HAPERT, the Netherlands—FlexoKITE announced its new series of technical webinars for 2021, which will address real-world print problems converters are facing today that create product waste and press downtime.
FlexoKITE is a workshop, press floor, seminar series and trade show rolled into one robust flexographic user experience. Broadcasting from two brand-new Experience Centers in the Netherlands and India, FlexoKITE runs a fully equipped integrated workflow of the latest equipment from Apex International (anilox), Bobst (inline flexographic press), DuPont (plates), Esko (prepress and flexographic imaging) and MacDermid Graphics Solutions (plates).
The topics for the webinar series came from direct feedback from converters during the FlexoKITE launch webinar. The webinar series will focus on how to tackle challenges facing specific segments from labels, flexible packaging or corrugated printing. The webinar series will be hosted by Apex and Esko, featuring speakers from FlexoKITE partners, industry experts and converters who have already overcome these challenges.
Each webinar will follow a structured approach to practically address a print problem following these steps:
- Problem definition
- Highlight the consequences of the issue in production
- Identify the root cause of fault
- Understand the costs associated with the fault
- Demonstrate the possible solutions to eliminate the problem
- Highlight any implications the solutions may have in press performance/efficiency
- Advise the required steps and contacts to solve the problem
- Indicate the costs associated to the solutions suggested
Each webinar features a “teamwork” approach to resolve these everyday challenges, wherein a combination of technologies, procedures, knowledge and experience combine to offer a “creative” solution.
The webinar series will cover topics including:
- Fiber suppression and reducing washboarding in corrugated
- Ink spitting in UV inks
- Screening principles and yellow moiré
- Color impact of white ink opacity with UV inks
- Plate life, plate wear and over pressure
- Print production synchronization
The series kicks off Feb. 3 with Color Impact of White Ink Opacity with Solvent Inks. Print quality in flexible packaging is heavily impacted by white ink. When white ink is not so opaque or homogenous, the printed graphics look dull or gray. Increasing the printed ink weight by increasing anilox volume can improve opacity. But there are obvious trade-offs concerning bond strengths for lamination, not to mention ink usage. White ink is typically 30 percent of a converters ink costs.
This webinar will explore the advantages of a synchronized approach combining the latest plate technologies, advanced screening patterns and anilox technologies. It will look in detail at optimizing screening selection, anilox and ink to deliver quality, efficiency and cost improvements.
Key takeaways:
- SOP to simplify evaluating quality of print white ink
- New technologies to improve print quality of white ink
- Cost/benefit/improvement analysis
For more information, send an email.