CORNERING THE SHEETFED MARKET

Carton converters remain loyal to the 30-minute makereadies that have become standard for offset, Schmidt adds, pointing out that start-to-finish, the flexo process may actually require a longer make-ready than offset, and typically requires more expensive rotary dies. A 15,000 sph offset press can produce 60,000 cartons four-up on a sheet in an hour (plus makeready time), and send dry sheets off the press straight to the diecutter, he emphasizes.