Leveraging Our Gravure Press to Your Benefit
Here at Apple Converting, we pride ourselves in being one of the few converters to successfully use water-based inks for gravure printing on film. Because of our commitment to using water based inks, we continue to protect the environment and the quality of air in the Catskill Mountains. This is all possible due to the dedication and ingenuity of our employees in finding unique solutions and advanced methods to gravure printing.
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Below is an article from: Paper, Film & Foil Converter (PFFC) Magazine article on Apple Converting highlighting Gravure Printing
At a time when many flexographic printer and converters are focused on "growing green," one New York-based converter of flexible packaging and labels is doing one better by going green—and gravure. Apple Converting installed a 47-in., nine-color Cerutti R960/2 gravure press that runs at speeds to 1,000 fpm and does so using water-based inks on as many runs as possible. The press offers Apple's customers a marked improvement in quality for those in the food and beverage, cosmetic, confectionery, consumer products, pharmaceutical and medical device markets, while minimizing the use of solvent-based inks.
Solvent inks and gravure typically go together, but Apple has already had proven success with water based inks. It's certainly not going to fit every gravure application but were looking to go in that direction.
Seizing Opportunity
Ink type was never an issue during Apple's first 25 years in business, since the company used ten flexographic presses that printed up to eight colors. When the company decided to add its eleventh press, it was faced with a decision: Install yet another familiar flexo press or enhance its technologies by going gravure. The choice was an easy one.
New flexo presses are certainly getting much better in their technologies; they're faster and more efficient. But Apple felt if they get another flexo press, they'd still have limitations. Apple may have more efficient runs and maybe faster speeds, but we still couldn't capture the gravure market. And there's a lot of business out there. When Apple looked at the numbers, they felt there was a lot more opportunity on the gravure side.
“Printing is printing” Apple notes of the ease of implementing the new technology in what was previously an all-flexo house. "There are different methods to transfer ink to substrates; the basics are the same, but the technologies are different. Gravure is known for its high quality, consistency, long run lengths, and speed. It's certainly opened things up as far as our capacity, our capabilities, and our quality."
Apple chose the Cerutti over other gravure press manufacturers because it enjoyed a reputation for quality that also proved a selling point to existing and potential customers. "There were some options—some very good options—but Cerutti is very well respected throughout the world, and they've been around for many years,” notes Apple. "Anyone who's been around the gravure industry knows the press, and it definitely makes a difference when we present it to customers."
If you’re interested in what Apple Converting’s capabilities can produce for your business, reach out to us.
