Author: Christine Duggan

Flexo Concepts® to Promote Its MicroTip® Doctor Blade Edge Technology at Drupa 2016

Plymouth, MA, May 13, 2016. Flexo Concepts will introduce a variety of new MicroTip options on its TruPoint Orange® doctor blade at Drupa 2016 in Dusseldorf, Germany. The tip variations optimize metering performance in flexo printing and coating applications.

MicroTip is a modified lamella tip that allows for a finer contact area with the anilox roll on mid-high line screens. The tip configuration, combined with a next generation polymer material, enables the Orange blade to achieve the print quality derived from a steel blade in a variety of flexographic printing applications.

Since Orange was released in early 2013, Flexo Concepts has been focusing on improving blade tip technology. New MicroTip variations allow printers to select a blade that will optimize metering effectiveness and maximize blade life in their specific application. MicroTip options range from tips that extend blade life in most process work to more robust options for white decks and coarser anilox rolls.

TruPoint Orange has been endorsed by a number of press manufacturers and is currently shipping as the standard blade on many new machine installations. At the show, the blade will be featured on equipment by AB Graphic International (Hall 17 at HP), Cartes Label Machines S.r.l. (Hall 10/C41), Focus Label Machinery Ltd. (Hall 10/C10) and Grafisk Maskinfabrik.

To learn more about Flexo Concepts, the TruPoint Orange doctor blade or MicroTip technology, visit Hall 11/C34 at the show or www.flexoconcepts.com. To access a complete press kit, go to www.flexoconcepts.com/media.

About Flexo Concepts

Headquartered in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Flexo Concepts manufactures TruPoint doctor blades and wash-up blades and MicroClean™ dry media anilox cleaning systems. All products are designed to improve print quality and reduce operational costs for flexographic and offset printers. Flexo Concepts maintains distribution locations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. For more information about the company and its products visit www.flexoconcepts.com. For regular updates, follow Flexo Concepts on Facebook and Twitter.
Consultative Selling: What It Is and Why It Works

Today, successful sellers act as trusted advisers to their buyers to help them find the best solutions. By adopting a consultative selling strategy, salespeople create value in the selling process and benefit from better sales results, stronger customer bases and referrals.

What is consultative selling?

Consultative selling is defined as “personal selling in which a salesperson plays the role of a consultant” by www.businessdictionary.com. It’s a sales method where the salesperson gains a solid understanding of the buyer’s challenges before recommending a solution. An important distinction from other methods is that the main objective is helping the prospect find the right solution, not just getting him to “sign on the dotted line.” The key elements of consultative selling fall into four categories: research, relationship, resolution and reward.

Research

Today’s customer is much savvier than in the past and is doing his homework before buying. The explosion of digital media has made it easy for people to access information online and share experiences with each other. The buyer has already explored solutions, competitors, and prices and is well educated by the time a vendor comes calling. The salesperson has to do his research, too, and can take advantage of “lead intelligence” to learn about his prospects and home in on the most qualified leads.

Relationship

The consultative salesperson is an industry expert who “gets it” and wants to help. He continues to learn more about his prospect’s challenges and obstacles by asking open-ended questions to uncover his real motivation for buying. He builds trust by sharing his knowledge without asking for anything in return.

Resolution

If the seller’s products are determined to be a good fit for the buyer, the salesperson presents the customer-specific benefits of his products, figures out the next steps in the purchasing process and establishes a timeline for closing the sale. If it is clear that he can’t meet the buyer’s needs, it is completely acceptable for him to recommend an alternative solution, even if it’s a competitor!

Reward

No matter the outcome, consultative selling results in a valuable experience for both sides. The buyer is able to get advice from an industry expert who helps him understand his obstacles and navigate a solution. By investing time to provide tailored, customized solutions, salespeople will enjoy better closing rates, higher value sales, increased customer retention and referrals.

In the end, consultative selling is about helping prospects find solutions. Salespeople who take the time to fully understand their buyers’ needs and challenges are in the best position to recommend the right solutions. They will be rewarded with satisfied, loyal supporters.
How to Prevent Anilox Roll Scoring
Anilox roll scoring poses a challenge for many printers, evident when a shiny line encircles the roll, indicating a groove or “scoring” of the anilox roll. If you are a printer this means dark lines in your print – especially when printing solids. If you are applying a coating, it’s even more important to reduce scoring since most coatings are clear, and heavy coating lines are hard to detect.

Once scored, an anilox roll can often be used selectively, working around the score lines. But at some point, the roll needs to be reengraved and depending on size and finish, comes with a significant cost.

Scoring often arises from debris trapped between the doctor blade and the anilox roll. Common sources include particles from steel doctor blades, dried ink build-up, or coating particles in the fluid delivery system. To minimize or eliminate anilox scoring, consider the following practices:

1. Maintain Good Housekeeping:

Prevent dried ink or coating from accumulating on the anilox rolls and related components within the ink delivery system

Use filtration in the fluid delivery system to remove dried, hard debris during prolonged production runs.

2. Implement Magnets:

If using metal doctor blades, add high-strength magnets to the fluid delivery system to capture steel particulates.

Maintain minimal pressure between the doctor blade & anilox roll when using steel blades to avoid entrapment of dried particulates.

3. Optimize Mechanical Setup:

Ensure level and parallel alignment of the doctor blade chamber or single blade holder with the anilox roll.

Misalignment can lead to excessive pressure needed to engage the doctor blade, this will bend the blade and increase chances for particle entrapment.

4. Use Plastic Containment Blades:

Consider using a plastic (polyester) doctor blade for the containment blade on enclosed chambers.

This change cuts steel doctor blade usage (and particulate) in half, reducing the chances for scoring to occur.

5. Switch to Polymer Doctor Blades:

Explore transitioning to plastic or polymer doctor blades to eliminate steel from your system.

Polymer doctor blades have advanced dramatically in terms of stiffness, edge smoothness, blade life, and durability for long production runs and offer metering quality that meets or exceeds steel.

In conclusion, anilox scoring is permanent damage commonly caused by debris between the doctor blade and the anilox roll, resulting in a defective product. Minimize anilox scoring and save unnecessary engraving costs by filtering inks or coatings and using magnets with metal doctor blades. Alternatively, you can switch to plastic doctor blades to potentially eliminate the problem altogether.

Request a Free TruPoint Doctor Blade Sample
Flexo Concepts® Announces TruPoint™ Sealing Doctor Blades for PCMC Chambers

Plymouth, MA, March 29, 2016. Flexo Concepts is now applying foam tape to its TruPoint Orange® and Polyester doctor blades for use in PCMC NT chambers. The adhesive-backed foam creates a positive seal to prevent ink leakage and minimize the need for cleaning.

TruPoint polymer doctor blades are now a viable option for flexible packaging printers using PCMC presses. TruPoint Orange is available in different thicknesses and MicroTip® edges for maximum metering performance. On the containment side, TruPoint Polyester is highly resistant to chemicals and provides superior blade life. Both materials reduce anilox scoring and improve workplace safety.

The TruPoint sealing blades also work particularly well in chambers that have become pitted or coated with dried ink residue over time. By forming a gasket, the foam tape not only eliminates leaks but also prevents excessive doctor blade wear from increased pressure required to maintain contact area with the anilox roll.

To learn more about TruPoint doctor blades, visit www.flexoconcepts.com or call 508.830.9506. For a complete press kit, go to www.flexoconcepts.com/media/.

About Flexo Concepts
Headquartered in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Flexo Concepts manufactures TruPoint doctor blades, the TruPoint QuikWash System and wash-up blades, and MicroClean™ dry media anilox cleaning systems. All products are designed to improve print quality and reduce operational costs for flexographic and offset printers. Flexo Concepts maintains distribution locations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. For more information about the company and its products visit www.flexoconcepts.com. For regular updates, follow Flexo Concepts on Facebook and Twitter.
Davis Graphics S.A. to Represent TruPoint™ Doctor Blades in Chile

Plymouth, MA, February 25, 2016. In an effort to expand worldwide distribution of its TruPoint doctor blades, Flexo Concepts® has signed Davis Graphics S.A. as an exclusive supplier in Chile. Davis Graphics will represent the line in all flexo, offset, and coating and laminating markets in the country.

With origins dating to 1899, Davis Graphics was formally established in 1968 to supply the local printing and pre-press market. The company’s mission is to provide reliable and timely solutions to its clients in each stage of the production process. World class manufacturers include Mark Andy, Nazdar INK, CGC and Harper among others.

To learn more about TruPoint doctor blades or becoming a distributor, visit www.flexoconcepts.com or call 508.830.9506. For a complete press kit, go to www.flexoconcepts.com/media/.

About Flexo Concepts
Headquartered in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Flexo Concepts manufactures TruPoint doctor blades, the TruPoint QuikWash System and wash-up blades, and MicroClean™ dry media anilox cleaning systems. All products are designed to improve print quality and reduce operational costs for flexographic and offset printers. Flexo Concepts maintains distribution locations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. For more information about the company and its products visit www.flexoconcepts.com. For regular updates, follow Flexo Concepts on Facebook and Twitter.
Flexo Concepts’ Kevin McLaughlin to Present “What’s Next for Corrugated Printing” at FTA Annual Forum

Plymouth, MA, January 28, 2016. Kevin McLaughlin, president of Flexo Concepts®, will present “What’s Next for Corrugated Printing” at the FTA 2016 Annual Forum in Fort Worth, Texas. The presentation is part of a series of technical sessions designed to “impart new theories, exciting research and contemporary practices to an audience hungry to learn how to improve their process, productivity and the all-important bottom line,” according to the FTA.

McLaughlin is one of five presenters scheduled for the “2016 Flexo Game Changers” session on Monday, March 7. He will be joined by speakers from Kodak, InterFlex Group, Best Label and Cyber Graphics discussing revolutionary technologies in flexography that have helped printers stay ahead of the competitive curve through innovation and efficiency.

Specifically, McLaughlin will address the biggest changes undergone by the corrugated printing sector as well as the industry developments that have brought about these changes. He will explore the evolution of the ink delivery system, machine modernization and advances in substrate and drying processes, concluding with what he sees driving the future of corrugated printing.

Flexo Concepts will also exhibit at INFO*FLEX on March 7-8. During the event, the company will focus on strengthening its relationships with OEMs, co-suppliers and customers while continuing to promote the distinct benefits of its TruPoint™ doctor blades in flexo printing applications. Visit booth #329 for more information or to obtain a blade sample.

To learn more about the sessions or to register for the forum, go to http://flexography.org/. To access a complete Flexo Concepts press kit, go to www.flexoconcepts.com/media.

About Flexo Concepts
Headquartered in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Flexo Concepts manufactures TruPoint doctor blades, the TruPoint QuikWash™ System and wash-up blades, and MicroClean™ dry media anilox cleaning systems. All products are designed to improve print quality and reduce operational costs for flexographic and offset printers. Flexo Concepts maintains distribution locations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. For more information about the company and its products visit www.flexoconcepts.com. For regular updates, follow Flexo Concepts on Facebook and Twitter.
Flexo Concepts® Focuses on Growing TruPoint™ Sales in Europe

Plymouth, MA, December 9, 2015. Flexo Concepts announced today that international sales representative, Bernat Ferrete, has been relocated to Barcelona, Spain to provide the company with a sales base in Europe. The move follows the establishment of a U.K. distribution center in 2010 to support sales in Great Britain and on the continent.

Bernat will be responsible for Latin America, the Middle East and Africa in addition to Europe. He will focus on growing the TruPoint doctor blade business by building relationships with OEMs, managing the company’s reseller base and selling to end users in these territories.

Prior to joining Flexo Concepts in 2014, Bernat received his MBA from the Hult International Business School in Boston. His early professional career included 10 years of global sales and trade in the LATAM and EMEA regions.

For more information about Flexo Concepts or its products, visit www.flexoconcepts.com. To access a complete press kit, go to www.flexoconcepts.com/media/.

About Flexo Concepts
Headquartered in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Flexo Concepts manufactures TruPoint doctor blades, the TruPoint QuikWash™ System and wash-up blades, and MicroClean™ dry media anilox cleaning systems. All products are designed to improve print quality and reduce operational costs for flexographic and offset printers. Flexo Concepts™ maintains distribution locations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. For more information about the company and its products visit www.flexoconcepts.com. For regular updates, follow Flexo Concepts on Facebook and Twitter.
Kanban 101
In today’s competitive marketplace, manufacturers are looking for ways to improve efficiency and wring costs out of the production process. By adopting lean manufacturing concepts, companies can eliminate waste and operate more efficiently. One way to do this is to implement kanban, a Japanese inventory scheduling system that promotes just-in-time production by delivering parts on an as-needed basis.

In a kanban system, the production process is seen as a “chain,” where each “process” becomes the supplier for the next (“downstream”) process in the sequence and a customer to the previous (“upstream”) process. This approach extends all the way to a company’s external suppliers and customers. It optimizes production flow and minimizes inventory levels by directing the supply of parts and components to workers exactly when and where they need them.

The advantages of using a kanban system include:
- Lower inventory costs
- Quicker response to changes in demand
- Increased productivity and efficiency
- Reduced waste
Kanban Origins

Kanban originated in Japan in the mid-20^th century by Toyota looking to increase the efficiency of its factories. Its engineers were inspired by the inventory replenishment process used by supermarkets. They observed that customers purchase only the items and quantities they need, and store employees restock their shelves with only as much product as they expect to sell. This began an important distinction between a “push” system of manufacturing and a demand-based or “pull” system.

Push vs. Pull Inventory Control Systems

With traditional push manufacturing systems, companies produce what they think their customers will order and make items to stock in batches. While there are economies of scale, the downside is that inventory costs are high and companies can end up overproducing if sales forecasts are incorrect. Excess inventory ties up working capital, increases storage costs and exposes the company to the risk of parts becoming obsolete.

A pull strategy, on the other hand, ties production directly to actual customer demand so there is little risk of overproduction and little excess inventory. Tasks in the production process are completed when requested by the next process down the line so parts or components are “pulled” into production only when needed. With a pull system of inventory management, a company may find itself slow to respond to a sudden increase in demand but very little capital is tied up in excess parts and storage.

Kanban Cards

In order to facilitate its just-in-time manufacturing system, Toyota instituted a method using cards in its factories called “kanban” (a Japanese word combining “kan” for card and “ban” for signal). The cards, called “kanbans,” contain information about how to replenish each component used in production. By moving a kanban, an employee can signal when more parts are needed by an upstream process, prompting the production or purchase of these additional parts. Each kanban conveys all information required to replace the item such as the part name, number and description as well as the quantity to be produced and any other information about how the replenishment should take place. When delivering a kanban, the employee will write the date the order is initiated or “dropped” and when the parts are needed. The card is placed in a kanban rack to be retrieved along with the container by the appropriate person in the upstream process. Once replenished, the bin containing the new parts and kanban card are returned to their original location.

Six Elements of Kanban

The following principles are fundamental to a kanban system:
1. Downstream processes always pull from upstream processes
2. Upstream processes produce only when instructed
3. Defects are never passed on to the next station
4. Kanban cards are attached to part containers and no item is moved without a kanban
5. Production is leveled throughout the system to prevent bottlenecks
6. There is continuous fine-tuning of the kanbans in the production process
The success of kanban as an inventory control system depends on its execution. Adopting this system requires well-defined, documented procedures and training so employees are clear about every step, because a disruption in the process may lead to out-of-stocks and delays in filling customer orders. If executed properly, this is an excellent tool used to facilitate just-in-time manufacturing by eliminating waste and inefficiency from the production process.
What the Automakers Have Taught Us About Manufacturing Efficiency
We’ve learned a lot from the automakers when it comes to manufacturing efficiency. Our car-making forefathers took a long look at their production methods and figured out ways to increase value by making improvements in their processes. Today, printers, along with countless other industries, are realizing the benefits of implementing these concepts to improve their bottom lines.

It started with Henry Ford. He revolutionized the production process by using interchangeable parts, standardization, and what he’s best known for, the assembly line. By streamlining production, he was able to mass produce the Model T and make cars available to middle class families across America for the first time in 1908. By 1927, Ford had shipped 15 million cars, and the Model T came to symbolize a new method of manufacturing.

In the mid-21^st century, Toyota engineers expanded on Ford’s ideas to become more market-focused. Their inspiration came from a supermarket model of inventory management where stores restock their shelves as products are purchased by shoppers. Applied to manufacturing, the concept of just-in-time inventory replenishment recognizes that more efficient inventory management results when customers “pull” products through the supply chain.

According to Toyota’s website, the objective of its “Toyota Production System,” or TPS, is to serve its customers and employees while aligning with the company’s business goals. Central to the TPS are the principles of “Kaizen,” “Just in Time Manufacturing” and “Jidoka.” These values attempt to maximize efficiency and quality by using methods that simplify production flow and speed up response times. Production is driven by customer demand, and the way resources are allocated within the plant is known as “kanban.” All employees throughout the organization strive for continuous improvement in every aspect of the process.

Modern lean manufacturing is derived from the TPS and strives to eliminate all excess from a manufacturing system by focusing only on the things that add value. By removing the causes of “muri”,” or overburdening of people or equipment, and “mura,” or unevenness, the overall “muda,” or waste in the manufacturing process is reduced. (These terms were originally used in Japanese martial arts to protect the fighter by eliminating unnecessary movements!) In relation to manufacturing, seven deadly wastes (or mudas) have been identified:
1. Transportation
2. Inventory
3. Motion
4. Waiting
5. Over-processing
6. Over-production
7. Defects
These activities take up time, resources and space and add no value in the eyes of the customer. The more these wastes can be minimized, the more dollars a manufacturer can wring out of the production process.

For several years, press builder Gallus has seen lean manufacturing concepts in the print industry “as a means of ensuring perfect job processing without sacrificing profit margins.” Through its “Smart Production Concept” program, Gallus helps its customers evaluate their print quality, production sequences and production environment to find opportunities to improve pressroom efficiency. The press manufacturer compares lean manufacturing to Formula 1 racing, where “a single second more or less at a pit stop can make the difference between winning and losing.”

We can learn a lot from our predecessors when it comes to many things, and manufacturing methods are no exception. Through the years, companies have continued to improve upon the basic concepts of production efficiency introduced by Henry Ford and Toyota. Today, printers and businesses across many industry sectors strive to adopt the principles of lean manufacturing in order to achieve the ultimate goal of maximizing value to customers and optimizing profits.
Imaj Otomasyon Awarded Exclusive Distribution Rights for TruPoint™ Doctor Blades in Turkey

Herb Cole and Bernat Ferrete of Flexo Concepts with Murat Mutlu of Imaj Otomasyon

Plymouth, MA, October 19, 2015. Flexo Concepts® announced that Imaj Otomasyon Sanayi Ticaret Ltd. will have exclusive distribution rights to sell TruPoint doctor blades in all flexo and sheetfed offset markets in Turkey.

Founded in 2007 by the current owner, Murat Mutlu, Imaj Otomasyon sells equipment and consumable parts to the local printing industry. The company also represents and provides service and support to the following OEMs: Iwasaki, Gew, Astin, Smag and EyeC.

To learn more about TruPoint doctor blades, visit www.flexoconcepts.com. To access a complete press kit, go to www.flexoconcepts.com/media.

About Flexo Concepts
Headquartered in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Flexo Concepts manufactures TruPoint doctor blades, the TruPoint QuikWash™ System and wash-up blades, and MicroClean™ dry media anilox cleaning systems. All products are designed to improve print quality and reduce operational costs for flexographic and offset printers. Flexo Concepts maintains distribution locations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. For more information about the company and its products visit www.flexoconcepts.com. For regular updates, follow Flexo Concepts on Facebook and Twitter.
Gonderflex Chooses TruPoint Orange® Doctor Blade to Deliver Maximum Value to Customers

Gonderflex Rotoworx Finishing Solution

Plymouth, MA, October 14, 2015. Flexo Concepts® announced today that Gonderflex International, Inc. is now shipping all of its presses with the TruPoint Orange doctor blade. The company uses Orange to prevent anilox roll scoring and for its consistent performance on a variety of press widths.

Based near Montreal, Quebec, and Canada’s leading manufacturer of flexographic presses, Gonderflex specializes in custom equipment for converting, printing and packaging applications. At this year’s Labelexpo show in Brussels, the company exhibited its new generation Rotoworx finishing solution featuring the Orange blade.

When asked why he chose Orange, Stefan Langguth, North and South American Sales and Technical Manager, explained that his company recommends using plastic doctor blades on ceramic anilox rolls to protect against scoring. He went on to say that, “TruPoint [Orange] has been very good for us and our customers, running up to 28-30” across with no issues.”

To learn more about TruPoint Orange, visit www.flexoconcepts.com. To access a complete press kit, go to www.flexoconcepts.com/media.

About Flexo Concepts
Headquartered in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Flexo Concepts manufactures TruPoint doctor blades, the TruPoint QuikWash™ System and wash-up blades, and MicroClean™ dry media anilox cleaning systems. All products are designed to improve print quality and reduce operational costs for flexographic and offset printers. Flexo Concepts™ maintains distribution locations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. For more information about the company and its products visit www.flexoconcepts.com. For regular updates, follow Flexo Concepts on Facebook and Twitter.
“Back to the Future” Collaboration Piece to Feature Latest Flexo Technologies at Labelexpo Europe 2015

Plymouth, MA, September 24, 2015. Seven industry partners have chosen the theme, “Back to the Future,” to present the latest advancements in flexo printing technology at Labelexpo Europe 2015. The group worked together to create a piece that highlights each company’s newest innovations.

The collaboration includes contributions from ACTEGA, Flexo Concepts, Harper, MacDermid and UPM Raflatac. CalPoly is credited with the design and Clemson University undertook the printing at its Sonoco Institute of Packaging and Graphics. The piece will be available at the companies’ stands below, where visitors to all four stands can enter to win daily prizes.

A “Back to the Future” theme honors the 30th anniversary of Labelexpo Europe’s move to Brussels and pays tribute to the 1980s hit film series with the same name. The changes that occurred over three decades of time travel in the movie are meant to reflect the dramatic improvements that have taken place in the flexographic print industry.

To learn more or to enter for a chance to win, stop by the following stands at the show:

Flexo Concepts – Stand 4B70
Harper Corporation of America – Stand 7A36
MacDermid Printing Solutions – Stand 11E45
UPM Raflatac – Stand 5D41

For more information, you may also visit www.flexofuture.com.
Edale Graphium, FL-3 and FL-5 Presses Shipping wtih TruPoint Orange® Doctor Blade

Plymouth, MA, September 18, 2015. Flexo Concepts® announced today that Edale is now shipping its Graphium, FL-3 and FL-5 flexo press models with the TruPoint Orange doctor blade. The blade was chosen to maximize the value of the machines by providing high quality metering and safety benefits. The blade also reduces UV ink spitting in narrow web applications.

Graphium is a hybrid press combining exceptional digital print quality with advanced flexographic technologies, complimented by automated finishing and integrated workflow, providing an efficient total print solution. The performance of the Edale presses is enhanced by the precision metering and safety advantages derived from the TruPoint Orange doctor blade.

TruPoint Orange Doctor Blade on Edale FL-3 Press

“Using TruPoint Orange is an example of how we integrate the leading technologies of other suppliers to help our customers get the best return on their investment,” said Darron Shimmons, Print & Technical Services Manager at Edale. “Our presses have been carefully designed to bring efficiency and flexibility to the pressroom. Installing the Orange blade ensures that printers who buy our equipment can maintain a high level of print quality and remain competitive in the marketplace.”

With over 50 years of experience in the printing and packaging industry, Edale is a leading designer, manufacturer and supplier of high technology, narrow-mid web flexographic and digital printing presses and converting equipment. Edale’s expertise in web transport for single pass inkjet enables technology clients to commercialize their innovations with the essential features and necessary standards demanded by the packaging industry. For more information about Edale, visit www.edale.com.

TruPoint Orange will be featured on two of Edale’s presses at Labelexpo Europe. Visit the company at stand 7D39 to find out more about these models and why Orange was selected as the blade of choice.

To learn more about the TruPoint Orange doctor blade, you can visit Flexo Concepts at the show at stand 4B70. To access a complete press kit, go to www.flexoconcepts.com/media.

About Flexo Concepts
Headquartered in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Flexo Concepts manufactures TruPoint doctor blades, the TruPoint QuikWash™ System and wash-up blades, and MicroClean™ dry media anilox cleaning systems. All products are designed to improve print quality and reduce operational costs for flexographic and offset printers. Flexo Concepts maintains distribution locations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. For more information about the company and its products visit www.flexoconcepts.com. For regular updates, follow Flexo Concepts on Facebook and Twitter.
Flexo Concepts and Partners Travel “Back to the Future” at Labelexpo Europe 2015

Flexo Concepts and its industry partners have chosen the theme, “Back to the Future,” to present the latest advancements in flexo printing technology at Labelexpo Europe 2015. The piece will be distributed at the show, and visitors interested in learning more about these progressive technologies will be rewarded with a chance to win daily prizes.

In addition to Flexo Concepts, the collaborators included ACTEGA, CalPoly, Clemson, Harper, MacDermid, and UPM Raflatac. The companies worked together to produce a printed sample that demonstrates the impressive capabilities of today’s flexographic printers. The eye-catching piece is a platform for the companies to show off their newest innovations from substrate to press to specialty finishes.

The team decided on the movie theme to honor the 30^th anniversary of Labelexpo Europe’s move to Brussels and to pay tribute to the 1980s hit film series, “Back to the Future.” In the trilogy, time travel lands Michael J. Fox’s character, Marty McFly, 30 years in the future in the year (and month of October!) 2015. The marketing piece features the legendary time machine, a futuristic DeLorean. The remarkable changes that occurred over that 3-decade period in the movie are meant to reflect the dramatic improvements that have recently taken place in the flexographic print industry.

LabelExpo Partner Contributions

The inks and coatings were supplied by ACTEGA. The company’s ACTExact® UV process inks are G7 center-line, balanced colors using the cleanest pigments dispersed into a true, liquid rheology ink product. Its PharmaFlex® Avalanche UV white is a high opacity ink formulated to trap colors cleanly onto a smooth, even surface. MiraFoil® UV silver, a brilliant, trappable metallic ink, is formulated with a proprietary aluminum flake engineered for optimum reflectance in the ink structure. ACTEGA’s PureFlex® UV gold is a bright, true gold color dispersed into a low viscosity, easy to use base. Its GlossCoat® UV curable special effects products include Glow-in-the-Dark, Optically Variable colors and proprietary Glass/Pearl technology, and Rad-Kote® UV is a curable tactile special effect coating that emulates a rubber feel.

CalPoly was responsible for creating the design, and Clemson University printed the samples at its Sonoco Institute of Packaging and Graphics using its Omet Varyflex press running 125 fpm (38 mpm).

Flexo Concepts’ TruPoint Orange® doctor blade was used to produce the fine microtext and apply the specialty inks and coatings to the piece. The next generation polymer blade has a “MicroTip®” edge which is capable of achieving a fine contact area with the anilox roll for a more effective wipe. Orange is considered a replacement for steel in narrow web applications and has been proven effective at eliminating UV ink spitting and reducing pressroom injuries.

Harper Corporation of America supplied its anilox technology for the process and specialty ink. Harper’s XLT-60° engravings were used for the CMYK sections. Also supplied were a range of other XLT engravings along with various LaserKote anilox engravings needed to print the various specialty inks.

The piece was printed using a LUX ITP 60 printing plate from MacDermid. LUX ITP 60 is the only plate currently available in the industry to offer flat-to dots built directly into the plate, with no additional steps or equipment necessary. LUX flat-tops from MacDermid provide improvements in print quality and consistency. The plate used at the white print station for this piece was Digital MWW from MacDermid. Digital MWW is a revolutionary new plate from MacDermid that offers increased opacity and decreased mottle for white ink laydown.

UPM Raflatac provided the substrate for the project. The company’s new VANISH™ TC ultra-thin, ultra-clear polyester films are the ideal choice for the no-label look on rigid containers in applications where both clarity and resistance against water, oil and chemicals is essential. Featuring a 0.92 mil top-coated PET face, which is smoother than traditional polypropylene materials, these label stocks provide excellent ink adhesion and a perfect canvas for UV flexo, water-based flexo, cold foil and other complex print methods and imagery.

Be sure to travel “Back to the Future” and learn more about the latest advancements in flexo printing at Labelexpo Europe 2015. Watch for the creative piece at the show for more information about these industry suppliers and their stand locations.
Flexo Concepts® Will Feature New MicroTip® Variations on TruPoint Orange® at Labelexpo Europe 2015

Plymouth, MA, September 11, 2015. Flexo Concepts will promote new MicroTip configurations on its TruPoint Orange doctor blade at this year’s Labelexpo show in Brussels.

MicroTip is a modified lamella tip that allows for a finer contact area with the anilox roll on mid-high line screens. The tip configuration combined with a next generation polymer material is what gives the Orange blade the ability to match the print quality derived from a steel blade.

Since its release to the market in early 2013, TruPoint Orange has been endorsed by a number of press manufacturers and is currently shipping as the standard blade on many new machine installations. This year at Labelexpo, Orange will be featured on equipment by Mark Andy, Edale, AB Graphic, HP, Domino, Grafisk Maskinfabrik and Focus.

To learn more, visit Flexo Concepts stand 4B70 at the show or go to www.flexoconcepts.com. To access a complete press kit, go to www.flexoconcepts.com/media.

About Flexo Concepts
Headquartered in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Flexo Concepts manufactures TruPoint doctor blades, the TruPoint QuikWash™ System and wash-up blades, and MicroClean™ dry media anilox cleaning systems. All products are designed to improve print quality and reduce operational costs for flexographic and offset printers. Flexo Concepts maintains distribution locations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. For more information about the company and its products visit www.flexoconcepts.com. For regular updates, follow Flexo Concepts on Facebook and Twitter.
TruPoint Orange® Doctor Blade by Flexo Concepts® Earns Prestigious Esko HD Flexo Certification

Plymouth, MA, August 31, 2015. Flexo Concepts is excited to announce that it has been named an HD Flexo Certified Vendor by Esko for its TruPoint Orange doctor blade. Orange is the first non-metallic blade to receive this certification.

To become certified, Flexo Concepts submitted print samples with specifications to Esko’s Izahof, Germany certification center. HD specialists evaluated the work and validated the doctor blade with their HD Flexo certification.

Pioneered by Esko, HD Flexo is a revolutionary new process for making digital flexographic printing plates that produce higher quality print and more consistency than standard digital plates. The process combines 4000 dpi HD optics with unique printing screening technologies to achieve sharper and more accurate imaging.

According to Esko, “Bringing consistency, vibrant colors and increased print quality, HD Flexo raises the industry standard in flexo printing.” It is widely regarded as the next step in the evolution of flexography and is believed to put this printing method on par with other printing methods: “Flexo printing can now compete with offset for quality labels and with gravure printing for flexible packaging.”

For more information about Flexo Concepts’ TruPoint Orange doctor blade, visit the company at Labelexpo Europe 2015 in stand 4B70 or www.flexoconcepts.com. To access a complete press kit, go to www.flexoconcepts.com/media.

About Flexo Concepts
Headquartered in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Flexo Concepts manufactures TruPoint doctor blades, the TruPoint QuikWash™ System and wash-up blades, and MicroClean™ dry media anilox cleaning systems. All products are designed to improve print quality and reduce operational costs for flexographic and offset printers. Flexo Concepts maintains distribution locations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. For more information about the company and its products visit www.flexoconcepts.com. For regular updates, follow Flexo Concepts on Facebook and Twitter.