Agfa’s Graphics' Dotrix Modular for high-quality packaging

As consumers’ product choices increase and the fight for consumer attention becomes fiercer, brand owners are looking for ways to have their products stand out, while keeping costs under control.  Agfa claims its Dotrix Modular combines high quality printed packaging and a better ROI than conventional printing methods for short and medium run lengths.
 
Neil Falconer, print strategy consultant with PIRA said: ‘Digital packaging is growing at an annual rate of 18-27% across various industry segments, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverage packaging.  Among the different packaging media, including corrugated, flexo and folding cartons, I expect double-digit growth in the next five years.’

Among the advantages of digital packaging are lower set-up costs than those for flexo/offset and gravure, and a reduction in capital equipment cost.  ‘Digital packaging systems help reduce cost, waste and inventory in the supply chain, offer popular digital security features and coding, and open up new niche markets,’ he added.
 
Although the packaging market as a whole is growing steadily, on the digital front, it is predicted that growth in toner-based solutions will be surpassed by that in inkjet.

Having the capability to offer mass customized packaging, with text and images, gives brand managers a powerful tool for attracting new customers.  Agfa’s Dotrix Modular digital printing press offers advantages over traditional flexo printing techniques, most notably speed, greater color reproduction, and more flexibility.

The unique printing width of 650 mm on the Dotrix handles a variety of substrates, ranging from flexible foils such as HDPE, PET, PVC, to self-adhesives and cartonboard.

 Its modular construction allows the addition of traditional flexo stations to the roll-to-roll configuration, serving as coating and varnishing units, without compromising on speed.  Inline slitting, die cutting and sheeting modules can also be integrated to fit the needs of any operation.
 
Pressroom productivity is improved with no more set-up times between jobs and no waste recycling on plates.  The Agfa system uses 4 or 6 colors of UV curable inks, offering a gamut that covers 90% of the Pantones and eliminating the need for special printing colors on press.