Flexography

A flexography machine, often referred to as a flexo press, is a type of printing press commonly used for high-volume printing of packaging materials, labels, newspapers, and other products. Flexography is a versatile printing method that uses flexible relief plates made of rubber or photopolymer to transfer ink onto a substrate. Here's how it works:

1. Plate Making: The first step in the flexographic printing process is creating the printing plates. These plates are typically made from flexible photopolymer materials. The desired image is etched into the plates using UV light or chemical processes.

2. Ink Supply: Flexo presses use liquid inks that are stored in ink reservoirs. These inks are specially formulated for flexographic printing and are designed to adhere well to a variety of substrates.

3. Printing: The substrate, such as paper, plastic film, or cardboard, is fed through the press. The printing plates are mounted on cylinders within the press. As the substrate passes through the press, it comes into contact with rotating cylinders carrying the inked plates. The ink is transferred from the plates to the substrate, creating the desired image or text.

4. Drying: After the ink is applied to the substrate, it needs to be dried quickly to prevent smudging or smearing. Flexo presses often use drying systems such as hot air dryers or UV curing lamps to rapidly dry the ink.

5. Finishing: Once the ink is dry, the printed substrate may undergo additional finishing processes, such as laminating, die-cutting, or varnishing, depending on the specific requirements of the job.

Planet Ks can print up to 6 colors simultaneously. The dimensions are different, starting from 100 mm to 1200 mm