Flexo Technology
Anilox choice is key to ensuring quality when switching from solvent to water-based flexo printing
oday’s print industry is rife with uncertainty and challenges. Mounting sustainability regulations, evolving consumer preferences, and stricter retailer guidelines mean the printing industry has had to innovate to find new ways of working as it adapts to this new landscape. As part of this sustainability-focused evolution, advances in water-based ink technology are unlocking exciting new opportunities for printers. Today’s water-based formulations are beginning to approach the performance characteristics of traditional solvent-based inks, making them a more viable prospect for printers working with historically challenging substrates, such as multilayer films. Despite these advances, switching from solvents to water-based inks still requires some considerations to be taken into account if printers want to maintain high quality standards on every run. Selecting the right anilox is one such consideration.
T
term benefits of making the switch, it is not an overnight process. Water-based inks require a completely different anilox engraving than solvent-based inks.
Getting anilox selection right is also essential to ensuring ease of cleaning after use. Water- based inks are more difficult to clean from an anilox as, without carefully pH-balancing the cleaning solution, they can adhere to the anilox surface, causing a build-up of residue on the cell walls. While this is also a risk with solvent- based inks, the process is much quicker with water-based alternatives.
CHALLENGES WHEN SWITCHING TO WATER-BASED INKS
While there are many advantages and long-
Any anilox designed for use with water- based inks must also consider how it will tackle the problem of corrosion. Anilox coatings are
inherently slightly porous, meaning any liquid, whether water or solvent-based, can eventually permeate the ceramic coating and reach the metal core of the cylinder. Water- based inks can play a part in encouraging oxidation, causing the core to rust and affecting the integrity of the ceramic coating and, ultimately, the quality of the print.
OPTIMISING ANILOX TECHNOLOGY All of the above means that switching entirely to water-based inks can require an initial investment in new anilox. As with any investment, it is important to spend it wisely to maximise returns.
Solutions to the many challenges of switching inks do exist. At Sandon Global, we apply a process that we call Enhanced Densifi cation Treatment (EDT) before laser engraving to provide a preventative barrier to substrate corrosion and oxidation, making the chromium oxide coating completely impermeable. As a result, the core of the anilox is protected against substrate corrosion caused by water-based inks and coatings, promoting more effi cient and consistent ink evacuation onto the print surface. This helps ensure the final print finish remains smoother, meaning printers can switch to water-based inks without sacrificing quality on the press. Switching from solvent- based inks to water-based alternatives will naturally result in some changes within a business, but selecting the optimal anilox technology means print quality does not need to be one of them.
26
June 2024
www.convertermag.com
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