23 9 月 Flexographic Printing Vs, Rotogravure Printing—What’s the Best for Your Business?
How can you choose between the two most popular presses for commercial printing? Here we have identified the key similarities and differences between rotogravure and flexographic printing to help you out.
Even with rotogravure printing machines standing alone on the stage of “gold standard” printing quality, it cannot be denied that when compared to flexographic printing, an individual is expected to have his/her doubts.
But that’s just the appropriate response!
That’s because no matter the apparent advantage of one to another in general, there are circumstances that the other press would be the better option for you. When is that and what particularly are those circumstances? Let’s find out here!
As we understand these two printing technologies and gain deeper knowledge on their significant differences, we are expecting you, by the end of the reading, to know what’s simply the best for your business given a certain priority.
A. Basic Knowledge
Flexographic printing makes use of a polymer/elastomer image carrier plate, transfers the inked plate image to the substrate.
Although it has a wide range of substrates where it can work well with, flexographic printing is mostly associated with flexible plastics film (HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, CPP, OPP, BOPP, PET), labels, foil, and recently the popular PP-Non woven material frequently seen around environmentally conscious individuals and groups. This is also the material that surgical and non-surgical masks are based of, for protection against COVID.
Rotogravure printing on the other hand is categorized under the printing method called intaglio printing. This type of printing technology includes applying ink to the substrate with the use of only a metal (usually copper or chrome) plate. This metal plate is etched into the plate cylinder by chemical or laser engraving, but the size of the plate cylinder (the surface area of the potential print job) is pre-determined the moment the graphic is etched.
Compared to flexographic printing, rotogravure uses the etching (permanent) method for its plates. Hence, unlike flexographic printing, this method is ideal for permanent design (but with higher quality) and limited creative reproductive possibility. Flexographic printing will allow you to change your design on the fly, simply remove and attach another polymer/elastomer plate onto the plate cylinder and you can print a totally different design, artwork, label.
B. The Similarities of Flexographic and Rotogravure Printing
Both of these printing methods include the creation and use of printing sleeves, cylinders, and/or plates. Also, if your main concern revolves around whether a printer can perform on a
long-run with high-volume outputs, then you can’t pretty much create a distinction between the two. Ultimately, both printing technologies are also able to produce consistently exceptional results.
C. The Differences Between Flexographic and Rotogravure Printing
1. Printing Jobs
Essentially, for short to mid-run printing jobs, the use of flexographic printing presses would be the best. On the other hand, for longer runs, rotogravure printing is more reliable. Especially considering the lack of design-change option for uniformity.
2. Operating Cost
If you want to go for cheaper image carriers, then flexographic printing presses would be the best option for you. However, with recent technological advances the price difference are more and more being questioned by professionals in the industry as the price difference translated into performance per costs will allow most to find flexographic printing more user- friendly.
3. Lead Time
Compared to the manufacturing or lead time of rotogravure printing plates, the flexographic printing press only requires one third to one-fourth of the former’s preparation time.
Moreover, for detailed estimation of the pre-press costs between rotogravure and flexographic printing, here’s a must-see content for you.
4. Substrates
If you’re planning to print on both porous and non-porous material, then flexographic printing serves as the best printing technology for you. However, if you are certain that your printing production will only focus on printing on porous substrates, then you should go for gravure printing
5. Environmental Considerations
If you care about your business’ effect on the environment, then your option might be leaning to the use of flexographic printing as rotogravure makes use of solvent-based inks.
Now that you know the key differences between these two best printing technologies when it comes to commercial printing, we are expecting that you’d soon be able to choose what’s best for your business.
Also, for any flexographic printing machine needs, you can always visit and explore this website. Feel free to send us a mail if you want to do business with us. Lead Yuan is always here to serve all your flexographic printing needs!
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