Comexi, specialist in solutions for the flexible packaging industry, has presented its latest innovations in its revolutionary offset printing technology, the Comexi CI8. The group has recently celebrated an Open House called Offset Innovation Day in its headquarters in Riudellots de la Selva (Girona, Spain). 

During the event, Comexi demonstrated the latest evolutions that Comexi’s offset team has been developing in the past year. Main improvements were done in efficiency and productivity. For example, the cylinder service station has been directly integrated with the press and with the sleeve-handling robot. This improvement allows fast check of mounted plates and blankets and fast replacement, if required. Furthermore, during the event, were also presented improvements in costs savings in web handling, upgrades in color matching and color management with QuadTech technology and the possibility to group different designs in one print job.

The meeting was open for worldwide clients and convertors. In fact, more than 60 brand owners, managing directors, CEOs and technical experts from different companies witnessed in first-hand the operation of Comexi’s innovative offset printing technology at high speed, working with QuadTech’s SpectralCam system, solutions for gapless designs, reduction of make-ready time and enhancing productivity.

One of the main highlights of the Open House was that attendees could see three Comexi CI8 presses working at the same time, each one of them, with different features and configurations. One Comexi CI8 press included two gravure in-line up – and down – stream units. A second offset press was equipped with integrated robotization, where the robot provides sleeve loading and unloading services to the press but also to an integrated cylinder service station. This second press also featured in-line reel slitting abilities. And a third offset printing press was working with QuadTech’s SpectralCam in-line photo spectrometer combined with closed loop color control.

The attendees could monitor closely the two demonstrations featuring different print jobs, checking first-hand how the Comexi CI8 offers very short time-to-market due to its agile prepress system and a wide range of added values, and also had the opportunity to go in deep into Comexi’s offset printing quality, including a new temperature and humidity control system.

Two of Comexi’s partners, Sun Chemical and QuadTech, contributed to the Open House. One of the speakers was Dr Michael Hirthammer, Managing Director and vice president Printing Inks Technology at Sun Chemical. He informed the audience about food packaging requirements and presented the latest developments in electron beam curable offset and flexo inks for flexible packaging. At the end of his presentation, he offered the audience a view on what can be expected in the near future in EBC inks for flexible packaging.

The Offset Innovation Day finalized with a visit to Comexi CTec’s facilities where the attendees could discover other Comexi equipment like Comexi S1 DT slitter with automatic robotic system, labeller and laser technology that boosts converters’ productivity.

Comexi offset technology: the best time-to-market
Awarded with the EMAS in Europe, Comexi’s offset printing system is a worldwide-recognized solution for its commitment to the environment, its flexibility of production and its ability to adapt to the current demanding time to market.

The Comexi CI8 provides maximum flexibility in the production process, allowing a very short time-to-market. That was showed during the Open House where the attendees could see how Comexi CI8 plates can be imaged and processed in few minutes and, also, how companies can change their print design or create new ones within minutes. Comexi’s Offset team demonstrated this, creating a specific plate designed with two pictures of the Open House attendees and, during the event, assistants received a sample of this specific design already printed on film.

Offset lithographic plates offer an approximate saving of more than 90% compared to photopolymers or engraved cylinders. All operating parameters can be stored and retrieved digitally. Ink fountain control is done automatically and enables the reduction for short runs and less printed material in stock. Furthermore, this innovative technology replaces solvent inks for polymerizing inks using EB curing technology, which is completely solventless, and therefore, more sustainable.

Over the past three years, the interest and orders for this press type has doubled and is continuously growing, especially in North American, Central American, South American, European and Asian countries.