Comexi Group, Sun Chemical, and ESI Open House

GIRONA, Spain—Under the theme “Today’s solutions for Tomorrow’s demands,” the Comexi Group, Sun Chemical, and ESI’s Open House was held in early June. The event recorded more than 200 visitors during three days of face-to-face activity with customers.

During the open house the latest developments in flexographic printing were showcased. The commercial and industrial robustness of the EB FLEXO solution was showcased through the combination of the eCOMEXI® Comexi EB flexo press, Sun Chemical’s Wetflex® EB inks, and the ESI EZCure system. The success of the event was in the demonstration that EB Flexo provides high-quality print that competes with gravure, VOC-free production without the use of photoinitiators, and all at a very competitive cost.

A new global concept F4FLEXOEfficiency® was also showcased, which involves a new concept in flexographic printing. The Comexi F4FLEXOEfficiency is state-of-the-art technology for low cost-per-square-meter, high-productivity printing; in addition to its lower maintenance costs, it is an efficient solution for short runs and quality flexo printing.

F4FLEXOEfficiency technology addresses, on one hand, the needs of traditional converters, that desire efficiency improvements for short jobs. And on the other hand, this technology addresses the needs of label manufacturers that desire productivity improvements and the elimination of photoinitiators through eCOMEXI solutions that use EB Flexo technology in high-performance flexographic printing.

The F4 FLEXOEfficiency press offers the capability of printing in high line screens, which opens the door to markets previously considered out of reach and which can compete with gravure printing with costs no higher per square meter than current conventional printing systems.

The systematic reduction of run lengths is a reality in the majority of the markets. Efficiency in flexo must mean reduced costs with machinery best suited to this short form, which requires solutions that reduce downtime and maintenance time. These solutions must come with a high degree of automation, while also reducing job change times and increasing profit margins on the final product.

Manel Xifra, president of Comexi Group, explained, “Our goal has been achieved by far. Despite the economic crisis environment, we have been able to attract a large number of customers from around the world, presenting solutions that allow them to access new markets by offering greater value-added and more competitiveness in the flexible packaging market and, above all, environmentally sustainable technologies.”

For his part, Felipe Mellado, chief marketing officer of Sun Chemical, emphasized: “We are really pleased with the outcome of the event. It became apparent that the WetFlex® solution represents a leap forward for printer converters seeking truly innovative solutions capable of generating investment and quick returns, in line with the flexible packaging industry needs.”

Ed Maguire, general manager of Energy Sciences Inc. (ESI): ”Electron beam (EB) technology has long been associated with high-quality, sustainable platforms. Sun Chemical’s WetFlex technology using EB is now available to address the core deliverables of the flexible packaging market. This wonderful open house hosted by Comexi demonstrated that EB technology can provide superior print quality at a low cost per square meter and maintain the smallest carbon footprint available. This is truly a step-change for the flexible packaging marketplace.”