Inline Pre-print and Post-print Process Comparison for Flexo Corrugated Board Production
This technical study compares process differences, production efficiency and quality performance between flexo corrugated pre-print and post-print processes, and provides process selection suggestions for different corrugated packaging production demands.
Flexo corrugated printing is divided into two mainstream production modes: roll paper pre-printing before corrugation and finished board post-printing after corrugation. These two processes match different production line layouts, printing speed requirements and order quality standards, with obvious differences in ink selection, pressure setting and drying system configuration.
Flexo corrugated pre-printing prints patterns on continuous roll liner paper firstly, then sends printed liner paper to corrugated machine for flute bonding and carton forming. The printing substrate keeps smooth roll paper state without concave-convex flute structure, achieving higher printing precision and clearer pattern details.
High Speed Flexo Printing Machine - Stack Flexo Flexo Printing Machine
Core advantages and limitations of corrugated flexo pre-print process. Pre-printing supports high-definition fine pattern printing with registration accuracy up to 0.1mm, suitable for high-end branded corrugated packaging with delicate logos and gradient patterns. However, pre-printing has fixed repeat length limitation, cannot realize random pattern size adjustment, and the printed paper will bear high-temperature thermal deformation during corrugation bonding process.
Core advantages and limitations of corrugated flexo post-print process. Post-printing carries out direct printing on finished integral corrugated boards, supporting arbitrary pattern size and variable repeat length without paper thermal deformation risk. But due to uneven board flute surface, post-printing can only meet general color block and simple text printing demands, unable to reproduce fine gradient patterns.
Ink system difference between pre-print and post-print corrugated flexo. Pre-print adopts high-temperature resistant water-based ink to resist 160℃ bonding temperature in corrugation process. Post-print uses common fast-drying water-based flexo ink without high-temperature resistance requirement, reducing ink procurement cost while meeting conventional printing needs.
Production efficiency and cost comparison of two processes. Pre-print process fits large-batch fixed-size carton orders with higher continuous production efficiency and lower unit printing cost. Post-print process adapts multi-variety small-batch customized carton orders with flexible pattern adjustment capability. Printing factories can adopt hybrid pre-print and post-print production lines to cover all corrugated packaging order demands.
