Manufacturing and Production

Flexographic Printing for Packaging

Packaging print is judged against a brand colour that a customer will compare across substrates, print runs and factories, which makes consistency harder than quality. This course targets consistency. Delegates work through the flexographic process and the role of the anilox roller, which meters ink and therefore sets density before any adjustment is made. Anilox specification, volume and cleaning are covered in detail. Plate making, relief depth and dot structure follow. Mounting and registration are addressed, including the bounce and gear marks that appear at speed. Ink systems are covered across water based, solvent and ultraviolet curing, with viscosity and pH control. Substrate treatment and adhesion are addressed. Colour management follows: measurement, standards, tolerance and the difference between matching a proof and matching the brand. Drying and curing are covered. Defects are diagnosed. The course closes on job set up time, on waste reduction and on approval procedures.