Apex launches FlexoKITE project in India, the Netherlands

Apex International launched FlexoKITE with its partners to demonstrate state-of-the-art equipment at work — in real-time — from experience centres in India and the Netherlands. FlexoKITE runs a fully-equipped integrated workflow of the latest-version equipment from Apex International (anilox), Bobst (inline flexo press), DuPont (plate, Cyrel Fast thermal platemaking equipment), Esko (pre-press), and MacDermid (plate).

Dan Pulling, FlexoKITE experience centre manager, Apex International, said, “At Apex, we recognise the growing challenges within the flexo landscape. Print converters are faced with a maze of choices from new technologies and increased automation to improve their efficiency and profitability. Establishing the best path through the maze to bring new technologies into their company to complement existing processes and enhance their current equipment’s performance is no small undertaking. This drives Apex to adapt how we communicate with and support our customers as a single supplier.

FlexoKITE has been created to give print converters a broader view of how technologies from different industry suppliers optimally work together. FlexoKITE can demonstrate live or virtually how various technologies interact and complement each other to improve capabilities, quality and stability in flexographic printing. Converters can follow the process from pre-press, platemaking, processing to printed label and learn from experts.

FlexoKITE provides a unique platform to assist converters transitioning to Flexo from other printing formats. It can support converters in the label, flexible packaging and corrugated market segments. The project highlights the need to understand the importance of each product and for Apex especially to demonstrate how the anilox is the heart of the process that provides the stability. This high level of stability provides a foundation to synchronize other components resulting in a converters quality, consistency and profitability being lifted to new heights.”

KITE is the abbreviation of knowledge; innovation, technology, and exploration — the driving forces that unify these companies to deliver real-world technical content not limited to a single product area.

FlexoKITE provides print converters and brands a comprehensive view of the entire plate-to-print process, focusing on the finished printed product. An optimum printed product is achieved through synchronising the plate-imaging, plate-processing, anilox, and press — all under one roof, presented step-by-step, and delivered to your computer screen, or in-real-life as health regulations permit.

It is a workshop, press floor, seminar series, and tradeshow rolled into one robust flexo user experience. With the full capacity of a state-of-the-art print shop in its two purpose-built experience centres, FlexoKITE empowers participants with:

• Live testing and evaluation of screening software, plate, print, and anilox methods

• User-submitted PDF-to-plate-to-print press-runs

• Q&A sessions

• Detailed process and product presentations by industry experts

• Customer-directed problem-solving workshops

FlexoKITE is ideal for printers interested in:    

• Streamlining integrated workflows

• Continual improvement tactics or full-scale upgrades

• Gravure-to-flexo transition

• Problem-solving best practices

• Ink transfer stabilisation

• Concept-to-mockup packaging options