“Corrugated is a huge market – about 35% of the total packaging market – and packaging is strategically important for Kodak,” said marketing manager for packaging solutions Emma Schlotthauer.
Schlotthauer said that the higher quality, larger format and improved economics of the new Flexcel products would improves flexo’s competitiveness against large-format litho in pre-print applications, especially shelf-ready and retail-ready packaging.
“Flexo has a lot to offer over offset for pre-print, especially cost-effectiveness,” she said.
Flexcel NXC is a softer durometer material than other Flexcel plates, to meet the needs of corrugated pre-print. Kodak claims that the plates will offer a combination of reduced operating costs and higher print quality.
“There is a perception that Flexcel offers high quality, what is lesser known is its improved print performance including ink transfer and press stability,” said Schlotthauer. “The pressure in corrugated packaging is to get cost and weight down. Manufacturers want good print quality on lighter and cheaper liners.”
She said that one beta customer had been able to switch from 180lb liners to 140lb liners with no loss of quality, saving “significant” material and transport costs.
“Now the marketing team and the purchasing team at the brand owner are both happy,” Schlotthauer added.
In addition to reducing material costs she claimed the Flexcel NXC plates had a longer life, of up to five times that of comparable materials, and enabled faster running speeds on press.
The Flexcel NX Wide 5080 flexo platesetter can image plates up to 1,270x2,032mm (50x80in) expanding the largest size that the system can handle from the previous maximum of 1,067x1,524mm (42x60in). Like other Kodak Flexcel systems it uses the firm’s SquareSpot imaging and can apply the DigiCap surface patterning to improve ink transfer.
“The larger format is a need for corrugated in particular but it is also of interest to all flexo trade shops to improve their efficiency,” said Schlotthauer.
The new NXC plates and NHX plates are available in the new larger size to address post-print and pre-print corrugated production.
