Prospects for the Flexo Market in Asia (3)

The activities and contributions of the Japanese flexo industry have greatly contributed to the development of modern flexo printing technology. The company has achieved remarkable results mainly in improving the quality of printed images centered on large-scale processors. The processor introduced CI type flexographic printing presses from Europe. During this period, along with the development of plate making technology and related printing equipment, high-quality flexographic printing technology was jointly established.
3, for the printing of liquid beverage packaging containers. The flexographic system introduced at the same time as the filling system for milk and fruit juices, due to the hygienic, quick-drying properties of the ink, and the freedom to change design features on the printing plate, its market share is slowly expanding. Come. There are two kinds of flexo systems: one is to print directly on PE coated paper, and the other is to print PE directly after printing on paper. Most of its products are carton containers that can be seen in supermarkets and other stores, but it is usually placed side-by-side with containers that use gravure and offset printing. Therefore, higher requirements are placed on the printing quality. At present, high-quality printing of printed products is being conducted using modern flexographic technology.
4, for label printing. While flexo printing is applied to paper labels, the versatility of flexo printing is also fully utilized on various plastic labels. In this field, on the premise of popularizing narrow-format flexographic printing presses, it is moving in the direction of higher added value. The direct connection between narrow web presses and post-processing devices such as die-cutting machines, edge-folding machines, and laminating films can show cost advantages and high added value in the production process of carton paper containers. Therefore, this trend is expected to be achieved. Develop and form new markets.
Due to the use of UV flexo printing inks and high number of ceramic anilox rollers, flexo printing has image effects comparable to those of offset printing. With the cost advantages of online printing, Japan's flexo printing will occupy a larger area. market share.
5, for flexible packaging printing. Flexo printing is suitable for printing on flexible plastic films and hoses, and in particular when printing on a CI printer, it is possible to achieve excellent printing accuracy with good registration accuracy. In addition, 8-color printing can be performed simultaneously on both sides of the plastic film and the hose. These characteristics also make it suitable for printing on low density and high density polyethylene (PE) film, hoses, and stretched and non-stretched flexible plastic films such as PP. Since the second half of the 1980s, it has also been used in the packaging of diapers, hygiene products, and food packaging materials such as bread and soy sauce.
At present, most of the flexible packaging in the Japanese market uses gravure printing. In the future, as legal regulations strengthen the restrictions on the use of organic solvents, the increasing emphasis on environmental issues, and the improvement of the requirements for "reducing residual solvents" for sanitary packaging materials, people will pay more and more attention to water-based and should be reconsidered. There is no flexographic printing technique such as squeegee. Moreover, with the development of a UV flexographic system using UV inks (ultraviolet curable inks), dot gain rates can be reduced, and prints can be made to have high gloss and vivid colors.
In recent years, in addition to the development of free-radical UV inks, hybrid and cationic UV inks have also been developed. These inks have excellent printability and effects on plastic films, and this has been recognized. In the future, for water-based flexo printing, its application in flexible packaging will be studied from another perspective.
IV. New markets to be developed As mentioned above, flexo printing will be further developed in Europe, America and Asia. The European and American printing market has already reached the second place, second only to offset printing. Especially in the packaging field, it is predicted that flexographic printing will occupy the first place. The reason why this development can be achieved is because it adapts to changes in the social and economic situation in the printing industry and meets the requirements of environmental protection.
On the other hand, the Japanese market, like Europe and the United States, has highlighted various changes and legal regulations are also on the agenda, as part of the added value of offset printing and a solution to the environmental requirements of the gravure printing industry, the introduction of flexo and New development has begun. In view of this situation, due to the wide range of uses of flexo printing in Europe and the United States and reference value, the following describes the field of flexo printing yet to be developed in the Japanese market.
1, wallpaper. In Europe and the United States, colorful wallpapers will be affixed to different festivals. This living habit will increase the demand for wallpaper, and the market will have great development potential. In some Japanese markets, it can be seen that imported wallpaper uses flexographic printing, but from the perspective of housing, its demand is less than that of Europe and the United States. Most of them are printed in gravure. On the other hand, the use of flexo printing in Japanese exclusive partition (double-sided paper) papers has increased. In the future, due to the strong promotion of environmental protection, polyethylene wallpaper will be developed in the direction of paper wallpaper. In addition, the surface of the paper will be coated and processed in the future. Flexible flexo is recognized for its ability to exhibit flexographic printing. When printing a large amount of wallpaper, a 60-120 cm wide CI printer is used for aqueous printing and surface coating.
2, food utensils. Today, flexo printing is used for the printing of paper and paper cups. In Europe and the United States, there are eating habits for flexible use of paper products. These paper products have a variety of colors, including tablecloths, napkins, and toilet paper, all of which are printed flexibly. In addition, a variety of colorful paper towels also use flexo.
3, industrial packaging paper, gift wrapping paper. On thin paper (50-70 g/m2), simple icons, text, and shading of 1-2 colors are continuously printed and then used as industrial wrapping paper. Gift wrappers are used to wrap gifts exchanged during Christmas and other festivals, including colorful paper.
4, newspapers (paper flexo), paper binding. Especially in local newspapers in the United States, there are many satellite newspapers distributing regional newspapers mainly in the region. Since the use of flexo printing is much more advantageous than using offset printing machines to print color prints, flexographic printing has been introduced. .
In addition, flexo printing is also used in single-page advertisements, such as in pocket books, comics, and newspapers. Therefore, flexo printers mainly for printing such prints are under development.
5, security labels, cards. When the color overlay of fine text is performed on magnetic cards, IC cards, metal plates, cards, and thick plastics, the advantages of flexo printing are exerted. These papers and cards were produced after the various post-processing devices were brought online on a flexographic press of a narrow multi-color unit.
6, fast food, candy wrappers. Most of the printing of plastic films (twisted packaging), vapor-deposited films, and thin aluminum foils used for wrapping small pieces of cakes, candies, etc., are printed on flexographic plates.
7, fiber, non-woven fabrics. In Europe and the United States, there are many prints that are flexographically printed on rough-surfaced, porous, and elastic materials such as fibers and nonwovens. Most of these prints are seamless and colorful.
V. Summary The above describes the situation of the flexo printing market in Asia and its development prospects. In the past, the introduction of flexographic and flexo printing systems in Japan mainly depended on the US and Europe. Moreover, compared with Europe and the United States, the market size is small and the scope of use is narrow. This situation has continued for a long period of time. In the past 2-3 years, the Japanese printing industry has re-interpreted and recognized flexo printing.
We have reason to believe that Japan and other Asian countries will be further developed in expanding the field of flexo printing and exploring new market opportunities. (Finish)