Cost Reduction Implementation Standards: The Only Way to Improve Flexo Printing

After analyzing the characteristics and market of flexographic and gravure printing in recent years, the American Flexographic Technology Association (FTA) came to the following conclusions.

Cost and quality

From 1980 to 1995, due to the addition of some new and effective technologies, the flexo process has developed into a printing process that has been accepted by people and continues to develop. This achievement comes from the increase in the number of photosensitive resin varieties and the improvement of quality, the use of laser-engraved ceramic anilox rolls, ink improvements, and other technological innovations. Flexo printing has achieved rapid growth with an annual growth rate of more than 20%, gradually replacing the market share of other printing technologies. Flexo printing has the advantages of safety and health, high production efficiency, and low cost, and is more significant than gravure printing.

1. Quality first, cost is indispensable

From 1995 to 2000, flexo, anilox, ink, adhesive tape, etc., have undergone yet another round of improvements and enhancements, especially since the flexographic technology has continued to innovate. The quality of flexo printing is comparable to that of offset printing and gravure printing. 90 % Flexo manufacturers have been able to stably produce prints that meet the standards. The current task of flexo printing is to reduce costs.

2. Flexographic quality development

In order to enhance the competitiveness of the market, the quality of flexographic products must continue to increase. The three are basically similar through direct visual inspection or observation of flexo, gravure or even offset products with a magnifying glass. If you want to improve the quality of flexo printing, you will have to pay a lot of money, and the benefits will be less and less.

Flexo Printing's biggest competitor

The biggest pressure in the printing process is the oversupply of production capacity in the entire industry. In recent years, whether it is flexo or gravure printing, many high-speed and advanced equipment have been added, which has increased the cost accordingly and required the machine to operate at high load. Many printing companies have to chase the same order.

The increase in the cost of raw materials, coupled with the reduction in the price of flexo printing products, has reduced the profits of printing companies to the lowest level. In order to make up for the impact of price adjustments, only the increase in production efficiency has brought about significant risks, and there is a possibility that the flexo printing factories will merge. Even closed down.

How to maintain profit levels

While raising prices can maintain profit levels, it is not always available, especially when the buyer is dominant and united. This method does not work. Printing companies must find a variety of effective ways to increase profits. Here are a few practical measures.

1. save costs

That is to reduce the cost of each production process, more effective methods are: optimize equipment, reduce raw material consumption (pay attention to reduce the cost of paper), reduce labor costs, attach importance to mobilize the enthusiasm of workers and work efficiency.

2. Reduce scrap rate

Minimizing losses is a more effective way to increase profits. Excessive purchase of raw materials and excessively high grades will not only increase the printing costs, but will also be counter-productive, which will negatively affect the operation and production hours.

3. Standardize process flow

Adopting international or domestic standards to standardize equipment, processes, and raw materials can reduce preparation time before printing, stabilize process flow, reduce scrap rate, and maximize machine utilization. Welsh Centar, a printing company in the United Kingdom, has achieved excellent results in implementing ISO standards.

4. Improve automation

People in the industry are generally concerned about the degree of automation in flexo printing and the adoption of new computer-controlled technologies. However, this will increase costs and, in order to reduce negative impacts, it should be borne in mind that only the knowledge and experience of the people in the industry are the most valuable assets.

5. strengthen training

If any employee does not receive regular training, he will not attach importance to automation, standardization, how to reduce the scrap rate, and reduce costs, nor can he achieve something in this regard. Some manufacturers simply regard employee training as increasing costs and losing profits. Sending employees to a professional institution for training not only is expensive, but also affects the man-hours for production, and it also increases travel costs. More manufacturers through internal education, external teaching materials, multimedia simulation demonstration and network training. The most effective training is to enhance the staff's experience and decision-making ability, which has great benefits for the stable development of the company.

6. Cut prices

When productivity is excessive, competition is fierce, and merger pressure is too great, price cuts will not have a negative impact in the short term.