Apex | Articles & Videos

The design and image fidelity of packaging plays a key role in the decisions we all make as consumers, which in turn drives demand. 

*Originally published in FLEXO Magazine's June 2019 issue

Flexo printers are facing many challenges every day, with the flexo printing process itself often being one of the biggest of them all. This is caused by the huge amount of variables involved. And printing on corrugated makes it even harder to achieve the required result. Keeping the flow of ink consistent is key to getting it right.

The anilox is considered to be the heart of the printing press. During the production process the tolerances are within micrometers. This counts for the body, the bearings, the journals and just as much for the ceramic layer on top and its laser engraving technology creating the volume. Once the roll or sleeve is delivered to you, we expect you to treat it with the utmost care as well in order to create the longest possible lifetime.

Dot gain in flexographic printing has a variety of causes and shows up in enlarged halftone dots to derformed dots, which can print out fuzzy sometimes. There are several causes of dot gain that are related to anilox rolls, however, there are also solutions to overcome dot gain or decrease it. 

Labels and packaging producer Reflex is one of the largest companies of its kind in the UK: “We seek to be on the forefront of innovation, investing in technology and people for continuous improvement.” In an effort to standardize print quality at its label division, consisting of seven production sites with multiple presses, Reflex teamed up with Apex experts to aim for better process control.

Both Apex and its customers need to measure aniloxes - but for different reasons! Control and consistency are the foundation for process standardization, ECG printing and  improved productivity in flexographic printing. The anilox surface – where ink meets plate – has always been the foundation for achieving high print quality on a repeatable basis “ideally” without constant process adjustments. Apex focused on this challenge and reinvented the basics of ink-to-plate transfer by creating the Patented GTT engraving. This advancement has resulted in a far more consistent anilox which is proven, both in print production at customers and internally with the microscopic measurement control possible from both Troika and MD control systems. These two systems validate that Apex aniloxes are produced globally with the highest level of accuracy.

Apex takes anilox accuracy to the next level - Troika AniCAM microscopes bring further volume measurement control. 
Flexo printers around the world agree that productivity is key to their business success. To improve productivity, they need their printing process to be consistent and predictable. This is no easy task, given the amount of variables surrounding flexo technology. Apex’ anilox rolls take at least one important variable out of the complex equation. By adding Troika AniCAM microscopes to its worldwide measurement and control system, Apex even furthers the accuracy of every anilox it manufactures and supplies.

Ton Lavrijsen and his brother Bart are today’s third generation at the helm of the iPB family business. Having recently installed two brand new Bobst 10-colour flexo presses, they are ready to once again push the limits of innovation in packaging solutions. “Technology is really the tool that enables us to excel in what differentiates us from our competitors: product development. That is why it is also important for us to partner with specialists like Apex International: by combining skills and knowledge, we can both improve and innovate faster.”

Apex International’s headquarters is based in Hapert, the Netherlands. Apex is the world's largest manufacturer of precision flexographic ink-to-plate transfer technology including anilox rolls and sleeves for narrow- and wide-web, corrugated, offset and coating applications. Have a look inside our state-of-the art facility.