The Solution for a Better Tomorrow in Flexible Packaging and on Paper

22 May 2019

The Solution for a Better Tomorrow in Flexible Packaging

  • Solvent-free plate processing at solvent quality and a global safe ink system at premium quality with Flint Group’s nyloflex® Xpress Thermal Processing System and biodegradable NC-based FlexiPrint inks

  • Minimized waste and dramatically enhanced print quality with SOMAs Optima 2 printing press

  • Bio-based substrates by Miller Graphics as well as renewable and compostable cellulose NatureFlex™ by Futamura

Lanskroun, Czech Republic, May 15, 2019 - Innovation drives sustainability - In this spirit, leaders of the packaging industry such as SOMA, Flint Group, Miller Graphics and Futamura, joined forces to create print samples on film. At the SOMA Flexo Challenge Conference 2019 held in Czech Republic, the live printing of the print design showcased that sustainability is a top priority with high print quality result.

Printing and Lamination by SOMA

Czech Republic based SOMA, producer of flexographic printing presses, slitter rewinders, laminators, plate mounters and die-cutters. SOMA flexographic printing press Optima 2 dramatically enhances print quality, make-ready times, and running costs and therefore reduces ecological impact. The main focus is to implement sustainable technologies, such as water based ink system and reduce make ready in terms of time & waste. With the ARUN system the registration and impression is adjusted automatically without any operator effort. The result is that jobs get up to speed faster and there is almost zero feet of setup waste. The SOMA Ink Cartridge system offers printers a means of reducing ink costs by minimizing ink volume and residual waste.

Thermal Printing Plates and Printing Ink by Flint Group

With the ambition to become the innovation leader in flexographic plates, sleeves and ink solutions, Flint Group addressed this challenge by delivering nyloflex® XFH thermal printing plates, a flat top dot plate for flexible packaging, processed with the nyloflex® Xpress Thermal Processing System. The benefits of this solution result in 30% less waste, up to 88% reduction in electricity and a plate processing time of only 45 Minutes. This sustainable solution reduces operating costs, improves productivity while delivering excellent print quality.

Flint Group’s FlexiPrint MV inks are nitrocellulose-based inks which have been optimized for high quality flexographic surface or lamination printing on a wide variety of films. The inks provide excellent rub, water and heat resistance, and printability at high printing speeds, whilst being low in odor. FlexiPrint MV inks are tested according to the “Seedling” and “OK Compost” label, suitable on a wide variety of compostable packaging films and applications.

Pre-Press by Miller Graphic

Miller Graphics is a solution provider within the graphical industry. As an expert leader and reliable partner in printing techniques and digital brand imaging we empower brand owners to add more value to their brand assets, both instore and online. We do this with passion and place their interests at the heart of our relationship.

Within this project Miller Graphics has been responsible for the reprographics and color management for the print design. Their expertise in color management makes them an excellent partner in proving the best printing result on any kind of substrate and printing press. Regarding this project they have adopted the design to deliver the best print quality on the bio-based substrate with environmentally friendly inks. This is done by using state of the art techniques for color management, proofing and screening techniques.


Compostable Substrate by Futamura

Futamura is the world’s market leading producer of renewable and compostable cellulose films. In the context of this project, Futamura delivered NatureFlex™ films which are produced from sustainable wood pulp harvested from managed plantations and are certified to both EU and US composting standards. NatureFlex™ films offer natural and organic product manufacturers the ability to align their packaging message with the spirit of their product marketing.

To provide customers and consumers along the value chain with solutions for realizing their individual sustainability ambitions, innovators such as Soma, Flint Group, Miller Graphics and Futamura are constantly challenging the limits of what materials and processes can accomplish for a better environment – and for business.

The Solution for a Better Tomorrow on Paper

  • Solvent-free plate processing at solvent quality and a global safe ink system at premium quality with Flint Group’s nyloflex® Xpress Thermal Processing System and biorenewable water-based TerraCode inks

  • Minimized waste and dramatically enhanced print quality with SOMAs Optima 2 printing press

  • Less ink use, less press cleaning, less waste with Marvaco GreenerPrinting EGP

Lanskroun, Czech Republic, May 15, 2019 – Environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, environmental degradation, resource depletion, and packaging waste demand an urgent and coherent response from the packaging industry. Flint Group partnered up with SOMA and Marvaco to work on an environmental friendly full HD Expanded Gamut Printing (EGP) on paper. At the SOMA Flexo Challenge Conference 2019 held in Czech Republic, the live printing of the print design showcased that sustainability is a top priority with high print quality results.

Thermal Printing Plates and Printing Ink by Flint Group

With the ambition to become the innovation leader in flexographic plates, sleeves and ink solutions, Flint Group addressed this challenge by delivering nyloflex® XPH thermal printing plates, suitable for water based and UV inks. The round top dot plate is processed with the nyloflex® Xpress Thermal Processor. A sustainable easy-to-use system of several components, to reliably deliver a complete solution for lightning-fast plate making and high-end flexo printing. The benefits of 30% less waste, up to 88% reduction in electricity, and a plate processing time of only 45 minutes, result especially in reduction of operating costs, improved productivity as well as excellent print quality. In addition the rotec® CFX Bridge with carbon-fiber structure has been used as a high quality adapter with a long lifetime.  

Flint Group supported as well by delivering TerraCode inks. Designed for eco-green solutions - a hybrid biorenewable system supporting a sustainable environment. TerraCode is developed for all key water-based paper and board applications. TerraCode addresses sustainability and regulatory compliance and provides a renewable solution for printers’ and brand owners’ environmental and sustainable projects.

SOMA CI Flexo Optima 2

SOMA is a Czech Republic based produces flexographic printing presses, slitter rewinders, laminators, plate mounters and die-cutters. SOMAs flexographic printing press Optima 2 dramatically enhances print quality, make-ready times, and running costs and consequently reduces ecological impact. The main focus is to implement sustainable technologies, such as water based ink systems as well as to save time and reduce waste. With the ARUN system the registration and impression is adjusted automatically without any effort of an operator. The result is that jobs get up to speed faster with almost zero feet of setup waste. The SOMA Ink Cartridge system offers printers a means of reducing ink costs by minimizing ink volume and residual waste.

Pre-Press by Marvaco

MARVACO is the leading prepress production company and the biggest flexo plate producer in the Nordic countries. The OATIS brand co-printing from Real Snacks Company was printed at the SOMA flexo challenges 2019 to demonstrate the eco-efficiency of the Marvaco EGP™ (Expanded Gamut Printing). In demo, six different jobs were gathered onto a one sheet and co-printed with Flint Groups water based inks on paper. Marvaco’s GreenerPrintingTM EGPTM repro–plate technology was used resulting a more sustainable printing with high quality and faster production. The original six brand designs were converted from CMYK+6 spot colors to use only CMYKOGV printing within one press run at speed of 400 mpm with the high print resolution of 70 lpcm (178 lpi) on the plate. Moving form spot color printing to EGP™ printing resulted -30% reduction in the number of used colors and also eliminated the wash off of the 6 spot inks. Moreover, it also reduced the total ink consumption in average by -31%. The printing on the SOMA Optima 2 flexo press with Flint Group products together with Marvaco EGP™ reduces the environmental impact and is more sustainable, easy to use as well as consistent from run to run. GreenerPrinting™ EGP™ is a new way making packaging printing eco-efficient!