Author: Christine Duggan

Flexo Concepts® to Join Harper’s 2015 Roadshow in Seattle, Washington

Plymouth, MA, August 28, 2015. Flexo Concepts is excited to announce plans to once again join up with Harper Corporation’s Roadshow, this time at the fourth stop of its 2015 tour in Seattle, Washington. The event will take place at the DoubleTree Suites at 16500 Southcenter Parkway on September 22.

Flexo Concepts is one of several leading industry co-suppliers chosen to present at this location. National Account Manager John Hirko will talk about the latest advancements in doctor blade materials and edge design. He will also provide the audience with general tips for optimizing blade performance.

This annual event is hosted by Harper free-of-charge. However, space is limited and anyone interested in attending is encouraged to register as soon as possible. Go to www.harperimage.com/Information-Center/Roadshows to reserve a spot.

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.
Flexo Concepts® to Support Brazilian Distributors at Conferência Intercontinental de Flexografia 2015

Plymouth, MA, August 11, 2015. Flexo Concepts announced plans today to attend Conferência Intercontinental de Flexografia 2015 on September 2-3 in São Paulo, Brazil. International sales representative Bernat Ferrete will be available to support the company’s two distributors, Group Work and Mercury, and he will be a presenter at the conference.

Group Work is a supplier of leading industry products with a portfolio ranging from machinery and equipment, blankets and rollers to chemicals and consumable parts. The company sells TruPoint products into the local tag & label, flexible packaging and sheetfed offset markets. Mercury is the largest provider of belts, blankets and polyurethane parts for the packaging industry in South America and sells TruPoint doctor blades to the Brazilian corrugated market.

In addition to providing support to the company’s distributors, Bernat Ferrete will present, “Next Generation Polymer Doctor Blades are a Safe AND Effective Replacement for Steel.” The lecture will take place at 9:00 AM on 3 September.

Flexografia Conferência runs every two years in conjunction with the Brazilian FTA. With a completely redesigned format and new venue in 2015, the show will be the largest flexographic and digital technology event in Latin America.

If you would like to learn more about TruPoint blades or request a sample, visit Group Work or Mercury at the show or 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.
Barkev Graphics is Named Exclusive Distributor of TruPoint™ Doctor Blades in South Africa

Plymouth, MA, August 11, 2015. Flexo Concepts® announced that Barkev Graphics has been awarded exclusive distribution rights to sell TruPoint doctor blades in South Africa. The company is currently representing the line in all flexographic and sheetfed offset markets in the southern and eastern regions of the continent.

Barkev Graphics was established in 1988 to import specialized print consumables for a small customer base. Since then, the company has grown into a distinguished supplier of general printing consumables and equipment, packaging and industrial cutting blades, and water-based coatings and cleaners. Barkev operates three offices in the territory and maintains a brand supported by quality products, excellent service and knowledgeable employees.

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

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.
Mark Andy Shipping Versa Max with TruPoint Orange® Doctor Blades

Plymouth, MA, July 22, 2015. Flexo Concepts® announced today that Mark Andy has begun shipping its Versa Max press line with the TruPoint Orange doctor blade.

Introduced in late 2013, Versa Max was designed by Mark Andy to meet the demands of short run film and flexible packaging work while offering a lower unit printed cost than any other press in its class. The model delivers high production speeds and top quality printing across a variety of substrates.

Mark Andy started shipping its P Series presses with the TruPoint Orange blade two years ago. In both cases, the company chose Orange as a blade that will deliver maximum performance as well as resolve issues related to UV ink spitting, anilox scoring and insufficient blade life.

To learn more about the TruPoint Orange doctor blade, 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.
Flexo Concepts® Names RR Print A/S Exclusive TruPoint™ Doctor Blade Distributor in Scandinavia

Plymouth, MA, June 30, 2015. Flexo Concepts announced that Danish company RR Print A/S has been named the exclusive distributor of TruPoint doctor blade products in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. RR Print first became interested in TruPoint blades at Labelexpo Europe 2013 when Flexo Concepts tweeted about its newest blade innovation, TruPoint Orange®.

The terms of the agreement outline exclusive distribution rights to sell TruPoint blades in the narrow web, wide web, envelope offset, and coating & laminating markets. The company will also sell into the corrugated market in the region.

RR Print is a privately-owned company that represents a range of consumer goods and technical equipment manufacturers in the Scandinavian graphic industry. Products include paints, detergents and dampening solution for track cleaning systems, static control and complete post-press solutions. The company recently diversified into the narrow web sector, adding doctor blades, inks, varnishes and washes for the label market.

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

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.
Polymer Doctor Blades are Safe Substitutes for Steel in Flexible Packaging

If you are using steel doctor blades, you are probably well aware of the risk of serious cuts from handling the blades. Pressroom injuries can be expensive in terms of morale and accident-related expenses. Today’s next generation polymer blades combine the best of traditional plastic and steel blades and provide safe substitutes for steel in flexible packaging applications.

As steel doctor blades wear, their tips become honed through contact with the anilox roll, leaving razor-sharp edges. Press operators need to be extremely careful and wear protective gloves when removing the worn blades from the press to avoid injuries.

Until recently, steel was the only material capable of producing the high quality print required in flexible packaging applications so printers had no choice but to accept these risks. While plastic blades were safer, they were not able to achieve a fine enough contact area with the high line screen rolls.

Today’s next generation polymer blades act as a hybrid between steel and plastic and offer a safe alternative to steel. The combination of an advanced polymer material and an innovative “MicroTip®” design allows these blades to perform in highly demanding applications where previously steel was the only option. Due to their material composition, the new polymer blades are safe to handle even when worn. Converting to these blades will reduce lost-time accidents and can save a printer a lot of money in terms of workman’s compensation insurance rates, medical bills, labor replacement expenses and press downtime.

When it comes to the pressroom, safety is everyone’s concern. Flexible packaging printers no longer have to accept the danger that comes with using steel blades to get the print quality their customers demand. To greatly reduce the risk of injury and associated costs, try substituting next generation polymer blades for steel.

Request a Free TruPoint Doctor Blade Sample
Flexo Concepts® Congratulates Clemson University for Being Named “Overall Winner” in the 2015 Phoenix Challenge Competition

Plymouth, MA, May 21, 2015. Flexo Concepts would like to recognize Clemson University for its outstanding performance in this year’s Phoenix Challenge. The event took place during the 2015 annual FTA Forum in Nashville, Tennessee. Nine colleges and 53 students participated in the competition.

The Phoenix Challenge Foundation is a not-for-profit organization made up of industry volunteers committed to developing young flexographic printing professionals. Each year, colleges are invited to compete by solving an industry-specific problem. The students engage in a semester-long process of market research, concept development, design and execution before presenting their solution to a panel of judges.

This year’s assignment was to assist a local public attraction with a rebranding, promotion, labeling or packaging project including the creation of 2-3 flexo-printed products. The students from Clemson University chose to work with the Greenville Zoo to design and produce items for a children’s scavenger hunt. The project was a huge success with a 45-minute “sell out” at the opening event and the zoo’s plans to recreate the products next year.

The products were produced on a narrow web press at the Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics. Flexo Concepts’ TruPoint Orange® doctor blade was used on all press runs of the project. Specifically, Orange was chosen to create a .5pt micro-text as well as apply a specialty doming varnish for scuff resistance. A number of different MicroTip® edges were used to achieve the desired results.

For more information about the Phoenix Challenge Foundation or to purchase a sponsorship for the upcoming Golf Outing on August 5, 2015, please contact Bettylyn Krafft at 704-309-3748 or visit www.phoenixchallenge.org.

If you would like to learn more about TruPoint Orange doctor blades or request a sample, 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.
Our Visit to SinoCorrugated 2015 – Shanghai, China

Kevin McLaughlin

April was a highlight of our corrugated marketing efforts in the Far East as Flexo Concepts® supported its Asian distributors at SinoCorrugated 2015. Taking place every two years, the event is known for showcasing a plethora of the latest in corrugated machinery and equipment among a lively atmosphere of partnering, relationship building and business transacting.

Our Asian Key Account Manager, Steve Kao, and I took advantage of our four days at the show to make our way around the 67,000 square meters of exhibition area filled with more than 600 exhibitors. We were two of over 40,000 local and international attendees who had come to see some 1,400 pieces of corrugated manufacturing equipment and check out some 1,000 consumable products.

A large part of the reason for our visit was to support our Asian distributors who were exhibiting at the show: GrandCorp Group, Guangzhou Ming Yang and Guangzhou Ruijian, a doctor blade chamber OEM that also featured our blades on their equipment. We are grateful for their continued promotion of the benefits of our doctor blade products. We would like to thank two additional chamber manufacturers, Baoqi and Corupak, who also featured our TruPoint™ blades on their equipment.

As China’s economic development continues to outpace the rest of the world and the country maintains its status as the largest corrugated market, we believe that Flexo Concepts is well-positioned to enjoy sustained growth in the region. Our company has been actively selling its non-metallic doctor blades in China for over 14 years and is currently a major supplier to the local corrugated OEMs. As a result, TruPoint has become the leading doctor blade brand. At SinoCorrugated this year, we took the opportunity to introduce our newest blade, TruPoint Orange®, to the corrugated market. This product has been very successful in narrow web flexo applications as a safe and longer-lasting substitute for steel. Early testing has shown that these benefits also transfer to corrugated high-end graphics applications.

Again this year, SinoCorrugated lived up to its reputation as “the largest business platform for the global corrugated manufacturing industry.” Having shown steady growth since 2001 in terms of the number of visitors and exhibitors, machines on display and show area, I think all would agree that the show is worthy undertaking. I know the event was a big success for Flexo Concepts, and we look forward to returning in 2017!
Flexo Concepts® to Support Italian Distributors at Converflex 2015

Plymouth, MA, April 28, 2015. Flexo Concepts announced plans today to attend Converflex 2015 on May 19-23 in Milan, Italy. The show will be held in conjunction with IPACK-IMA, the leading exhibition for processing and packaging technology, and four related food-industry events (Meat-Tech, Dairytech, Fruit Innovation and Intralogistica Italia). The combined powerhouse promises to feature over 2,500 exhibitors and attract more than 100,000 visitors in the package printing, converting, labeling and tissue markets.

Flexo Concepts will be at the show to support its two Italian distributors, Printgraph S.p.A. and Acus SRL. Printgraph is a distributor of industry-leading consumable products for the offset market. The company sells Flexo Concepts’ proprietary TruPoint QuikWash™ wash-up system and TruPoint™ doctor blades for offset coating applications. For more information or to obtain blade samples, stop by Pav 2, Stand E20.

Acus offers technologies solutions and expertise for the prepress and package printing markets. The company represents TruPoint doctor blades, including the newest blade innovation, TruPoint Orange®, in the narrow web and other flexographic printing sectors. To meet with a representative from Acus at the show, please email Stefano D’Andrea at [email protected].

If you would like to learn more about TruPoint blades or request a sample, 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.
Flexo Concepts® to Feature TruPoint™ Doctor Blades at INFO*FLEX 2015

Plymouth, MA, April 13, 2015. Flexo Concepts announced plans today to attend INFO*FLEX 2015 on May 4-5 in Nashville, Tennessee.

At the show, 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.

To learn more about TruPoint blades or to request a sample, visit Flexo Concepts at the show (booth #232) or online at 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 Promoted in Gravure Coating and Converting Applications at ICE Europe 2015

Plymouth, MA, March 27, 2015. Flexo Concepts® TruPoint Orange doctor blade generated a great deal of interest from flexo printers and gravure coaters and converters at ICE Europe 2015.

“It was our second time exhibiting at this show and our success there was beyond my expectations,” said Kevin McLaughlin, president of Flexo Concepts. “We found the applications a good fit with our technology, and the quality of the conversations was exceptional.”

In a wide variety of flexo printing and gravure coating applications, TruPoint™ doctor blades provide greater wear resistance and longer blade life than steel blades. For the tightest printing and coating tolerances, TruPoint Orange combines a next generation polymer material with a MicroTip® edge to deliver the metering quality of steel with the blade life and safety benefits of a traditional plastic doctor blade.

Recyl, Flexo Concepts’ distributor in France, Germany and Austria, also represented Orange on its stand at the show. In addition, the blade was featured on the corrugated side in the CCE International Exhibition Hall. The Italian OEM, Packaging Plast, showcased the blade on its carbon fiber doctor blade system. The company recently began shipping all of its carbon fiber chambers standard with the Orange doctor blade.

Visit www.flexoconcepts.com for more information about Flexo Concepts and TruPoint Orange. To access a complete press kit, go to www.flexoconcepts.com/aboutus/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.
TruPoint Orange® Doctor Blades Shipping with All New Aztech Diemaster Series Rotary Diecutter Flexo Stations

TruPoint Orange Doctor Blade in Aztech Flexo Station

Plymouth, MA, March 19, 2015. Flexo Concepts® announced today that Aztech Converting Systems of Tempe, Arizona, is now shipping all of its Diemaster Series Rotary Diecutter flexo stations with the TruPoint Orange doctor blade. The converting equipment manufacturer selected Orange in order to maximize the efficiency of the printing and coating stations.

Since 1984, Aztech has designed and manufactured high quality, versatile and dependable converting equipment for the tag and label industry at affordable prices. Products include slitters/rewinders, rotary diecutters, roll handling equipment and converting accessories.

The Diemaster Series Rotary Diecutter is a servo driven modular system that functions as a precision web re-registration system, high-speed rotary die cutter system and slitter rewind inspection system all in one. A flexographic printing and coating station with hot air, IR or UV drying is an optional upgrade. The TruPoint Orange doctor blade, installed on all new flexo stations, delivers effective metering with additional safety and blade life benefits over steel blades.

To learn more about TruPoint Orange, visit www.flexoconcepts.com. To access a complete press kit, go to www.flexoconcepts.com/aboutus/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.
Anilox Roll Cleaning is Essential to Effective Ink Delivery
You spend a lot of time selecting the correct anilox roll for a job. Careful consideration goes into line screen, cell geometry and cell volume in order to guarantee that a precise amount of ink or coating is delivered to the substrate. Aniox roll cleaning is essential to maintain this precision. If you neglect to clean your rolls on a regular basis, you will not get the most out of your anilox investment. Plugged cells will affect print quality and cause you frustration, waste and downtime. An anilox roll cleaning program consisting of daily, weekly and deep cleaning will preserve the integrity of the anilox engraving and ensure quality, press efficiency and longer anilox life.

When a newly engraved anilox roll arrives from the manufacturer, volume is even across and around the surface of the roll. As the roll is used, however, a residual amount of ink or coating material is left behind in the cells after the transfer has taken place. The residue dries and creates build-up in the cells. Over time, these deposits decrease the capacity of the cells and reduce their ability to carry and release the volume of liquid for which they were designed. This residue also raises the surface tension, or dyne level, of the roll and increases the tendency of the coating to “cling” to the surface. When this occurs, the roll will not release the proper volume or ink or coating to the plate.

Benefits of regular anilox roll cleaning:
- The repeated transfer of a precise volume of ink or coating
- Consistent coverage
- Reduced labor and less downtime
- Fewer job rejections and waste
- Longer anilox life and lower re-working costs
Flexo Concepts recommends a 3-step anilox roll cleaning program:

1. Daily wiping to prevent ink or coating build-up

Applying a liquid cleaning agent by hand and wiping down the roll with a clean, lint-free cloth on a daily basis is the simplest and most effective way to keep ink and coating from drying and building up in the cells. As a basic rule of thumb, the best time to clean a roll is as soon as it is removed from the press. The longer inks, resins, adhesives, etc. have been allowed to sit in the engraving, the harder these materials are to remove. To maximize cleaning performance, choose a cleaner specifically formulated to remove water-based, UV or solvent-based chemistries based on your application.

2. Weekly scrubbing with a paste-like cleaner and an anilox cleaning brush

Manually scrubbing the roll once or twice a week with a brush and a paste or cream chemical cleaner will mechanically loosen and remove any ink or coating residue that remain in cells despite daily cleaning. The cleaner is applied to the roll, vigorously scrubbed in a circular motion with an anilox cleaning brush and flushed with water while the roll remains in the press. It is important to remember that stainless steel brushes are suitable only for ceramic anilox surfaces and brass bristles should be used for chrome surfaces to prevent damage to the engraving.

3. Monthly deep cleaning to remove tough ink or coating deposits

Over time a residual amount of ink or coating material is left behind in the cells and the roll requires a deep cleaning to remove these tough deposits. The most common methods of deep cleaning are chemical wash and ultrasonic. With these methods, the roll is removed from the press and placed into a chemical bath where it soaks in a powerful cleaning solution before being subjected to a high pressure rinse or ultrasonic vibrations to loosen and dissolve the deposits. These methods vary in cleaning effectiveness, risk of damage to the roll, and water and chemical consumption.

There are also particle-blasting methods of mechanically removing the dried cell contents. These methods are especially effective for removing chemistries that may be resistant to chemical cleaners. Soda blasting technology uses small granules of sodium carbonate to go in and “pick out” the ink or coating. The roll is then rinsed with water and wiped to remove any remaining soda residue. A more eco-friendly method to deep cleaning anilox rolls that uses no water or chemicals is the MicroClean™ System: an off-press, completely dry media cleaning machine that uses recyclable plastic media pellets. The system gently but thoroughly removes all types of dried inks and coatings, virtually restoring cell volume to full capacity with each cleaning.

Laser cleaning is another anilox deep-cleaning method that’s growing in popularity and effective at removing chemical-resistant ink and coating deposits. The technology uses a pulsed laser beam to heat and evaporate the tough residue in the anilox cells. This method requires no consumable and produces no waste stream, although the capital investment is high.

Like on other parts of the press, a maintenance program for anilox rolls keeps the ink delivery system running at its peak. Regular anilox roll cleaning will prevent anilox cells from plugging with residue and stop build-up before it dries. Maintaining anilox rolls through a regular cleaning program can pay off tremendously in terms of maximizing print quality, press efficiency and cost control. Click here for more information on our anilox roll cleaning brushes
5 Reasons to Switch to Polyester Containment Blades

Switching to polyester containment blades from steel can offer several benefits for printers. Here are the top 5 reasons to make the switch:

1. Elimination of Back Doctoring:

Some printers encounter back-doctoring issues at higher press speeds when using steel containment blades. Steel blades are too rigid to allow back-doctored ink to flow back into the chamber, leading to ink buildup and negatively affecting press uptime. Polyester blades, while effectively containing ink, are flexible enough to enable back-doctored ink to return into the chamber, preventing back-doctoring and maintaining print quality.

2. Cost Savings:

Polyester containment blades are significantly more cost-effective than steel blades. The price per inch for polyester blades is typically one-third to one-half that of steel, making them a cost-efficient choice for printers.

3. Enhanced Safety:

Replacing the steel containment blade in a chamber with polyester reduces the risk of doctor blade injuries by 50%. Polyester blades are safer to handle, as they don’t pose the same cutting hazard as steel blades during installation and removal from the press.

4. Prevention of Anilox Damage:

Polyester containment blades are gentle on anilox rolls. They won’t score or damage the rolls, and the material contains no sharp fragments that could break off and harm the engraving on the roll. This non-abrasive quality helps extend the life of anilox rolls, saving on the expense of re-engraving or replacement.

5. Reduced Environmental Impact:

Polyester containment blades emit a smaller amount of carbon dioxide during production compared to steel blades. Using polyester blades can help printers meet environmental requirements for reducing their carbon footprint, contributing to an eco-friendly printing process. Switching to polyester containment blades reduces downtime and provides a lower per-unit cost while delivering safety benefits, reducing back-doctoring, and lowering the environmental impact of the printing process. It’s a small change that can make a significant difference in efficiency and overall performance in the pressroom.

Request a Free Sample of TruPoint Polyester
Flexo Concepts to Feature TruPoint Orange Doctor Blade at ICE Europe/CCE International

Plymouth, MA, January 12, 2015. Flexo Concepts announced plans today to exhibit at ICE Europe and CCE International 2015. The co-located show will take place on March 10-12 at the Munich Trade Fair Center in Germany.

At the event, Flexo Concepts will promote its TruPoint Orange doctor blade technology, which combines a next generation polymer material with a MicroTip® edge. The result is a blade that can deliver the metering ability of steel with the safety benefits of a non-metallic blade. The blade can perform in a full range of flexible packaging and high graphics corrugated applications. Flexo Concepts will be located in Hall A6, Stand 172 and represented in several OEM booths throughout the show.

ICE Europe draws converting specialists from around the world and will include over 450 exhibitors from 19 countries this year, an increase of 16% over 2013. The neighboring CCE International exhibition is Europe’s only show dedicated to the corrugated and folding carton industry.

Visit Hall A6, Stand 172 or www.flexoconcepts.com for more information about Flexo Concepts and TruPoint Orange. To access a complete press kit, go to www.flexoconcepts.com/aboutus/media.php.

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.
TruPoint Orange Doctor Blades Shipping with All New Packaging Plast Carbon Fiber Doctor Blade Systems

Plymouth, MA, December 11, 2014. Flexo Concepts® announced today that Packaging Plast is shipping all of its carbon fiber doctor blade systems with the TruPoint Orange doctor blade.

The Italian OEM manufactures its chambers from a light carbon fiber material that offers printers better print quality and considerable savings on the inking systems of their presses. Among the advantages are better fluid movement, easy removal without safety concern, less water and wash-up solution usage, no corrosion, and extended doctor blade and end seal life.

Technoflex, located in Hiram, Georgia, was awarded exclusive distributorship of Packaging Plast’s doctor blade systems and accessories in June of this year. The company’s territory includes the U.S., Canada and Latin America with the exception of Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. All other global geographies will be serviced directly by Packaging Plast.

Visit Flexo Concepts and Packaging Plast at CCE International in Munich, Germany, March 10-12, 2015 at Stand #386.

To learn more about TruPoint Orange, go to www.flexoconcepts.com or call 508.830.9506. A complete press kit can be downloaded at www.flexoconcepts.com/resources/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.