When is the right time to invest in new flexographic printing equipment? It could be the need to stay competitive and meet customer demands for faster production, better quality, or enhanced transparency. Sometimes, it’s acknowledging that the latest equipment and software offer clear advantages that will impact your bottom line.
Whatever your reasons, the decision to invest in new flexographic printing equipment doesn’t always require a massive leap into cutting-edge technology. In many cases, it’s about upgrading existing machines to newer models that improve quality and performance, ultimately benefiting your business. But, of course, making sure it all works seamlessly is essential.
Raising the Bar with Upgraded Flexographic Printing Equipment
At Perflex, a Scarborough, Ontario-based firm, the push for new flexographic printing equipment was all about improving quality. The company, which produces films and plates in-house, has been using a Mekrom solvent plate processor for years. “The machine was doing a good job, but we wanted to step up our quality,” says Anthony Rovito, Perflex’s president.
After consulting with Anderson & Vreeland, Perflex learned that the newest Mekrom model could significantly enhance their printing capabilities. The brighter lights on the new processor allowed them to maintain smaller dots, resulting in sharper highlights and more detail in shadow areas. The outcome? A 20% improvement in image quality, which proved that upgrading their flexographic printing equipment made perfect sense.
This boost in quality is critical for Perflex, which serves a wide range of private-label and national brands in health and beauty, food and beverage, and nutraceutical industries across the U.S. and Canada. The company operates 10-color flexo presses alongside a 5-color digital press to meet evolving customer needs. Their focus on quality has earned them multiple gold medals at Labelexpo, and now, with the new Mekrom system in place, they’re poised to showcase even better results at future events.
The Importance of Support in Flexographic Printing Equipment Upgrades
While improved print quality was a driving factor, Rovito emphasizes that technical support from Anderson & Vreeland has been an even greater benefit. “It’s not just about the new flexographic printing equipment,” Rovito explains. “A&V has worked with us for years, providing invaluable support. Their local technician, Martin Schofield, knows the machine inside and out, ensuring we get the best performance out of it.”
Perflex also benefits from Anderson & Vreeland’s Technical Team, which supports their prepress operations. Even when some of the equipment or software didn’t come directly from Anderson & Vreeland, the team has helped streamline prepress and workflow, making the Perflex team more efficient and effective.
Making Flexographic Printing Equipment Work for You
For label printers and converters, customers may not always appreciate the subtle improvements in print detail that come from new flexographic printing equipment. However, these upgrades—whether in plate processors or workflow software—can have a significant impact on the quality of the final product. It’s up to the printing company to communicate these benefits to their customers, but it’s the expert support from trusted technical teams that brings these improvements to life.
“The new machinery and software are crucial,” Rovito concludes. “But at the end of the day, the support we receive is what makes all the difference.”
By investing in the right flexographic printing equipment and having a strong support system in place, companies can ensure they’re delivering the highest quality products to their customers while staying competitive in a fast-evolving industry.
