In past editions we have talked to you about the difference between Flexo and Offset, advantages, disadvantages, which one to choose if you are starting out in the market, among other basic aspects. In this installment, we present the options of machines and percé process of each one. It is worth highlighting the opinion of Juan Pablo Tejada Hernandez, General Manager of WorldFlex C.A, Venezuela's sister alliance company: `` They have two distinctive purposes. The Offset has one sector and the Flexo another, among them they do not compete at all. In what they could compete in the label market, but what about Offset? They cannot be for automatic labeling machines or continuous processes because here they work by sheets and they would have to cut them individually for manual labeling. In exchange for the Flexo you can make continuous printing on reels and greater control of labels in terms of transport. Obviously the printing qualities in Offset are much higher, in terms of the definition of the image, since the gain of dots (as in Flexography), the trapping or overlapping of colors is not present and if it is present it is very minimal in compared to Flexo. I do not see as competitions, both have their line / public´´. The offset process The image does not go from the plate to the paper or plastic directly, until it passes from the plate to a rubber and from the rubber to the final support. For the flexibility of rubber or silicone, the dye impregnates the surfaces with uneven textures, offering a higher quality. The best way to recognize the Offset is by means of a thread count, observing the great definition that the letters have on their edges and the pattern in the form of modulated amplitude. The lines sometimes produce a burst effect produced by the ink-water repulsion. Offset Machines There are several brands and models on the market, the most recognized are of the German type, such as GTO, Japanese such as Ryoby and North American such as AB Dick. There are one-head machines, which feature the printing of one color at a time, that is, to be able to print two, three or four colors, the machine, wait for the first color to dry on the printed material, apply the second ink in the machine, and print again. Toray, a leader in innovative solutions for waterless offset printing, reports that Gulf News, the largest circulation English-language newspaper in the United Arab Emirates, is printed on Koenig & Bauer's 12-tower Cortina waterless offset press. It is worth mentioning that 4 of the 12 towers are heatset, in addition to using Toray IMPRIMA WA waterless offset plates. The company has increased its output by adding commercial jobs for the retail and magazine markets, including its own flagship weekly, The Friday. Parallel to the installation of the new Cortina machine from Koenig & Bauer, it also went from tabloid to Berlin, that is, an increasingly popular format in the international newspaper industry. Web offset: it is suitable for large print runs, starting at approximately 15,000 copies. Advanced finishes can hardly be done in the printing phase, so most commonly only folding and stapling are included. It is usually printed in web offset, newspapers, some magazines, brochures, among others. Sheet-fed offset - Almost most printable products can be printed on paper. This print can undergo multiple post-print treatments, such as lamination, cutwork binding, and stitching. Company reports, desserts, business brochures, books and other quality forms are often printed in this way. ROTATEK Semi-rotary and rotary combined wet offset: prints both in semi-rotary and rotary systems, combining finishing systems to carry out all processes in line and in a single operation. The semi-rotary printing system of the Brava allows to vary the format (advance) without the need for tools or cylinder changes. Wet offset printing technology and maximum precision guarantee top quality. Roll Offset Printing Machine - Komori S38D 32-page rotary offset printing machine is highly productive with top-quality print performance and state-of-the-art control systems. 39,000 iph print speed with innovative Komori operation. Maximize compatibility with 16-page System 38S rotary machines. Flexo Machines Windmöller & hölscher, this German group, which is characterized by its motto: ´´Building the future together´´ offers the market flexographic presses that are designed for a wide range of applications characterized by: print quality and performance. Its machines, MIRAFLEX, NOVOFLEX and VISTAFLEX offer solutions for all the needs of those looking for flexible packaging printing machines. In this site you can find machines made in China, there is a variety for budgets, characteristics and a number of local Chinese suppliers. Uteco flexographic machines are constantly searching for innovative solutions aimed at the most diverse printing demands. They offer press run machine solutions: from the very short, with the compact Onyx XS machines, to the largest, with the Diamond HP and Crystal machines. Its flexographic presses have highly flexible standard configurations that include Uteco patented technologies and innovative systems, designed to guarantee high standards of quality, ergonomics and ease of use, efficiency without waste. OMET, the new XFlex X6.0 is the natural evolution of the renowned OMET XFlex X6 line, the true step towards a completely digitized and independent production process. It is the ideal machine for companies looking for high productivity, efficiency and quality of the final product. It has the ability to integrate different in-line printing processes with conversion and finishing technologies on all types of material, from 12 micron film to cardboard, producing numerous end applications designed to meet any market demand. At Grafiflex SRL, we have been advising companies for more than 18 years, through our services you can count on an ally for all your business questions. We're here to serve you! Grafiflex SRL | WhatsApp: +1 (809) 451-4315
