There are 35 HD Flexo-certified companies in the world, including six in Italy and five in Germany.

To achieve certification, companies have to send an HD Flexo job for evaluation to EskoArtwork's technical competence centre in Itzehoe, Germany.

HD Flexo aims to achieve sharper and more accurate imaging for digital flexo plates by combining 4,000dpi HD optics on the EskoArtwork CDI with screening technologies.

EskoArtwork hopes the technology will enable flexo printers to close the gap on the quality of offset and gravure print.

Waldo director Phil Walmsley said UK companies had initially been sceptical about the HD Flexo technology but this was gradually changing.

Walmsley, who took sole ownership of Waldo last October, said the 24-staff company was making existing clients aware that it had met EskoArtwork's quality standards, and would also look at using the certification as a promotional tool in future.

Waldo is currently working on HD Flexo projects with major clients, including jobs using 200-line and 150-line screens.

"Our investment in HD Flexo is helping brands achieve consistency, even with the most intricate designs," said Walmsley.