Managing director Andrew Ainge, who revealed the launch exclusively to printweek.com, said his firm had spent the past two years working to add to its offset offerings, with packaging work firmly in its sights.

Ainge said that flexo created a "more metallic result" and "higher lustre" than offset because it laid down a thicker layer of ink.

He added that it was a "big deal" to move into the "emerging" global flexo market, especially for labels and food packaging.

The Leeds-based firm is trialling the process for cartons at Chesapeake in Portsmouth, previously Field Packaging, while label applications have been ongoing at an unnamed UK beta site.

Neil McInnes, packaging development and new business manager at Chesapeake, said he had been in talks with MetalFX to run the trials on the plant's 10-colour NovaFlex XS, which can "run everything from eight-micron mylar to 250gsm-plus board".

Silver or gold MetalFX base colours are printed in the first flexo unit, with CMYK inks printed over the top.

Ainge said the system has "no problems" with "most flexo systems". "We have already tested on UV, water-based and solvent on a variety of substrates."

Chesapeake, which will roll out promotional materials for Drupa, said customers of its Branded Division in confectionery, beverage and foods would be likely markets, as would tobacco.

In August 2006, Swiss colour management giant Ciba bought an 80% stake in MetalFX, which Ainge set up in 2002.

Drupa takes place from 29 May to 11 June in Düsseldorf, Germany.