Adara Pakkaus has really pushed the limits of flexographic print quality through ongoing collaboration with ink supplier Siegwerk, pre-press partner Marvaco, and Metsä Board, earning multiple print awards.
Focused on maximising efficiency and quality, and minimising the impact on environment, the partners achieved high-resolution printing in an ice cream cones packaging using a double coated white-top kraftliner (MetsäBoard Prime WKL, 125 gsm) as the top liner. The E-flute corrugated board, featuring uncoated MetsäBoard Natural WKL Bright 90 gsm for fluting and inner liner, resulted in packaging that is 8% lighter and up to 36% lower in climate impact than traditional solutions with recycled fibres.
The achievement was possible by combining printing skills and a high-quality kraftliner, explains Ilkka Harju, Packaging Services Director of Metsä Board.
Lari Seppälä, Head of Printing at Adara Pakkaus, considers the 188 lpi resolution a new world record, surpassing the usual maximum of 152 lpi (60 lpcm). This was made possible by the long-term collaboration and persistent development efforts. ECG printing expert Kai Lankinen emphasised that process printing with flat-top-dot plates and water-based inks reduces startup waste and ink consumption while maintaining quality.
Stefan Schneider, Key Account Manager Corrugated, Apex International, acknowledges the achievement as a world-class benchmark in corrugated post-printing. Nathalie Müller-Samson, Corporate Communications Manager at Siegwerk, also agrees, stating, “Our UniNATURE water-based inks can print at a high quality, but I haven’t seen this high resolution on post-print corrugated before.”
This co-creation project sets an example that flexographic printing quality is now on par with rotogravure and offset, eliminating the need to compare different methods: all can produce high quality. The differentiators in both quality and sustainability are the printing skills and substrate.
