David Jones, the MD at Alphasonics discusses this topic and offers a surprising insight into the condition of the anilox and the potential bearing it has on the environment.
I think it’s fair to say that the outcome of the report issued by the UN recently on the condition of and rapid decline of our environment shocked most people. It was a bit like waiting for someone to pass away from a long illness. You know it’s coming, but it’s a shock nevertheless when it eventually happens.
Flexography in general and flexible packaging in particular doesn’t have a particularly good press when it comes to environmental matters. The materials and inks used can for sure have a negative impact on the environment if not disposed of correctly. It is also fair to say however that the vast majority of printing companies are aware of this and do all they can to negate the impact of their day-to-day business activities on the planet and one of the major contributors is the amount of waste produced.
So how can cleaning the anilox impact the amount of waste paper and ink produced during the process of Flexo?
The key to this is to ensure that the anilox is as clean as it possibly can be prior to the commencement of any print job. As I’ve discussed previously if the anilox can be controlled the likelihood is that the process will be controlled as it is the anilox that changes from day to day and has the greatest effect on what comes out of the press. In this regard, therefore, getting the job right the first time will for sure reduce the amount of waste-paper produced. Roll this out across the globe and it’s not hard to imagine just how much substrate is wasted day in, day out.
Control the Anilox, Control the Waste, Control the Profit, Help the Planet.
