15-18 June 2027
Crocus Expo, Moscow
Flexographic printing accounts for more than half of all printed packaging globally, proof of its dominance in high-speed, cost-sensitive production environments. This relief process uses flexible photopolymer plates, fast-curing inks and precise metering to deliver consistent output on films, papers and boards. Its efficiency under pressure makes it a preferred option when deadlines are short, substrates vary, and unit costs must stay low.
Flexo transfers ink from an anilox roller to a raised image on a flexible plate, then onto the substrate. It’s ideal for wide-web formats like flexible packaging, corrugated boxes, self-adhesive labels and paper bags. Fast plate setup and quick ink curing translate to shorter idle time, faster runs and predictable resultsparticularly useful in medium to high-volume production.
Modern flexo has evolved. Improved plate chemistry and screening sharpen fine detail while reducing bounce and gear marks. Automated wash-ups and faster plate changes cut downtime. Water-based and low-migration inks meet food and cosmetic safety standards without sacrificing colour density or lamination strength. When prepress profiles are calibrated using ICC colour data, presses hit target shades faster, cutting waste and increasing first-pass yields.
Each print method plays a role. Offset suits static, long-run paper jobs but requires plate changes for artwork updates. Gravure delivers smooth gradients at extreme volumes but has higher setup costs and slower changeovers. Digital printing enables quick iteration and variable data, which is ideal for short runs and market testing, though the cost per unit increases with scale. Flexo remains the go-to for core packaging, with digital handling special runs, test batches and customisation. In practice, converters build blended fleets, letting flexo handle core packaging. At the same time, digital carries market tests, regional variants and data-rich labels. It also sits comfortably alongside digital printing innovations from variable data to fast colour proofs that compress approval cycles.
Retail and regulatory demands keep sustainability at the forefront. Flexo addresses this with water-based inks, solvent-reduction practices and low-chemistry plate systems. It handles lightweight substrates and thinner liners, cutting transport emissions and materials use while still meeting scuff resistance and barcode readability standards. Less make-ready waste and fewer reprints add further efficiency and compliance gains.
In CIS and Eurasia, demand for packaged goods is rising. Converters face challenges like multilingual packs, frequent promotions and changing compliance marks. Flexo helps meet these demands with fast setup times and broad substrate compatibility. Shared settings between lines also ensure consistency across sites. For suppliers, the opportunity lies in showing how crews can move from plates to print quickly, how inks meet regional compliance, and how workflow automation reduces downtime.
Printech 2026 offers a chance to replace assumptions with real performance data. Bring production files to test across multiple presses. Measure time to first approved sheet, metres per minute, and setup waste. Ask suppliers to demonstrate live plate changes and ink swaps on your target substrates. Test drying, rub resistance and lamination strength. A well-prepared checklist covering curing balance, registration and inline finishing makes the most of your visit.
Printech makes it easy to review flexographic printing equipment & materials alongside prepress, finishing and quality control. Create a schedule that mirrors your production flow, plate changes at 10:00, ink swaps at 11:00, substrate changes after lunch, and sample sign-offs by late afternoon. Log energy use, make-ready sheets, and operator steps to benchmark against current processes.
If you’re exhibiting, submit a Printech exhibit enquiry so demos align with buyer traffic. If you’re comparing investment options, secure your printing and packaging expo registration to assess flexo, digital and offset solutions in one day.
