Murray White, deputy manager of Multi-Color’s business unit and president of the Packaging and Marks Gravure Printing Association (PLGA), said: “We are optimistic about the development of gravure printing. In the turn of the 21st century, gravure printing technology has experienced recessions and markets for many years. After the decline in the share, some historic technological breakthroughs have emerged, namely the gravure sleeve technology developed by Cerrutti and Schiavi, which shortens the time required for changing the plate and reduces the production cost, so that the gravure printers are reduced in time and price. Gravure printing costs."
Mr. White said: "At present, most printers can complete the work from original artwork to complete operation in less than one week. This is a dramatic change, and at the same time, the quality of flexographic printing is improving. , but this also makes its cost increase. This further enhances the cost competitive advantage of gravure printing."
Derrick Ayers, product manager for North America's SICPA packaging department, said: "Gravure printing is well-operated in the U.S. and international markets. The introduction of sleeve technology reduces the cost and adjustment time of gravure cylinders. This technology enhances market competitiveness for gravure printing." ."
The packaging industry brings good news to gravure printers, which brings new opportunities for gravure printing, although publication gravure is still worrying.
Packaging industry profit
For gravure printers and ink manufacturers, the worldwide profitability of the packaging industry is indeed good news.
Mike Impastato, vice president of Flint Ink Packaging New Market Development, North America, said: “In the United States and most markets outside the United States, gravure printing has become a strong competitor in the packaging industry. In fact, in Europe and Asia, gravure printing is The most important printing process for packaging products, but in North America, flexographic printing is the primary printing method."
Impastato added: “From 10 to 15 years ago, experts had predicted that gravure will give important market share to flexo, but in fact gravure printing is currently supported in most markets, and it is resistant to flexographic printing. The market share of flexographic printing may have declined, but it is still not obvious.The gravure printers have done a great job, adjusted their energy to focus on making gravure printing more competitive than other printing methods, and also focused on those A value market that embodies the unique charm of gravure printing."
Tony Renzi, director of packaging technology at Sun Chemicals, said: “Gravure prints are threatened in North America mainly because other printing methods can reduce costs and improve quality. However, other national gravure printing costs are lower and have broader uses.†Renzi For example, it is estimated that there are 5,000 intaglio printing plants in China and 300 in Korea.
Ayers said: “The gravure market has suffered a loss of printing volume in publications and cartoons. Fortunately, it has achieved very good growth in the flexible packaging market, which helps to offset the decline in the business of some printers.â€
Flexible packaging has become a powerful area of ​​gravure printing. Impastato said: “Flexible packaging is one of the high-growth markets for the packaging industry. Gravure printing has grown with the growth of the packaging market. The example of gravure printing with good vitality is the two highest growth areas of flexible packaging: hot-fill sleeves and bottle packaging. At present, both markets are dominated by gravure printing. This situation may change to some extent, but gravure will continue to play an important role in flexible packaging."
Dr. Lothar Schaeffeler, Head of Advanced Application Engineering at Color Converting, said: “The gravure technology is changing, but it may be due to the fact that the market is mature, so the change is not as fast as flexographic printing. Bottle packaging applications may have some influence on intaglio printing. The impact will not be great, and we have been seeing several major gravure packaging printers profitable.The removal of butanone in the gravure printing process is also an interesting topic, which may have a major impact on the printability of gravure inks. Impact, it opens the door to recipes with better printing performance."
Dr. Schaeffeler said: "The recent demand for water-based technologies has also increased, and this may be related to the tangible market dynamics that are relatively specific to the needs of customers. This year we have seen that in water-based composite technologies and applications requiring high-impedance surfaces. profit."
In flexible packaging, gravure printing offers the printer some key advantages, including consistency, a certain ink thickness, and faster drying speeds.
American Avery Dennison printed a set of 10 "Indian Art" stamps. Its security printing department won the best exhibition award in the 2004 Packaging and Gravure Printing Association (PLGA) 2004 Global Print Quality Contest.
(to be continued)