Printer of dairy, sanitary, and pharmaceutical packaging UV-Flex, of Aichstetten, Germany, has installed the first Fischer & Krecke CI flexo press designed for the WetFlex process. The 10 colour press, a Flexpress 16S model, will operate with process in which the radiation cured inks developed by Sun Chemical are applied wet-on-wet to the substrate.
The new press features a print width of 1,350mm and repeat lengths or 320-1,050mm. It is designed for printing and in-line lamination of aluminium foil, film and coextrusions. The line also includes an in-line laminating process, where radiation cured adhesives are applied at the CI press. According to F&K managing director Andreas Kückelmann: “The new WetFlex press offers the same advantages of strength of construction for high speed, precision impression setting for the highest possible grade, quality and speeds as conventional Flexpress models, and it accomplishes all this with fast and easy, user friendly change-overs”.
However, the specific properties of the WetFlex inks (UniQure), required extensive modifications of the automatic inking and wash-up system. For example, the inks need to be temperature controlled to ensure an optimum processing temperature in all production conditions. Similarly, the inking and wash-up cycles of the Autoclean system had to be adapted to the properties of the new inks. At the end of the process, the inks are radiation cured with no interstation drying required.
Compared to conventional systems that use solvent or water based inks, WetFlex is said to allow for a much higher resolution of the graphics. This is due to a finer screen (up to 80 l/cm), finer aniloxes and a more homogeneous dot structure. In addition to the high resolution capability, the excellent trapping behaviour, brilliance, density stability, and durability of the WetFlex inks ensure high quality flexo printing graphics, it is claimed.
WetFlex is said to be ideal for using an expanded gamut printing process - five, six, seven, or more standardized colours to create a broad range of colours. This will provide a further significant reduction of change-over times, and the elimination of left-over ink, it is stated. The process also scores on costs and environmental aspects, according to F&K. “A WetFlex press is ahead of presses using water or solvent based inks when comparing the costs for all the additional equipment and costs required to run a press” the company affirms. “For example, there are no dryers and no thermal oxidation systems required. This also has the added benefit that there is no CO2 emission.”
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