UV-Flex GmbH, a flexible-packaging printer in Aichstetten, Germany, commissions the first CI-flexo press designed for Sun Chemical's WetFlex™ process (www.sunchemical.com/wetflex). The 10-color press, a FLEXPRESS 16S from Fischer & Krecke (www.fischer-krecke.de), uses the innovative process in which radiation-cured inks are applied wet-on-wet to the substrate.

UV-Flex GmbH serves the dairy, sanitary and pharmaceutical packaging markets. “The WetFlex process has the potential to push flexo printing to an even wider acceptance. However, to tap the full potential of this new technology, a high-end flexo printing press is required. This is why we decided in favor of Fischer & Krecke,” says Rainer Schröpfer, UV-Flex managing director.

The specific properties of the WetFlex inks (UniQure™) required extensive modifications of the press's automatic inking and washup system. For example, the inks need to be temperature-controlled to ensure an optimum processing temperature at all production conditions. In the same manner, the inking and washup cycles of the AUTOCLEAN system had to be adapted to the properties of the 16 12 UniQure inks. At the end of the process, the inks are radiation-cured with no interstation drying required.

Compared to conventional systems that use solvent- or water-based inks, WetFlex reportedly allows for a much higher resolution of the graphics. This is due to a finer screen (up to 200 lpi), finer aniloxes and a more homogeneous dot structure. With regard to costs and environmental aspects, WetFlex needs no dryers or thermal-oxidation systems. This also has the added benefit that there are no CO2 emissions.