Fujifilm North America hosted another successful Packaging Technology Summit at its Chicago Technology Center recently, showcasing innovative packaging solutions to invited attendees. Industry professionals experienced hands-on demonstrations at the two-day event that highlighted the OEM’s Graphium (a UV inkjet press for labels, packaging and specialty print), its Flenex series (a new flexographic plate system), Fujifilm’s flexographic inks, and Flex Pack (a packaging proofing system by CGS).
There was considerable interest in the Graphium, a high-speed modular digital UV inkjet press with the option to integrate flexo and finishing stations for hybrid production and conversion in a single pass. Graphium represents “the next generation” of UV inkjet press for labels, packaging and specialty print, said the OEM, that enables profitable printing of short-run jobs while boosting productivity and providing the ability to produce “new print options previously unavailable through traditional flexo technologies.” Graphium makes converting short to medium-run print jobs more profitable by streamlining workflow, reducing set-up materials and waste, and eliminating overruns.
Attendees also showed keen interest in the Flenex platemaking system. The Flenex FW water-washable plate system is able to form flat-top dots and reproduce 200 lpi with halftone dots from 1% to 99%. Additional advantages include: good ink transfer; superior compatibility with UV, water-based and solvent inks; wear resistance; and the ability to consistently maintain good product quality even when printing long-run jobs. Compared to solvent processing, drying time is greatly reduced, productivity is increased, and there is a reduced impact on the environment. The water wash system also eliminates the need for solvents, wicking cloths and thermal equipment.
Attendees also experienced first-hand the OEM’s Acuity Series, J Press line-up and Inca Onset presses.