work for the Nescafe Cappuccino Drinks 2 Go Wrapper. The print quality got the thumbs up from the FTA 2008 Excellence in Flexography Awards judging panel in the category, Special Achievement Award in Wide Web, Process, Film.

The 8-color Soma Flex Midi used by Cropac for the job was supplied by Soma’s distributor in the UK, Engelmann & Buckham, in 2007 and is a 1320mm (50”) web width press capable of printing solvent based inks on a variety of extensible films including barrier, thermo-sensitive, and bio-friendly packaging materials.

Cropac produced the award-winning print using Linx Flexcel 45 HHX technology plates manufactured through a new imaging system from Kodak and was the first printer in the UK to test the plate. A screen ruling of 175 l/inch (70 l/cm) and anilox specification of 360 l/cm was used with solvent-based inks running at a press speed of 200m/min. on OPP, reverse print.

Phil Perrin, technical director, said: ‘All the operational and management controls of best practice had to be in place. We have a wealth of experience from years in flexo, so all the standard disciplines were applied. With that as a given, the Kodak Flexcel NXH digital plate was enabled to perform on the Soma press. The quality of this simple YMCK is equivalent to gravure without the associated registration issues.’

Perrin also acknowledged the part played by the printing press in producing a winning print: ‘The Soma Flex Midi press build quality is superbly high. The robust design beneath its attractive exterior provides the necessary platform for repeatable controlled precision.’

Pavla Vernerova, brand manager at Soma, added: ‘We are not strangers to winning awards for our products and we are delighted that the first press we installed in the UK is also a first as far as the important role it has played in winning the FTA award. We are also delighted for Cropac. The press uses sleeved anilox rollers and print cylinders and is equipped with our own doctor blade system for ink metering and Soma’s Casing Technology turn bar system to permit edge-to-edge, reverse printing.’

Perrin concluded: ‘Cropac’s customer confidence has grown through our winning this award. A customer has already been able to bring a gravure job back from overseas to be run on the Soma press more affordably, where the required quality was previously only available with gravure.’