Q:   In flexible packaging what are the benefits to using digital printing versus rotogravure or flexographic?

A:  Digital printing can offer several advantages over conventional flexographic or rotogravure printing. The primary benefit is the ability to economically produce smaller runs, whether that be for a new product line, a start-up company with smaller-scale needs, or even smaller SKUs in a product line.  As SKU proliferation continues to enable brands to focus products on target audiences, digital printing is a great option to minimize incremental costs since there are no plates or cylinders that need changed between jobs. Digital printing offers opportunities for personalization, randomization, and serialization that simply aren’t feasible with conventional printing processes.

Q:  Is there a difference in the quality of print in digital printing vs. rotogravure or flexographic printing?

A:  There are slight differences, but the print quality from a digital press is excellent. Color consistency is high for digital printing compared to traditional print methods, and due to the way the inks are applied, registration can compete with very high quality rotogravure and HD flexo print. Many of the same film and paper structures that are printed using flexographic or rotogravure can also be printed digitally.

Q:  Is there a better time to use digital printing vs. conventional printing?

A:  Although digital printing can be more expensive at higher volumes, there tends to be a cost benefit when running orders smaller than 15,000 feet (approximately 30,000 pouches depending on pouch size). One thing to keep in mind is many digital presses are limited to a 30-inch web width. If the pouch or roll stock impression is larger than this, conventional print may be the only option. Digital print can enable quicker turnaround and shorter lead times, allowing customers to keep lower inventories or utilize a just in time supply chain.

Q:  How does ProAmpac engage in the digital printing space?

A:  ProAmpac has a digital program both in the US and the UK.  Our UK program, Ultimate Digital, has nearly a decade of digital printing and prepress expertise with in-house digital presses for production of rollstock and pouches.

In the US, we fulfill digital orders through an established partnership. We also supply pre-laminated print stock for use by digital printers.  DASL, ProAmpac’s Design and Sample Lab, can digitally print prototypes customers can design and order online using our MAKR tool.