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Narrow Web Flexographic Printing
Narrow Web Flexographic Printing
In industries like personal care, food, and beverages, brands compete not just on product quality, but on how well their packaging stands out on the shelf. From sleek shampoo bottles to vibrant food packets, and even stylish sleeves for beverage bottles, the quality of print and the efficiency of processes are of utmost importance. Narrow web flexographic printing meets these demands and has become the go-to method for high-quality, fast-turnaround printing on flexible, narrow-width materials.
What is Narrow Web Flexographic Printing?
Narrow web flexographic printing is a type of printing that’s suitable for narrow web material, typically between 10 and 16 inches. It uses continuous rolls and delivers fast, high-quality results, especially when paired with UV-curable inks that dry instantly under UV light. This method is widely used for label prints, tags, shrink sleeves, and flexible packaging.
Characteristics of Narrow Web Flexographic Printing
Here are some attributes of narrow web flexographic printing:
- Web Width: It uses a 10-16 inch web, which is ideal for small-sized products and short print runs.
- Less Waste: Reduced web size and quick set-up result in lower material waste, making it more efficient and economical.
- UV-curable Inks: UV-curable inks are a key component in narrow web flexographic printing. They support faster production speeds and deliver vivid, high-quality prints. These inks dry instantly under UV light, eliminating the need for additional drying equipment and lowering overall ink-related expenses.
- Slow-drying Inks: While UV-curable inks are commonly used for instant drying and vibrant results, water-based inks are also employed. These inks require the material to absorb the ink, allowing for slower drying where needed.
Types of UV-Curable Flexographic Inks
Since packaging comes in many forms, such as paper, plastic, and foil, each material requires a specific ink formulation for best results. Factors like food safety, adhesion, and scratch resistance all influence the ink choice. That is why DIC India offers multiple UV-curable ink options specifically for narrow web printing.
Here are the types of UV-curable inks based on their application and material type:
- SolarFlex Integra Inks: These inks offer intense colours, smooth flow, and excellent finish, ideal for printing on paper and coated plastics. This suits labels, tags, sleeves, and other narrow web jobs.
- SolarFlex FSP LMLO Inks: It is a migration-compliant UV flexo ink system designed for safe packaging use. With low viscosity and rich colour, it delivers smooth and consistent flow.
- Rayoflex LMLO Uvi Inks: These are low-odour and low-migration inks, especially created for food packaging. They meet the safety standards while offering high scratch resistance and print quality.
- Solarwave UV LED Inks: These DIC inks provide a glossy finish with low odour and are suitable for delicate applications. These inks are cured under UV-LED lamps in the 385-395nm range, as well as standard mercury vapour lamps.
- Slalom Shrink White and Blacks: Designed for shrink label printing, these inks offer deep, jet-black coverage and dense white finishes.
- SolarFlex White & Dense Black: A versatile range of UV-curable whites and blacks created for self-adhesive labels. These inks provide strong, durable contrast across a variety of substrates.
- SolarClear Coatings (Gloss / Matt / Texture): These UV-curable coatings are used to add finishing effects on self-adhesive labels.
- SolarLam and Solardor Adhesives: These UV-curable adhesives are used for laminating adhesives for films and cold foiling. They support high-speed production while ensuring strong bond strength.
Applications of Narrow Web Flexographic Printing
Narrow web flexographic printing is widely used across industries. Common applications include:
- Labels and Stickers: Ideal for printing high-quality self-adhesive labels and stickers used in foods, beverages, cosmetics, and household goods. UV-curable inks deliver sharp detail and durable finishes.
- Flexible Packaging: Suitable for printing on pouches, sachets, and other small packaging formats. It offers vibrant graphics while maintaining strength and barrier properties.
- Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Packaging: Narrow web flexographic printing is used for drug labels with barcodes, tamper-evident seals, and detailed product information. It prints with precision by using low-odour, migration-safe UV inks.
- Shrink Sleeves: It delivers rich colours and secure adhesion on shrinkable materials using UV-curable inks.
Narrow web flexographic printing with UV-curable inks offers usability, speed, and quality across industries. For reliable, high-performance UV ink solutions, connect with DIC India today to find the perfect DIC ink solution.
References:
https://blog.luminite.com/blog/what-is-narrow-web-flexo-printing
https://nbgprintographic.com/narrow-web-flexo-printing-a-descriptive-guide/
