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The difference between gravure printing and flexographic printing. These two printing methods differ in terms of principles, application areas, and printing effects.

Gravure Printing

principle

Plate making process: The plate for gravure printing is usually made of metal (such as copper or steel), and fine grooves are formed on the surface of the plate through chemical etching or laser engraving, which form the printing pattern.

The development process of gravure printing can be traced back several centuries, and its technology continues to evolve, becoming an indispensable part of the modern printing industry. The following is the main development process of gravure printing:

In people's impression, gravure printing uses solvent based ink, which not only pollutes a lot but also does not comply with environmental regulations. Therefore, many printing factories have switched from gravure printing to flexographic printing. Of course, some printing factories have also changed from solvent based ink to water-based ink for use. So, can water-based ink be used in gravure printing?

The environmental challenges of gravure printing are mainly reflected in the following aspects:

1、 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) emissions

Large emissions: Solvent based inks and cleaning agents used in gravure printing processes release large amounts of VOCs, which can easily form photochemical smog in the atmosphere, posing a threat to the environment and human health.

 flexographic and gravure printing differ significantly in terms of printing principles, effects, applications, environmental friendliness, and costs. Flexographic printing excels in packaging and label printing due to its cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness, and high-speed printing capabilities.