Flexo Printing

Flexo printing is a widely-used printing technique in the packaging industry. It utilizes relief elements on a flexible printing plate or cylinder to transfer the ink to the substrate. It is essentially a modern letterpress.

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Schematic of the Flexo printing process and printing unit of the C600

Key features

  • Relief elements on a flexible printing plate can print on nearly any type of substrate
  • High variety of low viscosity inks can be used (UV, solvent, waterbased etc.)
  • Anilox roller made of chrome/ceramic
  • Web speed ≤ 80 m/min
  • Mass-printing technique
  • Resolution ≥ 150 dpi, ≤ 20μm
  • Film thickness 0.1 – 3 μm
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Flexographic printed silver electrodes and test structures. 3-D image to determine layer-thickness (~100 nm for the printed Ag structures)
Dr. Jakob Heier

Dr. Jakob Heier
Group leader

Telefon: +41 58 765 4356
jakob.heier@empa.ch