History of Flexo printing technology
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In the world, Flexo printing technology was born in the 40-50 years of the 20th century. Until 1995-2000, Flexo printing technology had made great strides and became a printing method that brought about efficiency. high economic efficiency, especially in the field of packaging printing. 1. History of Flexo printing technology. The name aniline appeared in the US In the 1920s, at that time aniline dyes were used as printing inks. This dye is prepared from coal, toxic to human health. Therefore, the US Food and Drug Administration has banned the use of printing pharmaceutical and food packaging. Then the chemists have researched and synthesized new colorants, which are considered safe for human health. Although the new ink has been used, the name aniline remains the same. Therefore, this printing method cannot avoid consumer prejudices. In April 1951, Franklin Moss issued a call for a renaming of the aniline printing method. Not long after, this appeal has received warm support from the printing press and many new names have been introduced. There are three names that cause the most attention: "Permatone Process"; "Rotopake Process"; "Flexographic Process". After much debate, finally in November 1952, the name Flexo officially recognized and replaced the term aniline. 2. Development of flexographic printing. Natural rubber was known quite early in the 18th century, however the material is not widely used due to its special properties. Natural rubber has a melting point of about 400C and it becomes brittle at 50C. It was not until 1839 that Charles Goodyear accidentally discovered a method to increase the durability of rubber by melting with sulfur (vulcanization process). This new rubber is named vulcanized rubber. By 1909, Mathews produced the first vulcanized rubber print for cardboard printing. Before that, cardboard was only printed with wood or metal prints. By the 30s, chemists paid more attention to synthetic rubber, which has many advantages over natural rubber. In 1939, German chemists created the first synthetic rubber, Buna rubber. Development of the Flexo print was later halted due to the Second World War. But by the 1960s, along with the development of the oil industry, photopolymers were synthesized and gradually replaced the rubber. Because photopolymers have many advantages over rubber plates such as faster printing time, better ink receiving and transmitting ability, heat resistance and resistance to many organic solvents. 3.The development of flexo printing machine. In 1980, Baron, Bibby and Sons of liverpool designed a printer that resembles a satellite printer (Central impression - a printer with a central printing press). Today, press assemblies are arranged around a large shaft. At that time, the printing inks were water-soluble pigments, so when the printed product comes in contact with the water, the ink dissolves. In the period from 1920 - 1935, the Printers often designed their own printers to suit their own product characteristics. Most still rely on Stack design. The introduction of new printing materials such as polyethylene thin film, ethylene ... has had a huge impact on the structural change of printers. The printer needs to have more tension stabilizers, the roll release and the finished rollers need to function more accurately, the guide and control of the material tape is more precise and fine. More specifically, the drying unit also needs to be improved ... In order to be able to print on all types of absorbent or non-absorbent materials and thin films, or so on. membrane on which its surface is covered with metal. By the 1980s, the stacked machine structure was still used but the number was much reduced, replacing it with the satellite form (CI-Central impression) and the form of the line (in-line). At present, inline printing small flexo printers are being used in many printers.
Source: Collector
Source: Collector
