Hosted by KYMC with partners Asahi Photoproducts, Dainichiseika, and SINWA, the event showcased a complete water-based flexographic solution for sustainable packaging printing.
The first water-based flexographic printing technology sharing event in Taiwan, hosted by Kuen Yuh Machinery Engineering (KYMC), took place on 25 September 2025. The gathering brought together leading industry partners and more than 89 participants from 46 printing companies. It highlighted how packaging and printing companies can embrace green, intelligent, and ESG-aligned flexographic printing as a sustainable alternative to gravure.
The event attracted a target audience of flexo and gravure printers who saw a comprehensive lineup of technologies from four industry leaders:
KYMC showcased its Smart CI Flexo Printing press along with insights into the future of smart production. Asahi Kasei / Asahi Photoproducts introduced its water-wash flexographic plates that require only water, advancing the company’s Solvent ZERO strategy. Dainichiseika presented its eco-friendly water-based inks designed for flexible packaging films, while SINWA shared its expertise in high-quality prepress solutions for flexographic plate making.
The event also featured live demonstrations that highlighted the technology’s capability and quality in real production conditions. Two jobs were showcased during the demonstrations – Job 1 involved pouch printing at 200 m/min with 150 lpi, and Job 2 showcased high-speed printing at 250 m/min with 150 lpi. Both jobs delivered impressive results and received positive feedback from KYMC and the attendees.
In addition to expert presentations, Ryunosuke Inoue, Asahi Photoproducts sales and marketing representive outlined Asahi’s vision for sustainable innovation. His talk covered three key areas:
Solvent ZERO Roadmap: Water-wash flexographic plates that require only water for cleaning, no detergents, reducing environmental impact and improving workplace safety.
Innovation: Asahi’s CrystalCleanConnect (CCC) automated plate processor together with Esko’s CDI Quartz imager and XPS exposure technology. This integrated workflow enables the production of Asahi’s AWP water-wash flexographic plates, designed for precision, durability, and efficiency. The combination ensures consistent plate quality, optimized for high-speed CI flexo presses and fully compatible with water-based inks.
Flexo vs. gravure comparative analysis: Environmental, quality, and cost perspectives.The presentation also included cost simulation data from a Taiwan customer, which demonstrated the potential advantages of flexo over gravure: 30-40% cost reduction by switching from gravure to UV ECG; and 40-50% cost reduction by switching to water-based ECG.
