AGI uses new tecnologies including extended gamut printing to maintain a growth path

By Chris Bauer

Multi-Color Process Printing

Today’s brands include an increasing number of product line extensions, leading to shorter packaging or label lifecycles. The result is significantly more complex production processes and increased costs for printed materials. Consumer product companies continue to seek ways to reduce costs through the supply chain. According to Larry Moore, VP Partner Programs, Esko North America, one way some printers are doing this is by standardizing a brand and its extensions’ packaging on one, single, multi-color ink set. Doing so extends the color gamut, providing a number of aesthetic and economic advantages for both the brand owner and converter.

About 90 percent of all Pantone spot colors can be reproduced within 3 DeltaE of a good set of extended gamut inks. Of course, with high definition flexo plates that extend highlights and shadows, the gamut is extended even more. If multi-color process printing (MCPP) can produce a gamut that covers the desired spot colors, spot inks are no longer needed. While spot colors created by extended gamut are not quite as accurate, images can look much better. That typically leads to one further result: the package looks better.

Because the same inks are on press most of the time, there is no need to clean stations for each new job. And, because all the package designs use the same inks, artwork can be mixed and matched on the press. Jobs can be printed with one another at the same time, resulting in less product inventory. There is also much more freedom to return to the press to print a specific package for a short run. With fewer spot colors, there is also reduced ink inventory, while the designer gets additional color latitude to create appealing packaging.

In short, MCPP creates more visually appealing packaging by preserving the balance between visual brand identity and printing economics.

Excess capacity in the packaging market is driving margin compression, but the flip side of any challenge is opportunity. And ASG (AGI-Shorewood Group) is quietly deploying the products—bespoke color branding, large-format digital presses, plastics, a new stand-alone creative agency—and the strategy to leverage the company's positive sales momentum.

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