Combine and Conquer

The interest in gravure goes beyond its a long-standing reputation for fine-dot process printing and good color control, says Chestnut. "Its significant advantage on combo presses is the ability to print very shiny metallics. While other print methods (flexo) do this to a fair degree, the results with gravure resemble hot stamping. The cost benefit by replacing hot stamping, however, is dramatic. This alone has provided the reason why both flexo printers and flexo press builders have now begun to use gravure."