Labelling Solutions


The future is bright if you know HOW! Tackling the UV flexo opaque white challenge


By Stuart Mitchell, technical director print, Sandon Global


THE OPAQUE WHITE DILEMMA IN NARROW WEB PRINTING


For label converters, achieving consistent high- opacity white has long been one of the toughest challenges in UV fl exo printing. White is a foundation colour. It drives contrast, supports brand identity and makes graphics pop on a wide range of substrates. But when opacity falls short, label designs lose impact and press operators face costly, time-consuming workarounds.


Traditionally, the solution has been to turn to rotary screen printing. Screen delivers opacity, but at the cost of slower press speeds, expensive hardware, longer job changeovers and more demanding clean-up. Flexo printers have often therefore been forced to choose between quality versus effi ciency. At Sandon Global, we asked: what if that choice wasn’t necessary?


INTRODUCING HIGH OPACITY WHITE (HOW) 20 years ago, we developed our High Opacity White (HOW) anilox engraving as an alternative for label makers. A rotary screen-quality solution for printing high quality UV fl exo opaque whites. Today, HOW remains a benchmark anilox technology in the narrow web sector, providing the opacity and laydown converters demand, without sacrifi cing press speed or productivity. HOW was designed specifi cally to handle the highly viscous, diffi cult nature of UV white inks. Unlike conventional heavy-volume 30° engravings, which


often fl ood the plate and lead to text fi ll-in, pin-holing, or reticulation, HOW uses a unique fl owing cell structure. This allows ink to evacuate cleanly, laying smoothly across the substrate with far greater control. The result? A dense, consistent white that competes with screen quality in a single pass.


PROVEN BENEFITS FOR NARROW WEB PRINTERS


HOW continues to deliver tangible advantages on- press: • Screen-quality opacity without screen heads – no investment in costly, slow equipment


• Press speeds maintained – no need to compromise effi ciency for coverage


• Cleaner, smoother laydown – reduced pin-holing and reticulation


• Four opacity levels available – tailored solutions for fi ne text or large solids


• Simpler maintenance – easier to clean than conventional engravings


• More effi cient changeovers – faster and less labour- intensive than rotary screen


For label converters under pressure to deliver consistent print quality with shorter runs and faster turnaround, these gains translate directly into commercial advantage.


COLLABORATION AT THE CORE


However, HOW wasn’t developed in isolation. From the outset, Sandon Global collaborated with leading ink, plate and tape manufacturers to create a robust solution that works seamlessly with other critical print components. That collaborative approach ensured HOW could deliver practical, real-world results on press and not just in theory.


This partnership mindset remains central to Sandon Global’s ethos. By engaging with printers, suppliers and technical partners, we continue to support converters in optimising their print processes and push the boundaries of what is possible in fl exo.


TECHNICAL CONTROL WHERE IT MATTERS Opaque white is not just about coverage, it’s about control. Flooding a plate with ink may achieve density, but it often comes at the expense of detail, registration, or drying performance. Our HOW engraving retains a vital element of control, ensuring smooth displacement of ink across the plate surface. This prevents the fi ll-in and loss of defi nition that can undermine label quality. By off ering four opacity levels, HOW also gives printers fl exibility. Fine text, barcodes and small details demand a lower volume than broad solid panels. Printers can select the right balance for each job, ensuring both coverage and clarity.


A PROVEN SOLUTION


For converters still relying on rotary screen for white, HOW represents an opportunity to simplify, speed up and enhance their process. For those already running fl exo whites, it off ers a path to improved consistency and fewer technical headaches. With nearly two decades of fi eld-proven performance, HOW remains a leading anilox solution for delivering UV fl exo opaque whites that rival screen. In an industry where effi ciency and quality must go hand in hand, HOW has stood the test of time, and continues to off er narrow web printers a brighter future.


30


October 2025


www.convertermag.com


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