Manufacturing process capabilities throughout our supply chain.
Resources
PROCESSES
Offset Printing
In Offset printing, the ink image is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket, and then finally to a printing surface.
Images does not go directly from plates to paper like other printing methods, which is why it is called ‘offset’.
Offset printing is both an economical and common method used for high volume output, and guarantees high-quality images.
This process is used for POS displays, paper packaging, and promotional printing media.
Flexographic Printing
Flexographic printing uses a flexible rubber relief plate, and commonly used for non-porous medias such as brown paper and packaging materials.
Flexographic printing also supports a wider range of inks, like water based opposed to oil based.
Further, flexographic printing commonly uses low viscosity inks allowing faster drying time production, resulting in lower costs.
Screen Printing
Screen printing uses a mesh to transfer ink onto a substrate, except in areas made impermeable to the ink by a blocking stencil.
A blade/squeegee is moved across the screen to fill the open mesh apertures with ink, and a reverse stroke then causes the screen to touch the substrate momentarily along a line of contact.
This causes the ink to wet the substrate and be pulled out of the mesh apertures as the screen springs back after the blade has passed.
One color is printed at a time, so several screens can be used to produce a multi-coloured image or design.
Digital Printing
Digital printing is any printing process that uses a digital file to create an image using a non-impact imaging transfer method, commonly via an electrostatic digital printing process.
Digital printing has a higher cost per page than traditional (offset printing) methods, but this price is usually offset by avoiding the cost required to make printing plates.
It also allows for on-demand printing, short turnaround time, lower minimum quantity requirements and variable data used for each impression.
Rapier Label Weaving
The Rapier Label weaving machine process is designed for woven labels/badges with slit selvedges.
The machine is electronically controlled with a weft feeder of up to 12 colors, producing taffeta, semi-satin and satin weave types.
Universal rapier allows for various yarn counts between 22 and 1400 dtex, with programmable weft density variations from 18 to 120 picks per cm within the pattern design.
Flexographic Label Rotary
Flexographic Label Rotary printing uses the same rotary process whereby a flexible rubber relief plate provides the print impression.
This is a very economical process, especially for high volume label requirements due to the machine operating speed.
Flexographic rotary also supports a wide range of inks, like water based opposed to oil based.
Further, flexographic printing commonly uses low viscosity inks allowing faster drying time production, resulting in lower costs.
Letterpress
Letterpress printing is a process by which many copies of an image are produced by repeated direct impression of an inked, raised surface against sheets or a continuous roll of paper.
Raised metal type is locked into the chase of the press, where ink rollers pressure transfer the ink from the type to the paper, creating the impression.
Variant finishes can be added to letterpress such as hot/cold foil printing and die cutting.
Letterpress is the oldest of the traditional printing techniques.