BOPP films are sought out by various manufacturers for multiple reasons. Thanks to the biaxial orientation process, BOPP films are durable and flexible enough to protect products during transport and shelving. These films also offer clarity and transparency, which allows customers to see what’s inside the packaging during purchase. Thus, increasing brand credibility and trustworthiness in the long run.
Another special feature of the BOPP film is its printability. BOPP films can take water-based and solvent-based inks onto their surface, making it easy for printing services to produce high-quality prints based on clients’ needs. Many businesses opt for BOPP film due to its ability to transfer visually striking colors onto the final packaging product without compromising quality.
How is it possible to print on flexible plastics such as BOPP film? Here are some of the most common printing technology used on BOPP films.
Flexography Printing
Flexography or flexo printing is the most widely used technology in the label industry as it is well-suited for high-volume label and packaging printing. This method allows designs and colors to be printed on porous and non-porous materials such as plastic, cardboard, paperboard, vinyl, and more. Flexo printing involves four or more cylinders wrapped with flexible photopolymer printing plates. These plates rotate at high speeds and utilize the tiny holes spread throughout the film to transfer ink. Because this technology uses flexible plates, manufacturers can create relief printing using high-end technology.
Flexography machines possess a multipurpose system that does printing, varnishing, laminating, and die-cutting in one go, which makes printing even more efficient. However, because of this, flexo printing will usually become more expensive than others.
Rotogravure Printing
Rotogravure printing might be a technology that many people are familiar with. It is a method that prints designs using depressions on a printing plate onto a form, cylinder, plate, or any other similar surfaces before applying the absolute substrate. Rotogravure printing is commonly used for commercial printing, such as magazines and newspapers.
Designs or images are engraved onto the surface beneath these plates as they are covered in ink. To ensure that only designs are printed onto the medium, excess ink is removed from the plate’s surface using a thin blade without disturbing the tiny indented parts. For color rotogravure painting, separate cylinders are needed for each color.
Digital Printing
Meanwhile, digital printing on BOPP films relies on the inkjet print method. Graphics in the digital printing method are directly applied on the surface of the printing medium. It is suitable for short runs and variable data printing, making it easy for customers to change their designs during production. Because of its direct method, digital printing is fast, reliable, and can minimize waste production.
As a flexible film manufacturer, Argha is keen on producing printing-friendly BOPP films that can deliver high-quality graphics. Its transparent and white cavitated films can deliver vivid colors, shapes, and accurate texts without losing a single pixel. Their films are certified to be food-safe by FSSC 22000, so there is no need to worry about harmful chemicals invading your edible products.
For more information on durable and transparent BOPP and BOPET films, visit PT Argha Karya Prima Industry Tbk (https://arghakarya.com).
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