30.08.10Young’s Seafood champions Ultimate’s new flexo packaging
Young's Seafood has championed a new printing technique for its food packaging which uses an innovative flexographic process instead of the traditional gravure method.
The new flexographic printing process has been developed by Ultimate Packaging, one of the UK's leading independent flexographic print suppliers to the food manufacturing and retail industry, Kodak USA and Miller Graphics in East Yorkshire. The process will generate the same outstanding image quality and consistency as gravure but with the convenience and flexibility of flexo print.
Ultimate Packaging has spent the past twelve months working closely with its partners to develop, test and integrate the new print product, which has been christened Flexeye®.
Many other major UK brand owners are also indicating a move away from gravure print as they seek a more sustainable, commercially-sound alternative, according to Chris Tonge, Sales and Marketing Director at Ultimate Packaging. "This is the single most exciting print development in the flexo industry for many years as it ticks all the boxes for printers and brand owners alike.
"The introduction of Flexeye® allows us to push the boundaries of flexo print and drive increased revenues through differentiated print, reducing costs through production efficiencies and increasing sustainability through reduction in printed substrate waste. We are absolutely committed to converting brand owners away from the traditional gravure process by demonstrating the ability to produce cost effective, amazing photographic print alongside vibrant solid colours."
The flexo process can produce high-end complex designs on packs using just four colours instead of eight, reducing ink wastage and downtime associated with washing special pantones from printing presses.
"We have recently delivered our first commercial range of 30 designs for an existing branded customer and have now launched the concept to our major partners and selected retailers - all are incredibly excited about the possibilities of Flexeye®."
Simon Robertson, Graphics Communication Manager at Findus Group added: "This new technique gives our products greater on-shelf impact and high-definition image quality that at one time could only be achieved with gravure print. Now we can take advantage of the commercial and economical benefits as well as the flexibility that this new technique offers."