Bringing Flexo Into the Fold

A customer provided initial motivation by requesting smaller quantities, more frequent printings and faster turnaround—with the potential for turning over all of its folding carton work to Mebane.

In Robb's experience, 150,000 units or less have run most efficiently with narrow-web flexo. One of the biggest benefits he cites is manpower savings; only three people are needed to supervise flexo's in-line set-up, whereas up to 11 people can be needed with offset's separate set-up steps for sheeting, printing and diecutting. These efficiencies may take some patience. Robb advises "you shouldn't underestimate the time it takes to learn in-line carton production if all you've ever done is sheetfed production."